Summary
Forests and abandoned buildings are some of the most utilized settings for horror games. It’s not without good reason - the shadowy trees and tight, maze-like corridors make for some truly terrifying encounters. However, it also means that many gamers overlook titles set in less common environments.
Farms have the potential to be among the creepiest backdrops for horror games. Picture an isolated farmhouse with no neighbors for miles, leaving players all alone and exposed to killers, or thick corn fields that obscure whatever sinister presence might be lurking outside. These are some of thebest horror games set on a farmthat leave players feeling secluded and vulnerable.
This list includes games both entirely set on farms and those with farm levels or maps.
In a time when the supernatural and monsters dominate the horror genre, a good oldclassic alien invasion narrativeis refreshing.Greyhill Incidentis a survival horror game based on 90s America’s extraterrestrial conspiracy craze.
Players must make their way through a rural village to save their neighbors while avoiding being abducted. While it has been criticized for its AI, pacing, and voice acting,Greyhill Incidentis a hilarious yet atmospheric experience when not taken too seriously.
In Guaraní folklore, the “Pomberito” is believed to be a short humanoid being that inhabits rural areas, causing mischief and inconveniencing farmers.Pomberitois a farming simulator set in Argentina’s countryside,taking inspiration from this mythology.
Over five nights, players must complete tasks, but soon discover they are not alone; the Pomberito is roaming the fields, and the player must catch it. While the game involves a lot of walking and fetching, it’s a fun little title that easily catches players off guard with the creature sprinting out of the darkness.
3Tales Beyond The Tomb: The Farm’s Secret
Play Out A Disturbing True Story
Sometimes, real life is scarier than the outlandish scenarios seen in a lot of horror media.Tales Beyond the Tombis an episodic horror which, similar toFears to Fathom, takes inspiration from true stories, allowing players to experience the terrifying ordeals of those who experienced them.
The Farm’s Secretis the second episode of the series, following a young woman, Samantha, who is caught in a terrible circumstance; players must take risks if they want to help her escape. For a walking simulator, the title is very tense, which is made all the more unnerving by its PS1-era aesthetic.
4AM
An Innovative Driving Horror Game
Usually, horror games place players in eerie settings with limited resources to make them feel helpless.AMat first seems to deviate from these tropes, allowing players to speed around in a car. However, it soon becomes apparent that not even the vehicle’s interior is safe from the evil outside.
AM’s world feels lonely, disorienting, and liminal as players gradually discover the scope of the horrors that await them on the backroads.The game has some unique mechanics; players can use their headlights, radio, and torch to their advantage. To make what is essentially a driving simulator both engaging and scary is an impressive feat.
At the time of writing,AMis still in its demo phase, but it is still a lengthy experience with significant replay value.
Puppet Combo is known in the indie horror community for its PS1/VHS-style titles.Drawing inspiration from 80s slashers, many of Puppet Combo’s games are especially gory, andStay Out of the Houseis no exception.
Players control Roxanne, a young woman who has been abducted by “The Butcher,” a serial killer who has turned his rural home into a slaughterhouse for humans. Complete with tense chase scenes, gruesome environments, and a more complex plot than is first let on,Stay Out of the Houseis a great indie game and a must-play for fans ofThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
There is no shortage of co-op ghost and monster-hunting games, thoughPacifystands out as one of the games that brought attention to the genre. As part of Paranormal Activity Helpers Incorporated, players (alone or as a team) must find and capture entities across various locations.
“Farm” is one of the maps inPacify, where players must find a way to restrain the insatiably hungry farmer without being caught (and eaten). The dark grounds that span from the farmhouse to a cemetery are eerie and make for some real scares.
We Harvest Shadowsis a stunning farming sim with an unexpected twist.Players take on the role of Garett, who is suffering from depression and has decided to lock himself away from the rest of the world to live alone on a farm. With a daily to-do list, they are kept busy until things start to go awry.
The game is a slow burn, which works well for building tension; players will get invested in upgrading the farm only to gradually realize things aren’t as they should be. It’s anintriguing exploration of mental healthand isolation, and a great psychological horror that will leave players wondering what is real.
Slasher movies came to define the 70s and 80s. WhileHalloweenis often considered the franchise that brought the subgenre into the mainstream,The Texas Chain Saw Massacrewas a significant influence. In 2023, Sumo Nottingham gave the title a new lease of life in video game format.
As an asymmetrical horror game, players can control one of the iconic cannibal Sawyer family members, hunting down their next meal, or a survivor attempting to avoid such a demise. While somewhat limited in comparison to some other titles of the same ilk,TTCMpays homage to the grim Southern Gothic atmosphere of the films.
Despite being almost a decade old,Dead by Daylightis still being continuously updated, giving it a longevity that many other asymmetrical horror games fail to achieve. With an ever-expanding roster of original and licensed killers and survivors, seasonal events, and diverse playstyle options, it’s a title that players keep returning to.
“Coldwind Farm” is one of the realms inDead by Daylight, complete with five maps. The farm is associated with “The Hilbilly” - a disfigured chainsaw-wielding killer. While it has its funny moments playing with friends, being chased down by a power tool enthusiast is a hair-raising experience.
Phasmophobiavery quickly became a success, in part because of its pandemic release and the coinciding rise in streaming, but largely because of its fun (and terrifying) gameplay. Players are tasked with finding and recording evidence of the supernatural for ghost-removers. Unfortunately, it’s not a risk-free job, and there’s no guarantee they will make it out alive.
Phasmaphobiahas ample map and ghost variety, as well as different difficulty modes, keeping each game fresh.Players can also use their micto use some of the ghost-hunting equipment, but should be prepared for the responses that the paranormal has in store for them.
