5 Quick Horror Video Games To Play For Halloween

Killer Frequency has a sense of style that’s simply irresistible. A neon-lit, ‘80s-set slasher, it pays homage to many cinematic greats, but owes the most to Scream. And as someone with a massive love for those movies, this game won me over quickly.

You play as Forrest Nash, a radio DJ who’s gone from big city livin’ in Chicago to the small town of Gallows Creek. He now leads the only late-night talk show at the local radio station (189.16 - The Scream, naturally). With the help of his producer, Peggy, the two try to keep Gallows Creek busy in the evening hours. That job takes a much more serious turn when they get a call from local 911 operator Leslie, whom a mysterious serial killer known as The Whistling Man is stalking.

While Leslie drives off to find help in a nearby town, her 911 calls are sent to the radio station so players can help the citizens of Gallows Creek survive attacks from The Whistling Man throughout the night. From your little booth, you’ll be tasked with guiding people via dialogue choices through various scenarios to ensure they get to safety. Along the way, you’ll uncover the secrets behind this murderer’s mask and why they’ve returned to haunt those in Gallows Creek thirty years after their original appearance in the ‘50s.

Though you never venture far from your station, Killer Frequency’s puzzles make every terrifying moment of its mysterious story worthwhile. Saving people who call in is no easy task; you’ll need to think hard to make the right move. It’s a fairly quick play, clocking in at around 5 hours total for its main story, making for a great Halloween night play.

Frictional Games know how to craft terrifying atmospheric horror games, and Amnesia: The Bunker is another successful notch in their belt. It’s a quick play, coming in around 5 hours for its main story. Set in a WWI bunker, you play as Henri, a French soldier who desperately needs to find his way out. Partially because of the German snipers outside, but mostly because a monster stalks the halls, devouring whatever gets in its way…

Unlike previous games in the franchise, The Bunker emphasizes creative solutions using limited tools. You can use a revolver to shoot off locks or get rid of traps lying around on the floor (whenever you’re able to scrounge up a bullet or two, that is), and use items like Molotov cocktails to clear pathways that are crowded with rats or momentarily cause the monster to flee.

In true survival horror fashion, you have very limited resources: some fuel to power the generator and keep the bunker’s lamps lit or cloths for making bandages. It’s through scarcity that The Bunker shines, though – by forcing players to push forward and plot next steps carefully, you feel just as determined to get out as Henri does. It’s a game that wants you to learn its dark, dimly-lit hallways and every hiding spot. It’s a bit like Resident Evil in that way, as it wants you to become familiar with your environment and even more familiar with the creature hunting you.

The Frictional team also released a Halloween update, perfect if you’re looking for a truly terrifying challenge. This will include a Shell Shock difficulty with various features to really keep you on your toes, including randomized locations for key items and new, weaker doors for your safe room that the monster can easily break down. What better way to spend your Halloween night, really?

Amnesia: The Bunker is available on Xbox Game Pass.

The world of Bramble: The Mountain King is both beautiful and terrifying, with vibrant landscapes that hide mysterious creatures as evening rolls around. Based on Nordic fables, you play as a young boy named Olle who sets out to rescue his kidnapped sister, Lillemor, from a horrifying troll. That creature isn’t the only one lurking in the woods, though, and Olle will have to contend with a variety of creepy enemies on his journey.

And this journey will stick with you long after the credits roll, thanks to the creatures you encounter. Each is created with incredible detail, evoking the passionate monstercraft of directors like Guillermo del Toro, that they’ll stay in your memory long after you’ve finished. More importantly, though, their creepy presence is elevated by how much they tower over you.

While playing as Olle, you feel very small compared to the world around you. Developer Dimfrost Studio did a fantastic job in conveying this scale, but don’t worry, it doesn’t always feel hopeless. In fact, some of the boss puzzles will leave you with a feeling of satisfaction as you outwit a beast or escape their grasp by using size to your advantage. You are the very definition of small but mighty, so long as you strategize your next move wisely.

Bramble is also a very short game – its main story only averages about 4.5 hours, making it perfect for a late-night play on Halloween.

Bramble: The Mountain King is available on Xbox Game Pass.

If you haven’t played a game from Night School Studio, I highly recommend checking them out. From stellar art styles to interesting stories, they’re developers who know how to craft memorable experiences with a slightly spooky touch. And the sequel to their 2016 supernatural hit Oxenfree is no exception.

Oxenfree IIis set five years after the events of the first game. It follows a young woman named Riley who returns to her hometown of Camena for a job setting up radio transmitters along the coast. While there, she gets partnered up with an old high school classmate named Jacob, but their night takes a turn for the worse when a transmitter they set up accidentally opens up a portal through time and space.

The portal causes Riley and Jacob to start experiencing strange time jumps and hallucinations, which play well into the game’s story as you explore the island, looking for ways to close the portal. Alongside the rift in the time-space continuum, the duo also encounter a cult with hopes of amplifying the portal for their own needs, giving them even more reason to work quickly.

While not as high on the scare meter as something like Amnesia, Oxenfree II still has plenty of spooky elements. It’s a supernatural adventure with an intriguing story (which only amounts to about 6 hours) that’ll have you wanting to go back and play its predecessor immediately after. Speaking of, the beauty of both Oxenfree games is that they’re available to play via Netflix, so if you have an account, you’re all set to jump in for a night of mobile supernatural storytelling!

Dredge is one of my absolute favorite games of the year. This little fishing simulator has so much more happening beneath the water’s surface than meets the eye. In particular, it is a haunting Lovecraftian tale with even more haunting fish.

During the day, boating around the various little islands in Dredge is peaceful. Dolphins swim up alongside your boat, with whales breaching in the distance and plenty of fish to catch while building your business as the nearby town’s fisherman. However, if you look a bit closer, you’ll notice some things are slightly…off. Whether it’s some of the people you meet or the abnormal-looking fish you reel in on occasion, something is going on in these waters. Something that doesn’t take kindly to you when the sun goes down.

As the sun sets, the Eldritch creatures of the deep come out to play, but encountering these madness-inducing beasts is where Dredge’s fun truly lies. Occasionally, you’ll reel up important objects pointing to new objectives in different regions. In these moments of lengthy travel, as the moon and your Panic meter rise, you’ll desperately search for a nearby dock to spend the night. Either that or risk being hunted by the cosmic horrors below and lose your catch for the day (along with your sanity).

Going through Dredge’s main story will take you around 9 hours, but you’ll likely want to spend plenty more hours sailing and fishing. Its first DLC, The Pale Reach, is coming out on November 16, so there’s no better time to grab your fishing gear and jump in. Really, the water’s fine…