Horror games become ten times scarier when you realise they’re based on real events, so we always knew we had to make a list of the Best Horror Games Based On True Stories!
The idea that some of these terrifying stories actually happened makes them even more chilling. Inspired by haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, or disturbing historical events, these games blur the line between reality and nightmare, pulling players into a world where truth is often more horrifying than fiction.
If you’re a fan of bone-chilling, real-world horror, then brace yourself—these are the best horror games based on true stories, guaranteed to keep you up at night.
1. Fatal Frame (2001)
Metacritic Score:83
Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox, Wii
Release Date: December 13, 2001
Developer: Tecmo
Fatal Frame is one of the most terrifying horror games out there, drawing inspiration from the Himuro Mansion urban legend in Japan. The game follows a young girl armed with a mysterious camera that can capture spirits as she explores a haunted mansion where gruesome ritual sacrifices supposedly took place.
The eerie atmosphere, spine-chilling sound design, and ghostly encounters make Fatal Frame a standout among horror games. If you love supernatural horror based on real Japanese folklore, this game is a must-play.
2. The Town of Light (2016)
Metacritic Score:72
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Release Date: February 26, 2016
Developer: LKA
Based on real psychiatric hospital abuses in Italy, The Town of Light tells the story of Renée, a former patient of the Volterra Psychiatric Hospital. The game is a psychological horror adventure that delves into real-world horror, depicting harrowing mental health treatments and inhumane conditions that patients endured.
Rather than relying on supernatural elements, the game immerses players in a disturbing reality, making it one of the most unsettling horror games ever made.
3. Kholat (2015)
Metacritic Score:64
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Developer: IMGN.PRO
Kholat is a horror game based on the Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine hikers mysteriously died in the Ural Mountains in 1959. Their bodies were found in bizarre conditions, with some having suffered extreme trauma and radiation exposure, leading to wild theories involving paranormal activity and government experiments.
With an eerie, snowy landscape, a constant sense of dread, and a chilling soundtrack narrated by Sean Bean, Kholat offers a horrifying experience that leaves you questioning reality.
4. Outlast (2013)
Metacritic Score:80
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Release Date: September 4, 2013
Developer: Red Barrels
Inspired by the CIA’s MKUltra experiments, Outlast puts players in the shoes of a journalist investigating Mount Massive Asylum, where grotesque experiments on patients have led to pure chaos.
The game’s first-person perspective, lack of combat, and terrifying chases create a sense of utter helplessness. Knowing that real-life government experiments like MKUltra involved mind control, torture, and drug-induced psychosis makes the horror feel disturbingly real.
5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2023)
Metacritic Score:73
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date: August 18, 2023
Developer: Gun Interactive
Inspired by the crimes of Ed Gein, a real-life serial killer who made furniture out of human skin, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre delivers a gruesome multiplayer horror experience.
Whether playing as survivors or Leatherface himself, players must navigate grisly environments and outwit their enemies. The game stays true to the brutal, unsettling nature of both the film and the real-life horrors that inspired it.
6. Resident Evil (1996)
Metacritic Score:91
Platforms: PS1, PC, GameCube, Various Remakes
Release Date: March 22, 1996
Developer: Capcom
The T-Virus outbreak in Resident Evil may be fictional, but the game draws inspiration from Unit 731, a secret Japanese WWII facility where biological experiments were conducted on human test subjects.
With its zombie-infested mansion, terrifying atmosphere, and bioweapon horrors, Resident Evil is a legendary title that echoes real-life biological warfare horrors.
7. Silent Hill (1999)
Metacritic Score:86
Platforms: PS1
Release Date: February 23, 1999
Developer: Konami
Inspired by Centralia, Pennsylvania, a real ghost town plagued by underground coal fires, Silent Hill creates a fog-covered nightmare world filled with disturbing creatures and psychological horror.
The game’s hallucinatory environments, disturbing monsters, and unsettling story make it one of the most legendary survival horror games ever made.
8. Manhunt (2003)
Metacritic Score:76
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
Release Date: November 18, 2003
Developer: Rockstar North
Inspired by real-life snuff film rumors, Manhunt forces players into a world where they must kill for an underground audience.
The game’s brutal stealth mechanics and psychological horror elements make it one of the most disturbing horror experiences ever created.
9. Darkwood (2017)
Metacritic Score:81
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Release Date: August 17, 2017
Developer: Acid Wizard Studio
Inspired by Soviet-era human experimentation, Darkwood is an atmospheric survival horror experience where players must scavenge, fortify, and survive against terrifying creatures.
Its top-down perspective, slow-building horror, and permadeath mechanics make it one of the most unique horror games out there.
10. Neverending Nightmares (2014)
Metacritic Score:74
Platforms: PC, PS4, Vita
Release Date: September 26, 2014
Developer: Infinitap Games
Inspired by the developer’s own struggles with OCD and depression, Neverending Nightmares delivers psychological horror with a hand-drawn, black-and-white art style.
Its looping nightmare sequences and constant unease make it a chilling, deeply personal horror game.
These best horror games based on true stories prove that reality is often scarier than fiction. Which one do you dare to play next? Let us know in the comments!
If you loved this list, check out our post on 13 Best Horror Games Where You Are The Monster
