Whether you're looking for some games to play on Halloween or enjoy horror games in general, there are plenty of games out there to try without even spending a cent. Check out our list below of the best spooky games on Steam that won't break the bank.
10 Best Free Horror Games on Steam
Ginkgo
Although short, Ginkgo is a truly immersive experience where you use a magical needle to weave parts of the world together. Inspired by South Asian supernatural folklore, you'll need to escape impeding monsters as you complete puzzles and explore beautiful but mysterious environments using only your trusty needle.
Dark Fracture: Prologue
Play Dark Fracture: Prologue (linked here)
The line between reality and nightmares begins to collide in this psychological horror game. See what it's like to walk into the shoes of a tormented mind as your usual midnight shift at the research facility goes very, very wrong. Your choices and paths will unravel a unique and horrifying story.
Zardy's Maze
Play Zardy's Maze (linked here)
Zardy's Maze is the perfect Halloween horror game with a simple plot and plenty of scares. See just how brave you are by delving into a cornfield in the dead of night to chop down the ominous large plants that seem to be growing there. With only a flashlight and an axe, you'll have to complete your objective while also avoiding the other entities that are present amongst the corn.
Children of Silentown: Prologue
Children of Silentown: Prologue is a 2D dark horror adventure game where you, as Lucy, must investigate the mysterious disappearances in your hometown. There are plenty of puzzles, minigames, and choices to make as you play, but always remember: stay clear of the forest. This is a great introduction to the Children of Silentown story that you can play for free.
死寂（Deathly Stillness）
Play 死寂（Deathly Stillness）(linked here)
If you're looking for something a little more hands-on and action-packed, Deathly Stillness may just be the game for you. In this FPS/third-person combo, you'll get to customize your own unique character and survive hordes of zombies and other horrific monsters on four different unique maps, including the infamous Backrooms.
Project Kat - Paper Lily Prologue
Play Project Kat - Paper Lily Prologue (linked here)
Short and sweet, Project Kat - Paper Lily Prologue is a pixel art game mixed with visual novel elements. Play as Kat as she and her classmates investigate the origin of a golden letter delivered to them at their school, where something sinister lurks in the shadows. With multiple different endings, you'll enjoy the spooks and storytelling and can play multiple times to see all outcomes.
PROJECT: PLAYTIME
Play PROJECT: PLAYTIME (linked here)
Another great multiplayer online horror game to play for free is PROJECT: PLAYTIME. This 6v1 experience is set in the terrifying universe of Poppy Playtime. Six players are tasked with putting together a giant toy by retrieving the pieces scattered around the abandoned factory. They will need to solve puzzles and avoid the deadly monster toy, the last chosen player, that has come to life.
Related: All Poppy Playtime Characters
Dagon: by H.P. Lovecraft
Play Dagon: by H.P. Lovecraft (linked here)
Dagon: by H.P. Lovecraft is a unique interactive narrative game inspired by stories by H.P. Lovecraft. You'll witness the very horrors of the story come to life, exploring a treacherous sea with a drug-addled mind. You can even play this game in VR for an even more terrifying experience.
SCP: Secret Laboratory
Play SCP: Secret Laboratory (linked here)
If you're looking for a free game you can play with friends, SCP: Secret Laboratory is a great option inspired by the SCP universe. Team up in online multiplayer and divide into teams, some as the monstrous anomalies and the others as re-containment agents. Your missions should be pretty clear: secure the facility or run rampant through the lab, tearing through anything that gets in your path. You'll have to be ready for new dangers and surprises at every turn.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Play Doki Doki Literature Club! (linked here)
Doki Doki Literature Club is, first and foremost, a dating sim visual novel, but it has plenty of other themes included inside and plenty of horror undertones. This is one of the best-rated free-to-play horror games on Steam, and you really just have to dive in to experience the thrills and intriguing story for yourself.
These are just a few of the great horror games available for free on Steam. There are plenty of other intriguing and terrifying options out there waiting to be discovered. Let us know what your favorites were in the comments below, and enjoy the doom and gloom!
Looking for more Pro Game Guides Horror content? Check out our guides on Best Multiplayer Horror Games you can play in Co-Op or Top 5 Best Horror Maps in Rec Room!
Abby Smith is a super nerd and video game fanatic and grew up playing games on a variety of platforms. She likes to spend her free time binge-watching Netflix, reading all genres of novels, and playing all the best new video games. She is currently a full-time Staff Writer for Pro Game Guides, and as an alumni from Full Sail University, also enjoys dabbling in creative writing such as short stories, scripts, and comics on the side.