Horror titles are no longer the niche genre they used to be, with terrors and frights now a remarkably popular medium for both films and games. Luckily for fans of fear and Xbox Game Pass owners, there is a downright treasure trove of horror games available on the Xbox Game Pass library.
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From gritty survival experiences to jump-scare-filled co-op adventures, this collection presents a more than decent offering to players. Steeled nerves and a willingness to be terrified are the only things needed (aside from a Game Pass subscription) to dive right in.
10 Dead Space
- Approximate Game Length: 12 Hours
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter/Survival Horror
- Developer: Visceral Games (formerly EA Redwood Shores)
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 6 GB (July 2021)
Something about mashing up the genres of science-fiction and horror has always managed to yield desirable results, and Dead Space is no exception to this rule. Guiding Isaac Clarke through the derelict halls of the USG Ishimura after a particularly unfortunate space-fender-bender is nothing short of tense, and the design direction of the Necromorphs is appropriately horrifying. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, let’s just say that the narrative presented in Dead Space has the psychological trappings of a horror classic, making it a must-play for survival-horror aficionados.
9 Outlast 2
- Approximate Game Length: 8 Hours
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Developer: Red Barrels
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 18 GB (July 2021)
The original Outlast took the gaming world by storm with its terrifying sojourn into Mount Massive Asylum. Outlast 2 drops players into a gruesome cult community somewhere in the Arizona desert, where they must help the hapless Blake Langermann escape with his life. The spacious areas may be slightly more open than the close confines of the asylum, but that does not mean Outlast 2 is any less horrific than the original. This sequel ensnares players into tense situations where they must rely on stealth and mad dashes in equal measure. It’s not a long, drawn-out horror experience, but plenty of gut-clenching moments make it an unforgettable addition to the Xbox Game Pass library.
8 The Evil Within
- Approximate Game Length: 18 Hours
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Developer: Tango Gameworks
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 34 GB (July 2021)
Horror has a way of getting into a player’s head, and The Evil Within showcases this literally. Psychological horror is the name of the game, as players spend the entirety of the narrative wandering through the mind of a killer.
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Walls shift into floors, landscapes change in the blink of an eye, and enemies are grotesque shapes that stem from the tortured past of the villain that created them. Fair warning: The Evil Within is not for the faint of stomach.
7 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man Of Medan
- Approximate Game Length: 4 Hours
- Genre: Cinematic Adventure (Interactive Movie)
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- X|S Enhanced: No (Optimized for Xbox One X)
- File Size: 27 GB (July 2021)
There have been many attempts to find a happy marriage between films and video games as artistic mediums — take practically anything in the Quantic Dreams catalog as proof. But the Dark Pictures Anthology arguably comes closer than most attempts in its bid to operate as a playable horror film. However, it comes with the welcome twist of being able to include your friends with cooperative play. Reactive dialogue options, tense quick-time events, and creepy exploration segments all figure into branching plotlines with registerable impact on the narrative flow — and there’s certainly something cathartic when you can actually prevent a foolhardy protagonist from “going into that room” rather than howling helplessly at the screen as they do so anyway.
6 Doom 3
- Approximate Game Length: 10 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Survival Horror
- Developer: id Software, Aspyr, Vicarious Visions
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 7 GB (July 2021)
After a decade-long lull in mainline releases, Doom 3 brought a distinctly different flavor to the table by leaning hard into a survival-horror take on the genre-defining FPS franchise. This would prove divisive, but it’s hard to argue that it wasn’t impressive. Stepping into the familiar role of a lone space marine stranded on Mars after a portal to hell is ripped open by the overly ambitious scientists of the UAC, it’s up to the player to stop the demonic onslaught by journeying into Hell — and hopefully back again. The measured, tense pacing and emphatic horror setpieces are a far cry from Doom 2016’s breakneck, adrenaline-fueled extravagance, but it’s still a worthy experience that strikes an interesting middle ground between first-person action and horror thrills.
5 Carrion
- Approximate Game Length: 5 Hours
- Genre: Platforming
- Developer: Phobia Game Studio
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 372 MB (July 2021)
Innovative indie games can work magic into otherwise stale genres and styles, and that’s exactly what Carrion does for the horror genre. Instead of playing as a frightened victim, players take on the role of the monster. A hulking, bloody behemoth of a creature must escape the laboratory in which it was created, consuming the hapless scientists and guards that get in its way. While Carrion does not terrify gamers the way a typical horror title might, it does ensure a few cringe-worthy moments as players confront the atrocities they have to commit to win.
4 Dead By Daylight
- Approximate Game Length: N/A
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Developer: Behaviour Interactive
- X|S Enhanced: Yes
- File Size: 53 GB (July 2021)
Asymmetric multiplayer titles can, ironically, turn out to be rather lopsided experiences, but Dead By Daylight’s horror spin on the formula really manages to pull itself off. Pitting one killer against up to four survivors successfully channels the tense vibe of a typical horror story setup as the killer punishes reckless individual behaviors. Conversely, the killer can be stunted by well-coordinated cooperation. Dead By Daylight has seen continuous updates since its 2016 release, adding great bits of DLC channeling horror greats — packs are available that allow players to take on universes ranging from classics like Friday the 13th to more recent hits like Stranger Things.
3 Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
- Approximate Game Length: 10 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Survival Horror
- Developer: Capcom
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 22 GB (July 2021)
The Resident Evil franchise has long been known for its roots in survival horror, but after Resident Evil 4, the series lost its way for a bit. Subsequent titles focused more on explosive action than frights.
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The release of Resident Evil 7 Biohazard changed all that. Placing players in a first-person perspective and requiring them to navigate through a creepy, decrepit house brought fear back into the veins of Resident Evil fans. Its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass is a blessing (and a nightmare) for gamers who want to be confronted with terrifying situations and inventory management at every turn.
2 The Walking Dead
- Approximate Game Length: 13 Hours
- Genre: Episodic Adventure
- Developer: Telltale Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 4 GB (July 2021)
Telltale’s The Walking Dead isn’t just a horror game, but the troubled studio’s lasting legacy in gaming as a whole. Borrowing the wildly popular universe established by Robert Kirkman’s comic book series of the same name, TWD follows the evolution of young protagonist Clementine as she develops from an impressionable and fearful child into a stalwart and seasoned survivor well-suited to the rigors of the zombie-infested post-apocalypse. In true Telltale fashion, players will need to navigate dialogue options thoughtfully and remember the impact they will register on the other characters. If ever one needs a game that’s emblematic of Telltale’s design philosophy, this one’s it. Also, there are zombies.
1 Alien: Isolation
- Approximate Game Length: 20 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Survival Horror
- Developer: Creative Assembly
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 24 GB (July 2021)
Alien: Isolation is a crowning achievement for the horror genre in video games thanks to the ingenuity of the Xenomorph’s AI. The titular Alien stalks players throughout the halls of Sevastopol Station relentlessly, raising the tension with every hiss and thumping footstep. Sweaty palms and an increased heart rate are constant companions while playing Alien: Isolation. This game does the franchise proud, and it is a shining gem in Xbox Game Pass’ collection of horror titles.
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