Top 10 Upcoming Horror Games in 2026 (Release Dates, Platforms & What We Know)
If you thought the real world was scary enough, wait until you see what fresh hell developers are putting on a disc this year.
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I have been covering this industry long enough to know when we are in a drought and when we are drowning. 2026 is a drowning year. We aren't just getting the usual AAA sequels that cost more than the GDP of a small country. We are seeing a massive resurgence in AA creativity and indie developers who clearly need therapy. I am talking about farming sims with serial killers, the return of classic camera horror, and the first official game for a franchise that has been disturbing us for forty years.
Today is February 13th and the madness officially starts now. Here is everything you need to know about the nightmares waiting for us this year.
1. RESIDENT EVIL REQUIEM (RE9)
Capcom is finally taking us thirty years past the destruction of Raccoon City. The story splits between Leon Kennedy, who refuses to retire, and FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft investigating the Wrenwood Hotel.
A Tale of Two Nightmares
The most significant shift here is the dual-protagonist system. When you play as Grace you are in pure survival horror territory. You have limited weapons, scarce ammo, and if you are crazy enough to play on Classic mode you are hunting for Ink Ribbons. Leon’s sections are the opposite. He brings the RE4 Remake energy with a combat tomahawk, roundhouse kicks, and the ability to use enemy weapons against them.
Tech That Messes With You
The feature that is going to break people is the instant perspective switching. You can toggle between first-person and third-person at any time. First-person gives you max immersion but leaves you vulnerable to stalkers while third-person offers better awareness. You will need it too because the new "Intelligent AI" means zombies retain muscle memory. Seeing a janitor zombie trying to clean a floor is unnerving. Also watch out for "Blister Heads", evolved Crimson Heads, and a bug-eyed female stalker who is specifically hunting Grace.
Ready to Survive Requiem?
Capcom’s next chapter of survival horror is almost here. Lock in your copy below.
2. REANIMAL
This drops 13 FEB. Tarsier Studios clearly wasn't done traumatizing children with Little Nightmares so they made Reanimal.
Tethered Terror
The hook here is the "Shared Camera." Both players stay on the same screen which zooms to fit the action. If you move too far apart you fail. It forces communication in a way that will likely end friendships. There is no combat. You just have to run and hide from grotesque creatures born from traumatic memories.
Next-Gen Nightmares
They have moved to full 3D exploration rather than the 2.5D of their previous games. The "Shoreline" demo showcases terrifying water-based boat traversal between island areas. The best part? The "Friend's Pass" means only one of you needs to buy the game. If you are solo you can use an AI companion but they won't solve puzzles for you, they just follow you around like a lost puppy.
Dare to Enter Reanimal?
Tarsier Studios is back with something darker. Step into the nightmare below.
3. FATAL FRAME II: CRIMSON BUTTERFLY (REMAKE)
The 2003 classic is finally getting the modern treatment next month. Team Ninja is rebuilding this from the ground up and they are specifically addressing the tank controls that made the original a pain to play.
Weaponized Photography
The combat still relies on the Camera Obscura. You have to wait for the "Shutter Chance" to deal massive damage which means letting ghosts get uncomfortably close. The new "Focus System" lets you align points on ghosts for critical hits.
Emotional Damage
They have added a new "hand-holding" mechanic with Mayu. You hold her hand to recover health and willpower or help her when she falls. It sounds sweet until you remember the story is about a failed ritual and twin sisters. They are also adding a brand new ending featuring the song 'Utsushie' by Tsuki Amano.
Return to the Crimson Butterfly
One of horror’s most haunting stories returns. Experience it again on modern hardware.
4. CLIVE BARKER'S HELLRAISER: REVIVAL
This is the first proper Hellraiser game and it is developed with Clive Barker himself. Reports from press events mention that Saber Interactive actually had vomit bags available for attendees. That is either brilliant marketing or a terrifying warning.
Descent into the Labyrinth
You play as Aidan Lynch after he makes the mistake of opening the Genesis Configuration. The game takes place in Hell's Labyrinth where you have to bargain with Pinhead to survive. The gameplay mixes melee combat (with breakable weapons—joy) and puzzle box powers.
Body Horror Defined
The enemy list is disturbing. You have "Dark Cultists" and "Infernal Monstrosities," but the "Sex-crazed Deviants" are the ones that have me worried about the M rating. Stealth is an option and considering the enemies I think I will be doing a lot of sneaking.
5. GRAVE SEASONS
This is the wildcard. It is a pixel-art farming sim published by Blumhouse Games. You grow crops, you fish, you romance the locals, and you try to figure out which one of them is a supernatural serial killer.
Trust No One
The killer is randomized every time you play. That cute baker you’ve been flirting with for three seasons might actually be the one harvesting organs. It is a brilliant twist on the cozy game genre. Your harvest actually plays a critical role in solving the mystery.
Romance the Killer
The most messed up part? You can romance the killer. If you are into toxic relationships this is probably the game of the year for you. The tone is described as dark comedy with LGBTQ+ inclusive options.
6. SILENT HILL: TOWNFALL
This news just broke and I am still processing it. We knew it existed but we finally have a date (Sort of). Silent Hill is back and it is heading to the Scottish Isles.
The Signal and The Static
You play as Simon Ordell, a man called back to the island of St. Amelia to "put things right." The setting is isolated, foggy, and seemingly abandoned, classic Silent Hill energy but with a cold Scottish twist. The game is experienced entirely in first-person and your lifeline is a "CRTV," a pocket television used to tune into unstable signals. I love diegetic UI elements like this; it grounds the horror in the tech of the era.
Frenetic Survival
The gameplay loop sounds intense. Evasion is described as "tense" while combat is "frenetic." You have a limited set of weapons and tools which is exactly what I want to hear. The narrative-driven puzzles promise to reveal a truth that "refuses to stay submerged." Given the psychological focus this is likely going to mess with our heads just as much as our reflexes.
7. ONTOS
Frictional Games is back. These are the masters who made Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA. Ontos looks to be blending the psychological weight of SOMA with the open-ended gameplay of The Bunker.
Freeform Puzzle Solving
The big selling point this time is freeform puzzle solving. Instead of hunting for a specific key in a specific drawer they are designing problems with multiple solutions. It rewards player creativity which is terrifying because my creativity usually involves running away and hiding in a corner. Given their track record this is an instant wishlist.
8. DIRECTIVE 8020 (DARK PICTURES)
Supermassive Games is launching us into space in May. Directive 8020 is the Season 2 premiere of the Dark Pictures Anthology and it is leaning hard into the 80s sci-fi horror aesthetic.
The Butterfly Effect
You know the formula. It is a B-movie scenario where you control a cast of expendable characters. Your choices determine who lives and who dies. It uses the "Butterfly Effect" system where small decisions spiral into massive consequences. It was delayed from last year which hopefully means they polished the branching paths. Perfect for co-op play if you want to blame your friends for getting you killed.
9. WELCOME TO DOLL TOWN
This is the second game dropping on Feb 13. It is an indie title from Bad Wish Games and it is exactly what it sounds like. You are in a town. There are dolls. It is awful.
Gothic Psychological Horror
This one relies on moody atmosphere rather than jump scares. You play as a young student uncovering the dark truth behind lifelike dolls and haunting reenactments. It focuses on environmental storytelling and blurs the lines between reality and nightmare. If you prefer your horror slow-burning and creepy this is the pick.
10. THE SINKING CITY 2
Frogwares is returning to Lovecraft with a sequel set in a flooded Arkham. They are promising a shift toward pure survival horror which is a bold move considering the first game was more of a detective sim.
Enhanced Cosmic Dread
They are adding proper inventory management and optional puzzles. The enemies include the classic Deep Ones and Mi-gos. I am cautiously optimistic. Exploring a flooded city is always a vibe even if the fish people are trying to eat me.
A landmark year
2026 is a landmark year for horror gaming. Reanimal and Welcome to Doll Town are available right now so you can start your descent into madness immediately. Resident Evil 9 follows in just two weeks.
