We’ve all been where you are right now. You’ve finished the latest Resident Evil or Silent Hill, the credits are rolling, and you’re left with that hollow, "what do I do with my life now?" feeling. You're exploring the digital stores, but everything looks like a cheap jumpscare fest, or a new edition (better graphics) of a game (concept) you've already played.

 

If you feel like the golden age of horror is behind us, I’m here to tell you that the 'Upside Down' of gaming actually has some hidden gems waiting for you. These five games are masterclasses in atmosphere, yet they often get skipped over and over again. So, grab your flashlight and let's dive in.

The Mortuary Assistant

If you thought your first job was stressful, wait until you meet Rebecca Owens. This game turns the everyday (and slightly morbid) task of embalming bodies into a creepy game of 'Guess the Demon'.

 

The game goes beyond the gore that you see in its screenshots, it’s the psychological tension that will put your mind in a prison. One minute you’re wiring a jaw shut, and the next, a shadow moves in the corner of your eye. The coolest part? No two playthroughs are the same. Since its initial launch, the game has evolved into a full-on nightmare suite. It’s got a 'Definitive Edition' that hit PS5 in 2024, which includes new hauntings, updated story, and an 'Embalming Only' mode for those who just want to do their job without a demon breathing down their neck. It’s basically CSI meets The Exorcist - and it is terrifying.

SOMA

From the creators of Amnesia comes a game that will put you into a full-blown existential crisis. Set in an underwater research facility called PATHOS-II, SOMA is all about 'what does it even mean to be human?'

 

You can’t fight back, you can only outsmart the corrupted machines that think they’re 'people'. It’s a slow-burn narrative that feels like a deep-sea version of Black Mirror. While it’s technically a PS4 title, it is fully playable on PS5 via backward compatibility. For those who want the story without the heart palpitations, it features a 'Safe Mode' (added post-launch) that lets you explore the narrative without the monsters turning you into scrap metal. Just maybe don't play it right before bed unless you want to contemplate the void all night long.

Darkwood

Darkwood is all about the 'dread'. This survival horror puts you in a mysterious forest in the Soviet Bloc that literally swallows people whole.

 

By day, you scavenge and explore. By night, you barricade yourself in a cabin and pray the things outside don't find a way in. It’s challenging, bizarre, and has zero hand-holding. If you’re looking for a PS5 version, you’re in luck - a native PS5 port launched with 4K support and DualSense features, making those creaky floorboards sound way too real (Haptic feedback you beauty!). This version is basically the 'complete' experience, including all the balance updates and terrifying sound design tweaks that the developers perfected over the years.

Tormented Souls

This one's a love letter to the 90s. If you miss fixed camera angles, tank controls (don't worry, they're optional), and puzzles that actually require more than your last brain cell, Tormented Souls is your thing.

 

You play as Caroline Walker, investigating a spooky mansion-turned-hospital. It captures that 'classic survival horror' vibe so perfectly it feels like a lost Resident Evil spin-off. It’s available natively on PS5, and the franchise is expanding faster than a zombie virus. The original game's success paved the way for 'Tormented Souls 2', which sees Caroline returning to face even more ritualistic horrors in a new location. If you finish the first one, the sequel is right there to help you stay awake all night.

The Evil Within

Directed by Shinji Mikami (the mastermind behind Resident Evil 4), this game is a fever dream of gore and reality-bending environments. You play as Detective Sebastian Castellanos, who gets pulled into a distorted world where the physics makes as much sense as a Christopher Nolan ending.

 

The franchise really set the benchmark high with 'The Evil Within 2', which opened up the world and refined the stealth mechanics into something absolutely beautiful. Between the two games, there are also three major DLCs - 'The Assignment,' 'The Consequence,' and 'The Executioner' - which let you play as different characters and see the story from a whole new, twisted POV. It’s a PS4 title that runs on PS5, though keep in mind it’s known for being a bit 'unpolished' in the best way possible.

Special Mentions : The 'Old School' Squad

These three are absolute legends, but they haven't quite made the leap to modern consoles. If you want to play these today, here is the 'sure-shot' way to do it :

Lucius Franchise

You play as the son of Lucifer causing 'accidents' in a massive manor. This is a full-blown trilogy now. 'Lucius' is the classic, 'Lucius II' goes open-world in a hospital, and 'Lucius III' returns to the story-driven roots in a small town. Think 'The Omen' but you’re playing as the kid.

 

How to play : Since these aren't on PS5, your best bet is PC (Steam). They run on pretty much any modern laptop.

Saw Franchise

Based on the movies, these games actually captured the 'trap' vibe surprisingly well. There were two entries: 'Saw: The Video Game' and the sequel 'Saw II: Flesh and Blood'. Both involve Jigsaw testing your will to live with increasingly elaborate puzzles.

 

How to play : These currently happen to be in licensing limbo. You won't find them on digital stores. To play them, you’ll need to hunt down physical copies for PS3 or Xbox 360, or find a 'pre-owned' PC key from a third-party seller.

Condemned Franchise

A first-person brawler that is still one of the creepiest things ever made. It also has a sequel which was frankly way ahead of its time. The part that I love the most about this game is the fact that you may find guns here and there, but you'll never have enough ammo...ever. 

 

How to play : While not on PlayStation, the first game is backward compatible on Xbox (Series X/S) and available on PC via Steam. The sequel is harder to find, stuck on physical discs for PS3 and Xbox 360. If you have a modern Xbox, you can just buy the first one digitally and it works perfectly.

 

So, if you're doing reruns of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, or Dead Space like a glitchy NPC, please STOP. While those legends are great, these hidden gems offer fresh nightmares that those big franchises can't match. Grab a controller, dim the lights, and dive into the darkness. Your new favorite trauma is officially waiting.