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Best Horror Games without Jumpscares | 11 Best Horror Games without Jumpscares of Any Kind: It’s one thing to enjoy the kind of existential terror that slow-burning horror experiences can provide, and quite another to enjoy the jumpscares that seem to come standard with most horror games. We’re not joking when we say that finding the best horror games without jumpscares was no easy task, but we managed to pull it off.
That’s right, the list you’re about to read contains some fantastic horror games that don’t rely solely on shock value to keep the player frightened.
To be sure, the appeal is present. It can’t be easy to stick with slow, plodding dread without occasionally resorting to a monster-jumping-out-of-the-closet type of scare. In fact, the vast majority of horror games frequently pull off these stunts. Fortunately, not all of them do, and the list we’ve compiled for you below should demonstrate our point!
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The List: Best Horror Games without Jumpscares
Make no mistake about it: the games on this list are extremely frightening. It’s just that they won’t use cheap monster traps to make their point. This may sometimes imply that the frights are foreshadowed and consistently delivered. At times, we may experience a subversion of expectations. Or even an outright lie of omission about what’s going on. If you know where to look, horror can be a lot of fun.
Best Horror Games without Jumpscares | 11 Best Horror Games without Jumpscares of Any Kind
Alan Wake
Alan Wake, as you may have guessed, is set in the same universe as Control. This places it squarely in the ‘Weird’ category of horror/fantasy fiction and neatly reframes the experience from the ground up. Setting that aside for a moment, it’s curious that Alan Wake lacks jumpscares.
The enemies are predictable, and the dread stems almost entirely from the game’s oppressive atmosphere. It doesn’t hurt that Stephen King’s body of work appears to be a primary inspiration!
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
What can be said about Dark Corners of the Earth that hasn’t already been said? This game is an outlier in every way that matters. It’s plenty scary, to be sure, but it’s content to let the spooks seep slowly between the lines.
The opening sequence is one of the best in gaming horror, and while the protagonist picks up a few guns along the way, none of them seem all that important in the grand scheme of things. Remember: there’s always a bigger fish in Lovecraftian horror.
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Observer
Observer, the first of several cyberpunk horror games on this list, is a fantastic example of the detective horror genre. This first-person puzzler delivers an atmospheric horror experience unlike any other, aided by Rutger Hauer’s voice work.
There is no combat, and there are no timed actions for the vast majority of the game. Instead, you’re there to solve crimes and figure out what’s going on. It’s pure coincidence that you also get to witness the dead’s delirious dying thoughts along the way.
Best Horror Games without Jumpscares | 11 Best Horror Games without Jumpscares of Any Kind
Little Nightmares
The Little Nightmares series, which has two entries on this list, is arguably the best horror side-scroller on the market right now. The reason is simple: these are excellent games. They are also very scary, but they do not rely on bombastic jump scares to frighten the player.
You get to control a young girl who is trapped in a nightmare dimension you’ve never seen before. Isn’t the premise itself enough to send shivers down your spine?
Little Nightmares II
Little Nightmares II, like its direct predecessor, delivers a pinpoint horror experience focusing on a wide range of phobias and frights. Some scenes are truly terrifying in their execution, and many will stay with you for a long time.
Seriously, both Little Nightmares games are difficult to shake. Isn’t that the highest compliment we can bestow on a horror title that isn’t designed to make you jump in your chair?
Conarium
Stormling Studios, the Conarium developers, have a penchant for slow, plodding horror. Having previously collaborated on Darkness Within, it’s clear where their interests lie, and Conarium is a love letter to none other than cosmic horror.
In fact, if you’ve ever wished for a video game adaptation of Lovecraft’s Mountains of Madness, you’re in luck! Conarium is, for the most part, it. This is a first-person puzzler with a supernatural twist that relies heavily on atmospheric terror rather than outright scaring the player. It’s a good take on a classic story, and there are plenty of Lovecraftian Easter eggs to be found.
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Transient
Transient, like Conarium, is made by Stormling Studios and uses the same game format. Some players will be pleased, while others may wish to look elsewhere for spooks. In any case, Transient is a fantastic choice in our opinion.
It has a decidedly horrific cyberpunk existence with a cosmic terror slant to boot. Of course, there will be no jumpscares, but expect a few rather dynamic sequences every now and then. Transient’s story is much less steeped in classic Lovecraftian lore, which is a good thing. You won’t see the twists coming in this one.
Best Horror Games without Jumpscares | 11 Best Horror Games without Jumpscares of Any Kind
Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark (2008) is, without a doubt, a flawed game. It’s also a very interesting one, thanks to its diverse array of innovative gameplay systems and intriguing – albeit poorly implemented – interpretations of classic AITD lore.
For what it’s worth, Alone in the Dark is an intriguing look at what might have been. It’s a deeply immersive and terrifying game that makes excellent use of a wide range of features. There are also no real jumpscares to be concerned about, making it an unusual choice for Halloween gaming.
Alice: Madness Returns
On the surface, Alice: Madness Returns appears to be a typical action adventure with an edgy visual style. To be sure, those things are present; it’s just that Madness Returns also includes a full-fledged and horrifying narrative that takes poor Alice to places no one wants to be stuck in.
There are no jumpscares here, but prepare for a whole lot of fridge horror before it’s all said and done.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a fantastic narrative adventure game that packs a punch no matter which interpretation of the events you choose. Its narrative, as horrific as it is, tells a decidedly human story of suffering and pain, one that the player may be all too familiar with.
It also helps that The Vanishing is a stunning visual experience. To date, no other game has managed to provide a virtual world that feels both realistic and established, while also otherworldly and distressing.
Best Horror Games without Jumpscares | 11 Best Horror Games without Jumpscares of Any Kind
Get Even
Get Even, another mind-bending horror experience, is technically a first-person shooter. We say ‘technically’ because it is entirely possible to complete the game without killing. The plot of Get Even is a complex jumble of thriller-grade action and bombastic narrative reveals that don’t stop coming until the very end.
Aside from its terrifying revelations, Get Even is notable for the emphasis it places on killing. This game is not easy, at least not morally. One of the most intriguing FPS titles available today.
Best Horror Games without Jumpscares | 11 Best Horror Games without Jumpscares of Any Kind
Closing Thoughts
We’re sure you’ve decided on a game to play for Halloween by now. Of course, if you don’t mind a jump scare every now and then, you’ll have an even wider range of games to choose from. We’ve also been highlighting some of our best offerings prominently
Otherwise, we hope you enjoyed our list of non-scare horror movies! It surprised us how many fantastic horror games are overlooked when such lists are compiled, and we felt compelled to do our best to right that particular wrong. There’s something here for almost everyone. From surprisingly disturbing side-scrollers to strangely slow-burning shooters, you’re sure to have a good time on Halloween.
