2023 is shaping up to be a pretty good year for gaming, with so many different genres that will begin to appear for us all to play; from shooters, RPGs, open-world exploration games, and – what this list is all about – psychological horror games that will frighten the life out of you. This is a genre that has been hit and miss over the years, but when studios do get them right, they are – for the most part – equally terrifying and brilliant. There are a good few remakes heading our next year as well to keep an eye on as well as some original ideas, so here is a list of some anticipated upcoming psychological horror games for 2023.
#12 Demonologist
Platform: PC
Release Date: September 25, 2023
Is there anything more psychological than going into a place that you KNOW is haunted…but you aren’t sure what exactly is haunting it? In Demonologist, you’ll have the choice to go into haunted locations by yourself or with allies and use your various equipment to try and figure out what roams around.
Not everything is simply a ghost, so you’ll need to be mindful of what you do, and then when you locate the entity, you’ll need to exorcise it! Your voice will add to the horror as the spirits and houses will react to your words.
So whatever you choose to do, be careful.
#11 Dredge
Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One PS5 XSX|S Switch
Release Date: March 30, 2023
Steam | Playstation | Xbox | Nintendo
For ages, sailors would tell tales of the high seas and the dangers that lurked beneath the waves. But many of these tales were far-fetched, exaggerated, or simply not true. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t monsters of the deep, and in Dredge, you will get up close and personal with many of them.
Your journey will start as a simple fisherman trying to make their way and learn the truth about the islands they fish within. But once you dare to brave the darkened waters at night, you’ll see just how many “bigger fish” there are out there and how small your boat feels in comparison.
So you best start believing in monster fish stories. You’re in one.
#10 Fort Solis
Platform: PC PS5
Release: August 22, 2023
Fort Solis follows Jack, who responds to an alarm distress call from a nearby base on Mars. Making the journey there, Jack finds that the base is empty, with no signs of the crew. Things only take a turn for the worse as a storm approaches, forcing Jack to say within the base. Now left alone, players will venture through the area and piece together what happened to everyone. However, it might be a fight for survival as you attempt to make it until morning for the storm to pass and make your way back for help.
#9 Amnesia: The Bunker
Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One XSX|S
Release: May 16, 2023
Frictional Games is known for bringing out first-person survival horror experiences and now they have another for players to go through. Amnesia: The Bunker puts players into the role of a French soldier during WWI. Finding a desolate bunker and becoming trapped within it, you’ll need to venture through the bunker to find a means of escape. However, just like previous titles from Frictional Games, something genuinely sinister lurks in the area seeking you out. Solving the puzzles and staying out of sight is the name of the game here.
#8 Fatal Frame / Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One XSX|S PS5 Switch
Release: March 09, 2023
The Fatal Frame franchise might not be as well known or beloved as some competitors, but it has been around since 2001. Those familiar with the IP might have also played the games over the years. With Fatal Frame / Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, players are getting a remastering of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water. This game launched into the marketplace on the Nintendo Wii U, and we know how well that console platform performed. So naturally, quite a few players out there never got the chance to enjoy this game. Gameplay is like the past installments, as players use a special camera to spot and repel ghosts. Overall, the story is about a group of children that mysteriously vanished during a festival on Rogetsu Isle. While found, the children lost their memories. Years later, the teenagers venture to Rogetsu Isle, hoping to uncover what really happened.
#7 Eresys
- Developer: Ares Dragonis
- Publisher: Ares Dragonis
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: April 20, 2023
There are many video games that depict the world and the “vision” of H.P. Lovecraft. Eresys is one of the few where you can travel through the dark world with friends.
In 4-person co-op, you’ll wade through dark environments and attempt to survive the creatures that live within. Teamwork is what will ensure survival, so don’t be afraid to ask your allies for help when the time comes.
The real horror in the game is the lack of knowledge of what will come next. Anything you do can trigger an event and summon a monster from the void to attack you. So be ready.
#6 Unholy
- Developer: Duality Studio
- Publisher: Hook
- Platforms: PC PS5 XSX|S
- Release date: July 20, 2023
Welcome to the world of Unholy. Or, to be more accurate, welcome to the worlds of this unique psychological horror. Your child has gone missing, and you must find them! But to do so, you’ll need to crossover from the real world to one that is ruled by a vile caste of priests!
You’ll have much to do as you try to survive the game. But, first, you’ll need to explore both sides of the game, solving puzzles and taking on challenges like infiltrating areas.
But that’s not all. Over time, you’ll build a mask that’ll grant you special abilities! Tailor it to your needs to unlock what you need to survive.
#5 Layers of Fear
- Developer: Bloober Team
- Publisher: Aspyr
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
- Release date: January 15, 2023
Bloober Team is known for delivering horror games, and one of their franchises that gained a massive following is Layers of Fear. This series has two installments, but now this year we have the third installment available. Just as before we have an atmospheric horror experience where we have a remake of sorts of the first two installments. Here you’re once again exploring horrifying locations, solving puzzles and gathering clues to help paint the narrative behind a painter who’s sanity began to deteriorate.
#4 Ad Infinitum
- Release date: September 14, 2023
- Developers: Hekate GmbH, Hekate
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5
- Publishers: Nacon, BIGBEN INTERACTIVE
Here’s another survival horror game, but this time it is focused on a family drama that is set in a surrealistic World War 1 environment. Players will take control of a German soldier who must fight for their sanity in the unforgiving trenches of the Great War. Haunted by his experiences, the protagonist will face terrible creatures, death traps, insane mysteries, and his own inner dilemmas as they mark a path through the battlefield. Can you battle through what’s real and what has emerged from your subconscious?
#3 The Outlast Trials
- Developer: Red Barrels
- Publisher: Red Barrels
- Release date: TBA
- Platform: Microsoft Windows
If you’re a fan of horror games, then you’ve likely either played or at least know about The Outlast franchise. Two mainline installments have been released, and before we get The Outlast 3, we’re getting a multiplayer-focused horror experience. Set well before the events of the first two games, and players will find that The Outlast Trials is set during the Cold War. You will soon find yourself being nothing more than a test subject locked behind the cruel imprisonment of the Murkoff Corporation.
You are used to test brainwashing and other unethical experiments further. To get out, you’ll need to complete a series of tests. But much like the other games, you’ll find a slew of enemies looking for you to meet your demise. Within the game, you’re sent off to complete a series of tasks, and again, just like the previous two games, you’re best to avoid enemies when possible, which means running for your life or finding a quick hiding spot. Fortunately, you can either play this as a solo experience or seek some help with friends through online cooperative multiplayer.
#2 Alan Wake 2
- Release date: October 27, 2023
- Developer: Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5
Whether you’re looking for something to play during the year’s spooky season or just need a thrilling horror gameplay experience, Alan Wake II might intrigue you. Now, before you strike this one off the list, Alan Wake II might be a sequel, but it’s developed to be a standalone experience. So you can go into this thrilling horror experience without knowledge from the first game. With that said, Alan Wake II does follow Alan once again. We know he’s trapped in the Dark Place and striving for a means of escape.
Meanwhile, this game will introduce a secondary protagonist to take control of named Saga Anderson. Saga is an FBI agent sent to Bright Falls, Washington, to solve a series of ritualistic murders. If you’ve played the first game installment, you know there was always a horror element attached. However, with Alan Wake II, Remedy Entertainment focused strictly on horror. We’re getting a survival horror gameplay experience, which means being careful with your resources and preparing to take in the eerie atmosphere.
#1 Dead Space
- Release date: January 27, 2023
- Developer: Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher: Epic Games
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5
Horror games in the video game space are notorious for their inconsistent natures. But with the Dead Space Remake, you’ll get the horror feeling that the original game delivered, but with a new coat of paint that makes it all the more special.
Specifically, they upgraded the visuals and the audio to deliver a truly terrifying experience as you wander around the ship you were brought in to help fix. But things can only get bad when you never know what lies around every corner.
So be smart, pay attention to what’s around you, and figure out the truth. If the truth is worth finding, that is.
Disclaimer: This article was updated on 11/1/23 as we continue to adjust this list with new entries or remove games due to delays or failure to captivate audiences.
