8 forgotten horror games that deserve to be rediscovered on Steam

One of the best things about Steam is its versatility and its huge library. If someone bought a game in 2010, they can still access it in some form, unlike other digital platforms like PSN. That said, games are also disappearing from Steam, including recently two great ones horror game: Cold fear and Condemned: Criminal Origins.

Although there are tons of horror games to choose from, few of them are absolute classics, and sometimes lesser known games get passed by or forgotten, like the two previous examples. It's a shame they can't be purchased on Steam anymore, so horror fans might want to wishlist the following games instead and keep an eye out for them before it's too late and Steam removes them too.

Among the Ashes

Two games in one

Among the Ashes is a game within a game. Players can go back and forth between playing a computer game and exploring their apartment. When you download a free horror game, things start happening in the game that affect reality.

These result in some pretty ridiculous but effective jump scares, although the game's graphics are reminiscent of the 90s and aren't cutting edge or all that realistic. It's a cool fourth-wall horror game that came out in 2024 but went mostly unnoticed, and more people on Steam should check it out.

Carcass

You are the monster

Carcass was released in 2020, and it puts players in the shoes of the villain's tentacles for once. As an experimental creature trapped in a lab, players will break out of their containment unit. As they explore the lab, they will become stronger as they find power-ups and kill those who stand in their way.

It's a good role-reversal game, and even though it's in 2D, the kills are pretty gory and scary. Becoming a bigger monster feels great, and it encourages progression in a very unique way. It's like an unofficial spin-off to The blob movie franchise, which would also make a cool game.

Blair Witch

A better sequel

The Blair Witch Project hit theaters in 1999 and became a phenomenon unlike its attempts at sequels. Blair Witcha 2019 video game adaptation, is the best sequel in this universe. It's truly terrifying, and it captures the spirit of the original film very well.

The scariest thing about the original movie was getting lost in the woods and feeling trapped while getting the feel of it something watched, which is basically what happens in the game. Players will have various tools such as flashlights and a video camera to help them get through areas and complete some puzzles. Overall, it's more like a guided tour than a challenging horror game, but it gets the vibes right, and the scares are solid.

Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut

The greatest FBI agent of all time

Any version of Deadly premonition is divisive. It's a game from 2010 that is technically bad from many points of view, including graphics and gameplay. But the setting, characters, story, and music are so overwhelmingly good that those who give it a shot will walk away changed for the better.

It can be compared to Twin Peaks in that an FBI agent, Francis York Morgan, comes to a sleepy town to investigate a series of murders by a madman named the Raincoat Killer. Full of twists, turns, and even a few scares, it's a horror experience worth getting through the bad stuff for.

Penumbra: Overture

Dark and mysterious

Penumbra: Overture is the kind of horror game that adventure game fans will also enjoy, as there is a lot of item handling and exploration. Players can go into their menu to turn on a lamp, for example, or point and click on something like a box to open it instead of just pressing a button.

This gives players more ways to interact with Penumbra: Overturewhich is just the first chapter in a trilogy that first debuted in 2007 and is also available on Steam. It's one of the more difficult recommendations on this list, as it can get obscure and challenging, which is why only the first chapter is recommended for now. If players like it, it's definitely worth checking out the other two Penumbra game.

Obscure

The faculty

Obscure was first released in Australia in 2004 before launching in North America in 2005, which is a rarity in gaming. Players can basically call the game an official adaptation of the 1998 movie The facultyas it shows teenagers trapped in a high school where paranormal things start happening.

Players can choose from five students, each with their own skills, and there's also co-op for horror fans who prefer a buddy system. What's new about the campaign is that it was one of the earliest examples of a story continuing even if a character died, which was permanent. It is now much more common in games like Until the dawn, but it's fun to see some early ideas.

Fear Effect

Spy fiction

Fear Effect was released on the PS1 in 2000, near the end of the console's lifespan. It's more of a spy game than a horror game, with players in charge of three characters, the femme fatale, Hana, being the most iconic. Fear Effect is more than a name; it concerns the game system, where if characters find themselves in a situation that makes them too scared, their gauge will start to rise instead of dealing with a traditional health bar.

The horror elements become more prevalent later in the game and in the 2001 sequel, but overall it's one of the more forgotten PS1 horror titles that can now be played on platforms like Steam thanks to a 2025 port.

Clock Tower: Rewind

One of the all time greats

Clock Tower: Rewind is a direct 2024 port of Belfrya game originally released in 1995 on the SNES in Japan. The only thing that was added was some animated cutscenes, which certainly enhance the experience but don't take anything away from the nostalgic elements.

The game stars Jennifer, a young orphan who arrives at a lush mansion and meets a group of other girls before the place suddenly loses power and scatters the other girls across the building. Unfortunately, there's more at work than a simple power outage: a killer named Scissorman is on the loose. Belfry is a point-and-click adventure game where players must find objects to progress and look for hiding places whenever Scissorman approaches. Even in 16-bit form, it can still be terrifying, as the atmosphere is top notch.