It's always a good time to pay homage to one of the scariest settings for any type of horror medium. The woods serve as an excellent scene for many horror titles; it's the ability to make you question the noise of every branch snapping and every owl hooting that will leave you constantly looking over your shoulder. Something about being alone in the middle of nature is greatly disturbing.
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PostsWith the fear of someone watching you from behind the trees in the distance or the risk of getting lost and being helplessly stranded, the woods can have a great effect in setting the scene and tone of a great horror game.
Updated on October 6, 2024, by Dennis Moiseyev: The wilderness in the dead of night is a fantastic setting for the horror genre, whether it be for a horror movie or game. Luckily, most game developers agree. Below you'll find plenty more scary titles that take place in the woods across both indie and Triple-A titles.
23 Choo-Choo Charles
Although Choo-Choo Charles puts you on a train that travels along an open world, the environment is all pretty much grassy wilderness areas set during the night. And your main enemy here is indeed the giant spider-train hybrid monster that's one of the most uniquely designed horror villains in a while.
The gameplay is pretty short, and the main goal is to collect all three colorful eggs to summon Charles and defeat the creature. Those eggs are guarded by Charles's loyal cultists, which you'll have to stealthily sneak by to recover each one. And then, Charles will also chase your train as you try to outrun the beast on the tracks, though you can spray it with flames (aka 'Bug Spray').
22 Edge Of Sanity
Edge of Sanity brings Lovecraftian horror to the wilderness of Alaska in the 1960s. You work for an organization called PRISM, which is researching something otherworldly across its field laboratories, thereby resulting in workers turning into eldritch monstrosities reminiscent of The Thing, as well as bringing other alien creatures to wreak havoc in the snowy woods.
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Posts 4For a 2D horror game, the setting, art style, and sound design, coupled with the stealth mechanic of having to hide from enemies, create an impeccable horror atmosphere. You'll have to venture off on quests and bring fellow survivors to your camp while managing your resources and surviving each night. As the title suggests, your character's sanity will be affected over time.
21 Silent Breath
Silent Breath is one of the first Unreal Engine 5 games to make convincing that video game characters are seemingly present in the real world; the environment graphics and textures are just mind-bogglingly real. That's also because of how it's framed, with your character being a police officer seeing the world through a body camera lens.
The found footage aspect and the fact that this all takes place in 1999 can't help but feel like The Blair Witch Project was a heavy inspiration. You start by investigating a crime scene, where strange occurrences begin to mess with you. You'll then venture into the surrounding woods and encounter horrifying creatures that can jump scare you, and the goal is not to make a sound, because the game detects your microphone.
20 Bramble: The Mountain King
Bramble: The Mountain King
Action-Adventure 4.0/5 Released April 27, 2023 Developer(s) Dimfrost Publisher(s) Dimfrost, Merge Games Limited Platform(s) PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand CollapseYou can think of Bramble: The Mountain King as a gorier and more mature version of Little Nightmares. It's a game that follows a young boy named Olle on a quest to rescue his sister, Lillemor, who's been stolen away by creatures inspired by Nordic myth.
Olle will venture into the woods of the Enchanted Forest and encounter many creepy fantasy creatures that are trying to harm him; the game's visuals and enemy designs will both amaze and distress you. You also have puzzles and platforming sections and even a couple of boss fights in store.
19 Lempo
Lempo is a horror game with a story honoring Finnish mythology. The main premise here is that you get lost in some woods known as Metsänpeitto, a term in Finnish folklore for a forest that imprisons all those entering it. As the protagonist, Paul, you'll navigate your way around the eerie location and find remnants of other people who were trapped in the Metsänpeitto before you.
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PostsIf you enjoy movies where horror and mythology cross over, like Netflix's The Ritual, Lempo is a solid companion game. It's an indie horror walking simulator, so it's not too challenging of an experience. Discovering more about the lesser-known mythology of Finnish culture is also a big plus.
18 Bigfoot
It all depends on you, your wits, and the tools and weapons of modernity to scour Yellowstone National Park for the elusive Bigfoot. Although, don't expect a strong and scary Sasquatch to be your only threat; the local wildlife might see you as a snack or an invader of their territory.
Bigfoot lets you play solo, with friends against an AI, or in full-blown PvP. Just remember that nowhere is truly safe and that, sometimes, the hunter can become the hunted; is the risk really worth proving Bigfoot's existence?
17 The Cursed Forest
While it's already pretty spooky exploring a forest or wooded area on your own at night, The Cursed Forest manages to amplify that feeling; you'll quickly figure out that you're not the only thing living in this forest.
Hunted by a mystical, malevolent creature, you'll wander through an almost fairy-tale-like forest, discovering the malicious intent of your pursuer, and the ritualistic mechanisms by which you can save yourself.
You'll likely enjoy this adventure-horror game if you prefer chilling, atmospheric horror with bits of dark humor, instead of jump scares.
16 Sons Of The Forest
Sons of the Forest
Survival Open-World Survival Horror Released February 22, 2024 Developer(s) Endnight Games Publisher(s) Newnight Platform(s) PC Powered by Expand CollapseAs you explore a cannibal-infested island in search of a missing billionaire after your helicopter crashed, you'll begin to wonder if the phrase "eat the rich" got taken a bit too literally. Although, you'll find Sons of The Forest has more than just stalking cannibals or the threat of starvation to scare you.
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Posts 1The sound design, enemies, and story elements converge to make a scary, isolating atmosphere that helps to immerse you in this survival-horror experience. If you get scared playing alone, you can find solace surviving with Kelvin, or by playing in co-op with some friends.
15 The Quarry
The Quarry
Survival Horror Drama Thriller Released June 10, 2022 Developer(s) Supermassive Games Publisher(s) 2K Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand CollapseDesigned as a cinematic horror game, The Quarry features nine camp counselors trying to survive their final night on the campgrounds. The decisions you make while playing control their fate in the heavily wooded camp full of scary noises and shadows.
The Quarry became a near-instant fan favorite for its realism and well-developed characters, both of which only make the horror feel more imminent. Since the game spans the course of a single terrifying night, it captures the suspense and anxiety of classic '80s horror films.
14 Ikai
Ikai is set in feudal Japan and is influenced by Japanese folklore. You take on the perspective of a Priestess having to defeat the spirits of her past — but you aren't allowed to actually attack. There is no fight or flight involved; instead, you're facing each horror head-on, making Ikai a truly intense psychological thriller.
This game is great for the horror fans among you who like to have your head messed with a bit and those who enjoy modern horror movies like The Ring and The Grudge.
