Horror games have technically been around for a very long time. There were even game versions of Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre released for Atari in the early 80s. However, the technical limitations of the console meant that neither game was scary, nor looked anything like the films they were based on.

It wasn't until 1992's Alone in the Dark that the horror game was truly invented. The 3D adventure saw players navigate a haunted mansion and put them against ghosts and monsters. From there, the genre has boomed and has gotten more and more elaborate over the years, getting ports on the Nintendo Switch.

Updated on June 29th, 2021 by Melody MacReady : Despite being known for more family-friendly games such as the Mario and Kirby franchises, the Nintendo Switch has branched out and added more adult games. These tend to be ports of other franchises including Assassin's Creed, Mortal Kombat, and even Doom Eternal of all things. It's pretty much the same for the Switch's horror titles: they are nearly all just ports of older horror games. However, for the most part, the Switch does a better job at porting the games to a less advanced system than other Nintendo consoles in the past. The graphics and resolution might not be as outstanding as the PS4 or PC but it does the job.

15 Among The Sleep

Talk about a unique concept: rather than some random survivor in the middle of the woods or some other spooky location, Among The Sleep is about a toddler. The player controls a toddler and moves through the house at night, trying to find its parents while something sinister stalks.

It may feature some jumpscares but it mainly relies on building tension through a downright petrifying atmosphere and puzzle-solving. When the entity arrives, the game gets even scarier since the player is a helpless baby that cannot defend itself besides hiding.

14 Slender: The Arrival

Upon release, Slender: The Arrival received mixed reviews. It was criticized for being somewhat short and lacking a diverse campaign structure. However, most critics also agreed that the game was pretty scary.

Gamers play as Lauren, who has traveled to visit her friend Kate after receiving some disturbing letters from her. Upon arrival, Lauren discovers that the Slender Man is stalking her every move. While the gameplay is simple, it's highly effective and downright scary.

13 Little Nightmares

The cartoonish art style and deceptively cute main characters might make players think thatLittle Nightmares is not going to be that scary but it's easily one of the scariest and best horror games of Switch.

As grotesque monsters appear to try and kill the main character, the game steadily becomes one of the more terrifying platformers. Little Nightmares was such a surprise success that it even received an arguably superior sequel.

12 Bioshock

While Bioshock may technically be a first-person shooter, it's undeniably creepy and one of the best horror games available on Switch. After a plane crash, gamers must navigate the crumbling, underwater city of Rapture. While the city was designed to be a utopia, the emergence of a new genetic material called ADAM caused the city to fall into chaos.

The labyrinthine city of Rapture is horrifying enough, but the added stress and anxiety of lurking enemies adds a whole new level of suspense. One interesting fact is that Bioshock was created as a critique of Ayn Rand's philosophy of the self-serving man. The game poses the question: When everyone is looking for ultimate power and pleasure...what would a society look like?

11 Inside

Inside has a somewhat loose plotline but is nonetheless disturbing. Gamers control a young boy who must navigate farmlands and forests in the dark, only to come across a strange city filled with zombie-like test subjects who are being controlled and used for experiments by a group of deranged scientists.

The game's conclusion is even more grotesque and unsettling and it helps leave a lasting impression that helps it to stand out as one of the best horror games on Switch.

10 Dead by Daylight

Dead by Daylight is an online arena game where a group of survivors tries to escape from a savage killer. The game's concept is scary enough as it is, but over the years, a boatload of DLC has been released, allowing players to kill as Leatherface, Michael Myers, Ghostface, and more.

The only reason the game isn't scarier is because of the arena concept. Without a campaign or solid plotline to follow, unknowns about who the killer and survivors are hinderDead by Daylight's potential fear factor. If there's a sequel, it should follow fellow arena game Titanfall's lead and create a campaign mode to build more of a story.

9 Amnesia Collection

The real reason to get this collection is to play Amnesia: The Dark Descent. It is far superior on the PC but this is a good alternative for those who can't afford a decent gaming PC. Amnesia: The Dark Descent was one of the most played games on YouTube and Twitch for years.

This was due to interesting puzzles, an intriguing story, and heart-stopping monster encounters. The follow-up Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs was not bad but not nearly as scary or memorable but having both in one pack is a perfect addition for a Switch collection.

8 Five Nights at Freddy's

The popular Five Nights at Freddy's franchise sees players get hired as an overnight security guard at a popular kid's restaurant and entertainment venue, similar to Chuck E. Cheese. However, at night, the animatronics seem to come to life with insidious intentions...

The game comes off as slightly funny since everyone secretly feared the Chuck E. Cheese animatronics growing up, but despite its slapstick nature, it's also incredibly scary. The Five Nights At Freddy's franchise was so popular it spawned a plethora of sequels with a movie in the works.

7 Friday the 13th: The Game

Similar to Dead by Daylight, Friday the 13th has arena-style gameplay that follows a group of camp counselors trying to escape the clutches of Jason Voorhees. However, Friday the 13th also has a campaign mode where gamers can play as Jason, allowing for a deeper dive into the character.

Plus, unlike Dead byDaylight, Friday the 13th has a pre-built story from the movies and encompasses many of the films' scariest effects, like Jason's theme, and the voice of his mother giving him commands. All in all, this creates a much scarier experience.

6 Bendy And The Ink Machine

This is a strange game but in the best way possible. It tells the story of an animation studio and the characters becoming affected by supernatural ink. The characters come to life and the whole studio looks straight out of the cartoon world.

Bendy And The Ink Machine is divided into multiple chapters, each chapter focusing on different puzzles and ways to fend off the demonic cartoons. Add in an interesting story and some genuine thrills, Bendy And The Ink Machine is a unique experience from beginning to end.

5 Blair Witch

The Blair Witch video game is beautifully made, excellently stylized, and downright creepy. The plot follows former police officer, Ellis, as he searches the woods for a missing boy.

The game takes numerous plot devices from the 2016 film, which work much better in the video game than they did in the movie. And because the gameplay takes place alone in the woods, the Blair Witch game is shrouded with a sense of loneliness, desperation, and fear. Upon release, the game was met with excellent reviews.

4 Outlast

Outlast is a 2013 survival horror game that made waves when it was first released. The game takes place inside the walls of Mount Massive Asylum. A journalist receives an anonymous tip that unethical human experimentation is going on at the psychiatric ward and decides to investigate.

Once inside, it's instantly obvious that the place has descended into madness. Mutated patients, paranormal entities, and deranged madmen lurk around every corner.

3 Resident Evil

In 1996, gaming changed forever when Resident Evil was released. A new breed of video game had been created, one that combined storytelling, action, and horror. In 2002, a remastered version of the original game was released for GameCube to rave reviews, and in 2015, a further HD remaster was performed on the game, making it look stunning on modern-day widescreen HD TVs.

For any gamer who wants a compelling story, complete with tons of scares, playing the remaster of the original Resident Evil is an absolute must.

2 Layers Of Fear

Minimalistic horror at its best here: there is no monster and there are very few jumpscares. So how is Layers Of Fear scary? Well, it's all from the point of view of a mentally disturbed artist as he explores his mansion, trying to uncover what went wrong in his life. Due to his mental state, the reality is constantly warping and it progressively gets worse and worse before it gets any better.

It gets to the point that the player will be on edge for every puzzle or just turning around the corner. At the same time, the story of this artist is intriguing and keeps one wanting to learn more. Layers Of Fear was to many the true follow up to Amnesia: The Dark Descent and is arguably even scarier.

1 Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation is not only the best horror game on Switch, but it's easily one of the scariest games ever made, period. The story follows Ripley's daughter as she learns the flight recorder from the Nostromo has been recovered and is being held on the Sevastopol space station.

Unfortunately, one of the xenomorphs has also found its way onto Sevastopol, and now the space station has erupted into chaos, paranoia, and heart-attack-inducing terror. Be prepared for sleepless nights, suspense sweats, and the most horrifying slow-burn video game experience ever.

NEXT: 10 Best Co-Op Games For Switch, Ranked By Metacritic

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About The Author

Keith Langston (169 Articles Published)

Keith Langston is a writer for ScreenRant, as well as Travel Channel and Passport Magazine. He holds a deep passion for film, travel, and adventure. He fully believes that 'The Faculty' is the greatest movie ever made.

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