Physical Version of ‘Darkest Dungeon II’ Now Available [Trailer]

It’s amazing just how many horror videogame creators are content with simply sharing their work for free despite this being one of the most difficult artforms to master. With mainstream gaming becoming increasingly more expensive, I find it extremely fortunate that so many developers are looking out for horror fans who can’t quite keep up with expensive new releases.

And as we reach the tail-end of the spooky season, we’ve decided to come up with a list recommending six free horror games that are perfect for Halloween. After all, everyone is entitled to at least one good scare during October – even if it comes from a free video game!

Naturally, these entries were selected according to personal opinion, but we won’t be including any demos on this list, as those are just interactive advertisements for premium games.

With that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below with your own freebie favorites if you think we missed a particularly scary one.

Now, onto the list…

6. Dead Frontier 2

I’m not usually a fan of MMOs (I’ve always seen gaming as more of an escape from socialization than a platform for it), but even I have to admit that Creaky Corpse Ltd’s Dead Frontier 2 is one of the most enjoyable undead experiences available online. The early hours of the game are incredibly tough when you’re still learning the ropes and searching for better equipment, but the fact that you can enjoy a seriously well-crafted post-apocalyptic adventure here without spending a single dime is simply incredible.

Sure, the game may not be as polished or as pretty to look at as some of its premium alternatives, but where else are you and your friends going to simulate zombie movie tropes without breaking the bank? And if you like this one, I’d also recommend another fun yet janky multiplayer favorite, No More Room in Hell.

5. Silent Hill: The Short Message

I know this will probably be the most controversial entry here – especially with Bloober’s long-anticipated remake now available for purchase– but if you’re a Silent Hill fan that can’t quite justify spending the next-gen cash required to revisit our favorite cursed town, I’d highly recommend checking out The Short Message as a unique free-to-play alternative.

The first half of this scare-fest may feel like a Silent Hill-adjacent walking simulator, but I promise you that things pick up once the game stops lecturing players about high-school bullying and begins to unravel a truly disturbing yarn about child abuse. It also features a freaky original monster designed by Masahiro Ito, so go play this one right now if you haven’t already given it a shot.

4. Nightmare Kart

Formerly known as Bloodborne Kart, this long-awaited passion project by indie developer LWMedia is certainly the strangest game on this list, but it’s also one of the most fun. Combining Lovecraftian horror with gothic aesthetics and arcade-y kart racing ripped straight from your 90s favorites – Nightmare Kart shouldn’t work, but somehow does.

In fact, the lack of official Bloodborne branding ends up enhancing the experience, as it allows for more creative freedom as the developers expand this wacky world of steampunk vehicles and bloody beast hunters. It also means that we could eventually see a bigger and better sequel, so let’s keep our collective fingers crossed.

3. Yume Nikki

A game so memorable that it’s still inspiring copycats over two decades later, the OG RPG-Maker horror title Yume Nikki is definitely still worth playing today if you’re a fan of retro frights. In this lo-fi adventure title, you take on the role of a young girl named Madotsuki as she explores surreal dreamscapes that oscillate between odd and downright terrifying.

And while this highly influential 2004 title originally required some fiddling in order to get working on modern systems, you can now easily download it through Steam, meaning that there’s no excuse not to check it out. Just make sure you find that bicycle as soon as possible in order to make exploration a little less time-consuming.

2. Amanda the Adventurer: Pilot Episode

Originally developed for a Found Footage game-jam back in 2022, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Pilot Episode moniker means that this is simply a creepy demo. However, the first (and free) Amanda the Adventurer title is actually a complete experience with a beginning, middle and end.

Putting players in the shoes of an unnamed protagonist as they sort through old VHS tapes and unwittingly unleash a demonic entity disguised as the protagonist of an animated kid’s show, Pilot Episode is still worth playing due to its use of uncanny 3D animation meant to remind players of 90s shows like ReBoot and Veggie Tales.

And if you like this one, don’t forget to check out the 2023 version as well as its sequel.

1. Last Seen Online

Itch.io has long been a treasure trove for horror fans wanting to try something a little different from mainstream gaming, and Sochin Studio’s Last Seen Online is just further proof of why that website continues to be one of the greatest resources for gamers on a budget (though the game was later added to Steam as well). A free experience inspired by Screenlife films, Flash games and Escape Rooms, this title sees players rummaging through the contents of a vintage computer as they unearth a deadly mystery.

And if the legitimately spooky narrative doesn’t grip you, the nostalgic 2000s visuals and a surprisingly catchy selection of period-appropriate music (courtesy of Entropic Sonics) almost certainly will. That being said, younger players will likely need some help as they learn to navigate through MSN-inspired chatrooms and offline music players.