New Horror Games to Play for Halloween

October is the perfect month for horror games, and 2025 has delivered a wide range of options for fans of the genre. From major releases to indie gems and new demos, players have plenty to explore as the Halloween season approaches.

This year’s lineup includes both games that launched earlier in 2025 and those set to release in October, offering a mix of well-known titles and under-the-radar discoveries.

New Horror Games to Play for Halloween

Major Horror Releases in 2025

While early 2025 was relatively quiet for major horror games, recent months have brought notable releases:

• Cronos: The New Dawn – Developed by Bloober Team, this game follows the post-Silent Hill 2 trajectory of psychological horror. It has reinforced Bloober Team’s reputation for quality horror experiences.
• Dying Light: The Beast – The latest installment in the Dying Light series emphasizes survival and fear, widely regarded as the scariest entry to date.
• Silent Hill f – This release relocates the series to 1960s Japan, blending a classic Silent Hill story with fresh cultural and narrative elements.
• Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition – Originally a VR title, this version has been adapted for traditional screens with improved visuals and AI.

Hidden Gems and Indie Horror

For players seeking unique or indie horror experiences, several titles stand out from earlier in the year:

• Luto – A haunted house story inspired by P.T., featuring unexpected narrative twists.
• Pigface – A horror-action hybrid reminiscent of Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade.
• No, I’m Not a Human – A tense game where players prevent monsters disguised as humans from entering a facility.
• Heartworm – A PS1-style horror game paying homage to Resident Evil and Silent Hill, complete with a retro soundtrack.
• White Knuckle – A climbing simulation set in a deadly dystopian facility.
• Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days – A 2.5D zombie survival simulator demanding careful strategy.
• The Night Shift – An isolation-focused horror game where entities move only when not observed.
• Dead Take – A partially live-action experience exploring the perspective of an actor in a horror story.
• Eclipsium – A cosmic horror game with a retro aesthetic, offering a surreal and nightmarish experience.

Additionally, co-op horror games inspired by Lethal Company have gained traction in 2025, including:

• Darkwater – Cooperative submarine exploration.
• R.E.P.O. – Collecting scrap in haunted houses.
• The Headliners – Photojournalists navigating a Cloverfield-style alien attack.

New Horror Free Demos

Several upcoming games offer free demos, allowing players to preview their Halloween experiences:

• Sleep Awake – A psychedelic horror story set in a dystopian city.
• Beneath – A first-person shooter blending horror with tactical combat.
• Dead Format – Players explore VHS tapes in a creepy apartment, experiencing different eras of horror.
• Shift at Midnight – Co-op convenience store survival against disguised monsters.
• Crisol: Theater of Idols – A first-person shooter with Spanish cultural influences.
• AILA – A Black Mirror-inspired narrative about a developer trapped in immersive tech.
• Ground Zero – A demo reminiscent of classic Resident Evil gameplay.

Upcoming Horror Releases in October 2025

Several highly anticipated games are set for release in October, perfect for the Halloween season:

• Bye Sweet Carole – October 9 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) A horror story with art inspired by classic animation, blending a Grimm’s fairy tale atmosphere with unsettling narrative elements.
• Little Nightmares 3 – October 9 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PS4, Xbox One) The next entry in the Little Nightmares series adds co-op gameplay and is developed by Supermassive, taking over from Tarsier Studios.
• The Lacerator – October 9 (PC) A brutal horror game focused on survival and limb-severing mechanics, typical of DreadXP’s style.
• Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 – October 21 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One) An RPG with horror-adjacent themes, set in neo-noir Seattle, blending vampire action with narrative mystery.
• Days Without Incident – October 22 (PC) A prototype-style horror game that provides insight into game development while offering a unique story experience.
• Escape the Backrooms – October 23 (PC) A co-op horror game navigating liminal spaces, arriving in time for Halloween.
• Tormented Souls 2 – October 23 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S) A sequel inspired by classic Resident Evil titles, featuring fixed camera angles and tense survival mechanics.
• The Seance of Blake Manor – October 27 (PC) A detective-horror game set in a haunted hotel, combining timed investigation mechanics with a distinct art style.
• Ire: A Prologue – October 28 (PC) A deadly hide-and-seek horror game aboard a ship, intended as a prologue to a larger narrative universe.
• Five Nights at Freddy’s – Secret of the Mimic – October 31 (PC, PS5) The physical PS5 edition releases on Halloween, offering a first-person perspective in this classic horror series.

Final Thoughts

Halloween 2025 promises a diverse selection of horror games for all types of players. From major releases and indie experiments to demos and co-op adventures, this season offers plenty of options to immerse oneself in chilling experiences. Whether revisiting classic survival horror or exploring new and inventive stories, horror fans have a full month of scares ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What are the best horror games to play for Halloween 2025?

Some of the top horror games for Halloween 2025 include Silent Hill f, Little Nightmares 3, Dying Light: The Beast, Bye Sweet Carole, and Tormented Souls 2. Indie games like Heartworm, Pigface, and co-op experiences such as R.E.P.O. are also highly recommended.

Which new horror games are releasing in October 2025?

Key October 2025 releases include Bye Sweet Carole (Oct 9), Little Nightmares 3 (Oct 9), Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (Oct 21), Escape the Backrooms (Oct 23), Tormented Souls 2 (Oct 23), The Seance of Blake Manor (Oct 27), and Ire: A Prologue (Oct 28).

Are there any free horror game demos available this Halloween?

Yes. Free demos available on Steam include Sleep Awake, Beneath, Dead Format, Shift at Midnight, Crisol: Theater of Idols, AILA, and Ground Zero. These demos allow players to preview upcoming full releases.

What are some hidden indie horror games from 2025?

Notable indie horror games from 2025 include Luto, Pigface, No, I’m Not a Human, Heartworm, White Knuckle, Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days, The Night Shift, Dead Take, and Eclipsium.

Are there co-op horror games available for Halloween 2025?

Yes. Popular co-op horror titles include R.E.P.O., Darkwater, The Headliners, and Shift at Midnight, allowing friends to explore scary environments together.

Which platforms are these horror games available on?

Most new horror releases are available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and some on Switch or legacy consoles such as PS4 and Xbox One. Specific titles may vary, so players should check platform availability before purchase.

Major Horror Releases (2025)

1. Cronos: The New Dawn
2. Dying Light: The Beast
3. Silent Hill f
4. Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

Hidden Gems and Indie Horror

1. Luto
2. Pigface
3. No, I’m Not a Human
4. Heartworm
5. White Knuckle
6. Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days
7. The Night Shift
8. Dead Take
9. Eclipsium

Co-op / Lethal Company-Like Games

1. Darkwater
2. R.E.P.O.
3. The Headliners
4. Lethal Company (mentioned as reference)

New Horror Demos

1. Sleep Awake
2. Beneath
3. Dead Format
4. Shift at Midnight
5. Crisol: Theater of Idols
6. AILA
7. Ground Zero

Upcoming Horror Releases (October 2025)

1. Bye Sweet Carole – October 9
2. Little Nightmares 3 – October 9
3. The Lacerator – October 9
4. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 – October 21
5. Days Without Incident – October 22
6. Escape the Backrooms – October 23
7. Tormented Souls 2 – October 23
8. The Seance of Blake Manor – October 27
9. Ire: A Prologue – October 28
10. Five Nights at Freddy’s – Secret of the Mimic (physical r