This year has already been kind to horror fans, in the twisted way where "kind" means scaring them silly. We've endured a variety of harrowing and challenging trials, from a blood-soaked Lovecraftian nightmare to manipulating the fates of young partiers on a snowy mountainside. Thankfully, the year has a few more scares left. Here's a look back at the best horror games of 2015, and a collection of incoming titles that promise to offer some thrills.
Note: We've updated this story to include our review of Soma. This feature was originally published on September 3, 2015.
The Horrors Already Among Us
SOMA
Developer: Frictional Games
Publisher: Frictional Games
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: September 22
Frictional Games, the horror savants that brought you Amnesia: The Dark Descent, descend even further. This horror adventure dives deep under the sea, taking place in a mysterious underwater research base where the robot help has gone haywire. Enigmatic organic matter fuses with the machinery, creating unexpected and horrifying results. The unease even spills out of the facility, with locations set on the ocean floor itself. Looking out at the infinite blackness of the ocean is not for the faint of heart. (Read our Soma review)
Dying Light
Developer: Techland
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: January 27
Ever wonder how a parkour master would fare in a sprawling city during the zombie apocalypse? Dying Light lets you find out yourself. With an emphasis on first-person melee combat and open-world platforming skills, players are drop-kicking rotten skulls and vaulting over the undead in no time. Surviving the more powerful enemies during the nighttime levels up your abilities faster, encouraging players to face their fear of the dark. If that sounds too scary to handle yourself, you can team up with friends for online co-op. Combine all this with Techland's incredible post-release support and you've got a zombie slayer's fantasy come true. (Read our Dying Light review)
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Vita, PC
Release Date: March 18
This side series to Capcom's juggernaut Resident Evil franchise surprised fans when it first launched on 3DS back in 2012. The sequel continues the fan service on current-gen consoles by picking up the forgotten story threads of Claire Redfield and Barry Burton. Players trade off control of Claire and Barry as they explore a mysterious island filled with tortured creatures, complete with improved gunplay and expanded co-op options. Claire's partner, Moira Burton, can blind enemies with a flashlight, while Barry's spooky little girl companion can point out invisible foes. When you're all done with the intense campaign, Raid Mode offers hours of co-op fun while you blast away zombies and level your gear and characters. (Read our Resident Evil: Revelations 2 review)
Bloodborne
Developer: From Software
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Release Date: March 24
From Software's latest adventure isn't what we'd consider the traditional horror game, but it has all the classic literary trappings of the genre. A lone hunter stalks werewolves and other Eldritch abominations throughout an oppressive Victorian Age setting. Speaking of oppressive, From Software's Dark Souls gameplay chops are on full display here, with punishing boss battles and demanding yet fair combat. Thankfully, Bloodborne benefits from faster gameplay, and is a more accessible entry point into From's unique style of action. You might be up for the challenge, but you might not be ready to see the unflinching might of the cosmos staring back at you. (Read our Bloodborne review)
Until Dawn
Developer: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Release Date: August 25
Everybody thinks they'd handle an ordeal from a horror film better than the numbskulls they usually star. Supermassive's Until Dawn finally gives players a break from going blue while yelling "don't go in there" by handing them control of every bad situation. You can decide whether the meathead jock saves himself or his friend in peril. Hear a weird noise? It's up to you whether to investigate or head in the opposite direction. The terrific PS4 graphics, legitimate scares, and twisting, choice-driven storylines make this a must-play for fans of the genre. (Read our Until Dawn review)
Up next: Horrors from the deep and phantasmagorical photography...