Most horror games nowadays focus on fast-paced, action-packed scenarios where players desperately fight for their lives. Although the tension of having to make split-second decisions in life-and-death situations is terrifying, not all horror fans enjoy that type of horror. What if you just want to sit back, relax, and play a slow-paced, atmospheric horror adventure? You can do just that with these point-and-click horror games!
Despite lacking the intensity and pressure of most traditional horror games, these titles have everything one would want from a horror game — the atmosphere, the mystery, the storytelling — they’re all there. And if you’re skeptical, we understand! We were there too. But trust us when we say that some of these games are real nightmare fuel despite their looks.
5 Point-and-Click Horror Games Worth Playing
Here are our choices for the five best point-and-click horror games every fan of horror should try. These games might not be fast-paced, action-packed adventures, but they’re all as frightening, if not more.
1. Oxenfree
Oxenfree is an excellent indie horror game for all fans of point-and-click adventures. The game follows a little girl who decides to attend a friend’s party at a nearby Edwards Island. However, the night is dark and full of terrors, and that’s what the crew soon finds out!
Upon arriving at their destination, the players find themselves trapped in a weird time loop and realize that a bunch of supernatural creatures haunts the island. The game’s primary objective is to find your friends and leave the island, but you’ll have to go through various obstacles and puzzles to do so.Â
Despite being a point-and-click horror game, there’s a lot of storytelling going on for those willing to dig deeper. Oxenfree even features multiple different endings! So if you want to experience the game to its fullest, you’ll need to finish it several times.
Oxenfree was so well received by both critics and players that the studio announced a sequel due to come out in early 2022! So if you end up liking this game, keep an eye out for the next installment in the franchise.
- Publisher: Night School Studio
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
- Price: $9.99
2. Serena
Serena is a fantastic, free point-and-click horror game anyone can download and play! This game is perfect for anyone looking for a short and thrilling psychological horror adventure, as players can complete the entire game in less than two hours.
Despite being so short, Serena has a fantastic ambiance and soundtrack and a heart-wrenching story to accompany them. The whole game takes place in a small wooden cabin where a man waits for his wife, Serena. This game will take you on an unforgettable trip down memory lane, but with a terrifying twist.
If you ever find yourself short on time but would like to play a short horror game, give Serena a whirl — it’s well worth it!
- Publisher: Senscape
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X
- Price: Free
3. Fran Bow
Fran Bow is a Burtonesque point-and-click horror game no fan of story-driven horror should miss. This title is not for the faint of heart, though, as it has deep psychological symbolism and plenty of disturbing scenes and characters.
After the game’s protagonist, Fran Bow, finds her parents brutally murdered, she runs away in fear and goes searching for her black cat. Unfortunately, after she blacks out, she finds herself in an insane asylum, where she plots a way to escape. From there, the players set off on a weird and twisted journey as they slowly begin to realize that Fran herself might be clinically insane.
Besides its fantastic storytelling and symbolism, Fran Bow particularly stands out with its peculiar art style and ambiance and is unanimously considered one of the best point-and-click horror titles out there. If you haven’t played it already, make sure to add it to your gaming list!
- Publisher: Killmonday Games
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, OS X, Android, iOS
- Price: $14.99
4. Five Nights at Freddy’s
Five Nights at Freddy’s needs no special introduction — this survival horror game took the world by storm back in 2014, and its popularity isn’t waning! So far, this game has produced over a dozen of sequels, and it’s not backing down.
Five Nights at Freddy’s follows an ingenious yet straightforward gameplay concept. Gamers will be put in the shoes of a night security guard at a pizza place filled with animatronics that come to life at night. The players won’t be able to move from their office but will have to use cameras to monitor the animatronics’ movement and shut their office doors if they get close. The problem here is that the power is limited, so if you overuse the doors and cameras, you’ll be a sitting duck.
With progressively increasing difficulty and terrifying mechanical monsters and jumpscares, Five Nights at Freddy’s created the perfect gameplay recipe for a point-and-click horror game. Despite lacking action and movement, this title is so tense that it will make your hair stand on ends!
- Publisher: ScottGames, Lionsgate Games
- Platforms: Windows, PS 4, PS 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
- Price: $4.99
5. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a story-driven horror game adaptation of the beloved comic book horror franchise, and it does it justice in every aspect. Telltale Games are renowned for bringing enthralling stories to life, and they certainly managed to do this franchise justice.
The Walking Dead series comprises five consecutive episodes that follow the comics closely. However, depending on your choices, the story can unfold in dozens of different ways. This amount of player control and replayability is what makes this franchise one of the best point-and-click horror games on the market.
Besides the storytelling faithful to the original comics, The Walking Dead series has plenty of intensity, difficult choices, blood, and gore, so it’s one of the best ways to experience the post-apocalyptic world of this world-famous series. Whether you’re a fan of the Walking Dead franchise or are just looking for a horror story of a lifetime, Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead is the perfect game for you.
- Publisher: Telltale Games, Skybound Games
- Platforms: Windows, OS X, PS 3, PS 4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
- Price: $14.99
How did you like our list of the best point-and-click horror games? Did you play any of these titles before? Which one sounds the most interesting? Let us know in the comments below!