Horror in video games has been there since the good old Nintendo days. Some examples are Clock Tower, Nosferatu, Ghoul Patrol, and Zombies Ate My Neighbors. However, modern-day games have taken the genre to a whole new level. Hence, horror games nowadays are divided into sub-genres such as survival based, action-oriented, jump scare fest, reverse scare, and most importantly, Giallo horror.

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The term "Giallo" comes from old mystery and crime thriller novels, usually known for their cheap paper & printing. However, the modern-day definition of the word means a horror-theme piece of media that has elements of mystery infused with crime fiction, thriller, slasher, supernatural, and psychological horror elements. Let's look at the best games from the popular horror genre.

13 The Sinking City

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The Sinking City is an ambitious indie horror game from Frogwares, the developer team known for their amazing Sherlock Holmes titles. Hence, it takes a lot of inspiration from other detective-based games and the horror fiction work of author H. P. Lovecraft.

The game follows the journey of a private investigator Charles Reed, as he explores the sunken city of Oakmont, Massachusetts, in the 1920s. The game has survival horror and mystery elements, which makes it a great Giallo horror title.

12 Amnesia Series

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Amnesia: The Dark Descent was one of the first few titles when horror games became popular on YouTube. Since then, the game has become a series of titles such as Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs and Amnesia: Rebirth.

Most players know the games for their slow-paced gameplay, in addition to puzzle solving, exploration, and dark storylines. The events in the Amnesia games take place between 1837-1937, making them a great fit for the Giallo horror genre.

11 Outlast Series

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When the original Outlast game came out, it became an instant hit among horror genre fans. The reason was simple. It had all the great elements of Giallo horror, such as the main character being an investigative journalist, gameplay driven by mystery, and a story full of psychotic enemies.

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Since the first game, Outlast has become a series and now has multiple games in it. These titles include, Whistleblower, Outlast 2, and The Outlast Trials. According to the developer Red Barrels, the third main game in the series is also in development.

10 Bioshock Infinite

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While not strictly scary, BioShock Infinite takes inspiration from the Giallo horror genre in the best way. The game starts as players assume control of Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton National Detective Agency agent. Booker is assigned to figure out a way into the mysterious city of Colombia and retrieve a girl named Elizabeth.

BioShock Infinite's entire story is full of twists and turns, with great mystery and terrifying moments across the game. It's a must-play for anyone who wants to enjoy a good game without worrying about jump scares.

9 Deadly Premonition

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Deadly Premonition is a 2010 Giallo horror game that mixes the elements of survival and mystery solving in an open-world environment. The game takes place in a unique world split between good and evil, as the main protagonist Francis York Morgan investigates a murder.

During the story, players will come across mind-blowing revelations as they dig deeper into the case and research to find more clues. Deadly Premonition is full of great characters that players will remember for a long time after their playthrough.

8 BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea

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While the original Bioshock is a great sci-fi horror shooter game, the Burial at Sea parts 1 and 2 take the cake at being terrific Giallo horror titles. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea consists of everything that made the original game horrifying, from the underwater setting to the eerie environments.

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However, it kicks it up with a better story-driven narrative and lots of mystery solving. The game is a two-part single-player expansion but works more or less like a standalone title.

7 Condemned: Criminal Origins

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Before games like Resident Evil 7 & Resident Evil Village embraced the first-person horror-survival gameplay, there was Condemned: Criminal Origins that paved the path for possibilities. The 2006 survival horror game is from the guys who made the popular Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

Hence, players can expect an innovative gameplay design, even though the game is almost 15 years old. The game's main story features Ethan Thomas, a crime scene investigator who has to catch Serial Killer X.

6 Until Dawn

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Until Dawn is a PlayStation 4 exclusive title that came out in 2015. It is an interactive drama with horror, mystery, and investigation elements. The game takes place on Blackwood Mountain, as many young adults try to survive till dawn. The gameplay involves finding clues and items as the story gets more and more terrifying.

There are over ten chapters with a hundred endings in the game, which makes it an extremely replayable horror title. The only downside to the game is that it isn't available on other platforms such as Windows, Xbox, or Switch.

5 Observer

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The Observer is the definition of Giallo horror done right. It's a science fiction title that heavily relies on psychological horror and investigative gameplay. The game takes place in 2084 amid a digital plague pandemic, where the main character, detective Daniel Lazarski is trying to find his estranged son Adam.

The gameplay details, claustrophobic environments, and dozens of interesting dialogue make Observer a unique horror game that is a must-play for the fans of the horror game genre.

4 The Evil Within Series

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The Evil Within games have players divided, as some of them think they're bad while others believe they are a masterpiece. However, no matter what the reviews say about the game, nothing can change the fact that The Evil Within is a great Giallo horror title.

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The whole game takes place within the mind of the main character Detective Sergeant Sebastian Castellanos, who's figuring out the case of a mass murder at Beacon Mental Hospital. However, things become extremely complicated when the players fall into the STEM world, where evil persists.

3 Silent Hill Series

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Silent Hill is a mega-franchise of over thirteen games full of mystery, puzzle-solving, and horror. These titles include Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3, Silent Hill 4: The Room, Silent Hill: Origins, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, and Silent Hill: Downpour.

While all of the games are a must-play, the first five titles are truly where the franchise shines. The series also has other games such as Silent Hill: The Arcade, Silent Hill: The Escape, Silent Hill HD Collection, and Silent Hill: Book of Memories.

2 Alan Wake

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Alan Wake is a 2010 psychological thriller game where the main character falls into a world full of darkness. The game's story shows Alan Wake, a best-selling novelist, on vacation with his wife in the mysterious town of Bright Falls.

The game then takes a turn when Alan's wife disappears, and he's left to find out what happened to her as darkness engulfs the entire town into misery. The game's narration style is similar to that of a novel, while the gameplay is straightforward and full of action.

1 The Quarry

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The Quarry is the latest title by Supermassive Games, the developer known for other horror games such as Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology. The interactive drama title shows the story of Laura Kearney and Max Brinly as they drive to a Quarry but take a wrong turn.

Despite the cliché beginning, The Quarry is an excellent horror title due to its amazingly fun twists and turns that always keep players hooked. The game came out in June 2022 on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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