As the industry has developed, storytelling and theming in video games have become more and more intense and intentional, helping flesh out the worlds we play in. With how detailed world-building has become to make more engaging worlds in gaming, certain styles have caught on more than others.

Related

14 Spooky Visual Novels To Get You In The Halloween Mood

Visual Novels make for some engaging story experience, and there are some that offer spooky atmospheres perfect for Halloween.

Posts

One of the most popular and engaging themes or topics used in gaming is the occult. Inherently spooky and mysterious, occult games tend to draw you in with intrigue and a dark atmosphere, and that's what makes them so easy to fall in love with. So, what are the best games that deal with the occult?

8 Oxenfree

A Mysterious Island Exploration With More At Stake Than You'd Expect

Close

Oxenfree

Adventure Released January 15, 2015 Developer(s) Night School Studio Publisher(s) Night School Studio Platform(s) Android, iOS, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch Powered by Expand Collapse

Oxenfree starts off incredibly unassuming, seeming to just be a side-scrolling, slow-paced narrative game, but as the story progresses, you'll not only learn more about the characters you're adventuring with but also the strange nature of the island that you're stuck on.

No matter which part of the island you travel to, something strange will always be around every corner, and the further you get in, the more you'll realize that just about everything is a threat to your character. While it might take a while to pick up the pace, once Oxenfree has you hooked, it's not letting you go until you've finished.

7 Control

Escher's Take On The Occult

Close

Control

Action Third-Person Shooter Supernatural Released August 27, 2019 Developer(s) Remedy Entertainment Publisher(s) 505 Games Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

The strange brutalist aesthetic of Control isn't what first comes to mind when thinking about occult games, but very quickly, you'll realize that the events taking place at the Oldest House are far from normal.

Control is packed full of mystery and the supernatural, all presented in an intentionally unsettling way. Controlling Jesse and her telekinetic powers makes Control an enjoyable journey, but thanks to the atmosphere of the Oldest House, you'll never feel fully comfortable.

6 Resident Evil 4 Remake

The Definitive Way To Take Down Los Illiminados

Close

Resident Evil 4

Survival Horror Released March 24, 2023 Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

It's easy to assume that all horror games like the Resident Evil series fit into the occult, but with the first three titles, the series was staunchly sitting in a more sci-fi/horror category. However, this changes with the fourth entry in the series, taking a much more occult approach.

Related

14 Scariest Locations From The Resident Evil Series

Resident Evil is a series built on the unnerving, and recent titles have only delved further into horror. Here are some of the scariest places.

Posts

While the original Resident Evil 4 definitely has its strengths, if you want to feel the weight of the atmosphere on the haunting island setting, then playing the Remake is likely the best approach.

5 Night In The Woods

Mae's Coming Of Age Story Is Less Cozy Than You'd Expect

Close

Night In The Woods

Adventure Released February 21, 2017 Platform(s) Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Developer Infinite Fall Publisher Infinite Fall Powered by Expand Collapse

At first glance, Night in the Woods could easily be described as a cozy narrative-focused adventure, and even for the first couple of hours of the game, that holds up, but the unnerving atmosphere starts to peek around the corner the further you get in.

Mae's story is engaging, and you have plenty of control over how she spends her days and who she bonds with, but the unnatural happenings in her town can only be avoided for so long as the game builds up to its disturbing climax.

4 Baldur's Gate 3

Supernatural Threats Around Every Corner

Close

Baldur's Gate 3

RPG Released August 3, 2023 Developer(s) Larian Studios Publisher(s) Larian Studios Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS Powered by Expand Collapse

Baldur's Gate 3 is a massive game that delves into plenty of different themes throughout its extended runtime, but one aspect it can't seem to get away from is a sneaking sense of something going on behind your back.

Related

Baldurs Gate 3: 10 Side Quests You Shouldn’t Skip

They're worth it every time.

Posts

As you work through the three detailed acts of this RPG, you'll come across murderous rituals, magical danger lurking around every corner, and multiple cults that you either choose to aid or attack.

3 Dredge

You Don't Want To Know What Hides In The Depths

Close

Dredge

Adventure Released March 31, 2023 Developer(s) Black Salt Games Publisher(s) Team17 Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X Powered by Expand Collapse

When it comes to oppressive occult atmospheres in gaming, you wouldn't expect one of the top contenders to be a fishing game, but that is exactly the niche that Dredge fills. While the core focus of Dredge is on fishing and keeping your character healthy and happy (or as happy as he can be considering the circumstances), this simulation starts to feel more like survival.

Each area of the game holds numerous otherworldly threats that don't have the best intentions for your poor fisherman, and the evil under the depths isn't even his only worry, since he has to worry about NPCs that are out to manipulate him and the constant threat of madness the longer he spends out in the dark.

2 Cult Of The Lamb

Curate A Cult But Make It Cute

Close

Cult of the Lamb

Roguelite Indie Games Simulation Released August 11, 2022 Developer(s) Massive Monster Publisher(s) Devolver Digital Platform(s) Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

While most games that deal with the occult will have a threatening and mysterious atmosphere, Cult of the Lamb decides to take a more lighthearted approach, taking themes and ideas that usually hold taboo and stigma and instead poking fun.

It makes Cult of the Lamb a refreshing, if not slightly unnerving, title to play through, as you enjoy its aggressive rogue-lite combat alongside a life sim to manage the health and efficiency of your cult. The game is also regularly receiving free updates years after release, so there is plenty of content to sink your teeth into.

1 Inscryption

Deck-Building Has Never Been So Horrifying

Close

Inscryption

Roguelike Deckbuilding Released October 19, 2021 Developer(s) Daniel Mullins Games Publisher(s) Devolver Digital Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5 Powered by Expand Collapse

If you're looking for a title that keeps you on the edge of your seat, always second-guessing what you know about its mysterious and unsettling world, then Inscryption is well worth diving into. Deck-building rogue-lite games don't tend to be the spookiest titles out there, but Inscryption takes all your expectations as a challenge to prove wrong.

While the oppressive atmosphere and guttural intrigue will keep you engaged, it also helps that the gameplay in Inscryption is as strong as the atmosphere, with the deck-building being fun even for those who don't tend to enjoy the relatively niche genre.

Next

Inscryption: 12 Beginner Tips

Here are all the things you need to know to get started with this horror card game.

Posts