10 Best Horror Games on Xbox Game Pass (February 2026)

Looking for best Xbox Game Pass horror games in 2026? Game Pass is full of exciting games for every kind of player, and horror fans have plenty to enjoy. There are creepy survival stories, tense adventures, and scary moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Some games bring classic monsters, while others take fear in a fresh direction. Every title offers something fun, scary, and unforgettable. So, here’s the updated list of the best psychological and survival horror games in the Game Pass library.

What Defines the Best Horror Games?

Picking the best horror games isn’t just about big scares or loud moments. For me, it’s about how well a game builds tension, keeps you hooked, and gives you something to remember after it’s over. A great horror game pulls you in with its atmosphere, story, and how it plays. Some focus more on deep emotions, while others give you nonstop survival pressure. For this list, I’ve looked at how much the game pulls players into its world and how well it balances action and story.

List of 10 Best Xbox Game Pass Horror Games in 2026

These are the titles players keep coming back to. They deliver real chills, strong stories, and that kind of fun that makes you want to jump back in again.

10. Little Nightmares II

Run, hide, and survive in a distorted world

If creepy childhood nightmares had a physical form, it would be Little Nightmares II. You play as Mono, a tiny kid with a paper bag on his head, wandering through distorted forests, abandoned schools, and the absolutely terrifying hospital level. Everything is oversized, hostile, and deeply unsettling. The game barely explains what’s happening, and that’s exactly why it works. You’re constantly uncomfortable, constantly on edge, and always wondering what horrible thing is waiting around the corner.

The atmosphere does all the heavy lifting here. The sound design, the subtle movements in the background, and the way enemies twitch and chase you – it’s all designed to mess with your nerves. You are small and weak, so you cannot just run at enemies. Most of the time, you are hiding under tables, inside lockers, or behind objects while terrifying adults stomp around searching for you. So if you would love to play a horror game that messes with your head instead of just throwing gore at you, this one’s a must-play on Game Pass.

9. Dredge

Catch fish by day, survive the ocean by night

At its core, Dredge is a fishing and exploration game, but it’s wrapped in thick, creeping cosmic horror. You start with a small trawler and a simple goal: catch fish, sell them, upgrade your boat, and explore a mysterious archipelago. During the day, the gameplay feels calm and almost relaxing. You sail between islands, drop fishing lines into specific zones, and complete quick, timing-based mini-games to reel in your catch. Different areas contain different species, and some fish only appear at certain times of day or under specific conditions.

But the real hook is the risk-reward system tied to time and sanity. You can choose to stay out fishing after sunset to maximize profits, but the longer you remain at sea in the dark, the more your panic meter rises. As panic increases, strange things start happening. You sell your haul at ports to earn money, which you then use to upgrade your boat. Inventory management is also important, since every fish and piece of equipment fits into a grid-based storage system inside your boat.

8. Dead by Daylight

Four survivors must repair generators to escape a ruthless killer

Dead by Daylight is basically a playable slasher movie where you either become the villain or desperately try to survive one. The core setup is simple but insanely intense: one killer versus four survivors. The survivors’ goal is to repair five generators scattered across the map to power the exit gates and escape. It sounds easy. It absolutely isn’t. Let me tell you, it is easily one of the best multiplayer horror games on Xbox Game Pass, especially if you’re playing with a group of friends.

As a survivor, you play in third person, which gives you better awareness of your surroundings. You’re constantly sneaking and sprinting. When the killer finds you, it turns into a full-on chase. If you’re caught, you’re put into a dying state and then hooked on a sacrificial hook. Teammates can rescue you, but if you hang there too long, you’re out of the match. Playing as the killer flips everything. You’re in first person, hunting survivors using unique powers that depend on which killer you choose.

7. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Fight enemies while solving puzzles and hearing voices

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice isn’t your typical horror game. It doesn’t rely on constant monsters jumping out at you. Instead, it messes with your head, literally. You play as Senua, a Celtic warrior traveling into a version of Norse hell to save the soul of her lover. But the real battle? It’s inside her mind. This game is included on our best Xbox Game Pass horror games list because of how psychological it gets.

The game uses binaural audio to simulate voices in Senua’s head, and if you’re wearing headphones, it’s wild. The whispers argue, mock you, guide you, and sometimes lie. It’s intense, uncomfortable, and deeply immersive. The world around her feels decayed and cursed, but it’s the mental horror that hits hardest. Combat is brutal and personal, the puzzles are symbolic, and the storytelling is emotional rather than flashy. By the end, it feels less like you played a game and more like you experienced someone’s struggle.

6. Zombie Army 4: Dead War

Shoot, reload, and push forward against endless undead hordes

Sometimes you don’t want slow-burn dread. Sometimes you want to blast zombie Nazis in the face with a sniper rifle. That’s exactly the energy Zombie Army 4: Dead War brings. This is third-person co-op horror shooter chaos, and it fully embraces the madness. You and up to three friends drop into war-torn Europe, moving through linear missions packed with traps, ambushes, and massive undead swarms. The core loop is super satisfying: clear areas, complete objectives, and survive the next wave.

Well, gunplay is the star of the show, but this game is not just about sniping. You’ve got SMGs, shotguns, pistols, explosives, and special abilities tied to character perks. To survive, crowd control becomes crucial when dozens of zombies charge at once, and positioning matters a lot more than you’d expect. It’s gruesome, dramatic, and weirdly satisfying.

5. INSIDE

Explore strange facilities while staying out of sight

INSIDE plays as a side-scrolling puzzle platformer, but it feels far more intense than that description suggests. You control a young boy using simple movement, jump, swim, and interact commands. The controls stay tight and responsive, which matters because timing plays a huge role. Early sections focus on sneaking past guards, hiding behind objects, and avoiding detection from dogs and searchlights. Getting spotted usually leads to instant death, so trial and error becomes part of the learning curve.

Talking about the gameplay, you drag crates to reach higher ledges, manipulate switches to open sealed doors, and use physics-based objects to cross dangerous terrain. You often move cautiously, studying patrol routes and environmental clues before making your next step. The water sections force you to manage your breath while dodging something terrifying lurking below the surface. Combat barely exists, which makes vulnerability the core mechanic.

4. The Evil Within 2

One of the best survival horror games of all time

The Evil Within 2 follows Sebastian Castellanos as he enters a twisted simulation called STEM to rescue his missing daughter. What starts as a desperate search quickly spirals into a warped town called Union, filled with grotesque monsters and reality-bending horrors. The streets look abandoned, buildings crumble, and something always waits just around the corner. You explore semi-open areas, scavenge for supplies, and decide whether to fight or sneak past terrifying enemies. However, the deeper you go, the more unstable the world becomes.

Union feels like a sandbox soaked in dread. Instead of pushing you down tight corridors the whole time, the game lets you roam side streets and uncover disturbing optional encounters. It leans heavily into survival mechanics, so ammo stays limited and crafting becomes essential. Stealth plays a major role, especially early on when resources remain scarce and enemies hit hard. In short, this game offers both emotional weight and relentless pressure.

3. Dead Space Remake

Scavenge supplies, upgrade gear, and survive in deep space isolation

If you asked me about the best horror game remake from the Xbox Game Pass library, I would immediately point to Dead Space. This version rebuilds the 2008 classic from the ground up while keeping the core survival horror design intact. You play as Isaac Clarke, an engineer sent to repair the USG Ishimura, a mining ship that has gone silent. Within minutes, you realize something went terribly wrong. The crew has transformed into grotesque creatures called Necromorphs, and survival becomes your only priority.

Unlike typical shooters, aiming for the head barely helps. Combat focuses on strategic dismemberment. You target limbs to slow enemies down, cut them apart, and conserve ammo. That small twist changes the entire flow of fights. Gameplay blends shooting, resource management, exploration, and light puzzle solving. This remake refines movement, improves enemy AI, and removes loading screens, so the entire ship feels seamless.

2. The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season

One of the best story driven horror games on Game Pass

The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season plays like an interactive drama where your choices guide everything that happens next. You control Lee Everett from a third person perspective, moving through small areas, inspecting objects, and talking to other survivors. Most of the game focuses on dialogue. During conversations, timed response options appear on the screen, so you must choose quickly. Relationships shift constantly. Trust builds or cracks based on the decisions you make in tense situations.

Moreover, action sequences appear in short bursts through quick time events. Button prompts pop up during zombie attacks, requiring fast reactions to dodge, grab tools, or push enemies away. Exploration sections allow you to search drawers, examine clues, and solve light environmental puzzles that help move the scene forward. Instead of focusing on combat depth, the game centers on moral dilemmas and character bonds.

1. Resident Evil Village

The ultimate survival horror experience on Xbox

You probably expected the final entry on our best Xbox Game Pass horror games 2026 list to come from the Resident Evil universe, and here it is. The game continues Ethan Winters’ journey after the events of Resident Evil 7. Ethan and Mia try to live quietly, but that peace shatters when Chris Redfield storms in and Ethan’s infant daughter, Rose, disappears. Ethan wakes up in a remote European village surrounded by snow, crumbling houses, and hostile villagers. From there, exploration gradually opens up.

Gameplay sticks to first person survival horror, combining exploration, combat, and resource management. You move through tight houses, dark basements, and open fields while searching for clues and key items that unlock new paths. Mastering combat means balancing shooting with careful movement, since enemies attack in groups and can overwhelm you quickly. To break up the action, some sections focus more on puzzles, asking you to inspect rooms and combine clues to move forward.