5 Steam Deck horror games to get you in the mood for Halloween (plus 7 not-so-spooky ones)

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to dive into some horror games on your Steam Deck. Whether you love being scared or just want to experience something spooky, the Steam Deck offers plenty of great games that are perfect for Halloween. From creepy atmospheres to intense jump scares, we’ve selected a list of games that we think are worth trying.

Many of these games are Verified on the Steam Deck, meaning they run smoothly right out of the box. Failing that, they’re at least rated as Playable, so you may need to adjust some settings to optimize performance.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village is the 10th installment in the critically acclaimed Resident Evil series. It takes place in a remote European village filled with mutant creatures. You’ll take control of Ethan Winters, who has returned to the village to search for his kidnapped daughter. Throughout the game, you’ll explore the village, uncover secrets, solve puzzles, meet interesting characters, and fight off hordes of terrifying enemies, including powerful bosses. While its main story can be completed in around 10 hours, 100% completion can take up to 38 hours or more.

Outlast

Outlast is a survival horror game that focuses on psychological terror and suspense. It takes place in Mount Massive Asylum, an abandoned mental institution. You’ll take the role of an investigative journalist, Miles Upshur, who is trying to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at the asylum. Unlike Resident Evil Games, where you can use weapons to eliminate threats, Outlast requires you to follow a stealthier approach and avoid getting detected by enemies. But while you won’t get any weapons, you will be able to use a night vision camera to see in the dark. The game is perfect for those who don’t have much time for gaming, as its main campaign can be finished in around five hours.

Amnesia: Rebirth

Amnesia: Rebirth throws you into the Algerian Sahara Desert from the 1930s, where you take control of Tasi Trianon. She basically wakes up in the desert with amnesia and must now explore the surroundings to uncover the dark secrets of her past. Like Outlast, this game also focuses on stealth and exploration. There is also a sanity meter, which will affect your abilities and perception of the world. Overall, it provides a thrilling experience and will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end. It can take you around 9 hours to finish its main story, but 100% completion can take around 14 hours.

Phasmophobia

Phasmophobia has more than 580,000 reviews on Steam, and 96% of them are positive. This can give you an idea of how good this game is. In it, you can team up with up to four friends and use ghost-hunting equipment to gather evidence of paranormal activity in different locations, such as haunted houses, schools, and more. On top of that, you can use equipment such as EMF readers, thermometers, and spirit boxes, which can help you contact ghosts. Your main goal is to gather as much evidence as you can before the time runs out or the ghost becomes too aggressive. You’ll need to be extremely careful with each step you take, though, as the ghost can be unpredictable and dangerous.

Alien: Isolation

Finally, we have Alien: Isolation. This game is set 15 years after the original 1979 film, where you take control of Amanda Ripley and help her investigate the disappearance of her crew members. The game focuses on stealth, exploration, and resource management. You will need to do everything in your power to avoid getting detected by the Xenomorph, a ruthless yet intelligent predator who will send you to your grave the moment it spots you. Overall, your goal will be to explore the space station and complete objectives such as collecting items, reaching specific areas, or activating computers. The game offers plenty of content, as its main story will take around 19 hours to complete, while 100% completion requires around 34 hours.

A few lighter suggestions

Not everyone loves a straight-up horror game to get in the mood for Halloween. Instead, we’re sure some of you want a more ‘family-friendly spooky’ atmosphere without the jumpscares or gore. For that, we’ve put together a quick list of honorable mentions just below. Warning: some are spookier than others.