10 Best Horror Games With 90+ Metacritic Scores, Ranked

Horror games are a staple of the gaming industry, and they come in many forms. We’ve gotten horror survival games that leave us scrambling for ammunition and torches to psychological games where we can’t tell the difference between reality and nightmares.

Resident Evil franchise on Metacritic: 1. Resident Evil 4 – 96 2. Resident Evil: Code Veronica – 94 3. Resident Evil 4 Remake – 93 4. Resident Evil – 91 5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis – 91 6. Resident Evil 2 Remake – 91 🧟 (NEW) 7. Resident Evil Requiem – 88 https://t.co/kCGLzoMtUR

— Resident Evil Veronica Countdown (@RREVERONICAA) February 25, 2026

Fear is subjective for sure, but the best horror games also have great storytelling, atmosphere, gameplay, and lasting influence on the industry. Today, we’ll rank the 10 best horror games with 90+ Metacritic scores according to their score and overall impact.

10 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis — 91

• Release Date: November 11, 1999
• Metacritic Score: 91

Released in 1999 for the original PlayStation, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis puts us back in the streets of Raccoon City as Jill Valentine attempts to escape the zombie outbreak. However, the undead are not the only threat. The relentless Nemesis creature hunts Jill throughout her journey.

The game’s combination of resource management, tense exploration, and action-packed encounters helped distinguish it from its predecessors. Nemesis also introduced an intimidating pursuer who could turn seemingly safe moments into desperate fights for survival.

9 Resident Evil (2002 Remake) — 91

• Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Metacritic Score: 91

Capcom’s 2002 remake of Resident Evil turned the original PlayStation classic into a more atmospheric and visually detailed experience for the Nintendo GameCube. We play as Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield as they investigate the mysterious Spencer Mansion and uncover the experiments behind the outbreak.

The mansion’s interconnected rooms, limited ammunition, environmental puzzles, and terrifying enemies make it a very scary game. The game’s atmosphere and improved presentation show how a remake can improve a game while maintaining its identity.

8 Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem — 92

• Release Date: June 23, 2002
• Metacritic Score: 92

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is one of the most unique horror games ever released. Launched for the GameCube in 2002, the psychological horror game follows multiple characters across different historical periods as they encounter ancient supernatural beings.

The main feature of this game is the sanity system, which introduces unsettling effects as characters lose their composure. This will make you question everything you see and hear, creating psychological tension beyond just jump scares.

7 System Shock 2 — 92

• Release Date: August 11, 1999
• Metacritic Score: 92

Developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios, System Shock 2 combines first-person shooting, role-playing mechanics, and science-fiction horror. Released in 1999, the game traps players aboard a spaceship overrun by grotesque creatures while a sinister artificial intelligence named SHODAN manipulates events.

Instead of encouraging us to shoot everything in sight, the game wants you to explore, manage resources, and much more. Audio logs gradually reveal the disaster’s origins, and the game maintains a constant sense of danger.

6 Bloodborne — 92

• Release Date: March 24, 2015
• Metacritic Score: 92

FromSoftware’s Bloodborne is the perfect mix of action RPG combat with gothic horror and Lovecraftian themes. Released in 2015 for PlayStation 4, the game takes us to Yharnam, a decaying city plagued by a mysterious affliction that transforms its inhabitants into terrifying beasts.

The game has a very aggressive playstyle that makes every fight a test of skill and nerve. The game’s environmental storytelling gradually exposes the disturbing truth behind the city’s apparent curse. Although it leans heavily into action, its grotesque creatures and nightmarish world make it a great horror experience.

5 The Last of Us Part II — 93

• Release Date: June 19, 2020
• Metacritic Score: 93

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II combines survival horror with a deeply personal story about revenge, grief, and the consequences of violence. Set several years after the original game, the sequel follows Ellie as a devastating incident sends her on a dangerous journey.

It has great animations, intelligent enemy behavior, brutal combat, and an environment that makes you feel vulnerable. Players must carefully manage ammunition, craft supplies, and decide when to fight or sneak past hostile survivors and infected creatures.

4 Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake) — 93

• Release Date: March 24, 2023
• Metacritic Score: 93

Capcom’s 2023 remake reimagines the original Resident Evil 4 with modern graphics, redesigned encounters, and updated combat mechanics. Players once again control Leon S. Kennedy as he travels to a remote European village to rescue the US president’s missing daughter.

The remake balances action with survival horror, forcing players to manage ammunition while confronting increasingly dangerous enemies.

3 Resident Evil Code: Veronica — 94

• Release Date: March 29, 2000
• Metacritic Score: 94

Originally released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, Resident Evil Code: Veronica continues Claire Redfield’s search for her brother, Chris, following the events of Resident Evil 2. Her investigation leads to a terrifying confrontation involving Umbrella Corporation and its experiments.

The game has the traditional survival horror formula that focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, limited resources, and a constant feeling of danger.

2 The Last of Us — 95

• Release Date: June 14, 2013
• Metacritic Score: 95

Released in 2013, The Last of Us follows Joel, a hardened survivor, as he escorts Ellie across a post-apocalyptic United States devastated by a fungal infection. Their journey combines encounters with infected creatures and hostile survivors with a powerful story about trust, loss, and humanity.

Naughty Dog’s achievement lies in making survival feel personal. Ammunition is scarce, enemies can be unpredictable, and quiet exploration often proves just as tense as direct combat.

1 Resident Evil 4 (2005) — 96

• Release Date: January 11, 2005
• Metacritic Score: 96

The original Resident Evil 4 takes the top spot with a score of 96. Released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005, the game follows Leon S. Kennedy on a mission to rescue the president’s daughter from a remote European settlement inhabited by hostile villagers and horrifying creatures.

Its over-the-shoulder camera, responsive shooting mechanics, and carefully paced encounters helped reshape third-person action games. However, the game never completely abandons its horror roots, as ammunition remains valuable and enemies can overwhelm players who fail to plan.

Which of these games have you played? Let us know in the comments!