Published on December 17, 2021
Updated on March 2, 2023

25 Best Horror Games You Can Play on a Low-End PC / Laptop

When using a potato PC, hunting down any horror title that may work decently on your system can prove to be a haunting experience. With the sheer amount of AAA horror games that are constantly released, it’s easy to fall prey to the illusion that none of those great horror games will run on your system.

Not everyone has the means to have the best components, but everyone is lucky to discover great horror games. This list was made to let you discover the best horror titles that will run on your low-end PC. There’s a mix of old, recent, and retro titles.

Pick whichever you want, and let us know if you’ve discovered something new, or a title that you’ve had fond memories with.

Table of Contents

Alan Wake


2010
About
Release Date
May 14, 2010
Developer
Remedy Entertainment
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Genre
Psychological Horror
Graphics
3D
Perspective
Third-Person
Concept
Ghost
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Finland
Remakes
Alan Wake
(2010 Original Release)
Alan Wake Remastered
(2021 Remaster)

Brought to you by the minds behind Max Payne, Alan Wake is almost on the same level of epicness as the aforementioned. Despite not being too scary, the game has its moments where it manages to scare the crap out of you.

The game puts you in the shoes of the best-selling thriller novelist Alan Wake as he ventures into an investigation to uncover the obscure reason behind his wife’s sudden disappearance. Alan will experience abnormal sceneries and strange shadows that’ll haunt him throughout the game. Thankfully, Alan possesses the means and skills to outwit any danger that assails him.

The gameplay is pretty similar to the likes of Silent Hill: Downpour, and Dead Space. An over-the-top action third-person shooter that sees you encountering shadows that are weak against the power of light. Light is also your resort whenever you’re low on health as it heals you up. Alan Wake and the DLC are great horror video games, and if you’re reading this using a potato PC stick with the original as the remastered may not work very well, but you’re free to try anyway.

F.E.A.R.

About
Initial Release Date
October 17, 2005 (17 years)
First Entry
F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon
Country of Origin
United States
Main Developer
Monolith Productions
Main Publisher
Warner Bros Games
Main Genre
FPS
F.E.A.R. Games [3]

F.E.A.R is the ultimate definition of how age has no impact on a game if it’s excellently crafted. It’s incredible how a game such as F.E.A.R manages to stand the test of time among other titles such as The Chronicles of Riddick and DOOM 3. While the graphics may not hold up still to today’s standards, the control’s fluidity and the visual effects still make these games recommended to play.

Story-wise, the first and third game has you playing as a silent member of F.E.A.R (First Encounter Assault Recon). Meanwhile, the 2nd game sees you playing as Michael Becket, a member of the Delta Force. Despite the games sharing different objectives, they all have the same goal, stop Alma Wade before she destroys the entire world.

The best thing about this franchise is its clever AI that will never cease to amaze you. Instead of just taking the cover as every typical AI, enemies in F.E.A.R are close to reality. Means, they can flank you, break into rooms to shoot you, throw grenades, stealthy behind you, and more. The way how enemies react to your actions will certainly shock you.

The Suffering / The Suffering: Ties That Bind


2004 / 2005
About
Release Date
March 08, 2004
Developer
Surreal Software
Publisher
Midway Games
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On
About
Release Date
September 26, 2005
Developer
Surreal Software
Publisher
Midway Games
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

The Suffering is one of the closest games to Silent Hill in my book. Not because of its over-the-top gunplay action, but because of the uncanny atmosphere that surrounds Torque whenever he goes. Memories of the past are haunting him, grotesque creatures appear from every corner, and the only way to survive is to shoot yourself throughout the traumatic experience.

Fans of Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 will feel right at home when playing The Suffering franchise. However, the downside of this franchise, to me, is that it feels unfinished. The second game leaves you yearning for more of Torque’s action, but with Midway Games gone and Warner Bros possessing the rights, I doubt that fans of the genre will get the third game.

The first Suffering runs on nearly everything, however, beware that the first entry suffers from some game-breaking issues. Thankfully, you can easily solve this by checking the GOG forum. Meanwhile, the second game (Ties that Bind) has zero issues.

Condemned: Criminal Origins


2005
About
Release Date
November 16, 2005
Developer
Monolith Productions
Publisher
SEGA
Genre
Psychological Horror
Concept
Atmospheric
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States
Available On

Developed by the same team that made the first F.E.A.R game, Condemned is a psychological horror first-person experience that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. You take on the role of an FBI agent framed for a murder he didn’t commit. Police are looking for him, and the only way to solve that case is to find the murderer responsible for turning his life upside down.

Ethan Thomas will traverse through the darkest areas of the city, and encounter the craziest people he’ll ever meet in his life. People that just want to crack his skull and move on.

Fans of the genre will find themselves immersed in this masterpiece as it contains one of the scariest environments ever created. One thing that sets Condemned apart from F.E.A.R is the emphasis on melee combat. Guns and ammo are scarce, so your way to survive is by learning the combat mechanics. The developers have put an emphasis on that gameplay mechanic as it conveys a sense of realism as you room the surroundings filled with homeless people.

Silent Hill 4: The Room


2004
About
Release Date
June 17, 2004
Developer
Team Silent
Publisher
Konami Digital Entertainment
Franchise
Silent Hill
Genre
Psychological Horror
Concept
Atmospheric
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Japan
Available On

Despite being inferior to previous instalments in the series, Silent Hill 4 is worth the shot. Thanks to GOG’s efforts, the game has been resurrected from its abandonware hell.  We hope that Konami will re-consider reviving all of their Silent Hill games on both Steam and GOG in the foreseeable future.

Silent Hill 4’s plot has you venturing as Henry Townshend into a horrifying reality where you’ll experience fear, sadness, and countless horrors that no ordinary human being can withstand. This experience will test Henry’s sanity and determination. He has to escape The Room and find a way to rescue others who are suffering the same fate, but will he truly save them?

Alien: Isolation™


2014
About
Release Date
October 06, 2014
Developer
Creative Assembly
Publisher
SEGA
Genre
Horror
Perspective
First-Person
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Available On

Alien Isolation remains one of the best horror games ever released. Nothing tops the feeling of being powerless, stuck on a space station with deadly creatures. Thanks to the excellent level of design and the clever AI, you’re in for an unforgettable experience.

The game’s goal is to survive all the odds at the space station. You’ll be sneaking behind aliens, crawling under desks, infiltrating small vents, and hiding behind lockers hoping the aliens won’t sniff your fear.

Little Nightmares


2017
About
Release Date
April 27, 2017
Developer
Tarsier Studios
Publisher
Bandai Namco
Franchise
Little Nightmares
Genre
Horror
Graphics
2D
Perspective
Side Scroller
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Sweden
Remakes
Little Nightmares
(2017 Original Release)
Little Nightmares: Complete Edition
(2017 Complete Edition)

Little Nightmares is more than a horror video game. The game touches on the themes of hunger, isolation, and escape as you control one little yellow girl who must survive the horrors of Maw which is inhabited by creepy monsters. She has to do everything she can to flee, or monsters will eat her for souper.

If you liked games such as Inside, there’s a chance Little Nightmares will be your cup of tea. Sure, these two games may be different, but they both share the same theme; escape. The puzzles in Little Nightmare are simple, and at times tricking. You have to look at your surroundings for clues, interact with the environment, and think about solutions.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

About
Initial Release Date
March 20, 2007 (16 years)
First Entry
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Country of Origin
Ukraine
Main Developer & Publisher
GSC Game World
Main Genre
Horror
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Games [3]

At the time when I discovered the Metro franchise, I felt a bit sad that I couldn’t run 2033 and Last Light on my potato PC. All hope was lost until I stumbled across the S.T.A.L.K.E.R trilogy. The aforementioned is a survival first-person shooter with horror elements that’ll have you on your toes.

This particular isn’t your typical first-person shooter where you can shoot anything that moves without giving much thought about health. You have to loot, and infiltrate spooky places in search of supplies that’ll help you keep going in your journey. Enemies encounter proves to be a challenge, and multiple choices are given to the player: either run away or fight for survival. Just bear in mind that ammo isn’t everywhere in this game.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent


2010
About
Release Date
September 08, 2010
Developer
Frictional Games
Publisher
Frictional Games
Genre
Horror
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Interaction
Real-Time
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Sweden
Available On

Amnesia: The Dark Descent puts the likes of Outlast to shame thanks to how it succeeds at making the player feel trapped in endless paranoia. The game does a great job at making the player afraid of the unknown and what’s lurking in the shadows.

The game was developed and published by Frictional Games known for other horror games such as Penumbra and SOMA. All of these games will scare the crap out of you.

If you’re looking for a horrifying experience, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a great game, and it works on low-end computers very well. Amnesia can be obtained from GOG and Steam for a cheap price.

Dead Space

About
Initial Release Date
October 13, 2008 (14 years)
First Entry
Dead Space
Country of Origin
United States
Main Developer
Visceral Games
Main Publisher
Electronic Arts
Main Genre
Horror
Dead Space Games [4]

Dead Space is a survival horror video game series that draws inspiration from the likes of Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill. The plot of the game puts you in the shoes of an engineer named Isaac Clark who has to go through the horrors that surround him and survive amidst chaotic events that no ordinary man can handle.

The first entry and the sequel were successful, garnering critical acclaim and several awards. However, Dead Space 3 was the final nail in the coffin as it performed badly in almost every aspect. Consequently, EA ended up shutting down Visceral Games for good, and nothing new was heard from the franchise ever since. Except for a remake announcement of the first game that is unclear whether it’ll perform better or worse than the original.

You can always delve back into this franchise if you’re running a low-end computer. The games are well-optimized to run greatly even on Intel HD graphics.

Resident Evil

About
Initial Release Date
March 22, 1996 (27 years)
First Entry
Resident Evil
Country of Origin
Japan
Main Developer & Publisher
Capcom
Main Genre
Survival Horror
Resident Evil Games [27]

It goes without saying that writing a horror games list without mentioning Shinji Mikami’s masterpiece will feel off. Thankfully, you can run many entries in the franchise these days excluding Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 3 remake since they’re fairly new and require at minimum a GTX 1050TI to perform nicely.

For starters who are just getting ready to jump into the franchise, it’s highly recommended to start with the originals to get the feel of true survival horror. Of course, the graphics in the originals don’t hold up to today’s standards if visuals are all you care about. But if what you care about is the story, gameplay, and atmosphere, you’ll have no issue with the originals.

NOTE: Low-End PC players can play from Resident Evil Zero up to Resident Evil 6 without any issues. Those who have a dedicated GPU such as GTX 750TI can play up to Resident Evil 2 remake without any issues.

Clive Barker’s Undying


2001
About
Release Date
February 21, 2001
Developer
Electronic Arts
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Genre
FPS
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States

Despite its two-decades-old graphics, don’t underestimate how far can this game go to awaken fear inside you. If games such as System Shock, Nosferatu, and Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason are your cup of tea, this one won’t disappoint you.

The title was produced by the highly acclaimed horror writer Clive Barker who also voiced Ambrose Covenant in the game. It goes without saying that any horror writer would put a huge emphasis on story-telling and an atmosphere that will leave players on their toes.

You could also give Clive Barker’s Jericho a shot, but sadly, that one is no longer sold in stores. Thankfully, Undying can be grabbed from the GOG store.

Painkiller


2004
About
Release Date
April 12, 2004
Developer
People Can Fly
Publisher
DreamCatcher Interactive
Genre
FPS
Concept
Dark Fantasy
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Poland
Remakes
Painkiller
(2004 Original Release)
Painkiller: Battle out of Hell
(2004 Expansion)
Painkiller: Hell Wars
(2006 Port)
Painkiller: Black Edition
(2007 Content Update)
Painkiller: Hell & Damnation
(2012 Remake)

Painkiller puts you in the shoes of Daniel Garnier who is tasked with preventing the impending war between hell and paradise. And the guy behind it all? Lucifer. Daniel Garner rooms the purgatory as he blasts and slices his way through demon mobs. He’ll also be fighting gigantic demon lords that no ordinary man can take.

The franchise takes inspiration from several shooters such as Quake, Doom, and Serious Sam with the emphasis on blasting up a huge number of enemies on screen. Similar to other shooters, the game is divided into chapters, and at the end of each chapter, you get to fight a boss.

Painkiller franchise is a fantastic yet simple entertaining fast-paced first-person shooter if you just want to blow everything in your way. You can grab the entire set from GOG.

The Evil Within


2014
About
Release Date
October 13, 2014
Developer
Tango Gameworks
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Genre
Survival Horror
Perspective
Third-Person
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Japan
Available On

Brought to you by the highly acclaimed director Shinji Mikami, The Evil Within is also one of his best horror games in the genre. The overall story puts you in the shoes of Sebastian Castellanos, a detective who was entrusted with investigating an abnormal incident only to get pulled into a distorted world full of nightmarish places and terrifying creatures. Sebastian will have to experience a journey to hell before solving the mystery that sucked him into the mess.

One interesting thing about The Evil Within is the stealth mechanic. This latter will aid the player to save up ammo instead of going full force on his enemies. That will pretty much be needed against fearsome enemies. The Evil Within is a great game, but it can prove to be a nuisance on PC. You definitely need patches and mods to unlock the framerates even when using the best PCs out there. Luckily, it works nicely on low-end computers.

Tormented Souls


2021
About
Release Date
July 27, 2021
Developer
Dual Effect
Publisher
PQube
Genre
Horror
Concept
Fantasy
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Chile
Available On

Inspired by classic survival horror titles, Tormented Souls is a throwback to classic Silent Hill and Alone in the Dark. Upon its release, many saw it as a spiritual successor to classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill titles.

You play as character Caroline Walker who must investigate the mysterious disappearance of twin girls in a terrifying mansion-turned-hospital. As you would have guessed the plot is somewhat reminiscent of Silent Hill 2 with James looking for his wife.

System Shock™ 2


1999
About
Release Date
August 11, 1999
Developer
Looking Glass Studios
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Genre
Action RPG
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States

System Shock 2 took the world by storm when it was first released. An amalgamation of horror, role-playing elements, and first-person shooting. It goes without saying that System Shock was a big deal when it was released in the late 90s. Surprisingly, it’s still a big deal nowadays among die-hard RPG fans.

If you’re a fan of Bioshock, Deus Ex, and other first-person RPGs, System Shock 2 is your cup of tea. The game runs on everything these days without any performance issues.

NightCry


2016
About
Release Date
March 29, 2016
Developer
Nude Maker
Publisher
Playism
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Japan

NightCry is the spiritual successor to the cult classic Clock Tower franchise. Directed by Hifumi Kono, and with music composed by Michiru Yamane, known for her Castlevania and Bloodstained soundtracks. Nightcry is a fantastic treat for those who enjoyed the Haunting Ground and the Clock Tower series.

The game is divided into 3 chapters. You control a different protagonist in each chapter, but the villain remains the same. As you would expect from a spiritual successor to Clock Tower, you’re stalked by an evil creature called Scissor Walker. You have to do anything under your belt to survive.

>observer_


2017
About
Release Date
August 15, 2017
Developer
Bloober Team
Publisher
Aspyr
Genre
Psychological Horror
Graphics
3D
Perspective
First-Person
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Poland
Remakes
>observer_
(2017 Original Release)
Observer: System Redux
(2020 Remaster)

One of the best psychological horror titles that launched back in 2017. Released to critical acclaim and various awards, Observer is surely a game you shouldn’t miss.

Observe’s story is pretty unique, veering away from mediocre plots that have been plaguing the horror genre for some time now. Set in the year 2084, a digital plague known as the nanophage has been sowing the lives of many innocent people. You control detective Daniel Lazarski whose capable of hacking into the minds of people to look for clues that’ll help him solve cases. Inside their minds, there is a dark fear that none should take a glimpse at.

SOMA


2015
About
Release Date
September 21, 2015
Developer
Frictional Games
Publisher
Frictional Games
Genre
Horror
Concept
Sci-Fi
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Sweden
Available On

Brought to you by the same studio behind Amnesia and Penumbra, SOMA is yet another walk into the depths of nightmares. When comparing SOMA to Amnesia, it sparks a moot discussion on which one is the scariest. To be fair, to each his own.

Similar to the likes of Bioshock, the game takes place in an underwater facility known as Pathos-2. You take control of Simon Jarrett who has lost consciousness after a fatal experimental brain scan. He wakes up in the facility to find himself alone, surrounded by paranormal activities. He has to survive the nightmare using whatever it takes.

FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water


2014 零 〜濡鴉ノ巫女〜 (Zero: Nuregarasu no Miko)
About
Release Date
September 27, 2014
Developer
Koei Tecmo
Publisher
Koei Tecmo
Franchise
Fatal Frame
Genre
Horror
Perspectives
First-Person, Third-Person
Concept
Ghost
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Japan
Remakes
FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water
(2014 Original Release)
Fatal Frame / Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water
(2021 Remaster)

Originally debuted on the PlayStation 2 console, the Fatal Frame franchise is one of the best survival horror titles that one who is fond of nightmares should try. Maiden of Black Water is the fifth entry in the series and was originally released on the Wii U back in 2014 before being remastered for PC and new consoles. Thanks to the improved combat, and graphics over the original trilogy, the former is a whole new experience.

Fatal Frame’s gameplay is unique and engaging. It’s hard to find something similar to it these days. The closest to that series in terms of gameplay in my opinion was Ghost Vibration on the PS2, but that game wasn’t the best. The game has you controlling three different young girls as you explore claustrophobic environments, purge the wandering lost spirits using your camera, and interact with the surroundings.

The Fatal Frame is pretty underrated in the PC Gaming community, and it definitely needs more recognition. But the best thing? it works on a low-end PC. Even the originals using PCSX2 will work fine.

Neverending Nightmares


2014
About
Release Date
September 26, 2014
Developer
Infinitap Games
Publisher
Infinitap Games
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States

Neverending Nightmares is a unique take on the horror genre with its interesting plot and catchy visuals that borrow inspiration from the lead designer’s personal struggle with depression and OCD. The game puts a heavy emphasis on the themes of loneliness and hopelessness as it’s something that Matt Gilgenbach has experienced himself

The game’s art style borrows heavy inspiration from the works of Edward St. John Gorey who’s known for books such as The Iron Tonic: Or, A Winter Afternoon in Lonely Valley. This particular hand-drawn art style has a pivotal role in immersing the player in the neverending nightmares of the game.

Alisa


2020
About
Release Date
November 04, 2020
Developer
Casper Croes
Publisher
Casper Croes
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Belgium

The PlayStation era was home to some of the scariest video games ever created. The raw visuals have played a role in making the experience even scarier. There’s a charm behind that era that makes many go back to it, and I’m one of them.

Alisa is a unique throwback to the golden age of survival horrors. It’s a pretty obscure title, and one that many don’t know exists. You play as Alisa as she chases one wanted criminal only to end up being stuck in an old Victorian mansion, haunted by doll-like humanoids.

As you would expect from a throwback to the PS1 era, Alisa features tank controls. However, Alisa is also equipped with an array of guns under her belt in case if she needs some protection. Additionally, there are sudden encounters, so be on your guard.

Alisa is a great indie game if you’re yearning for the past, and if this doesn’t satisfy you, you can give Banned Memories: Yamanashi a try as well.

Detention


2007 返校 (Returning to School)
About
Release Date
January 13, 2007
Developer
Red Candle Games
Publisher
Red Candle Games
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
Taiwan

Developed and published by the Taiwanese company Red Candle Games, Detention is a 2D atmospheric survival horror game set in the 1960s period of White Terror.

Two helpless students find themselves trapped and alone in Greenwood High School; the place they once knew as lively and brimming with life has turned into an unsettling nightmare, filled with creatures known as the lingered.  The gameplay is pretty similar to many 2D survival horror games such as Lone Survivor. So, if you enjoyed that one, you’ll like this one too.

Murder House


2020
About
Release Date
October 20, 2020
Developer
Puppet Combo
Publisher
Puppet Combo
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
United States

So you’re saying you can’t get enough of slasher games? No worries, I got it covered. Here’s another ps1-like graphics video game where you’re stalked by one scary giant bunny ready to decapitate your ass any time, and you really don’t want that to happen to you, do you?

Released back in 2020, Murder House centres around a local news team as they break into an abandoned house to investigate a ghost story, only to become part of history. Murder House features unique VHS visuals that send you back to the 80s era when slasher movies were trendy.

Go grab the game from Steam, and if you have anything similar to this one, let me know below.

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School


2016 Remake 화이트데이: 학교라는 이름의 미궁 (hwaiteudei: hakgyoraneun ireumui migung)
About
Release Date
March 11, 2016
Initial Release: September 25, 2001
Developer
Sonnori
Publisher
Wizard Soft
Genre
Horror
Players
Single Player
Monetization
Buy to Play
Country of Origin
South Korea
Remakes
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School
(2001 Original Release)
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School
(2016 Remake)

A remake of the 2001 video game of the same name. The game is based on a true story starring Lee Hui-min who infiltrates into the institution to prepare a surprise for his crush. The horrible truth hits him like a truck when he starts to encounter supernatural events. Creatures are trying to hunt him down out of nowhere, and he has to escape school before dawn. What starts as a surprise for his crush, turns into a nightmare.

This marks the end of this article. I hope that you found the showcased games interesting for your taste. Thank you for reading, and stay strong low-end army.

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FreeckyCake

I'm just your average gamer who enjoys hunting hidden gems and underrated games. My love for Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is like a truck and I recommend that you play it.

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