Summary
Fans of horror games have benefited more than most from the meteoric rise of online gaming, with many of the genre’s most famous titles and franchises having started life as free-to-play indie games. With Flash games no longer a thing, Steam is now one of the very best places for those indie game developers to showcase their work, thanks in large to the sheer size of the platform.
This obviously works out pretty well for players too, effectively ensuring that there are always plenty of newfree-to-play gamesjust waiting to be discovered on Steam. Fans of horror games are particularly spoiled for choice in this regard, as there’s an ever-growing number offantastic free-to-play horror games on Steam. Below are some of the very best ones.
1A Place, Forbidden
Steam Rating: Very Positive (All Reviews)
Released in June of 2020,A Place, Forbiddenuses its low poly visuals to great effect. A lot of the backgrounds are reminiscent of the ones found in early survival horror games likeResident EvilandAlone in the Darkand the lack of resolution only serves to make the whole ordeal that little bit more unnerving.
This one should appeal to fans ofPS1-era horror gamesor those looking for a masterclass in creepy atmospheric design. Like its visuals, the gameplay is incredibly simple and the puzzles aren’t too challenging either, but that’s not to say that exploring the library isn’t still well worth the player’s time and effort.
2After Hours
Steam Rating: Mostly Positive (All Reviews)
It may be a little rough around the edges in places, but whatAfter Hourslacks in polish, it more than makes up for with atmospheric excellence. The game can be unnervingly spooky at times, thanks in large to the thought and meticulous attention to detail that went into designing its setting and its excellent use of sound.
Like many other free-to-play horror games before it,After Hourstakes place in an abandoned hospital. Players must explore and escape the derelict facility, while simultaneously being stalked by the mysterious creature that resides there. Stealth and silence will be key for those hoping to survive, though, even then, nothing is guaranteed.
3Alien Swarm
Despite now being more than a decade old, Valve’s fantastic top-down shooterAlien Swarmremains just as enjoyable as ever. The game even features cooperative multiplayer, which is something of a rarity in the free-to-play market. Of course, given the size and stature of the developer, this perhaps shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to players.
Alien Swarmdoesn’t contain jump scares, nor does it rely on shocking imagery like some of the other great free-to-play horror games on Steam, but it can still be pretty scary when an alien swarm begins to close in around the player’s position. In that sense, the game does an excellent job of creating tension while simultaneously rewarding players for their efforts with satisfying power-ups and weapon drops. For those in the market for a good horror shooter, it’s definitely worth a look.
4Alpha Polaris: A Horror Adventure Game
The point-and-click adventure genre has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, though it could perhaps be argued that it never really went away in the first place. Released just in time for Halloween of 2015,Alpha Polaris: A Horror Adventure Gameis a solid example of a post-2000 point-and-click adventure and boasts an excellent story, thought-provoking puzzles, and an art style that perfectly suits the genre.
Those who are accustomed tocheap thrills and jump scareswill likely come away disappointed, as this is a game that seeks to shock its players through immersion, atmosphere, and suspense. It burns pretty slowly in that respect but does so with a surprisingly bright flame considering the limited resources available to the Finnish studio that developed it. Anyone who enjoys Lovecraftian horror will find a lot to like here, though players with an aversion to polar bears might want to sit this one out.
5Ann
Inspired by some of the great RPG Maker horror games of yesteryear,Annis arguably one of the most well-presented free-to-play passion projects on Steam. It looks and sounds fantastic and blends together high-quality animation and traditional 2D sprite-based gameplay to surprisingly good effect.
The game’s storyline is nothing to write home about aside from a few interesting beats, but the gameplay more than makes up for this. The puzzles are a lot of fun and the chase scenes have a lot of potential, though the latter are often held back a little by the game’s poor controls.
6At Home Alone Final
Steam Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive (All Reviews)
As the game’s title might suggest,At Home Alone Finalwas in development for quite a while before the current version was released at the beginning of 2022. The end result is a game that ends up being a lot more spooky than it is terrifying, though it still very much warrants its placement in the upper echelons of the free-to-play horror game genre.
The juxtaposition between the cutesy and colorful art style and some of the dark themes and imagery explored throughout the game works remarkably well and helps to amplify the creepiness to ridiculously high levels. Granted, it is a little slow to get going, and the translation is a little sketchy in places, but neither of these things should be enough to detract from the game’s otherwise overall excellence.
7BABBDI
Located in a forsaken district on the outskirts of a sprawling megalopolis, the town of BABBDI perfectly encapsulates the concept of strangeness. Its desolate streets and the humanoid creatures that reside there are wonderfully unsettling, while the town’s many hidden encourage players to explore it more deeply despite the ever-growing sense of dread.
The goal ofBABBDIis a simple one, with players just needing to find a way to escape, yet this is far from a simple game. Yes, there’s no combat in the traditional sense, but then nor are there many limitations when it comes to exploration. Everything just comes together perfectly, making this not only one of the best free horror games on Steam but one of the best free Steam games period.
8Cry of Fear
One of the most popular horror games of all time thanks to its unique combination ofSilent HillandHalf-Life,Cry of Fearis objectively one of thebetter free-to-play games around. The game boasts a triple-A adjacent experience, with an 8-hour campaign and multiple ending scenarios, on top of a co-op experience and diverse modding community that satisfies anyone left wanting more.
Cry of Feartakes the premise ofSilent Hill’s otherworld and puts it into a first-person survival shooter. While the addition of heavy weaponry feels like it might dampen the horror experience, the game still manages to do a fantastic job of making the player feel helpless, with limited resources and unsuspecting scares hiding around every corner.
9Cursed
Most people have probably never heard ofDisaster Squad Productions’Cursedtrilogy, which, in truth, is a real shame. The three point-and-click games are full to the brim with passion, and although they rarely end up being scary despite the many horror themes and motifs that can be found throughout them, this doesn’t make them any less enjoyable for players.
It’s always nice to see an indie developer improving with each new game and this is very much the case withCursed. Not only do the visuals improve from game to game, but so too does the gameplay; painting the picture of a developer who is gradually mastering the tools of their trade. It will be interesting to see what comes next now that the trilogy has been concluded.
10Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft
Described by its creators as “a 3D narrative experience in madness,“Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraftis one of the most immersive free-to-play horror games on Steam. At least it is when played in VR mode, anyway: a feature that most indie devs could only dream of implementing in their titles, especially those that are being given away for free.
As the title might suggest, it’s one of manygames inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraftand can be played with or without a VR headset. The whole thing can be completed in under half an hour, but the atmosphere presented within this visual novel will likely have players returning whenever they find themselves in the mood for another spooky boat ride.
