Array
Halloween is the perfect time to indulge in the horror genre. Whether you’re into movies, TV shows or braving a Stephen King novel, horror’s scares hit different when the nights draw in. And creepy video games are no different. (Check out our full list of scary PC and console games.)
We’ve pulled together a list of mobile horror games for Android, iPhone and iPad that’ll make your spooky season extra chilling.
Free with a Netflix subscription
A group of friends hanging out on a beach take a turn for the worse when the teens accidentally open a ghostly rift. Soon the group is fighting for survival, struggling through time loops, and doubting if everyone is truly who they say they are.
I can’t speak highly enough of this choice-based game. Oxenfree calls itself a “supernatural teen thriller,” but deftly avoids tropes and cliches, providing characters with depth and a fascinating, eerie plot. It’s a quick game you could play in one sitting, but there’s multiple endings so you can always go back.
After Netflix purchased Night School Studios, Oxenfree is available to play with a subscription to the streaming service at no extra cost.
iOS: $5
What Remains of Edith Finch is a dark, emotional journey through the seemingly cursed Finch family tree. Edith, the last living member of her family, returns to explore her massive ancestral home. The house seems to go on forever and is packed with rooms and secret passages to explore.
The game plays out like a series of short stories, giving the player a snapshot of Edith’s ancestors. As you progress, Edith maps out her family tree in a notebook. What Remains of Edith Finch is a walking simulator and a mystery puzzle game, and it’s engrossing enough to play in one sitting.
Without giving too much away, the game is dark, with themes of human and animal death, suicide, mental illness and more. It’s a good game, but if you’re triggered by any of these topics (or topics that you imagine might be related), know that you’ll encounter a lot of them in this game.
iOS: $5
Gone Home will suck you in from the very start. You play as Katie Greenbriar, home from a year-long trip in Europe. When you arrive home (in the middle of a thunderstorm no less), your family has seemingly vanished. Explore all the nooks and crannies of the sprawling house. Collect clues and unravel what happened to your family while you were gone.
The tension created in the game through sheer mystery is almost more frightening than if there were jump scares.
