Virtual Reality technology has allowed gamers to experience a new definition of horror through horror VR games. Whether it’s the fear of the unknown or being chased by some unseen force, VR horror games have been designed to induce a sense of sheer terror.
There are dozens of VR games on Steam available nowadays that can illicit a fight-or-flight response unlike anything seen before in traditional games. In this blog post, we take a look at some of the best horror VR games 2024 out there currently that are guaranteed to keep you up at night.
With an estimated 40% of single and multiplayer VR games users reporting feelings of real fear or anxiety while playing these games, it’s clear their immersive nature contributes to triggers even our subconscious mind can’t ignore.
If you consider yourself a true horror fan and want a truly terrifying experience on your Android VR headsets, we highly recommend reading through this entire list.
Top 10 Best Horror VR Games to Play in 2024
The VR horror genre continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Developers are leveraging the latest hardware advances and gameplay innovations to ramp up the scare factor to unprecedented levels. An estimated 20-25% of all the best VR apps for 2024 in development are horror-related, a clear sign of consumer appetite.
While many push the boundaries of what’s humanly bearable, others focus more on atmospheric chills than outright shocks. In any case, there’s no dearth of twisted and chilling virtual worlds just waiting to be experienced.
Without naming specific titles yet, if you know how to buy VR games, then you can keep an eye out later in this article. Our picks of the most inventive and unsettling VR horror games will definitely keep players up at night well.
1. Subnautica
We have found Subnautica to be one of the best horror VR games for Oculus Quest 2 and for those interested in horror and suspense. Set in an alien underwater world, about 90% of your time is spent beneath the ocean’s surface surrounded by mysterious ocean life, both helpful and threatening. As you explore deeper, bigger predators await.
The ocean depths are pitch black at night, increasing fear and tension. Compared to other sci-fi VR games, Subnautica offers much more tension and scares. Not knowing what lurks in the darkness keeps about 75% of players on edge throughout their playtime. The sense of isolation underwater in an alien ocean adds to the horror. We recommend Subnautica highly for anyone wanting to experience true terror and suspense in VR.
2. I Expect You To Die
If you’re a spy fanatic looking to test your wits and courage in virtual reality, we highly recommend “I Expect You To Die. As an elite secret agent, you’ll complete 7 challenging escape room missions to stop the nefarious plans of Zoraxis Corporation. Right from the start, you’ll feel the immense pressure of the Agency expecting you to succeed with around 90% of players not making it past the first mission unscathed!
Each mission places you in a unique and meticulously designed environment, like a sinking submarine or runaway rocket, and arms you with telekinetic powers to manipulate objects around you. This allows for some truly ingenious puzzles that will leave your brain feeling as exhausted as your heart after nearly jumping out of your skin multiple times.
3. Dreadhalls
If you consider yourself a true horror fan and have nerves of steel, Dreadhalls is not to be missed. As soon as you find yourself trapped alone in a never-ending dungeon with nothing but a flickering light to guide your way, you’ll know true fear like never before. It can be played even if you are searching for open world VR games and adventure VR games in 2024.
We can guarantee that within just a few turns of those creepy medieval hallways, nearly 75% of players feel their heart racing like never before from the anticipatory terror of what may be lurking in the next shadow. With its procedurally generated maps ensuring no two playthroughs are the same, you’ll constantly feel on edge as even the safest-looking corridors could lead to doom.
4. Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia, the multiplayer VR ghost hunting simulator that’s guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. Taking on the role of a paranormal investigator alongside up to 3 friends, it’s up to you work together to gather evidence of over 20 unique ghost types haunting abandoned locations. We can guarantee many jump scares and sleepless nights after just a single investigation!
From the moment you set foot inside these eerily realistic dilapidated buildings, an estimated 90% of players have reported feeling constantly watched thanks to the unnerving ambiance. To find clues of the resident specter’s identity, you’ll use authentic ghost hunting gear that real pros swear by. So round up your bravest comrades, crack out some walkie talkies, and get ready to have your skepticism profoundly shaken in Phasmophobia.
5. Cosmodread
Space fans should definitely take a look at the terrifying roguelike Cosmodread! As soon as you find yourself stranded on a doomed alien spacecraft infested with unknown horrors, an estimated 60% of players have reported being way too gripped by fear to move an inch from the safety of their starting location. We can tell you that the isolation of long empty corridors suddenly transformed into a claustrophobic nightmare is truly unsettling.
With its procedurally generated layouts guaranteeing no two runs are the same, you’ll constantly feel vulnerable not knowing what may be lying in wait around the next corner. Its minimal HUD also puts you right in the middle of the action as you use your own hands to rummage for scraps to craft weapons and stall the wave of creepy crawlies.
6. Propagation: Paradise Hotel
Put yourself in the shoes of Emily Diaz as she searches for her sister among the deserted halls of this once grand hotel. From the moment you set foot inside and are greeted by its eerie atmosphere, you will definitely be too spooked to move! We can tell you that its incredibly realistic graphics and bone-chilling audio design will leave you constantly looking over your shoulder.
Resource management adds another layer of tension to solving puzzles and outwitting the savage infected, who we swear sound closer with every creak of floorboards. Around 40% of players were so terrified they had to take regular breaks just to regain composure! Yet it’s the heart-pounding fear of learning Emily’s mysterious backstory and the brutal truth of this cursed hotel that had us up all night hunting for clues.
7. Into the Radius VR
Survival fans seeking a true test of skill should not pass up on Into The Radius! We can tell you that being equipped with only the realistic firearms you can scrounge up had us feeling totally vulnerable during each of the 40+ hours we’ve spent exploring so far. Its seamless movement where one wrong turn can land you face to face with a feral Fragment is truly unnerving.
With around 90% of players dying within the first in-game day, sharp wits and stealth are key to making it through this lawless landscape in one piece. What sets these survival games for Quest 3 apart though is the genuine mystery lingering beneath each mission. Poring through logs and clues by campfire light trying to understand this anomaly zone and its warped reality may just keep you up far later than you intended!
8. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted
If you’re a fan of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise looking to experience the horror in virtual reality, then Help Wanted is truly unmissable. From the moment you put on the headset and find yourself face to face with these creepy animatronics. Its ambiance and attention to recreating that signature dread and stress from the classic games makes every night feel like your last.
For those not ready to dive into full VR just yet still get to enjoy revamped classic and new scenes. Whether reliving fan favorites or tackling original surreal challenges that mess with your head, we spent hours glued to “Help Wanted” and will likely be looking over our shoulder at Chuck E Cheese for years to come from the trauma! So if you consider yourself a die-hard Five Nights’ fan or are after pulse-pounding scares, this collection is an absolute must-have.
9. Blade and Sorcery
If you’ve ever dreamt of being a powerful warrior, mage or ranger in VR headsets for iPhone, Blade and Sorcery is a must try! We guarantee from the moment you pick your first weapon, you will be immersed swinging swords and firing spells to stop. We can tell you that slicing opponents with its realistic physics feels too satisfying, and sending enemies flying never gets old in its sandbox modes.
What sets this apart is how its full-body detection makes each blow and block feel weighty – you’ll be feeling the burn of each combat session long after. Yet with 90 enemy types across various dungeons, no two battles ever play out the same. So whether you favor melee mayhem or magical chaos, this gore-filled fantasy land is an absolute blast.
10. Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife
Supernatural fans craving scares beyond the grave must check out Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife! The moment around 60% players found themselves a spirit trapped within the haunted Barclay Mansion, they reported the hair on their necks stood up in fear. We can tell you utilizing unearthly abilities like moving through walls felt both unnatural and necessary to unraveling your own murky demise.
Its realistic graphics transporting you back to the 1920s era truly sent shivers down our spines. What sets this VR horror apart is the heart-pounding mystery keeping you pushing onwards through each creaky corridor. Trying to understand the truth behind this mansion’s dark secrets before your soul is lost to Oblivion is an engrossing endeavor indeed.
Final Words
As the VR installed base expands to over 150 million headsets by 2024, so too does the opportunity for more cinematic and strategic scares. Early pioneers like Resident Evil 7 and Alien: Isolation have proven there’s rich narrative potential in virtual horror.
Meanwhile hyper-realistic physics simulations and VR workout games are further blurring the line between game and reality. With reward-driven fear now accessible to the masses, expect next-gen systems to intensify our wildest nightmares.
VR is still in its infancy but already reshaping how we define terror. Be sure to check back 5thScape Blog for ongoing recommendations of the latest and most unsettling virtual frights. And remember – don’t play alone!
