Horror gamers have benefited the most from the genre's meteoric rise, with many popular titles and franchises starting out as free-to-play standalone games.

Steam is a massive gaming platform, and as such, players have a wealth of horror games to choose from. In this article, we'll take a look at the best free horror games on Steam for those who love a creepy atmosphere and some scary jump scares.

Released in late 2021, Poppy Playtime quickly caught the attention of horror fans on Steam. However, it wasn't until the game went free-to-play in May of the following year that its popularity really exploded. Huggy Wuggy, the game's antagonist, is now possibly one of the most well-known figures in contemporary video games.

Poppy Playtime does a great job of building suspense and lulling the player into a false sense of security. However, when Huggy Wuggy finally shows up, the pace quickly changes, with the player having to run away quickly or risk facing a terrifying fate.

Taking inspiration from some great horror RPGs, Ann is arguably one of the best-performing free-to-play projects on Steam. The game features excellent visuals and sound design, and combines high-quality animation and traditional 2D character-based gameplay to surprisingly good effect.

The game's story isn't anything too flashy beyond a few interesting beats, but the excellent gameplay more than makes up for this. The puzzles are fun and the chase scenes have a lot of potential, although the latter are often held back a bit by the game's poor controls.

Cry of Fear, one of the most captivating free horror games on Steam, is one of the most recognizable horror games ever made because of its distinctive fusion of Silent Hill and Half-Life. The game boasts a triple-A experience, with an 8-hour campaign and multiple endings, alongside a co-op experience and a diverse mod community that satisfies anyone who wants more content.

Cry of Fear takes the otherworldly premise of Silent Hill and puts it into a first-person survival shooter. While the addition of heavy weapons might seem to detract from the horror experience, the game still manages to do a great job of making the player feel helpless, with limited resources and unexpected terrors lurking around every corner.

Dark Deception is a bit like Pac-Man, with the yellow balls replaced with pink shards and creepy rattle monkeys replacing all the ghosts. The giant maze that players are forced to navigate is equally terrifying, with the rundown hotel lacking a single safe haven for players to hide in.

What ultimately makes Dark Deception a great free horror game is that players are forced to be on their toes the entire time they’re playing. The evil monkeys that can be lurking around the corner are actually quite terrifying, while being chased by another one only to find the path ahead blocked by yet another monkey.

Deathly Stillness has been described as a boring, storyless third-person shooter. But as previous series like Dead Rising have demonstrated, there's nothing dull about using strong weaponry to destroy zombies, and this free horror game on Steam excels at it. The title offers some pretty good character customization mechanics, although the real fun lies in the gameplay.

As the title suggests, At Home Alone Final is about a little girl who is left home alone and discovers the mysteries of her own home.

It works really well and contributes to the high degree of creepiness by combining a pleasant and colorful art style with some gloomy themes and imagery addressed throughout the game. Even if the game starts out a little slowly, this doesn't take away from its overall greatness.

Set in an abandoned district on the outskirts of a large megalopolis, the town of BABBDI perfectly encapsulates the concept of the uncanny. The deserted streets and humanoid creatures that inhabit them are unsettling, with the town’s many hidden gems encouraging players to explore it further despite the growing sense of dread.

The goal of BABBDI is simple, players just need to find a way to escape, however it is not a simple game as there is no traditional combat system. Everything comes together perfectly, making this not only one of the best free horror games on Steam, but one of the best free Steam games.

Deceit is an asymmetrical horror game where 2 infected players try to eliminate 4 healthy players before they escape. Whether you play as one of the infected or as a survivor, Deceit is a fun experience.

The mysterious setting in which the game takes place creates a very dangerous atmosphere, while the blackout period at the end of each area really adds to the tension. Things also tend to happen extremely quickly, forcing players to constantly think, especially when facing the infected.

After Hours is an excellently atmospheric horror game. The game can be surprisingly spooky at times, thanks in large part to the thought and attention to detail in the setting design, as well as the excellent use of sound.

Like many other free horror games before it, After Hours takes place in an abandoned hospital. Players must explore and escape the abandoned facility, all the while avoiding the mysterious creature that inhabits it. Stealth and silence will be key for those hoping to survive, however, even then, nothing is guaranteed.

Doki Doki Literature Club became an instant classic with its visual novel design that is meant to trick players. The game does not rely on shock value and is an engaging experience for those looking for a more psychological horror game after the recent rise of Silent Hill-inspired games. Many players praised the visual novel game's refreshing take on haunting horror.

Released on Halloween in 2011, No More Room in Hell remains a favorite to this day and continues to receive regular updates. It may look like a zombie survival game at first glance, but it's a fully-fledged character game that's incredibly fun thanks to its 8-player co-op mode.

The game feels suffocating when surrounded and short on ammo. With a sequel in the works, now's a great time to jump into No More Room in Hell and prepare for what's to come.

There are plenty of free horror games on Steam that rely on subtlety, but Don't Be Afraid reallyisn't one of them. Nearly every aspect of the game is intended to be eerie.

Players take on the role of Jamie, a youngster abducted by a psychopath, in the game. As he explores the house where he's now being held captive, Jamie comes across a number of terrifying images, all of which are simple but surprisingly effective.

Find Love or Die Trying is a bit reminiscent of Doki Doki Literature Club, as both games use dating sim mechanics alongside a more traditional visual novel formula to explore a variety of themes. While not as popular and not as packed with content, Find Love or Die Trying is still a very enjoyable title nonetheless.

The game looks great and has a story that will surely surprise many players. Each girl is unique in her own way and the player's decisions make sense, even if the build-up is a bit slow at times. Whether it truly deserves the horror title is probably up for debate, but there's no denying that it's a really well-put-together game.

Mr. Hopp's Playhouse is a free horror game in which the player takes control of a young girl named Ruby who is being stalked by a handmade toy in her home. The iconic rabbit and the overall experience are made all the more terrifying by the game's simple yet effective art style. In many ways, it feels like a cross between one of the many 2D side-scrollers released in the early 1990s and the Five Nights at Freddy's series, while capturing the irrational fears of children so perfectly. Perhaps it is this relatability that makes it such a terrifying game and one that is well worth checking out for horror game fans.

Even after more than ten years, Valve's top-down shooter Alien Swarm is always entertaining. Cooperative multiplayer, which is uncommon in the free-to-play industry, is even included in the game.

Alien Swarm doesn't feature jump scares or rely on shocking visuals like some other games, but it's still pretty scary when a swarm of aliens starts closing in on the player's location. In that sense, the game does a great job of building tension while also rewarding the player for their efforts with satisfying power-ups and weapon drops.

Fears to Fathom is an episodic series, with each episode telling a different story from the perspective of one of the survivors. The detailed visuals do a great job of keeping the player on their toes, while the excellent storytelling provides more than enough incentive to keep going into the unknown.

This is one of the most intense free horror games on Steam, and at its most intense, it can evoke a real sense of dread. It will take people a while to complete the game, but the developer's steady stream of new episodes should be enough to keep players hooked on the series.

The point-and-click adventure genre has seen a resurgence in recent years, although it has never really gone away. Released just in time for Halloween in 2015, Alpha Polaris is a prime example of a post-2000 point-and-click adventure, boasting an excellent story, a ton of thought-provoking puzzles, and an art style that fits the genre perfectly.

Those who are used to feeling the thrill of the moment may be disappointed, as this is a game that seeks to shock through immersion, atmosphere, and suspense. In that regard, the game is a bit slow, but surprisingly brilliant considering the limited resources available to the Finnish studio that developed it. Anyone who enjoys Lovecraft horror will find a lot to like here.

Most people have probably never heard of Disaster Squad Productions' Cursed trilogy, but the fact that the point-and-click games are filled with passion is truly a delight. While they rarely get scary, and there are plenty of horror themes and motifs to be found throughout, that doesn't make them any less appealing.

It's always nice to see an indie developer improve with each new game, and that's certainly true of Cursed. Not only do the visuals improve with each game, but so does the gameplay, painting a picture of a developer who'sgetting better at his craft. After the trilogy is finished, it will be intriguing to see what happens next.

Dark Fracture is one of the best free first-person horror games on Steam. The visuals and audio combine to create a fun, chaotic atmosphere, while the thought-provoking puzzles add just the right amount of challenge.

The prologue, which the creator categorizes as an independent game, is intended to give players a preview of what to expect from the complete release. It has its own spooky story and does an excellent job of introducing protagonist Edward while also taking players into the dark depths of his tortured mind.

Dissonance provides a creepy atmosphere as you explore the abandoned research facility. The use of various gadgets when facing creatures forces players to think twice about their actions, although the short amount of time given to do so makes the experience that much more exhilarating. Both mechanically and visually, it's a fairly simple game, but it manages to draw players into its SCP-inspired world incredibly effectively.

A Place, Forbidden uses low poly art to great effect. Many of the settings are reminiscent of those in early survival horror games like Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark, and the lack of resolution only makes the whole ordeal all the more terrifying.

This game will appeal to fans of PS1-era horror games or gamers looking for a game with a creepy atmosphere. Like the visuals, the gameplay is incredibly simple, and the puzzles aren't too challenging, but that doesn't mean that exploring the library isn't worth the player's time and effort.

Empty Shell is one of the most atmospheric free-to-play horror games on Steam. Its art style is interestingly thoughtful and offers a tense and suspenseful adventure experience. The game has excellent enemies, puzzling puzzles, and an incredible storyline for players to immerse themselves in.

Some might argue that games with roguelike design elements are all too common these days, but Empty Shell uses these mechanics to great effect. Those who enjoy challenging video games will love what Empty Shell has to offer.

A free Half-Life 2 mod called Entropy: Zero 2 includes new weapons and opponents, a redesigned combat system, and complete achievement support. It allows players to command squads of soldiers as they explore the mysterious Arbeit Communications facility in an attempt to capture Dr. Judith Mossman.

Breadman created the mod, which has gotten a lot of good reviews since being live on Steam. While it may not technically be a free game, it may actually have many people who already own copies of Half-Life 2.

A good psychological horror game can be just as impactful as a gore or jump scare, if not more so. Those who have played For Mother Matron can certainly attest to this, with Velvetique Games' visual novel arguably being one of the most impressive free horror games available on Steam.

The art style is a little inconsistent in places and some endings are much more fleshed out than others, but these are minor issues in the grand scheme of things. The story the game tells is a terrifying one, while the skill it imparts to the player is far more valuable than a free game.

Since the release of the first installment in mid-2014, Scott Cawthon's Five Nights at Freddy's has become one of the most popular and beloved survival horror series out there. With books, spin-off games, and even a movie in the works, it's now more than just a scare simulator and well worth checking out for horror fans.

Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator is one of two free FNaF games on Steam and is well worth the price. It's a business simulation that puts players in charge of their own pizza restaurant and continues the story of Michael Afton, who also appeared in FNaF 3 and Sister Location. There's plenty of lore for fans of the series, but the gameplay alone is enough to satisfy newcomers.

In the brief and straightforward game EXIT 2, the player must make their way through mazes without being discovered by the animals that live there. In terms of design, the game takes a lot of inspiration from some of the earliest first-person shooters, with the mazes looking like something from some early Doom games or Wolfenstein 3D, just with more purple.

While the game is simple, it still requires a certain level of skill, requiring the player to master the monsters' movements and plan their own actions around them. The game is also well-supported by the developer, with updates continuing to be released over the years since its initial release. This includes a multiplayer mode, which, while basic, is still very enjoyable.

In Flesh Water, the player takes control of a worker at a pet feeding company, preparing food for somewhat unusual customers. Preparing a sumptuous meal for a mysterious underwater monster might not sound like much fun on paper, butthere's a sense of dread that permeates this short indie title, keeping your heart racing from start to finish. At around an hour long, it's a relatively short game, although it does have four different endings for those who can't put it down.

There are plenty of games that let players manipulate inanimate objects, but few choose something as mundane as candles. However, it soon became apparent that this was a great choice for the protagonist of this video game, as it gave players the means to light up the plague-infested church where people were trapped.

Like most of the best free horror games on Steam, Flicker of Hope is a relatively short title all things considered. However, it still manages to pack in a few scares and will be popular with those who enjoyed Bandai Namco’s Little Nightmare series thanks to its dark and gloomy tone and some enemy and setting designs.

This article highlights the best free horror games on Steam, offering a range of terrifying experiences for fans of the genre. From the psychological horror of Doki Doki Literature Club to the intense survival challenges in Cry of Fear and the eerie atmosphere in Poppy Playtime, these games cater to various horror preferences, including jump scares, creepy atmospheres, and suspenseful gameplay. The list also includes unique titles like Flesh Water and Find Love or Die Trying, showcasing the diversity within the genre. For horror gamers on a budget, these free horror games on Steam deliver exceptional entertainment without any cost, making them a must-try for anyone seeking chilling adventures.

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