It’s that time of year again, and you know what that means… all spooks, all the time. Today’s topic: text-based horror games. If, like me, you love good writing and think the scariest stories are the ones we experience firsthand, this list has everything you need to stock up on scary-good entertainment this Halloween season.

5 of the Creepiest Text-Based Horror Games

Not going to lie, it was tempting to bring up Doki Doki Literature Club again, but for this particular list, I wanted to focus on more traditional interactive fiction (IF) games versus visual novels (which I’m sure I’ll get to in another post). Most of these games are text-only; while some do incorporate visuals as well, I’d say the meat of the story in all cases remains contained in the text and how you respond to it.

1. ‘Anchorhead’ by Michael S. Gentry

Fans of IF games in general saw this one coming; this is perhaps the text-based horror game. A mythological horror of the Lovecraftian variety, Anchorhead interweaves puzzles with plot to tell a complex and breathtakingly atmospheric tale. Released in 1998, it is still hailed as one of the best IF horror games of all time.

Great for fans of Lovecraft and atmospheric, supernatural horror in general.

2. ‘Buddy Simulator 1984’ by Not a Sailor Studios

An unnervingly wholesome horror game, Buddy Simulator 1984 is a mostly text-based game whose narrative is supplemented with 2D and 3D retro-style graphics. It’s one of those “the horror is happening right inside your computer” stories, with the central focus being your relationship with your brand-new AI best friend Buddy. Let’s just say Buddy’s programming is a little… off sometimes.

Perfect if you like a little humor sprinkled into your horror and prefer your spooks sans jump scares.

3. ‘Coloratura’ by Linnea Glasser

An unsettling sci-fi horror with a unique perspective, Coloratura casts players in the role of an alien in the company of their human (or alien, depending on your perspective) captors. It is a tale as beautiful as it can be horrifying, full of lush, poetic prose and puzzles woven effortlessly into the fabric of the narrative.

Fans of sci-fi horror can walk a mile in an alien’s shoes in this stunning IF short.

4. ‘Bogeyman’ by Elizabeth Smyth

Sometimes, you can tell a spookfest when you find one just by the tagline, as is the case with Bogeyman’s: “You can go home when you learn to be good.” Play as a child in the clutches of the Bogeyman, but be warned: every time you think things can’t get any darker, the shadows deepen.

Better for horror fans with strong stomachs and a taste for the taboo—be sure to check the content warnings if you’re not sure you’re ready to play.

5. ‘Heart of the House’ by Nissa Campbell

An orphan, a missing uncle, a haunted mansion—it doesn’t get more gothic horror than this. Explore Darnecroy Manor, where ghosts watch from the shadows and the hallways seem to rearrange themselves around every turn. Seek, and perhaps find, answers to your questions about your missing Uncle Kent while navigating love and loss in a house that seems almost alive…

If you lust after a good Victorian gothic ghost story or really enjoyed ‘The Haunting of Hill House,’ this one’s for you.

8 More Scary Interactive Fiction Stories

Maybe you’ve played all of the above, or maybe you’re just always hungry for more horror. Here are some more text-based horror game recommendations, in no particular order:

• [text] A Summer Story by sakevisual
• Please Answer Carefully by litrouke
• The Fog Knows Your Name by Clio Yun-su Davis
• The Lurking Horror by Dave Lebling
• World of Horror by Panstasz and Ysbryd Games
• Jagged Bone by Nessa Cannon
• The King of Shreds and Patches by Jimmy Maher
• my father’s long, long legs by Michael Lutz

And of course, feel free to check out my own foray into the text-based horror genre, The Harbinger’s Head.

If that’s still not quite enough to sate your appetite, don’t worry, fellow shadow-walkers. The Halloween season is only just beginning…

The Harbinger’s Head is a text-based fantasy/horror game by Kim Berkley. Explore the fae side of 19th century Ireland as you help a headless horseman search for his stolen skull. Play the first chapter for free today!