Horror is a genre that wasn't really meant to be enjoyed by kids. However, kids are going to be curious about a forbidden scary genre of games, so we might as well look at the best games for kids to play.
These games are divided into either simple horror games that don’t have complicated mechanics and can give you a few jumpscares, or lighthearted games with a slightly horror-ish thematic that aren’t really meant to be scary at all.
21. Left 4 Dead 2 (XBOX 360 / PC)
Left 4 Dead 2 is the most classic example of the co-op horror shooter. The game is quite chaotic and will have a bit of a learning curve, but it’s not too scary. You’re gonna be constantly shooting zombies with your friends, which takes a bit away from the tension of the game.
While playing the game, you feel endangered but powerful. It shouldn’t be too scary since at its core it’s a shooter, which in and of itself is way less scary than a game based on psychological horror.
20. Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodhunt (PS5 / PC)
Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodhunt is a battle royale where different vampire factions are locked in gang wars on the streets of Prague. The factions are very different from one another, which makes it pretty easy to find which one looks and works best for you.
It’s a battle royale game so it could be a little bit too hard for some audiences. But it’s interesting because you are the monster in this game. Your goal is to fight other cool vampires, which is way less scary than hiding from an unkillable monster.
19. Five Nights at Freddy's (PS4 / PC / XBOX 1 / SWITCH)
Five Nights at Freddy's is a franchise filled with cryptic and deep storytelling about an ominous haunted restaurant and a serial murderer. However, it's very hard to realize that unless you start to dig deep. On the surface, Five Nights at Freddy's is a game about cute animatronics that become scary.
Five Nights at Freddy's is a game with simple gameplay. You sit in an office and watch animatronics that start to move at certain times of the night. You have to monitor the power usage and how close the animatronics are to keep safe.
It's a pretty simple and enjoyable premise, filled with a lot of jumpscares. But somehow, this franchise has become very popular with the kids already, most probably because of the simple and unique animatronic designs.
18. Slender: The Eight Pages (PC)
Slender: The Eight Pages is a simple indie horror game. However, because it's simple it doesn't mean it's not able to give you a scare.
The gameplay consists of you walking around an ominous forest, searching for 8 pages that are hidden around the map. Each page has a childlike drawing of the monster chasing you - Slenderman.
The game is simple yet creepy and it gets progressively harder. It's ominous and scary, however, the simple and repetitive gameplay makes it simple enough that a child could pick it up and easily play it, even though they may get too spooked.
17. Virtual Horror Society (PC)
Virtual Horror Society is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game that takes place in the 1980s. It has a lot of references from the horror movies of that time and it’s a fun and interesting game that doesn’t have too many scares.
In the asymmetrical genre, most of the time survivors are usually helpless and weak, but in VHS there are many items that you can use as a survivor that makes you feel more powerful and make the gameplay a tad bit more interesting.
The game is still in early access but it’s good. It’s way tamer than other games in the genre and it has a bright and colorful aesthetic.
16. Five Nights At Freddy’s 4 (PS4 / XBOX 1 / XBOX X / PC)
Five Nights At Freddy’s 4 is an interesting horror game in which you play as a kid hiding in his room from scary animatronics. The gameplay is tense and constantly fun. You have to pay attention to your surroundings and constantly check around your room if you want to stay hidden from the animatronics, like in any other FNAF title.
The fact that the main character of this game is a kid will certainly be more interesting for the kids, rather than playing as an unnamed security guard. This being a FNAF game you can expect a lot of scary jumpscares, which may be a bit of a red flag.
15. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (PS4 / PS5 / PC / XBOX 360 / XBOX 1 / XBOX X / SWITCH)
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is a game about a zombie that eats people. That’s about it. It lets you play as Stubbs and you have only one goal - eat as many brains as you can.
Stubbs has multiple abilities he can use to diversify the gameplay. His goal is to amass a horde of zombies on each level and get through the end. He will face a plethora of varying enemies with different guns. The gameplay is simple and fun.
The only problem is the fact that it’s a bit gory. Every kill you achieve results in a lot of blood being shown on the screen which may not be the best idea for a young kid to see. However, it still offers a lot of fun, mindless, chaotic gameplay that doesn’t require a lot of practice and learning.
14. Plants VS Zombies (PS3 / PS4 / XBOX 360 / SWITCH / PC)
Plants VS Zombies is a simple tower defense game in which you defend your house from zombies that want to eat your brain. It’s very humorous and it doesn’t try to be scary at all, even though your enemies are zombies.
It’s debatable if this game should be considered a horror game, but in any case, it’s very good, and it can be played by any age. It’s a cartoonish and fun game with a simple story and simple mechanics.
13. The Supper (PC)
The supper is a short point-and-click adventure game about some horrific events. Ms. Appleton was a kind person her whole life until the voice started talking to her.
This game has a very charming vibe to it, it’s not something creepy or scary, it’s rather cute for the most part. But as the game keeps progressing, the story is slowly unveiling itself and at the end, everything is made clear. The point-and-click gameplay was rather fun, it requires a little bit of exploring. The pixel art is beautiful, and the story was impactful.
12. Hello Neighbor (XBOX 360 / PS4 / SWITCH / PC)
Hello Neighbor is a sort-of-a family-friendly horror game in which you play as a boy that decides to explore his suspicious neighbor’s home. The game is filled with mystery, exploration, and intriguing puzzles. And it all takes place in the neighbor’s uncanny house.
The game has its flaws but it’s one of the most family-friendly horror games out there. It has puzzles that make you think outside the box and the whole idea is interesting and comical.
11. Death Road To Canada (XBOX 1 / PS4 / SWITCH / PC)
Death Road To Canada is an interesting and comical adventure game. It takes place in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, so there’s bound to be a lot of pixelated violence. The game’s biggest strengths are its fun resource management and interesting comical situations.
You can play this game alone or with your friends. Either way, you’re trying to survive in a zombie apocalypse with your gang. You can recruit weird characters and give them comical weapons as you’re doing it though. It’s a simple and fun game that gets better as you play it and uncover new interesting things.
10. Secret Neighbor (PS4 / XBOX 1 / SWITCH / PC)
Secret Neighbor is a spin-off game of the previously mentioned Hello Neighbor. It’s a social deduction game in which you play as a bunch of kids that are trying to enter the neighbor’s house. However, one of the kids is the neighbor in disguise and his goal is to sabotage the other kids and eventually capture them.
It features similar gameplay elements to Hello Neighbor. It also features a lot of exploration around the house, but the fact that the neighbor is one of the players makes it all a lot more interesting. It’s probably the most kid-friendly multiplayer horror game that currently exists.
9. Limbo (PS3 / PS4 / XBOX 360 / XBOX 1/ SWITCH / PC)
Limbo is a very interesting platformer game in which you play as a nameless boy searching for his missing sister. The game is brilliantly atmospheric and stylized. Limbo’s art style is creepy, but it’s nothing too over-the-top.
The game mostly focuses on platforming and puzzles. The story that you’re playing is rich and unfortunately not very easily understandable by the younger audiences. But in any case, it’s a great horror platformer that’s not too hard to play.
8. Plants VS Zombies 2 (Android / IOS)
The original Plants VS Zombies was a big hit when it was released, an interesting and funny premise with unique gameplay. But the sequel has not been disappointing. It only built on the original and it took everything good in the first game and made it better.
Plants VS Zombies 2 will not scare you at all, it's rather pleasant to play, maybe it shouldn't even be called a horror game. It has a simple gameplay idea: Plant down your plants, which in turn will shoot the oncoming wave of zombies. Devise a strategy and be ready to defend.
The game is a full package, simple, friendly, and beautiful. There are many different plants that make each playthrough a unique experience since you choose which plants you want to use before each level. The zombie designs are clean and charming. It is a great game for the younger audience offering a lighthearted spin on the zombie genre.
7. Little Nightmares (PS4 / XBOX 1 / SWITCH / PC)
Little Nightmares is an exploration game filled with intriguing puzzles and a rich horror-based story. It features an interesting art style that looks very cartoonish, yet at the same time, the game is still clearly horror.
It has an interesting main character, and beautiful progression, and its simple gameplay can be understood by younger audiences. It’s not really scary, but rather, it has a horror vibe like the Tim Burton movies.
6.Costume Quest 2 (PS3 / PS4 / PC / XBOX 360 / XBOX 1)
Costume Quest 2 is a casual RPG game taking place on Halloween. After the events of the first game, our protagonists must save Halloween AGAIN. It’s really similar to the first game in the franchise but it has slightly upgraded graphics and combat mechanics.
Costume Quest 2 has some pretty casual yet fun turn-based combat. It’s like whatever you would expect of a cult classic RPG - simplified and cutified a great deal. It’s a short and fun turn-based experience fit for children taking place in a Halloween setting.
5. Poppy Playtime (PC)
You played with toys... Now it’s their turn… This is the cryptic point that this game is trying to send across. Poppy Playtime is a game about a man in a toy factory using his GrabPack (a pair of elastic hands capable of stretching a great length and carrying electrical currents) to solve puzzles while hiding from the infamous blue monster - Poppy.
The game only has one chapter out, with many more being awaited. The game has interesting yet not too difficult puzzles. It’s a short and atmospheric experience in a dim closed toy factory. The whole game experience makes you feel like you don’t belong there and does a good job of making you feel endangered.
This game, although scary, seems popular enough with kids, since the idea of toys haunting you is more interesting and childlike than a demented serial killer. The game isn’t too scary, and the monster is weird and authentic.
4. Bendy and the Ink Machine (PS4 / PC / XBOX 1 / SWITCH)
You play Henry as he visits the abandoned animator's workshop of Joey Drew Studios. He is soon enough forced to explore the ominous, bleak corridors of the studio escaping the cartoonish-looking monstrosities.
Bendy and the Ink Machine is a game that has a lot of nice and unique designs. The first thing you realize - the game has only 2 colors. Black and a very dirty white. This sets the atmosphere of the 1920s cartoons extraordinarily well.
The game is scary and ominous and filled with jump scares, but it also focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving. For more serious players it offers a deep and grim story that requires some exploration to figure out, and for the less interested players, it’s a neat creepy atmosphere filled with deadly yet still somehow cute scenery and characters.
3. Spooky's House of Jump Scares (PC)
Spooky's House of Jump Scares is a prime example of a cute horror game. You find yourself in Spooky's big house having to walk through 1000 rooms to beat the game. The game starts off slowly and first tries to jumpscare you with cute cardboard cutouts.
Progressively the game does get creepier and it introduces new enemies. But the vibe of the game never becomes too scary, and the cute story moments you get every once in a while take the edge off.
It’s a game that can be a little bit scary, but in general, the atmosphere is pretty lighthearted and cute. The story is fun and the different enemies you have to avoid are interesting.
2. Little Nightmares 2 (PS4 / PS5 / PC / XBOX 1 / XBOX X / SWITCH)
Little Nightmares 2 is a game in which the two main characters, Mono and Six, are kids rummaging through a dystopian city ruled by an antagonist by the name of The Thin Man. As they travel they meet a bunch of brainwashed characters they need to escape to find The Thin Man.
Little Nightmares 2 is a game with a childish vibe and smooth low-poly graphics. It doesn’t look like a threateningly scary game even though it weaves a bunch of creepy thematics through its story.
The game is unsettling and has a dark ambiance, but the fact that you play as kids on a mission to free a corrupted town also makes the game feel a bit lighthearted and a lot of fun. The game is slow-paced, making you explore ominous scenery and do a bunch of puzzles, and it’s simple enough that anyone can pick it up and play it.
1.Luigi’s Mansion 3 (SWITCH)
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the newest installment into the well-known franchise. It made the setting different by moving the story from the well-known mansion into a creepy hotel. You play as Luigi as he sucks ghosts with his supernatural vacuum and solves puzzles to climb to the upper floors to rescue his friends.
The franchise has been well received since the first game was released in 2001. It offers a lot of lighthearted fun and intricate puzzle solving. The graphics are all of what you would expect of Nintendo's newest console, while the ambiance gets increasingly weird and quirky - just like you would expect.
The game is a very enjoyable and low-stress experience. It has a bunch of puzzles and enemy types which will make you have to switch up your strategies often. It’s basically the best example of a fun game for kids with a unique horror theme.
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