Fans of horror have always enjoyed the interactive experiences granted to them in the video game world, and developers have been all-too-happy to oblige. From their twisted minds have come some of the most disturbing and dark gameplay experiences ever conceived, in video games or otherwise.

The PlayStation 3 was blessed with some spectacular horror titles over the course of its run, from sequels to established franchises to all new entries into the field of scary games.

UPDATE: 2022/10/26 18:56 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

There is no better time to pull out an older horror game than now. While many people spend the spooky season watching horror movies, people who love video games have plenty of choices for horror as well. That was no more evident than in the era of the PS3, where horror games came into their own. With great gameplay, improved visuals, and creepy storylines, these games both scared and thrilled gamers like nothing that came before. While the mainstays like Silent Hill and Resident Evil were still putting out more games to build on their franchises, there were also several lesser known games that the critics at Metacritic showed love for.

15 Silent Hill: Homecoming (71)

Metacritic reviews for Silent Hill: Homecoming were a mixed bag in comparison to previous titles in the franchise, but it retained many iconic series elements to create one of the best horror games on the PS3.

The game's inventive use of subconscious thought to manifest horrific creatures is one of its main selling points, as is the inherent guilt of the main character as the player explores past traumas and how they relate to the parallel reality of the Silent Hill universe.

14 F.E.A.R. (72)

F.E.A.R. was a highly-rated game on the PC when it came out, with Metacritic giving it an 88. While the PS3 version of the horror game is not as highly rated, it is still one of the better horror games on the platform. F.E.A.R. is a first-person close-quarter combat game.

The main character is part of a government task force called F.E.A.R., sent in to deal with supernatural enemies. While there are problems with the controls on the PS3, the story is still intact. There are lots of intense firefights and a great cadre of weapons, making this a horror game that is just as action-packed as a military war game.

13 Siren: Blood Curse (78)

The Japanese have a knack for nailing creepy horror games, and Siren: Blood Curse is no exception. This re-imagining of the cult hit PS2 title blends elements from its sequel to create a riveting and frightening survival horror experience.

The game's heavy use of darkness, desaturated colors, and film grit marry well with the bone-chilling sound design and disturbing narrative that permeate the entire play experience.

12 F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin (79)

The sequel to the seminal FPS horror classic F.E.A.R. wasn't as well received as its predecessor, but it still held up most of the core gameplay elements that fans loved so much. It also took the storyline into much deeper and darker psychological territory.

Principal antagonist Alma returns to wreak havoc on those she believed wronged her, but her enthusiastic focus on the main character soon leads to some disturbing scenes that are as unsettling as they are effective.

11 The Darkness (80)

Based on the comic book of the same name, The Darkness put players in the shoes of Jackie Estacado, a mob hitman who turns into a one-man wrecking crew after discovering that a demonic entity has inhabited his bloodline for generations.

The Darkness is different from other horror-based PS3 games in that the player effectively becomes the monster, giving them the ability to rain down demonic destruction on foes, devour their hearts, and run the streets red with blood.

10 The Evil Within (80)

In The Evil Within on the PS3, the main character is Detective Sebastian Castellanos as he investigates a gruesome mass murder case. While investigating, he comes into contact with a powerful supernatural force. This then leads him into a mysterious and terrifying realm with creatures hunting him down.

While it sounds a lot like Silent Hill, The Evil Within stands on its own. The atmosphere is creepy and often frightening, with dark and intense imagery throughout the game. The story is also top-notch, with tension building to a crescendo at an almost unbearable level.

9 Alien: Isolation (82)

Taking the fear to space, Alien: Isolation is a game based on the classic horror movie franchise Alien. While games based on movies are often disappointing, this is one that proved otherwise. The game starts up 15 years after the first movie, and Ellen Ripley's daughter is now leading the way.

The story sees Amanda trying to find out why her mother disappeared, giving this game a chance to tell a unique story. What made it so highly rated on Metacritic wasn't just the narrative though. This game had an intense atmosphere and since the monsters had great AI capabilities, it is also challenging. This is easily one of the best sci-fi horror games ever made.

8 Condemned 2: Bloodshot (82)

Condemned 2 brought more action elements to the franchise in comparison to its tightly-wound psychological predecessor, but the horror was still very much present. The story picks up where the original left off, with Metro City's inhabitants having succumbed to mass insanity.

The player must rely on a tough combat system to survive, taking advantage of melee weapons until they are able to acquire firearms. The violence level is off the charts, but it's the Crazies-style psychological horror elements that sell the fear.

7 Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (84)

This retro-styled indie title meshed survival horror with classic 2D gameplay, scoring 84 from Metacritic in the process. It ratchets up the fear and tension by demanding that the player adheres to strict guidelines in order to stay alive.

Hiding in shadows to avoid monsters, utilizing very scarce ammo in firefights, and being robbed of Pause functionality in order to keep the player vulnerable contribute to the game's wonderful sense of tension. It also features hallucinations which can be affected by a variety of factors, further enhancing the scares.

6 Resident Evil 4 HD (84)

After initially hitting the Gamecube in 2005, Capcom began porting Resident Evil 4 to just about every platform in existence. The landmark game has lost none of its horrific potency over the years, with fans still praising its paradigm shift from previous titles in the franchise.

Resident Evil 4 HD is notable for swapping out the zombie movie feel of the first four main RE titles in favor of a more Gothic horror aesthetic featuring a different style of undead enemy, retaining some of the series' roots while injecting new life into the storyline.

5 Resident Evil 5 (84)

The best Resident Evil game for the PS3, according to Metacritic, is Resident Evil 5. This was the hardest of all the Resident Evil games, built on the same run-and-gun system as the fourth game in the series. It also added a buddy system that actually made it harder.

The one thing that disappointed a lot of fans was that this RE game was more interested in action than survival horror. With lots of big gun battles and explosions, this is a lot more action than scares. However, the monsters are still great and Metacritic reviewers loved it, giving it a very high rating of 84.

4 Dead Space (88)

Dead Space reinvented sci-fi horror for a new audience using inventive combat and a frightening atmosphere to sell its premise. In fact, the combat was worthy of the highest praise given the extra suspense elements it brought to the game.

Utilizing a variety of industrial cutting tools and military hardware, the player was forced to bring down the ghastly monsters in the game by dismembering their legs, arms, and heads with precision attacks. Failure to do so meant getting swarmed and killed in the most horrifying of ways.

3 Dead Space 2 (89)

The original Dead Space set the precedent for the kind of gameplay that would mark the rest of the series, but its sequel was a cut above the rest in almost every way. Production values felt higher, as did the level of interactivity between the characters.

Dead Space 2 also improved on the horror elements, including— but not limited to— the dismemberment of the grotesque creatures that routinely sprang from the darkness to attack the player.

2 Limbo (90)

Limbo is an award-winning puzzle horror game and one of the best indie horror games ever made. The main character is a young boy who travels to purgatory to save his sister. He must then outsmart villains along the way. This is a very creepy game, and the deaths the little boy suffers through can be gruesome.

Metacritic gave this game a very high 90 score. The praise went to the gorgeous graphics of the game, something that several other games attempted to replicate over the years. The game is very frightening and disturbing, and it's one of the most terrifyingly beautiful games anyone could play.

1 The Last Of Us (95)

Naughty Dog's original post-apocalyptic zombie-fest sent shockwaves through the horror genre and redefined what storytelling meant within the context of a video game, capped off with characters who were blessed with actors who brought true emotional weight to their performances.

The story and characters were paired with stunning visuals, excellent sound design, and stealth/action mechanics that simultaneously pitted players against the Infected and the game world's horrible human characters. The Last Of Us is among the highest-rated games of its generation, horror or otherwise.

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