Sometimes, longer is better as lengthy horror games can be both horrific and immersive. Long completion times won't prevent people from replaying these games, despite spending over a hundred hours doing so. It's not a coincidence that some of the horror genre's best games are contained on this list.
This list is based on the completionist estimates from howlongtobeat.com. Are you courageous enough to endure the ghastly length of these games? These are the horror games that take the longest to beat.
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Updated March 26th, 2021 By Jack Pursey: The constant improvements in gaming hardware and engines means that the horror genre can continue to thrive year after year, as developers can make their games more immersive and atmospheric, consequently making them scarier. Although there are many horror games that are created with the intention of simply providing a terrifying one or two hours of gameplay, there are some that offer lengthy and engrossing adventures. Long horror games are becoming increasingly popular, so we've decided to expand this list by a further five entries.
15 The Persistence – 23 Hours
Following on from the previous point, immersive and atmospheric settings, along with more realistic visuals, aren't the only thing making horror games scarier than ever before. Thanks to the invention of virtual reality, players can now experience an almost true-to-life first-person perspective, leading to horrifying results when playing games like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard or the underwater adventure Subnautica.
Firesprite's The Persistence is another horror game that can be experienced in VR, though only the bravest of souls should attempt it.
14 Dead Space 3 – 24 Hours
Someone doesn't need to be an expert on the Dead Space series to know that the third game is by far the worst received of the number titles. The first game is remembered fondly for kicking off the franchise in impressive fashion, while the second is credited with fine-tuning the gameplay mechanics. The third game struggles to be mentioned at all, despite releasing as recently as 2013.
Although the game is considered the weakest of the three main titles, Dead Space 3 is certainly not an outright bad game and is a victim of its predecessors' success in many ways. The game's lengthy adventure is enjoyable, and the inclusion of online co-op was welcome.
13 The Evil Within 2 – 27 Hours
Unlike most series' that grow increasingly longer, The Evil Within 2 is (spoiler alert) the shortest of the two Evil Within games. This is especially surprising when considering that Evil Within 2 differentiated itself from its predecessor by implementing an open-world, a staple of lengthy titles.
The Evil Within 2 was fairly well-received by critics, exemplified by its Metascores that ranged between 76 and 82 across its three releases. The game was also nominated for IGN's Best Action-Adventure Game in 2017, though the award unsurprisingly went to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
12 Alien: Isolation – 33.5 Hours
Alien: Isolation is one of those hidden gems that not a lot of people got a chance to play. As a game with a simple premise, it's a wonder why the game takes so long to beat. Somehow, Alien: Isolation's devs created a game that is both lengthy and enjoyable.
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The length of Alien: Isolation might deter some players—and attract others. It takes approximately 33.5 hours to beat Alien: Isolation in a completionist run, making it one of the most prolonged and horrific horror games ever created.
11 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 – 35.5 Hours
This Resident Evil spinoff is so long that it gives us pause. Unless you're someone who plays a game for days without blinking an eye, it could take you over a month to beat Resident Evil: Revelations 2. The average length of the game is 35.5 hours! Resident Evil games can be lengthy, which is a reason why they are so popular.
The best games are the ones you never want to put down. With horror and story elements blended in a never-ending nightmare, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is an excellent example of a Resident Evil game done right.
10 Metro Exodus – 36 Hours
The third entry into the critically acclaimed Metro series was initially released in 2019 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 before sporadically debuting on other platforms, such as Stadia, in the years that followed.
The game differentiated itself from its predecessors by implementing an open-world for the first time in the series. The game's open-world will likely give players mixed emotions, as many will admire its beautiful design, despite it depicting a depressing, lifeless, and almost resourceless post-apocalyptic landscape.
9 The Evil Within – 36.5 Hours
The Evil Within takes, on average, 36.5 hours to complete. Of the horror games contained on this list, The Evil Within is one of the most polished. Its gameplay can be amazing at times. The combat is exhilarating, and the game blends just the right amount of horror needed for an action game.
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It is scary, and the graphics are stupendous. Know that The Evil Within is not a masterpiece, and it is lackluster at times. If you go in with the expectations for a good, not great game, you won't be disappointed.
8 Doom 3: BFG Edition – 36.5 Hours
The Doom series is one of the oldest and most addictive gaming franchises in gaming. Developer id Software is constantly raising the bar for video games. Doom 3: BFG Edition introduces more horror elements than ever before. It takes place on Mars, where the protagonist must fight off supernatural creatures such as demons, imps, and lost souls.
As a game that takes approximately 36.5 hours to beat, it's a game worth purchasing for its value. It's widely available on platforms such as the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Doom 3: BFG is utterly terrifying, and it's a horror game that you can't miss.
7 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines – 40 Hours
Cult classic Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines was released on PC by Activision in 2004. The game was developed by Troika Games, who only developed two other games in their short lifespan: Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and The Temple of Elemental Evil.
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The game achieved its cult following through its implementation of numerous ambitious features that differentiated it from most other horror titles. Unique features include the game's mixture of first and third-person perspectives, a plethora of abilities and powers available to the player, and an RPG theme throughout which is rare for the horror genre. To the joy of the game's fanbase, a sequel has been announced.
6 Left 4 Dead 2 – 40 Hours
The Left 4 Dead series is recognized for its team-based gameplay and horrific elements. The right combination of a first-person shooter and a horror game can be a knockout. Left 4 Dead 2 is not only one of the greatest horror games of all time, but it is also exceedingly long.
The website of howlongtobeat.com states that a completionist run of Left 4 Dead 2 takes approximately "40 hours." This figure is, of course, to be taken with a grain of salt, but it is fairly accurate.
5 Darkwood – 51 Hours
It's a relatively unknown game compared to others on this list, yet Darkwood is one of the longest horror video games of all time.
The gameplay of Darkwood involves scavenging and exploration from a top-down perspective. It's a spooky game that is unconventionally scary. In Darkwood, players have to explore a detailed environment. Then, they must set up camp and pray they live to see the morning's light. Darkwood takes a whopping 51 hours to beat, making it one of the longest horror games of all time.
4 Resident Evil 6 – 58 Hours
It's not considered to be the best Resident Evil game of the franchise, but for containing most of the series' protagonists, Resident Evil 6 is notable. Resident Evil 6 contained some iconic scenes that are worth seeing, even if you don't enjoy the action-oriented gameplay.
As a game that became too focused on action, it became the face of criticism by Resident Evil fans. It's the longest Resident Evil game ever made with approximately 58 hours of content. That means if you played it like a full-time job (8 hours per day), it would take over 7 days to beat!
3 Left 4 Dead – 69.5 Hours
Left 4 Dead may be the first game in the series, but it is nearly twice as long as its sequel. Completing Left 4 Dead will take players, on average, 69.5 hours. This survival horror game pit players against hordes of zombies, bringing one of the most eye-opening zombie games of all time.
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Even today, people flock to Left 4 Dead because of its tremendous replayability and sizeable content. The game is often compared to a movie. Its cooperative gameplay is commendable.
2 We Happy Few – 76 Hours
Although reviews for this game were generally negative, We Happy Few still stands as one of the most lengthy horror games of the modern era. At first glance, We Happy Few is a technically impressive game, boasting graphics beyond the norm.
Unfortunately, the story doesn't do enough to impress its players. Those into long games, however, might find We Happy Few to be interesting. We Happy Few takes approximately 76 hours to complete.
1 Bloodborne – 75.5 Hours
And so we come to the end of this listicle. To put it simply, Bloodborne is the longest horror game ever made. The way the game encourages backtracking to find hidden items and pathways gives the game longer playtime. Not only is Bloodborne long, but it's one of the PlayStation 4's best exclusives.
For people new to the Souls-like genre, Bloodborne will be a challenging adventure. Bloodborne's numerous bosses will require strenuous effort to vanquish. Bloodborne takes approximately 75.5 hours to beat during a completionist run.