ARCADE12 free scary games to play online
Turn the lights off, put your headphones on and open one of these horror games in your browser. They are free, there is nothing to download, and you do not need an account to start.
Halloween night turns into a race against midnight: ring doorbells, follow eerie whispers and get home in time.
Murdered for your riches, you come back as a ghost to haunt the three thieves who took everything.
1887. Trapped in the cursed Widow's Silver Mine, a lone prospector survives one horror after another to destroy the undead outlaw Black Jack Mortimer.
Find three exit fuses in a buzzing yellow maze while creatures stalk the halls.
6 nights alone in a storm-swept lighthouse. Check bunker codes and audio clues from incoming calls, grant or deny access and survive until dawn.
Run from the monster, collect fuses and escape the deadly maze.
A witch has cursed the village. Guide a little pumpkin hero whose fading lantern is the only weapon.
Explore three levels of a cold, abandoned maze and find the three keys that open the exit.
Locked upstairs in Grandma Hollow's creaky house, pick the locks and find a way out with your candy.
Search an abandoned indoor pool for three emergency fuses and escape before the lights go out.
Strange creatures are coming for your house. Protect it for as long as you can.
Produce Halloween candy, fuse it to discover rare mutations and grow a small workshop into a monstrous candy factory.
Every game on this list was made by an independent creator on Arcade. We did not pick them at random: horror is one of the most played genres on Arcade, and these are the scary games players start most often and keep playing past the first minute. Some are jump scares, some are slow and creepy, and a few are gentle enough for younger players.
Many of them were made for Halloween, but a good scare works all year. Each one runs in your browser on a computer, and on a phone with touch controls.
1. Trick or Treat: Don't Open the Door
The most played scary game on Arcade. It is Halloween night and the clock is running: ring doorbells, follow the whispers and collect 13 treats across a haunted neighborhood, then bring them to the altar before midnight. Something waits in the dark for anyone who is too slow. Best for: a tense race against time with a creepy atmosphere. Tip: plan your route, the far houses cost the most time. Play Trick or Treat
2. Estate of Panic
A horror game where you are the ghost. Thieves murdered you for your fortune, and now you come back to haunt your own mansion: possess objects, throw them and scare the three criminals away before they escape with your money. Funny and spooky at the same time, and one of the best rated games on this list. Best for: players who want to give the scares instead of taking them. Play Estate of Panic
3. Dead Man's Gulch
1887, a cursed silver mine and an undead outlaw with a burning pumpkin head. As a lone prospector, you survive one horror after another to put Black Jack Mortimer back in his grave. It mixes western and horror with a real story and a clear mission. Best for: players who like a story with their scares. Play Dead Man's Gulch
4. Backrooms
A buzzing yellow maze that never seems to end, and you are not alone in it. Find the three exit fuses, save your breath and run when you hear something coming. A classic Backrooms escape that players stick with. Best for: fans of liminal spaces and being chased. Tip: keep your stamina for the moment you are spotted. Play Backrooms
5. Bunker Signal: 161.80
Six nights alone in a lighthouse during a storm. Calls come in from people who want into the bunker, and you have to check their codes and listen to audio clues before you grant or deny access. One wrong decision and something gets in. Best for: slow, psychological horror where you decide who to trust. Play Bunker Signal
6. Burden's Maze
A monster hunts you through a dark maze. Collect the fuses, find the exit and do not look back for too long. Simple to understand, tense from the first second. Best for: a quick chase when you only have ten minutes. Play Burden's Maze
7. The Lantern Keeper
A witch has cursed the village and stolen the children's souls. You play a little pumpkin hero whose lantern is the only weapon, and its light slowly fades. Players spend more time in it than in almost any other game on this list, and it is rated 7+. Best for: younger players and anyone who prefers spooky adventure over gore. Play The Lantern Keeper
8. Scream to Survive
A cold, abandoned maze across three levels: The Yard, West Wing and Deep South. Find the three keys that open the exit while something listens for you. Best for: escape fans who like exploring corridors. Tip: remember where the dead ends are, you will need to run back through them. Play Scream to Survive
9. Candy Thief
Grandma Hollow stole every kid's candy, and when you sneaked in to take it back, she locked you upstairs in her creaky Victorian house. Pick locks, uncover the library's secret and get out without being caught. Players stay in it for a long time. Best for: stealth and puzzle lovers. Play Candy Thief
10. The Last Swim
An abandoned indoor pool, the lights about to go out and three emergency fuses to find. The echoing water makes every sound feel closer than it is. Best for: short, atmospheric escapes. Play The Last Swim
11. House Guard: Nightmare
Strange creatures come for your house from who knows where, and you hold them off for as long as you can. It is more action than hide and seek, with waves that keep getting harder. Best for: survival scores and players who prefer to fight back. Play House Guard: Nightmare
12. The Fright Factory
The lightest pick on the list: a spooky candy factory tycoon. Produce Halloween candy, fuse it to discover rare mutations and grow your workshop into a monstrous factory. No jump scares, just a creepy theme. Best for: a cozy break between two scary games. Play The Fright Factory
Which scary game should you pick?
| If you want | Play |
|---|---|
| A race against the clock | Trick or Treat, Burden's Maze |
| To be chased | Backrooms, Scream to Survive, The Last Swim |
| A story and a mission | Dead Man's Gulch, Candy Thief |
| Slow, psychological horror | Bunker Signal |
| To fight back | House Guard: Nightmare |
| Something not too scary | Estate of Panic, The Lantern Keeper, The Fright Factory |
Tips to survive any horror game
- Use headphones: most of these games warn you with sound first. You will hear the danger before you see it.
- Read the goal at the start: fuses, keys or treats. Knowing what you need keeps you from wandering into trouble.
- Learn the map before you need it: the second run is always easier because you know where to hide.
- Do not sprint all the time: keep some stamina for the moment the monster spots you.
- Play in the dark, but take breaks: these games are short, so a few runs in a row is the perfect dose.
What makes a scary game actually scary?
The scariest games on Arcade do not rely on gore. They use a few simple tricks: a goal that forces you to move (fuses, keys, treats), a threat you hear before you see, darkness that hides part of the map, and a timer or a light that runs out. If you ever want to make your own horror game, these are the ingredients to start with.
Make your own scary game
Every game on this list was made on Arcade by someone who had an idea and built it in their browser. Describe your haunted house, your monster and your goal, and shape it from there. No coding, free.
Make a horror gameFAQ
Are these scary games really free?
Yes. All 12 games are free to play in your browser on Arcade, and you can start without creating an account.
Do I need to download anything?
No. The games run directly in your browser on a computer or a phone. Open the link and play.
Can I play these horror games on my phone?
Yes. Arcade games run in your phone's browser with touch controls. For horror, headphones make a big difference.
Are there scary games for kids on this list?
Estate of Panic is rated 3+ and plays the scares for laughs, and The Lantern Keeper is rated 7+. The Fright Factory has a spooky theme but no scares. The others are better for teens and adults.
How did you pick these games?
We looked at how many people played each horror game on Arcade over the last three months, how many kept playing after the first minute and how players rated them. We left out games with low ratings and copies of famous horror games.
Can I play these Halloween games after Halloween?
Yes. Several of them are set on Halloween night, but they stay online all year and play the same in any season.
Can I make my own horror game?
Yes. On Arcade you describe your idea to Morph, Arcade's building assistant, and shape it in your browser without coding. Our horror game maker guide shows how.