Highlights

• The ocean has long been a source of fear and inspiration for horror games, with many exploring the mysteries and horrors of the deep sea.
• FromSoftware's Echo Night and indie game The Sirena Expedition offer unique and eerie experiences centered around ships disappearing at sea.
• Games like Soma, Subnautica, and BioShock combine elements of horror and survival, offering atmospheric and immersive experiences in underwater or ocean-themed settings.

The vastness of the ocean has been part of human fear for a long time. Man has legends of monsters that live in the deep where light no longer exists. While many are fictional, there are also true horrors that have happened, with ships disappearing and never being re-discovered.

If it is in mythology, books, and films, then, of course, this fear also gets rooted in video games. Games that go into the horrors of the sea may not be quite as popular as zombie survival or ghost-hunting games, but they certainly do exist. Some are well known and others take a little digging for a sea-themed horror fan to find.

Updated on February 11, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Horror games are a blast to play through when the execution is top-notch. This is obviously hard to achieve, with most titles resorting to cheap jumpscares and uninspiring gameplay loops to coax some scares out of players instead of actually building tension. Thankfully, there are many games in the genre that do justice to this genre, with some of these titles set at sea to make the most of the chilling isolation that one would experience if they were surrounded by a body of water and no escape in sight.

19 Echo Night

Metascore: N/A

• Available On: PlayStation, PlayStation Portable
• Developer(s): FromSoftware
• Release Date: August 13, 1998

Before FromSoftware made a name for themselves as the brilliant developers behind the wealth of Soulsborne games that have graced fans, they used to dabble in a wealth of genres with varying levels of success. Given the tense and unnerving atmosphere present in a lot of FromSoftware games, it's no surprise that this studio has developed its fair share of horror titles.

One such title where players must uncover the mystery surrounding Orpheus, a ship that disappeared at sea, is Echo Night. Circumstances evolve in a manner where players are transported to the Orpheus time and time again, thwarting ghosts in their attempts to solve puzzles and help restless spirits pass on.

18 The Sirena Expedition

Metascore: N/A

• Available On: PC (Demo)
• Developer(s): Giraffe Cat
• Release Date: TBA

Made by the indie game developer, Giraffe Cat, The Sirena Expedition is a short free-to-download horror platformer. It was created for the HPS1 Summer of Shivers game jam on Itch.io, a site dedicated to indie games.

The Sirena Expedition was created to look like a PS1 game. Those who have played mention wishing the game was longer, and since many seem to appreciate its charm, the developers may turn the game into a bigger project in the future. Though the only way to currently experience this game is through the short demo, The Sirena Expedition is best for fans who love intrigue, spooky ambiance, and a compelling story.

17 The Bends

Metascore: N/A

• Available On: PC
• Developer(s): Phantom Sloth
• Release Date: August 31, 2021

The Bends is much like The Sirena Expedition in that it was also made for the HPS1 Summer of Shivers game jam on Itch.io. It is also free to download, and it is mentioned that the game is meant to be played with headphones and an Xbox controller.

The game is low-resolution, quite eerie, and centers on a diver exploring the ocean floor. The further players explore, the stranger the anomalies become. The game has a great atmosphere, and it is recommended to have it on a big screen.

16 Wadanohara And The Great Blue Sea

Metascore: N/A

• Available On: Mobile, PC
• Developer(s): Mogeko
• Release Date: December 21, 2013

It would be no surprise for even the biggest horror game fan to not know about Wadanohara. It is a hidden gem entirely made from RPG Maker and disguises itself to look quite innocent at first.

The story is about a sea witch named Wadanohara who lives in an underwater kingdom with humanized sea creatures as her friends. It is all quite sweet at first, but the story takes a drastic turn towards the dark, scary, and violent. It is definitely worth a look, and like many RPG Maker games, it's free.

15 Deep Fear

Metascore: N/A

This game is a bit old. Having come out in 1998, Deep Fear's age is not the only aspect of it that can make it hard to come by. It was also only released in Japan and Europe for the Sega Saturn. At the time, many critics called this game a "Resident Evil clone."

So many gamers think of it as an underwater Resident Evil, as it all takes place about 300 meters down in the Pacific Ocean and the player character encounters frightening mutated creatures while they progress.

14 Sea Salt

Metascore: N/A

Released in October 2019, Sea Salt takes horror from a bit of a different perspective. In this game, players take the role of an old angry sea god and get to summon minions to rise up and take revenge on humanity for refusing to make sacrifices to them.

The game is highly rated, but it may not be what every horror fan is looking for; it is hard to be scared when the player's role is the monster. However, there are definitely horror elements all over the game for players to enjoy, just from an alternative standpoint.

13 Amberskull

Metascore: N/A

• Available On: PC
• Developer(s): Charlie Behan
• Release Date: April 13, 2018

This indie horror game tells a couple of scary stories. Only one story takes place at sea, while the others are told through a forest, a frozen wasteland, and an abandoned facility. With Amberskull, players get access to four bite-sized horror games.

The game keeps its mechanics quite simple and sticks to a first-person perspective. The price is also right at just $5 for a couple of hours of fun, scary, and memorable gameplay. The short story format works well for this game, ensuring that nothing overstays its welcome.

12 Iron Lung

Metascore: N/A

A short horror game where players man a submarine in an ocean of blood, Iron Lung is a game that excels at unsettling those who experience it. Navigating the submarine is a time-consuming affair but is still somehow riveting, with the brief length of the game preventing the gameplay loop from being tiring.

Iron Lung's immersive atmosphere keeps the player on edge for the entirety of the game, and it shows just how immersive the medium of video games can be. Not many titles can terrify players with a single picture, but this is precisely why Iron Lung is so beloved by the masses.

11 Depth

Metascore: 65

What is sea-themed horror without some sharks? In Depth, gamers get to play as either a shark or a diver. Depending on what they choose, either another player or an A.I. will play the human or shark. With a mixture of combat and stealth, the human and shark characters both try to overpower each other.

Unfortunately, Depth came out in 2014, so the online multiplayer version of this title is no longer as popular as it was. Still, the gameplay loop of this title is simple, tense, and quite unnerving for players who immerse themselves in this gameplay loop for the very first time.

10 Silt

Metascore: 71

• Available On: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Developer(s): Spiral Circus
• Release Date: June 1, 2022

Silt is an indie title that, like most horror games set in the ocean, tasks players with navigating the depths of a haunting body of water. Its primary focus is placed on puzzle-solving, and if players manage to progress, they will soon find themselves unraveling a curious mystery.

The creepy setting of Silt is all hand-drawn by artist Tom Mead, and the style has been compared to games like Limbo. It uses monochrome colors and keeps its world unsettling and dark.

9 Narcosis

Metascore: 72

• Available On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Developer(s): Honor Code
• Release Date: March 28, 2017

Narcosis takes players to the seafloor as an industrial diver with little light and only a couple of tools. Basically, players need to make it back to the surface before either their sanity or oxygen runs out. Players encounter plenty of nightmarish creatures in this title. The music is also composed by Akira Yamaoka, who is the composer for much of the music in the Silent Hill series.

Though there are several things to like about Narcosis, the game only has mildly positive reviews on Steam. Some players wrote that they found the jump scares predictable and disliked the puzzles, but players looking for a new underwater gaming experience should still consider checking it out.

8 Layers Of Fear

Metascore: 75

Most people argued whether Layers of Fear needed a remake, with this exhaustion compounded by the fact that so many studios were placing their focus on remakes and remasters instead of focusing on what works. While this argument has some merit, players who decide to ignore this aspect and focus on the quality of the game itself will love what this title has to offer.

For what it's worth, Layers of Fear manages to serve as both a remake and a sequel, making it worthwhile for fans to check out if they've played the original Layers of Fear and its sequel. The second game is adapted in this title and takes place on a ship, making it a perfect environment to scare and unnerve players.

7 Dredge

Metascore: 80

A Lovecraftian horror game where players control a humble fisherman as they sail the seas in their adorable fishing boat, Dredge is a game where the underlying terrors that await the player lie dormant until the onset of night when players are totally and completely scared out of their wits. It's an ingenious horror game that punishes players for being too greedy during fishing expeditions.

The mystery present at the core of Dredge is slowly uncovered in a well-constructed indie game that fans of clever horror games can have a great time with. While most of the horrors in this game can be avoided by playing smartly, risks are always incentivized so long as players can bear the horrors that come their way later.

6 Barotrauma

Metascore: 81

Barotrauma is unique in that it is a survival horror co-op game. The game is 2D and puts players in a submarine simulator. This means that players need to steer the submarine, fix leaks, operate machinery, craft various items, and keep their eyes peeled for danger, all while being prepared to fight monsters.

Steam reviews for Barotrauma are very positive but mention that it can take a bit to master the various mechanics. Still, there is a great time to be had in this game for fans of the horror genre.

5 Sunless Sea

Metascore: 81

Sunless Sea very much leans into Eldrich horror. It has a lot of Victorian Gothic horror elements, too. The player character is the captain of a ship in a land where it is easy for the average person to lose their mind.

There are powerful sea monsters, cults, unsolved mysteries, and more to be found in Sunless Sea. There are also a lot of RPG elements for gamers who love to make decisions. Before diving in, however, players should be aware that this game has a lot of unfriendly consequences.

4 Resident Evil: Revelations

Metascore: 82

Released in 2012, Resident Evil: Revelations was originally on the 3DS. Since then, though, it has been ported onto other, more accessible platforms. The story is on a creepy cruise ship and like any other Resident Evil game, its genre is survival horror with plenty of puzzles and bosses.

The cruise ship is in the middle of the ocean, leaving players feeling pretty helpless and isolated throughout the story. While Resident Evil: Revelations has its classic zombie enemies, they have sea-themed twists, with some being water-logged and deformed.

3 Soma

Metascore: 84

Soma was promising from the start, as it was made by the same creators as the horror game classic Amnesia: The Dark Descent. The game is sci-fi horror and takes place in a facility under the Atlantic Ocean. Reviews for Soma on Steam are overwhelmingly positive from all ends.

In this title, players get to face corrupted humans, scary creatures, broken robots, and a creepy, omnipresent A.I. There is no fighting either, only outsmarting and fleeing. Frictional Games' patented gameplay loop is on full display here in a game many people consider to be the finest title developed by this studio, which is high praise given their history of genre-defining games.

2 Subnautica

Metascore: 87

In terms of quality, Subnautica would be ranked higher. However, it is not purely horror-oriented. At its core, it is a survival game. There are some spooky elements, but only at certain points. While those horror elements are often terrifying, scaring the player is not this title's primary focus.

Subnautica has both bright and (mostly) safe environments populated by cute creatures, as well as hauntingly dark areas inhabited by nightmarish monstrosities. Exploring the shallow regions usually poses little threat, but diving too deep or swimming away from the main area is sure to leave players a bit shaken.

1 BioShock

Metascore: 96

BioShock is one of the crown jewels of horror games. While Infinite is the more recent title and took place in a city in the sky, the first game was set underwater. The entire city of Rapture is in shambles and is filled with insane people in masks, Big Daddies, and a creepy atmosphere for players to explore.

Even non-horror fans play BioShock because of how famous it is. The lore is interesting, the gameplay is intense, and the location is a failed underwater utopia.