Over the past three decades or so, horror fans have been blessed with numerous horror video games that make them hold their breath as they look to make it through to the next level, wave of monsters, or boss fight. These games have only become better at delivering a realistic and immersive scary gameplay experience, thanks to technological advancements. Many of these titles belong to franchises that have been releasing horror games for decades. Some franchises are fairly new, but have managed to carve out a separate fanbase for themselves.
If you have ever wondered about the biggest horror franchises, we are here to help. We have ranked the top 10 biggest horror franchises of all time. Since horror games have evolved a lot over the years, we have ranked these franchises using factors like horror elements, gameplay mechanics, storylines, and cultural impact. These rankings kick off with the best horror franchise at the top, followed by other franchises that are great in their own ways, but have to be ranked lower.
1. Resident Evil
If there is one franchise that is synonymous with horror video games, it has to be Resident Evil. It is widely regarded as the series that redefined the survival horror genre in video games. The franchise has nine mainline games, including the latest Resident Evil Requiem, and multiple spin-off titles. Its story primarily revolves around an evil pharmaceutical company, Umbrella Corporation. It is found to be developing a virus to create bio-organic weapons, but ends up triggering a zombie outbreak.
You will play as different cops and elite agents across games to uncover mysteries and put an end to the virus. The series is known for its long list of unforgettable characters like Leon S. Kennedy, Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, Chris Redfield, Claire Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, and Ethan Winters. Capcom has sold over 170 million copies of the franchise worldwide, making it the biggest horror video game franchise. Some of the massively popular titles include Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and Resident Evil Village (aka Resident Evil 8).
2. Silent Hill
Silent Hill is a horror video game franchise that tests your courage at a psychological level. If you are a fan of psychological horror, this franchise will not disappoint you. Konami released the first game in the series in 1999, but it is the sequel that made it a global phenomenon. Silent Hill 2 is widely considered one of the best horror video games of all time. It was originally released in 2001 and received a remake in 2024.
Its story is mainly set in Silent Hill, a fictional town in Maine, USA. The town is covered with fog and full of supernatural elements that make you question what is real and what is a dream. It often presents you with enemies and monsters that are a manifestation of the protagonist’s psyche. This adds a new level of depth to the story as you keep getting closer to the conclusion.
3. Outlast
Outlast is another psychological horror video game franchise, but it adds a unique spin to the gameplay experience. You cannot attack or kill enemies in these games. Your only chance at survival is by outlasting them by hiding, sneaking, and running. You can also use darkness and obstacles as your allies to stay alive. This stealth-heavy approach adds to the tension and fear as you are looking to make it out alive.
The franchise has three main games: Outlast, Outlast 2, and The Outlast Trials. The third game serves as a prequel to the first two titles. It has a first-person gameplay style, and you play as a different protagonist in different locations in each of the games.
4. Fatal Frame
Fatal Frame, known as Zero or Project Zero in certain regions, is a Japanese survival horror video game franchise. Its story is primarily set in Japan of the 80s. You play at different locations in different games, but each location is full of supernatural activities and elements. You have to use Camera Obscura, an object that helps you defeat ghosts and enemies by clicking their photos. The closer the ghost is to the camera when you click a photo, the more damage it inflicts. This means instead of running away or fighting them from a distance, you have to hold the camera still and wait for the ghosts to get closer to defeat them.
You also get to experience various Japanese horror folklore elements. The franchise has five main games and is considered to offer one of the scariest horror game experiences. Its second release, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, is rated as the best game in the franchise.
5. Dead Space
Dead Space is EA’s take on the survival horror genre, but set in space. You take control of Isaac Clarke, a spaceship engineer, who is stuck on a spaceship crawling with monsters called Necromorphs. You will have to make clever use of combat and stealth systems to overcome challenges. There are also multiple environmental puzzles for you to solve.
The franchise has multiple games, but the first Dead Space and its sequel, Dead Space 2, are the most popular titles. Do note that this franchise does not follow a linear storytelling across its games. You will get to learn something, not necessarily in sequence, about the game’s universe and lore.
6. Five Nights at Freddy’s
Five Nights at Freddy’s is an indie horror franchise that needs no introduction. Your goal is to survive five nights (from midnight to 6 AM) of attacks from animatronic characters at a fictional pizza restaurant franchise location. Each night acts as a level of the game, which means it becomes harder to survive as you keep progressing from one night to another. There are limited resources and tools that you have to use efficiently to survive.
Multiple titles have been released in the franchise since its debut in 2014. The most recent release is Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic (2025). The best part is that a lot of the games in the series are also available on Android and iOS.
7. Amnesia
Amnesia is a psychological horror game franchise with first-person gameplay. This means you get to feel the horror elements of the game at a more personal and immersive level. The game focuses on isolation and darkness to make you feel uneasy and scared. Some titles have a sanity system where your character’s sanity drops whenever he comes across monsters and other unsettling events. You also get a feeling of helplessness as combat is a luxury in this franchise. Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Amnesia: The Bunker are two of the more popular games in the franchise.
8. Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark is the frachise the introduced the world to the 3D survival horror gameplay elements with its first release in 1992. It introduced various gameplay aspects like exploring a haunted building, limited resources, and mixing puzzle-solving with combat that we get to see in various modern horror video games. There are various games in the franchise, including reboot attempts, but its original trilogy starring a private detective Edward Carnby is considered a classic.
9. The Evil Within
The Evil Within is a survival horror video game series that takes a hardcore approach to its environment, enemies, and monsters. It means if you are not up for real blood and gore, this game is probably not for you. It is directed by Shinji Mikami, who helped create the iconic Resident Evil series. The game is known for its uniquely thought-out villains like The Keeper, a large humanoid with a safe as a head, wielding a large meat tenderizer hammer.
You will find the game world changing through your actions or as part of the pre-determined script. This includes changes to locations, creation of new paths, or transporting your character to a completely different area. You will have to make a choice between when to attack and when to run to make progress. The series has two games: The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2.
10. Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a horror video game series with puzzle-platform mechanics. It takes you on a journey of a little girl named Six who has to escape the Maw, a massive underwater vessel filled with monstrous beings. You have to rely on your platforming, puzzle-solving, and stealth skills to escape the vessel. Since our protagonist is a little girl, there is no scope for engaging in combat. It is the reason you will have no choice but to run as fast as you can at times to survive. The series has three games: Little Nightmares, Little Nightmares 2, and Little Nightmares 3.
Final Thoughts
This list of the biggest horror franchises of all-time makes it clear that the horror genre has gone through several changes since the early 90s. You must have noticed that different franchises serve a different flavor of horror. It is up to you to decide whether you are in the mood for survival horror, psychological horror, or a stealth-heavy experience. You can even pick your poison based on the type of location you feel like exploring.
For those of you who are horror game veterans, we would like to hear about your favorite horror franchises of all-time. Share your thoughts on our list as well as your own lists in the comments section below.
