The Most Effective Horror Game Jump Scares

Jump scares are considered cheap tricks in horror games because it doesn’t take too much effort to scare people with them. They work because they trigger our natural defense mechanisms – it’s almost impossible to become completely immune to jump scares. Some games, however, use jump scares in a way that feels natural.

Game	Release	Genre	Developer
Amnesia The Dark Descent	2010-09-08	Adventure	Frictional Games
Outlast	2013-09-04	Adventure	Red Barrels
Outlast 2	2017-04-25	Adventure	Red Barrels
Condemned Criminal Origins	2006-04-11	Action & Shooter	Monolith Productions
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Biohazard 7 Resident Evil	2017-01-23	Horror	CAPCOM
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Biohazard 7 Resident Evil Gold Edition	2017-12-12	Horror	CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Alien Isolation	2014-10-06	Action & Shooter	The Creative Assembly
Dead Space	2008-10-20	Adventure	EA Redwood Shores
Dead Space 2	2011-01-27	Horror	Visceral Games
Dead Space 3	2013-02-08	Adventure	Visceral Games
Fatal Frame Project Zero Maiden Of Black Water	2021-10-28	Survival horror	Tecmo

If you want to find out more, take a look at the list of some of the best horror games with jumpscares down below.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Release date:	2010-09-08
Genre:	Adventure
Developer:	Frictional Games

Amnesia is quite good at scaring players but its jump scares are not the typical ones you’d imagine – there are no cheap tricks involved, just building the tension and releasing it at the right moment.

Image credit: Frictional Games

In Amnesia: The Dark Descent you will be exploring a mysterious mansion while trying to figure out where you are, who you are, and what’s actually going on in here. Naturally, finding answers won’t be easy, as you’ll have to be aware of an evil presence watching you – it will lurk in the shadows and will strike whenever you expect it the least.

Key features
A truly scary survival horror game The gameplay focused on solving physics-based puzzles and avoiding danger A terrifying atmosphere of constant fear – you never know where your stalker may jump out from Darkness mechanic – maintain your sanity

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Release date:	2013-09-04
Genre:	Adventure
Developer:	Red Barrels

Outlast is not a game where you could freely slash through the enemies to get to your destination.

Image credit: Red Barrels

In Outlast you will explore the surroundings and observe everything through a camera – you’re not a soldier but a simple journalist. You’ve got no combat experience whatsoever, which means that you will have to resort to stealth and keeping a low profile if you want to survive.

Key features
A survival horror experience in a believable setting The gameplay focused on exploration and stealth The element of surprise makes it possible to catch players off their guard Extensive use of jump scares combined with a great horror atmosphere

Outlast

Release date:	2006-04-11
Genre:	Survival horror
Developer:	Monolith Productions

A quite dated game, but don’t get discouraged by its visuals – it’s as good at scaring people today as it was at the time of its release.

Image credit: Monolith Productions

Inspired by the classic works of the genre, including The Silence of the Lambs, Seven, and Saw, Condemned: Criminal Origins is a solid choice for a horror game and a rather difficult one when it comes to gameplay. You’re not defenseless, you can use a gun, but the ammo is scarce so make every bullet count.

Key features
A survival horror with visceral combat The gameplay focused on exploration and looking for clues Guns are present and deadly but ammo is very limited Has some jump scares that make an excellent job at scaring players

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Release date:	2017-01-23
Genre:	Horror
Developer:	CAPCOM

The classic franchise also should be mentioned on the list – Biohazard can scare even the horror veterans.

Image credit: CAPCOM

Jump scares in RE 7: Biohazard aren’t too frequent. The game uses them sparingly for the better effect, and while most of the jump scares can be predicted a few seconds earlier, allowing your brain to prepare for them, there are still some that may get you anyway – even when you think you’re ready.

Key features
Gameplay that emphasizes exploration Demanding difficulty level Top-tier visuals Unique atmosphere that ensures an immersive experience

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Release date:	2014-10-06
Genre:	Action & Shooter
Developer:	The Creative Assembly

Being stuck aboard a space station is a perfect setting for a horror game and it creates a lot of room for the game to scare players.

Image credit: The Creative Assembly

In Alien: Isolation you will have to explore a space station and look for clues that could help you learn more about the protagonist’s missing mother. However, the station is home to a hostile, intelligent alien but you won’t know that until it’s too late to leave the place.

Key features
A truly terrifying survival horror game in space Gameplay that puts emphasis on stealth Smart enemy AI that learns from the player’s actions and adapts to his playstyle Excellent sounds that add a lot to the game’s atmosphere

Alien: Isolation

Release date:	2001
Genre:	Survival horror
Developer:	Team Silent

Old but gold, Silent Hill 2 didn’t age in terms of its ability to scare people, so you may want to check it out if you didn’t already – or give it another go to satisfy your nostalgia needs.

Silent Hill 2

Considered by some as one of the greatest video games of all time, Silent Hill 2 is a master from which numerous modern games could learn. The game’s unsettling atmosphere is what sets it apart from other similar productions, and it’s cleverly used to build tension.

Key features
A survival horror from the iconic series The gameplay focused on exploration but allows for limited combat The disturbing atmosphere and twisted creatures Praiseworthy soundtrack and sound design

Dead Space

Release date:	2008-10-20
Genre:	Adventure
Developer:	EA Redwood Shores

If you like sci-fi games with jump scares, Dead Space won’t disappoint you – although the game prefers to scare people through its atmosphere, jump scares are also present and they’re solid.

Image credit: EA Redwood Shores

In Dead Space, you can fight but you’re an engineer, not a soldier – your suit is not made for combat but to lift heavy stuff, so proceed with caution. Explore the seemingly abandoned spaceship, solve the puzzles, and try not to descend into madness.

Key features
A sci-fi survival horror that takes place in space Gameplay with lots of action, puzzle solving, and fighting for survival Sound design that greatly helps to set the right atmosphere New Game for those who are looking for an extra challenge

Dead Space

Dead Space 2

Dead Space 3

Release date:	2002
Genre:	psychological horror
Developer:	Silicon Knights

Eternal Darkness is worth mentioning not only because it’s one of the few horrors released on GameCube, but also because it had some really effective jump scares.

Eternal Darkness does a great job at keeping players engaged throughout the game, partly because of its unsettling atmosphere that leaves players with a lingering feeling of fear. It’s just a shame that the game started to be appreciated only years after the original release – now it’s a shiny and valuable but forgotten gem.

Key features
A cosmic horror with elements of magic Gameplay that emphasizes fighting dangerous creatures and solving puzzles Environmental changes based on the character’s sanity Several playable characters, each focusing on a different era and story

Fatal Frame

Release date:	2021-10-28
Genre:	Survival horror
Developer:	Tecmo

Fatal Frame offers one-of-a-kind gameplay – explore a haunted mansion and make use of the character’s ancient camera to solve puzzles and defeat ghosts.

Image credit:

Although you’re not a fighter, you’re not defenseless either but your weapon in Fatal Frame is not a typical one. To defeat the enemies, as well as solve the game’s puzzles, you will have to use a special camera and take photos of the objects around you – a surprisingly fun idea.

Key features
A survival horror that takes place in a haunted house The gameplay focused on solving puzzles and capturing ghosts A unique combat system that involves the use of an ancient camera Tense and creepy atmosphere – you can’t feel safe anywhere

Fatal Frame

Release date:	2019-08-30
Genre:	Adventure
Developer:	Bloober Team

Finally, Blair Witch – it has some solid jump scares that are hard to predict and thus often catch players off guard.

Image credit: Bloober Team

You will find yourself in the forest all alone, except for your dog companion, Bullet. Together you’ll try to solve the case of a missing boy. Explore semi-open locations and send Bullet to investigate areas that are out of your reach, but be careful – something doesn’t feel right.

Key features
A psychological horror focused mainly on the exploration Forest setting that plays on the human’s primeval instincts and fears A dog companion that will help you during the game Several different endings

Blair Witch