Exploration is a key part of gameplay in many genres, from open-world and soul titles to action-adventure and even survival horror. It's no surprise that horror games often feature gruesome exploration where players usually control weak characters unprepared for combat. However, some games from other genres create atmospheric worlds where exploration is eerie and unsettling, even as you play as fit heroes ready for battle.
Developers achieve this using various techniques: making enemies formidable and dangerous, designing specific zones with increased threats, creating environments in which navigation is dangerous, or even changing the rules of exploration according to the time of day, where nights are often dark and full of unpleasant surprises.
In this list, we're focusing on scary games with a strong emphasis on exploration. We will mostly avoid survival or horror games (with a few exceptions) typical of such criteria, favoring titles where optional exploration is rewarding but always feels dangerous, tense and unsettling.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl
The world of the Zone is truly merciless
After a year of updates and improvements, STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl launches on PS5 on November 20, bringing the unique and treacherous open world of Zone to the platform. This is a journey worth taking for fans of first-person shooters with a strong focus on exploration, such as the world STALKER 2 it is distinctive, breathtaking and merciless.
From roving bandits and heavily armed mercenaries to creepy mutants of all kinds, dark and terrifying nights, deadly anomalies scattered outside and inside, and deadly emissions that players can't survive without finding cover, exploring the Zone is always a thrilling, unforgettable experience where one wrong move can end a stalker's life in an instant.
Hell is us
In Hadea, players can only rely on themselves
One of the most overlooked new games of 2025, Hell is us somewhat reminiscent STALKER series that delivers a unique, devastated world full of intricate mysteries, strange creatures and deadly anomalies, as well as valuable and powerful relics and treasures to obtain. The strong visuals and audio contribute greatly to the unsettling atmosphere of the game, where players can only rely on their own consciousness and memory to explore and solve puzzles.
Hell is us it bets heavily on the exploration to be challenging and challenging, as there are no maps or obvious clues that players might be used to in other modern games. Instead, every step in this harsh world can be your last, especially during opening hours, when everything feels fresh and unexplored.
Contempt
Definition of disturbing horror
Contempt
2/10
- Released
-
October 14, 2022
by design, Contempt is a horror game, but so unique that it fully deserves its place here. Set in a haunted universe with unforgettable environment and creature designs inspired by the art of HR Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, the world Contempt is a sight to behold. His merciless scrutiny only deepens the sense of unrelenting dread and the feeling of imprisonment.
Contempt is a short, relatively linear game, but its exploration aspect remains strong, with plenty of optional areas to explore and complex puzzles to solve. Like Hell is usplayers should not expect any help or advice during their journey and should be fully prepared to die at any time.
Bloody
Spend the night in Yharnam
A true gem in FromSoftware's soulful collection, Bloodythe world is as unique and breathtaking as it is dangerous. Starting with nothing, players are forced to fight their way through the night of Yharnam, mapping this dark, gothic city in their minds to find paths to new areas and track down their next prey.
A frontier horror game with a complex and deep lore that is still debated by fans, Bloody it can be incredibly tense and unsettling. The game throws terrifying, grotesque monsters and even unthinkable space creatures into the mix, surprising the player at every turn. Thanks to its interconnected design, the world is also deeply satisfying to explore, with plenty of well-hidden treasures and entire secret areas to uncover.
Chernobylite
Returning to a zone with different rules
Another game set in the Chernobyl zone as STALKER 2, Chernobylite he plays his cards completely differently. But with a shared environment full of dark mystery and danger, it's another example of casual exploration being as fascinating and rewarding as it is creepy and dangerous. Unlike the seamless open world, each map in Chernobylite is a standalone zone that allows for diverse and memorable locations that keep players coming back.
what does he do Chernobylite especially terrifying and disturbing, in addition to the strengths of the post-apocalyptic setting of abandoned cities, is the unique feature of Black Stalker. This deadly enemy can randomly appear in any location and haunt the player at the most inopportune times. While it's possible to fight the Black Stalker and most other threats like mutants, it's always an uphill battle because the main character isn't a superhero.
Management
The oldest house is home to all kinds of inexplicable
Management is probably one of the least traditionally “scary” games on this list, but it offers one of the most fascinating and disturbing exploration experiences. Completely set in a mysterious oldest house – a center of paranormal activity and artifacts – players embark on a unique journey through changing environments, eerie hissing sounds, mentally enslaved or unstable individuals and unexplained anomalies.
Management it's not designed to be pure horror, as players are well equipped to take on almost any threat using powerful weapons and supernatural, almost superheroic abilities for flashy, dynamic combat. Still, the game's oppressive environment and the constant sense that things are going very, very wrong create a lingering unease.
The Evil Within 2
Exploring Union City is equal parts rewarding and terrifying
Significantly different from its predecessor, The Evil Within 2 it takes bold steps towards a more action-packed approach while also incorporating open zones – still a rarity in the horror genre. Several times throughout the story, players can freely explore large parts of the STEM simulation, including entire city blocks and underground complexes teeming with dangerous creatures, deadly traps, and much-needed rewards.
While it's tempting to pause the main narrative and go exploring, as players can find valuable upgrades, powerful new weapons, and interesting side quests to add depth to the story, it's always risky and scary. Too far from the main way in The Evil Within 2 can lead to losses that outweigh gains, especially when areas are ventured into too early or unprepared. Such zones often harbor terrifying mini-bosses that may not be worth fighting at all.
Dragon's Dogma 2
Nocturnal exploration is not for the faint of heart
At first sight Dragon's Dogma 2 is a quintessential open-world fantasy RPG that features vast explorable worlds, companions known as pawns, and a variety of skills and weapons for fun and dynamic combat. And that's all true unless the players decide to venture out at night. Almost every character in the game warns against this, and for good reason: exploring at night is more often than not a nightmare that's rarely worth the risk.
Nights in Dragon's Dogma 2 they are pitch black and terrifying, with ruthless enemies lurking in abundance. Without fast travel available, players can't easily escape to safety if something goes wrong – and trust me, it will. Exploring the game world at night should be a last resort, especially until players become familiar with the game's rules, enemies, and weaknesses.
