Horror games are designed to terrify, immersing players in chilling environments that test their nerves. But what happens when the horror isn’t just make-believe? Some of the most unsettling games out there are those based on real-life events, where the lines between fiction and reality blur in the most disturbing ways. Here are ten horror games that take inspiration from true stories, making them even more terrifying.
10. Forbidden Siren
Inspired by the Tsuyama Massacre
Set in a fictional Japanese village in 1942, Forbidden Siren tells the story of a town where villagers turn into zombies, and the sea around the village turns to blood. The game’s horrifying atmosphere is deeply unsettling, but what makes it even more disturbing is its inspiration—the Tsuyama Massacre. In 1938, Mutsuo Toi, a young man driven by rejection and tuberculosis, went on a killing spree in Tsuyama, Japan, murdering 33 people before taking his own life. This gruesome event is echoed in the game’s storyline, where the horror of mass murder is brought to life in a fictional setting.
9. The Town of Light
Based on Volterra Psychiatric Hospital
The Town of Light immerses players in the haunting world of Volterra Psychiatric Hospital, an infamous asylum in Italy known for its brutal treatment of patients. The game follows the story of Renée, a fictional character who endures the horrors of this real-life institution. The asylum, which was closed in 1978, housed thousands of patients subjected to barbaric treatments like electroshock therapy and insulin-induced comas. The game’s detailed environment and storytelling draw directly from the grim history of Volterra, making it a chilling experience grounded in reality.
8. Visage
Inspired by the Story of Anneliese Michel
Visage is a psychological horror game that takes players through a house filled with disturbing and mysterious events. The game’s chapters are inspired by real-life stories, including that of Anneliese Michel, a young woman who underwent multiple exorcisms before her tragic death in 1976. Michel’s story, which also inspired The Exorcist, involves a battle between religious belief and medical science, where she suffered from what many believe were severe mental health issues. The game’s portrayal of supernatural horror is eerily similar to the real-life events that plagued Anneliese.
7. The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me
Inspired by H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle
The Devil in Me is a game that places players in a replica of H.H. Holmes’ infamous “Murder Castle,” where they must escape the traps set by a modern-day serial killer. Holmes, often referred to as America’s first serial killer, built a hotel in Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair that was allegedly designed to torture and kill his victims. While the true extent of Holmes’ crimes is debated, the game captures the essence of his gruesome legend, making it a terrifying exploration of human depravity.
6. Granny
Inspired by the Real-Life Serial Killer Tamara Samsonova
Granny is a horror game where players must escape the clutches of a terrifying elderly woman. The game’s unsettling premise is eerily similar to the true story of Tamara Samsonova, also known as the “Granny Ripper.” Samsonova was a Russian serial killer who murdered and dismembered her victims, including her tenants, over several years. Her gruesome acts of violence, hidden behind the facade of a sweet old lady, make Granny a game that’s unsettlingly close to reality.
5. 9 Childs Street
Inspired by Anatoly Moskvin, the “Dollmaker”
9 Childs Street tells the story of a young boy who discovers horrifying secrets in an abandoned house filled with lifelike dolls. The game is based on the real-life case of Anatoly Moskvin, a Russian man who exhumed the bodies of young girls and turned them into dolls. Moskvin’s obsession with death led him to preserve the bodies in his home, dressing them up and treating them as his children. This disturbing real-life story adds a chilling layer to the already creepy atmosphere of the game.
4. Evil Nun
Inspired by the Abuse at a Real Convent
Evil Nun puts players in a terrifying school run by a sinister nun. The game’s antagonist is inspired by the real-life story of Sister Isobel O’Brien, a nun who was accused of physically and mentally abusing children at a convent. Marie Hargreaves, one of the survivors, detailed the horrific abuse she endured, which included beatings and psychological torture. The game captures the fear and helplessness experienced by those trapped in such environments, making it a truly terrifying experience.
3. Resident Evil Village
Inspired by Elizabeth Bathory, the “Blood Countess”
The character of Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village is inspired by the real-life figure of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman accused of torturing and killing young women. Bathory, who allegedly bathed in the blood of her victims to preserve her youth, is one of history’s most infamous female serial killers. The game’s portrayal of a towering, vampiric woman who preys on the innocent is a direct nod to Bathory’s gruesome legacy.
2. Outlast
Based on the MK Ultra Experiments
Outlast is a survival horror game set in a psychiatric hospital where horrifying experiments are conducted on patients. The game’s premise is based on the real-life MK Ultra project, a series of mind control experiments conducted by the CIA during the Cold War. These experiments, often performed on unwitting subjects in asylums, involved the use of drugs like LSD and resulted in severe psychological damage. The game’s depiction of a nightmarish asylum is a chilling reminder of the dark history of human experimentation.
1. Outlast 2
Inspired by the Jonestown Massacre
Outlast 2 takes players into a rural village controlled by a fanatical cult, drawing direct inspiration from the Jonestown Massacre. In 1978, over 900 members of the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, died in a mass suicide in the jungles of Guyana. The game mirrors this tragic event, placing players in a similarly oppressive environment where they must escape the clutches of a deranged leader. The real-life horror of Jonestown makes Outlast 2 a haunting exploration of the dangers of blind faith and manipulation.
