When you’re in the mood for an adrenaline rush and some jump scares, you could always switch on the latest or your favorite horror movie. However, movies don’t let you participate in the action like horror games do. After all, when you’re an active participant, you get to experience the scares so much better!
So, for all you horror game lovers out there, I’ve curated the best horror games for iPhone and iPad. Let’s take a look!
- Into the Dead 2
- Horrorfield Multiplayer Horror
- Evil Nun
- Samsara Room
- Death Park
- Rest in Pieces
- Lifeline…
- Eyes
1. Into the Dead 2 – More zombies, more horror and action
You don’t always have to feel powerless in horror games. Sometimes, a few games offer you a lot of freedom in taking down the night’s horrors. Into the Dead 2 is one of those games.
It’s a superb shooting game set in a post-apocalyptic society that’s ravaged by zombies. The game features multiple endings based on your in-game choices and allows you to mow down zombies the way you want. Whether it’s with a crowbar to the head or a headshot from a sniper rifle, the choice is yours.
Apart from the story mode, many online events reward you well upon completion. With different locales, the type of zombie threat is different. So, you’ll have to evaluate and strategize your approach accordingly.
The game runs on an energy mechanic that depletes quite fast. This depletion rate can be a hindrance to gameplay. Hopefully, the developers will fix this issue in a future update.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
2. Horrorfield Multiplayer Horror – Online survival horror
While Dead by Daylight and Horrorfield Multiplayer Horror offer similar gaming experiences, the latter brings in a few changes worth mentioning.
The game’s aim is similar – kill or be killed. There are seven different survivors, each with a unique perk. For example, the basketball player can run faster than other survivors, and the police officer can catch murderers – if he isn’t killed first, that is.
You can play as one of four psychotic serial killers, such as the Butcher and Ghost. The killers have certain perks as well.
Unfortunately, the game isn’t friendly to newcomers. The learning curve is steep, and there are a few difficulty spikes.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
3. Evil Nun: Horror at School – Puzzle game with superior horror elements
When you’re being chased by a supernatural creature and have to complete a puzzle to progress, the adrenaline rush is simply unmatched. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, give this game a try.
Your character receives an invitation to a summer camp and is kidnapped by Sister Madeline of Eagle’s Junior High School. Unfortunately for you, she’s got an evil plan involving some terrifying scares and mind-bending puzzles. The only way to your freedom is to solve puzzles and escape Sister Madeline’s evil gaze.
The game has an interesting storyline and provides multiple escape routes from the school. Most puzzles are intriguing and require you to put your gray matter to use as well. If you think the normal mode is too easy, you can always amp up the difficulty setting to suit your pace.
The only caveat is that you have to backtrack plenty of times to solve puzzles. This can get very tedious and annoying.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
4. Samsara Room – Perfect for newcomers
Samsara Room isn’t your typical horror game with jump scares. This one incorporates an atmospheric ambiance with slight elements of horror to create something truly different.
This makes the game perfect for newcomers to the horror genre. For those who want a little bit of horror and still attend bathroom duties without the constant feeling of being watched by a supernatural entity, Samsara Room is the game to try.
Your character wakes up in a room with odd objects and no escape route. The only way towards freedom is to solve subtle puzzles and attain, as the game calls it, enlightenment! The game incorporates a constant claustrophobic feeling to emulate elements of horror.
While the game is unique, some players may not like its slow pacing.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
5. Death Park: Scary Horror Clown – Endless scares, multiple endings
There’s always something scary about clowns and abandoned amusement parks, right? Imagine a game that combines both to create some of the most creepy visuals you can find in a mobile game.
Death Park: Scary Horror Clown does this and does it very well. For a mobile game, it has excellent visuals, and this increases the scare factor tenfold. There are seven different locations for you to explore and an interesting plot that unravels based on your in-game choices.
While you’re exploring creepy locales, you’ll have to be aware of a horrifying clown that’s adamant about capturing you. You have to progress through the game by solving difficult puzzles and surviving intense encounters.
Although this is one of the best free horror games for iPhone, it suffers from the freemium model with too many ads.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
6. Rest in Pieces – Infinite running
Infinite running games usually feature more arcade-style gameplay and themes. With Rest in Pieces, however, you’re constantly running from scary creatures and disturbing themes.
The game takes the concept of nightmares and uses it to produce excellent gameplay. There are multiple characters to play as, with all of them suffering individual, characteristic nightmares. Will you help Captain Jack Parrot capture the Kraken? What about helping Father Lugosi survive the trials of Count Dracula?
The only way to awake from the nightmare is to kill the bosses. Each character that you control has specific perks you can utilize. My only gripe with the game is its short length. I wish that they added more levels and characters to the game.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
7. Lifeline… – Pensive horror RPG
Lifeline is truly one of the best horror games on the iPhone. If you don’t believe it, you must try this game for yourself.
Your character crash lands on an alien moon and has to survive the rigors of space. In your journey, you will come across many life-threatening situations compelling you to make life or death decisions. No matter which decision you take, it will not be a matter of black and white – only shades of grey.
The gameplay takes place in real-time. For example, if you decide on a task requiring 30 minutes, you will have to wait 30 minutes in real-time for it to be completed. This adds a realistic touch to the game and compels you to be more invested.
While this is an immensely intriguing game mechanic, it may not be attractive for those who prefer simpler, faster gameplay.
Price: $1.99
8. Eyes: Horror & Scary Monsters – Explore at your risk
The exploration mechanic in horror games has been used plenty of times. However, there aren’t too many games that have done it well. With Eyes: Horror & Scary Monsters, you get a great game worth your attention.
You break into a spooky mansion past midnight to satiate your exploration cravings. Instead of finding something interesting, you get far more than you bargained for. You’ll have to escape the mansion as soon as possible, or the terrifying monster will capture you instantly.
This game reminds me of the superhit Silent Hills Playable Teaser released in 2014. It is filled to the brim with psychological horror and jumpscares to scare you out of your wits.
Further, there are multiple levels and game modes to play as well. Fun fact – you can also customize the audio and visuals of the monster that chases you throughout the different locations.
My only issue with this game is its incompatibility with older Apple devices.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
Be scared. Be very scared!
The horror genre is an evergreen one. While the basics remain the same, there are a lot of twists and additions that can be made to keep the genre fresh. I’ve tried to incorporate diversity in this list of the best iOS horror games.
Since we’re on the topic, what’s your favorite horror movie/game/book and why? Post your thoughts in the comment section below!
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