Anyone can sit through a horror movie. After all, if things get too intense, there’s always the option to look away, mute the sound, or fast-forward through the scariest scenes. But horror games? They don’t give you that luxury. You are not just watching but are participating. The only way out is through. And for many gamers, that sheer sense of dread and immersion is exactly what makes horror games so exhilarating.
Of all the genres in gaming, horror is one that never goes out of style. While trends may shift and mechanics evolve, the thrill of stepping into a meticulously designed nightmare remains timeless. And within that space, psychological horror has carved out its own chilling niche. These aren’t just games with monsters hiding behind doors. They worm into your head, challenge your perceptions, and quietly build unease in ways that brute force scares never could.
In the upcoming months, several psychological horror games are heading to PS5 and PC. But before those new titles take over your timelines, this weekend is the perfect time to dive into some of the finest psychological horror experiences already available. These aren’t just spooky games. They’re unsettling stories, emotional deep-dives, and mind-bending journeys that stay with you long after the credits roll.
So switch off the lights, put on your best headphones, and get ready. Here are the top 5 psychological horror games you should be playing this weekend on PS5 and PC.
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Where to play: PC and PS5
I have never dared to turn the lights off while playing this game and if you can, congratulations. You must be really courageous. The Mortuary Assistant is a reminder of how sinister a game can be when you truly target a person’s psyche.
You play as a trainee working the night shift at a morgue, all alone with corpses. Think that’s scary? Add to that the fact that these corpses don’t stay passive for long. Your job is to embalm the dead, investigate demonic possession, and perform occult rituals to banish the evil lurking within. And if that doesn’t scare you, probably nothing will.
The game constantly plays with you by feeding you hallucinations, sudden shifts in environment, and deeply personal psychological scares that blur the line between the supernatural and the mental. Each playthrough is slightly different, with randomized scares and events that ensure no two sessions feel the same. There’s a heavy atmosphere of paranoia, and the longer you stay, the more the game seems to know what scares you. It’s a clever, chilling experience that proves you don’t need a blockbuster budget to leave a lasting impact.
Where to play: PC
Phasmophobia isn’t your typical ghost-hunting game. It’s a deeply collaborative, anxiety-inducing experience that thrives on what you don’t see. As a co-op paranormal investigation simulator, it casts players in the role of ghost hunters entering haunted locations to identify various types of spirits using tools like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and cameras.
But what makes it a psychological horror standout is how it uses the environment to scare you. Every creak, whisper, or dropped item sends a ripple of panic through your group. The game also listens to your microphone in real time, meaning even speaking too loudly can attract a vengeful ghost. And when the lights go out and one of your friends disappears mid-sentence, the silence is often more terrifying than any jump scare.
And if you are feeling super adventurous, the game comes with VR support that can lead to some deeply unnerving sessions that can leave you shaken long after logging off. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, Phasmophobia proves that psychological horror can thrive on tension, teamwork, and uncertainty rather than gore or combat.
Where to play: PC and PS5
When Remedy released Alan Wake in 2010, it became an instant cult classic. But Alan Wake 2 takes everything from the writing and atmosphere to storytelling, and amplifies it to a level that borders on cinematic brilliance. It is less a sequel and more a fully realised creative vision.
The game switches between two playable characters: the returning protagonist Alan Wake, still trapped inside the nightmare-like “Dark Place”, and Saga Anderson, an FBI agent investigating a series of ritualistic murders. The dual narrative structure is one of the game’s strongest elements. You don’t just play through two stories, but feel the psychological weight of both collapsing into each other.
Like other psychological horror games, the environment here shifts, rooms loop, time bends, and the story constantly asks you to question what’s real. Remedy uses live-action footage, dream sequences, and fourth-wall tricks in ways that few games dare to attempt.
The game doesn’t rely heavily on jump scares. Instead, the dread creeps in slowly and intelligently. Every shadow feels alive. Every sound feels intentional. And by the time you reach its final chapters, you’re fully immersed in its twisted logic.
Where to play: PS5, PC
There are horror games, and then there is Silent Hill 2. Widely regarded as one of the most influential psychological horror stories ever created, the remake brings this classic into the modern era with updated visuals, enhanced audio, and a deeper emotional punch.
You play as James Sunderland, who receives a letter from his late wife asking him to meet her in the town of Silent Hill, a place that mirrors his emotional trauma more than it reflects physical reality. The monsters he encounters aren’t just enemies but are manifestations of guilt, grief, repression, and self-loathing. What makes Silent Hill 2 stand apart is how every creature, every location, every puzzle is symbolic.
The remake beautifully captures the fog-filled streets and haunting atmosphere of the original but adds modern lighting, motion-capture acting, and new gameplay mechanics. The town feels more alive… and more dangerous. You’re never sure if what you’re seeing is real or a psychological construct.
If you enjoy layered storytelling and horror that makes you think deeply about its themes, Silent Hill 2 Remake is a journey worth taking, especially with headphones on.
Where to play: PS5, PC
Some horror games are about survival. But Layers of Fear is about unraveling, and it takes you along for the ride.
This 2023 reimagining combines the original game, its sequel, and new story content into a single cohesive narrative powered by Unreal Engine 5. It’s visually stunning, emotionally heavy, and psychologically unhinged in the best possible way.
You explore the minds of tormented artists, painters, writers, composers, each haunted by their own obsessions, regrets, and creative nightmares. The game uses shifting hallways, looping rooms, impossible architecture, and dramatic lighting to make you feel trapped in a mind that’s collapsing.
It’s a game that wants to unsettle you quietly, and it succeeds. If you love slow-burn psychological horror that hits hard without relying on loud scares, Layers of Fear is perfect for a daring weekend playthrough.
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