Sony's PlayStation 5 console isn't even a year old yet, so it can be forgiven for not having the deepest library of horror games. However, if past Sony consoles are any indication, the PS5's library of horror games should grow exponentially in the years ahead, to the point that it will one day be a must-have console for fans of the genre.
While there aren't many horror games currently available built specifically for the PS5, the PS5 still has access to an impressive library of horror titles. This is thanks to the PS5's backward compatibility with the PS4, which allows it to access virtually every PS4 horror game. Throw in some PlayStation 2 era horror games that are also available to play on the PlayStation 5 thanks to backward compatibility, and Sony's next-generation console is off to a strong start for horror fans.
Here are the best horror games currently available on the PlayStation 5, from those with PS5 specific versions to those that were originally released for the PlayStation 4.
Dead by Daylight
Asymmetric multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight has come a long way since its launch in 2016. Developer Behaviour Interactive has released numerous updates for Dead by Daylight to make it an even more fully-featured game, with a deep roster of killers to choose from. There are plenty of original killers available to play as, but the real draw are the movie killers in Dead by Daylight that are based on iconic horror icons like A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger and Halloween's Michael Myers.
Dead by Daylight was a PlayStation 5 launch title, though it doesn't really take full advantage of the PS5's added horsepower just yet. Behaviour Interactive has plans to update Dead by Daylight in the months ahead to give the game a significant visual overhaul, which will in turn allow it to better take advantage of next-generation hardware like the PS5. Some of these updates have already been released, and more should be coming in future.
Even without all the next-gen bells and whistles that some may expect from a PS5 game, Dead by Daylight is still a solid choice for horror fans, especially those who are looking for a horror-themed multiplayer game.
Observer: System Redux
Bloober Team has built a reputation for itself as a studio to watch for horror fans, known for its games like Layers of Fear and The Medium. Bloober Team's The Medium is a next-gen only experience and while it was originally an Xbox console exclusive, it's been confirmed that The Medium is coming to PS5 later this year. While fans of Bloober Team's work wait on The Medium to make its PS5 debut, they can check out the excellent Observer: System Redux in the meantime.
Observer: System Redux is an enhanced version of Bloober Team's cyberpunk horror game Observer. It features upgraded graphics and performance on PS5, plus some extra side content that wasn't available at all in the original game. Observer: System Redux is the definitive way to experience what is arguably Bloober Team's best game to date, and it's definitely one of the more notable PS5 horror games so far.
Resident Evil Village
When it comes to horror games on the PlayStation 5, Resident Evil Village is likely at the top of many fans' lists. The latest entry in Capcom's long-running survival-horror franchise, Resident Evil Village retains the first-person viewpoint of Resident Evil 7, continuing Ethan Winters' story while upping the action considerably. Resident Evil Village has some of the most memorable villains in the entire series, not to mention some genuine scares to go along with its over-the-top action.
Resident Evil Village DLC is in development, so it seems fans of the game have new content to look forward to. In the meantime, those that play it on PS5 can enjoy the best-looking version of Resident Evil Village available, with sharper graphics and virtually nonexistent load times when compared to its last-gen counterpart.
Returnal
Returnal from Housemarque isn't a pure horror game, but it has enough horror elements to certainly appeal to fans of the genre. Returnal is about Selene, who attempts to survive for as long as possible on an alient planet. If Selene is killed, the cycle restarts, and she has to start from the beginning. She finds the corpses of past Selenes while exploring the game world, with the developers leveraging psychological horror tricks to create a foreboding vibe throughout the entire game.
Best PS4 Horror Games
Thanks to the PlayStation 5's backward compatibility with the PS4, it has access to that console's entire library of horror game, minus the Silent Hills playable teaser PT. So horror fans that get through all of the PS5's current horror offerings can check out the PS4's large library of horror games. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it should give horror aficionados a place to start:
- Alien: Isolation
- Amnesia series
- Bloodborne
- Dying Light
- Little Nightmares series
- Manhunt (PS2)
- Outlast series
- Resident Evil series
- Siren (PS2)
- The Evil Within series
- The Forest
- The Last of Us series
- Until Dawn
There will be plenty more PS5 horror games released in future, so fans of the genre should stay tuned.