The 5 least-scary scary games for people who are scared of scary games
No fear here
October is, unambiguously, the best time of year to love horror. Whether you lean toward horror movies, games, or both, there’s no shortage of ways to get scared this season.
But what if you love everything about Halloween but the scares? Plenty of people love the aesthetics and vibes of the Halloween season, but could do without the terror. If that describes you, have no fear (get it?). We’ve gathered five games that pack in spooky art styles, eerie atmospheres, and fall visuals, but stop short of leaving you with nightmares.
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1 Luigi's Mansion 3
Where to Play: Nintendo Switch
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is practically the platonic ideal of a spooky-not-scary game. You guide Luigi through the seventeen floors of The Last Resort, as he tries to rescue Mario and Princess Peach from the clutches King Boo. Luigi explores every corner of the hotel, from its gift shop to its fitness center. Each floor has its own unique layout, music, and puzzles.
Easily the best Luigi’s Mansion game, Luigi’s Mansion 3 perfects the goofy haunted house aesthetic that defines the series. It has everything you’d expect in a Luigi’s Mansion game: Luigi’s Ghostbusters-style Poltergust, his ghostly dog Polterpup, and his never-ending fear of anything that moves. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is also one of two games in history to feature Gooigi, an aptly-named Luigi clone made of green goo. That has to count for something.
2 Penko Park
Where to Play: Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Penko Park is a cute-yet-spooky photography game, reminiscent of Pokémon Snap but with even weirder little guys. You ride a tram through a mysterious forest, spotting and photographing the strange creatures hidden around you. Emphasis on strange — Penko Park’s cast of creatures includes a sea monster, a bewinged lemon, and a spider-looking thing named Doug. Each creature has several poses and emotional states, and is lovingly rendered in a style reminiscent of children’s book illustrations.
At the end of each tram ride, you organize the photos you took into a scrapbook, which rewards XP. That XP allows you to unlock more tools, which in turn allow you to see more creatures and take more photos. There are over 100 creatures to spot in Penko Park, so there’s plenty to enjoy even after a few run-throughs.
3 Hollow Knight
Where to Play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
If you still haven’t played Hollow Knight, now is a great time to get into it. Hollow Knight takes challenging Metroidvania gameplay and places it within an eerie, painstakingly crafted atmosphere. You play as an unnamed Knight, who platforms and fights their way through the derelict underground kingdom of Hallownest. It’s a particularly great choice for players who want a spooky, sometimes dread-inducing experience, but don’t want to veer into true horror. You won’t find gore or any true jumpscares, but there are plenty of moments that will leave you startled and speechless.
Without veering into spoilers, some kind of scary stuff happens in Hollow Knight. But its beautiful, hand-drawn 2D aesthetic keeps it from being truly frightening. Unless your debilitating fear of bugs extends to cartoon ones. If that’s the case, you may want to sit Hollow Knight out.
4 Monster Prom
Where to Play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
If you’re looking for all the drama of a teen slasher — without any of the slashing — Monster Prom is for you. You play as a Spooky High student, who has mere weeks to secure a date to prom. Your romantic prospects include gorgon Vera, werewolf Scott, and demon Damien. Playthroughs last 60-90 minutes, depending on how you chose to spend your time.
Developer Beautiful Glitch focused on making the game as funny as possible, packing it with clever jokes and references. Monster Prom is also unique among dating sims for its competitive mode, which allows you to compete with your friends for the affections of the game’s six romanceable monsters.
5 Night in the Woods
Where to play: iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One
Night in the Woods is a quiet, thoughtful story, full of anthropomorphic animals that are nonetheless unmistakably human. You play as Mae, a college dropout who moves back to her small hometown, where she investigates a horrifying secret.
Night in the Woods is stunning, setting its cute, quirky character designs against eerie-yet-beautiful backdrops. Its story draws on themes of depression, disassociation, economic strife, and isolation. You’ll find fantastical, campfire-story elements alongside everyday struggles that feel all too real. While it features platforming and minigames, it's largely character and dialogue focused. Mae’s choices, especially which of her friends she spends more time with, inform the game’s overall emotional arc — though the ending is satisfying either way.