‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it’s also a wonderful time of year for the supernatural. Although Halloween is often associated with horror, Christmastime has a long-standing history with the paranormal. The long nights, atmospheric lighting, and rain lashing against the windows create the perfect environment for playing horror games.
- The Escapist recaps
- Ghost Stories at Christmas: a time-honored tradition
- Playing is the new reading
- Ask The Escapist
In the spirit of ghost stories being told around a roaring Christmas fire, The Escapist will take a look at the foundations of this tradition, as well as suggest some of the best horror games to play this festive season. From nerve-shattering jump scares to a creeping sense of dread, each horror game has its place this Christmas.
The Escapist recaps
- Telling horror stories at Christmas is a time-honored tradition born of Pagan folklore and Winter Solstice celebrations.
- The long winter nights are the perfect breeding ground for ghostly tales, with the prolonged darkness often linked to the spirits.
- Horror games, by their very nature, are an extension of traditional tales, and as such, should be enjoyed during the Christmas period.
- Some of the best horror games to play at Christmas have little to do with the festivities and more to do with creating the perfect canvas for spooky goings on.
- Layers of Fear, Little Nightmares, ROUTINE, and the Silent Hill series are just a few examples of the kind of horror games best suited to a Christmas playthrough. But in truth, any horror game fits the bill.
Ghost Stories at Christmas: a time-honored tradition
Horror games are a contemporary medium, but they’ve been inspired by the eerie stories we’ve heard and/or created as a society over the centuries; they’re just another means of telling a scary yarn.
The reasons we have generic conventions for horror stem from this history, in which certain narrative elements have been passed down through the generations. A wintry night, a thunderstorm, the fuses blowing – they’re the most commonly used horror tropes.
Many of these conventions can be traced back to ancient times, particularly in the context of Christmas horror stories. The Winter Solstice, with its Pagan roots, was believed to be a time when spirits could more easily enter the living world, much like Halloween is said to be a night when the veil between worlds is thinner.
You also have Odin’s Wild Hunt, a night when Odin would command ghostly forces as they took to the night sky. This heroism, so closely linked to the supernatural, encouraged similar stories to be shared during those cold, long months.
Many associate the Victorians with creating this tradition, but they merely embraced it in a way that made it a Christmas-centric tradition rather than just a winter one. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a fine example of this.
Playing is the new reading
Although The Escapist would never advise giving up reading horror stories, we also appreciate that many people prefer playing horror games to reading them. As such, there are several experiences you should add to your to-do list this Christmas.
Silent Hill f
When it comes to melancholic narratives, any of the Silent Hill series is suitable. That being said, one of the best horror games to play this Christmas is Silent Hill f. Its bittersweet narrative is one of the crucial aspects that many traditional Christmas ghost stories share; in the darkest months of our lives, we seek reflection in the hope of gaining a better understanding of ourselves.
ROUTINE
Another horror game for the festive period is ROUTINE. Exploration on a deserted lunar base raises questions about the past, transformation, and life – this is a sci-fi horror, but it has all the hallmarks of an atmospheric Christmas tale. And thanks to its minimal UI, the immersive quality of its narrative shines through, further enhancing the ambiance of the game during the festive period.
Little Nightmares
One of the best horror games you can play this season is Little Nightmares; however, similar to Silent Hill, any of the titles from the franchise will suffice. Warped versions of human beings, troubled children, damning secrets, and a macabre world to explore are what ghost stories are made of. It’s quietly haunting without being outright terrifying, which makes it all the more fitting for a festive playthrough.
Layers of Fear
Peeling back the layers of one’s psyche is sure to throw up a few skeletons hiding in the closet, or in Layers of Fear’s case, the canvas. Not only is the subject matter aligned with the atmosphere of festive stories, but its setting is also a Victorian mansion. Is what you’re seeing really there or only in the mind? It’s akin to Scrooge questioning whether he’s seeing ghosts because he hasn’t properly digested his evening meal.
Ask The Escapist
If you want a horror experience that’s festive right down to its subject matter, indie titles like Tattletail are worth checking out. Not all of these festive horror games are well-made, but sometimes a horror experience is good because it’s funny rather than frightening.
The Escapist’s best horror games list ensures that each game is available on multiple platforms, providing greater accessibility for all players.
Not toe-curling scary, no; however, Little Nightmares is designed to make you feel uneasy and on edge. Out of all of the games mentioned, it’s by far the least scary.
As previously stated, all horror games have their place during the festive period. Still, those with a supernatural edge are more in keeping with the traditionalism of ghost stories being told at Christmas. Here’s a round-up of six of the best supernatural horror titles available.
Last Updated On: Dec 24, 2025 5:26 pm CET