Summary
With the distinctly human fascination surrounding zombies, ghouls, and monsters, it’s no surprise that the horror genre has been a clear and present entity throughout history, from mythology to folk tales, literature to films. Its prevalence in the gaming world is no different. For many, creeping through dark and strange virtual environments not knowing what lurks around the corner is exactly the terrifying experience they are looking for.
But what about those games with gruesome, gory creatures where the player isn’t totally helpless? While the survival-horror genre offers an abundance of spine-chilling moments, horror games where the monsters are the ones that should be afraid can provide equally entertaining gameplay.
For the sake of variety, this list will limit entries to one game per franchise.
Updated on July 19, 2025, by Rachael Phillips:While many horror games emphasize eerie settings that favor stealth, many players prefer a bit more control. Action-horror games allow gamers to get more stuck into the plot with combat, be it gunplay or hack-and-slash melee, for a faster-paced experience. Despite the more active role that the player takes in action horror games, the fighting elements do not compromise the terror that the antagonists bring and can even make the whole thing even more tense. This list contains some of thebest action horror gamesof all time.
Dante’s Infernois an action-adventure game full of horror elements, looselybased on the epic poemDivine Comedy.It follows Dante, a Templar, on a mission to rescue his wife from the Devil by fighting through the Circles of Hell.
Not only isDante’s Infernopacked with armies of demons to decimate, but some of the most terrifying visual representations of Hell and damnation ever created. It’s certainly not for the squeamish. This is the perfect game forGod of WarandDevil May Cryfans looking for a darker experience.
Manyfilms have seen video game adaptations; whileThe Mummy(2017) movie wasn’t a huge success, the inspired game was a surprisingly fun experience. As a nameless Prodigium agent, the player embarks on a Gothic Metroidvania-style quest to fight against the forces of Princess Ahmunet.
Should players find swords, daggers, and vampire-infested castles a bit on the nose, pumping a legion of the undead full of bullets inThe Mummy: Demasteredmight just be the alternate experience they are looking for.
Dead Islandis definitely not the most polished game in the world, with plenty of bugs and glitches, but it has not stopped it from being widely loved as a fun experience. An open-world tropical paradise crawling with legions of infected zombies practically screams the perfect action horror setup.
As an immune survivor, players must hack through a variety of zombies as larger forces are after their blood to create either a cure or an even more potent virus. With an engaging RPG system and a focus on melee combat rather than going in guns blazing, it’s certainly worth a play; the mindless zombie bashing is quite addictive.
The firstF.E.A.R.game was initially released on PC, later being made accessible on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This iconic action horror is predominantly remembered for Alma, the terrifying antagonist who has a knack for popping up at the worst times for a panic-inducing scare.
The player controls Point Man, a sergeant of the US Army’s F.E.A.R. unit to combat Armacham Technology Corporation who are engaging in dangerous and unethical bio and psychic experiments.F.E.A.R.has some great FPS combat, alongside a compelling psychological horror narrative - perfect for fans of both genres.
Following the success of the 2016DOOMreboot, id Software, and Bethesda teamed up again to release a sequel,DOOM Eternal. This franchise entry has a heavier focus on story, a decision that proved to be divisive as some believed that it went against the game’s roots, but the over-the-top fast-paced action is still ever-present.
Following the Doom Slayer, players must defeat demons to prevent Hell from completely consuming Earth and destroying humanity. Both the ranged and melee weapons are incredibly cool, and the overall aesthetic is equally impressive, making for some truly epic combat.
Left 4 Dead 2is a zombie FPS set in post-outbreak Southern America, following four survivors fighting their way to the extraction points at the end of each campaign. There are five game modes, including single and multiplayer, as well as others thatallow players to take control of the infected.
With a diverse range of zombie types and a variety of weapons,Left 4 Dead 2has an abundance of intense graphic action, well deserving of a spot on this list.
Alien: Isolationmight have one of thedeadliest stalker enemiesof all time, but Amanda Ripley is anything but a damsel in distress. Like her mother before her, she goes toe-to-toe with the galaxy’s notorious predator in true Ridley Scott fashion.
Players must guide Amanda through the space station to escape, encountering hostile androids, survivors, and the titular alien along the way. With a mix of strategy, objectives, and combat,Alien: Isolationsuccessfully recreates the grungy sci-fi horror of the original film, making for a terrifying, immersive experience.
Dead Spaceis a good example of how a game can be inspired by a classic and still become a classic itself. The originalDead Spacewas inspired byResident Evil 4, though it never felt like a rip-off thanks to itsvastly different settingand a great variety of unique weapons and enemy types.
TheDead Spaceremakemanaged to improve upon its critically acclaimed predecessor, revamping the zero gravity mechanics, story, voice acting, and visuals to massively enhance the overall horror gameplay.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Nightmanaged to claw its way to cult status after initially flopping, eventually becoming the basis, withMetroid,for the “Metroidvania” genre. Theplayer controls Alucard, Dracula’s son, to stop the resurrection of Dracula and destroy his castle.
WhileCastlevania: Symphony of the Nightleans more towards action-based platforming elements, it is still brimming with Gothic imagery. Taking place in Dracula’s castle, this game features every type of classic horror monster imaginable, from vampires to werewolves to ghosts.
Cry of Fearwas originally created as aHalf-Lifemod but was eventually released on its own merit as a psychological survival horror four years after it began development. The game follows the protagonist, Simon, as he attempts to make his way through a nightmarish rendition of a Swedish city.
Throughout the game, the player will encounter relentless ambushes from a series of gory, disturbing monsters which they can fend off with fantastically animated gunplay. There are five different endings toCry of Fear.
