Halloween is just around the corner: These games bring the spooky vibes

I still vividly remember sitting in my room as a kid, sinking dozens of hours into the original Sacred around Halloween. Ever since then, RPGs have somehow put me in the mood for fall, and every October I go looking for a suitable game. This time, it's The Blood of Dawnwalker. The combat does get a little repetitive after a while, but the dark game world and mature vampire story are simply perfect for the season. Anyone still looking for a Halloween game should definitely consider checking out this open-world RPG.

And if Reddit is anything to go by, I'm far from the only one getting into the Halloween spirit through gaming. On the PlayStation subreddit, one user asked the community which games they were planning to play during this year's spooky season, naming the Dead Space remake as their own pick. The comments quickly turned into a lively discussion covering everything from hardcore survival horror and old classics to surprisingly cozy alternatives.

It doesn't always have to be horror

It's hardly surprising that horror games are particularly popular in the discussion. And there's certainly no shortage of options: Alongside established franchises such as Silent Hill, Alan Wake and Dead Space, players also mention titles like Cronos: The New Dawn and Alien: Isolation. One name that comes up particularly often, however, is Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival. The recently released horror game delivers a rather uncompromising mix of brutal combat, supernatural abilities and a disturbing atmosphere. Players seem to be enjoying it: An impressive 94% of user reviews on Steam are positive.

For many players, though, Halloween doesn't necessarily have to mean hardcore horror. Reddit user u/Tony_in2026 believes the season is all about a dark, slightly magical atmosphere, which is why he also mentions Bloodborne and Hollow Knight. And since fall certainly has its cozy side, some players are opting for games like Pumpkin Jack, Costume Quest or Luigi's Mansion instead.

Many also seem to use the Halloween season as an opportunity to catch up on old classics – and perhaps I'll dust off Sacred again this year, too. Alongside the original Resident Evil 2 from 1998, games such as Parasite Eve, Dino Crisis and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are mentioned. Some players have even put together entire gaming lists for October.

So it looks like I'm not alone in my little Halloween tradition after all. And anyone who still has no idea what to play this fall might find a little inspiration in this article. Writing it has certainly helped put me in the spooky spirit already.