2020 was a year of disasters, even for the gaming community. A huge number of games were pushed back from their initial release date as developers and publishers tried to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indie developers have impressively pulled through to deliver outstanding games despite the hard times. Here are the top 10 best indie horror games released in 2020 that we think are amazing.
10. The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters (PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch)
An after-school evening turns dark.
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters - International Trailer
Protagonist Mina Park has to endure high school and faces a flesh-eating creature right after. This crawly creature chases Mina Park right across the same school hallways she walks through on a blood-red moon night.
A lighter as her only light, the ambiance is impressive in The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters as the graphics and style are already aesthetically pleasing. The gameplay can be hard to adapt for most, despite that, the narrative and overall experience of this game make it worth a try.
9. The Convenience Store (PC)
Night shift has never been creepier.
The Convenience Store Trailer
The Convenience Store is another indie J-horror game that follows a college girl who works at a convenience store on her night shift.
The game is technically another walking simulator filled with tricky puzzles to be solved along the way. The immersion, however, makes the game worth playing for its visuals of classic VHS tape and jitters. The game is overall a fun short ride as you are introduced to characters that can be questionable.
8. Carrion (PC, Xbox, Switch)
Why get hunted when you can be the monster?
Carrion - Official Gameplay Trailer
This 2D reverse horror game lets you control the monster as you get to pick your victims. That is pretty much Carrion is theoretically all about it but the experience is much more satisfying. The fluidity in controlling the monster makes the game worth trying despite the lack of storyline and narratives.
7. Golden Light (PC)
Meaty flesh… everywhere.
Golden Light Demo Gameplay Trailer
Golden Light is supposed to be an office but cursed by uncovered truth on its working spaces and establishment. Now, it is covered with meaty flesh that kills uninvited guests to add more to their bodies.
This rogue-like horror is a first-person experience that makes you actively think of items and paths to choose before you can successfully conquer the guts. The visuals in Golden Light are beyond scary, it is strange and grotesque. It certainly ranks high among games of its genre.
6. Paranormal HK (PC)
What could go wrong with an Asian horror game?
Paranormal HK Trailer
Experience the Urban legends of Hong Kong as Ah Lok who desperately tries to bring back Kathy, one of many missing members of a paranormal activity crew. Interesting puzzles become the one thing players need to escape the Chinese ghosts and solve the case.
Paranormal HK is the type of horror game that serves heartstopping jumpscares but they are equally terrifying. The tension-building twists and turns throughout the game make every puzzle more challenging.
5. Murder House (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch)
A slasher horror game with VHS aesthetic and PS1 style.
Murder House - PSX Style Slasher - Full trailer
Play as a local news team member who decided to explore a creepy-looking abandoned house for a sensational ghost story. Survive as you face a maniac in a bunny costume who tries to tear your meat out.
With its PS1 low poly graphics and retro synth background music, the game makes you feel like you are a character in an 80’s slasher movie which is amazing if you are an adrenaline junkie.
4. Amnesia: Rebirth (PC, PS4)
An adrenaline-inducing survival horror game, among the best of its genre, Amnesia: Rebirth.
Amnesia: Rebirth – Official Gameplay Trailer
A passenger of a crashed airplane, she did not lose her life but has no memory of how she has lived. Amnesia: Rebirth lets players take over the character of Tasi Trianon who realizes she is alone and being hunted down by devilish ghouls trying to rip her to pieces.
This survival horror game does almost everything right and leaves you sweating bullets for approximately 7 hours of gameplay. The fear-inducing hiding mechanic requires the character to hide in the dark, which should be the most fearful place. Its engaging story matches with the thrilling atmosphere giving this game its spot as one of the best indie horror games in 2020.
3. Someday You’ll Return (PC, PS4, Xbox)
How far would you go to find your missing daughter?
Play as Daniel who is forced to visit the one place he has sworn not to come back to for the sake of finding his runaway daughter, Stela. Someday You’ll Return takes place deep in the woods with collectible items that require players to be attentive to their surroundings.
This psychological horror tells a story that is universally relatable especially as it involves family relationships. The game has received a neutral response regarding its lack of indicators as the character navigates through the forest trails among other mechanic flaws.
2. Visage (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox)
Live through a horror film but this must-experience indie title would not let you leave alive without some challenge.
Visage — Release Gameplay Trailer
Players take control of the character Dwayne Anderson to explore a strangely large house filled with tormented past. The graphics look almost like they came out of a high-budget movie, eerie atmosphere that makes you think every corner is haunted. The only way to escape the nightmare is to survive and watch as the past unfolds itself.
Inspired heavily by the legendary P.T. game, Visage takes the crown in delivering what P.T. fans would have loved to see from the canceled series. Players rely on surviving items and to manage them carefully, as well as challenging puzzles that can be troublesome with less to no clues given. Despite that, a rewarding frightening experience awaits those who keep walking.
1. Phasmophobia (PC)
2020 was a year of isolation, what’s a better way to keep in touch with your friends if not through an online co-op horror game?
Phasmophobia - Official Announcement Trailer
Team up with 3 other friends or join public lobbies to be the professional ghost hunters as you are assigned to identify the cause of mysterious disturbances at several maps you can choose from.
A long list of ghosts with unique characteristics and various items to use ensure the replayability of the game. The ghost also hunts, so, enhance your survival senses. The atmosphere in Phasmophobia makes you feel the presence of a ghost even when it is not physically apparent, yet.
Indie developers still managed to do their best in 2020 despite it being a harsh time for most. These top 10 indie horror games released in 2020 deserve attention especially for the uniqueness and amazing gameplay that they present.
