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Lantern horror games

In these games a lantern is often all that stands between you and the dark. You watch its oil run down, hunt for jars and flasks to keep it burning, and decide when to shut it off so nothing sees you. Beyond its small circle of light, corridors, caves and old houses stay black, and what waits there is only heard until it is close.

The top 22 of 22 lantern horror games, ranked by player and critic scores

The 22 best, 2026

  1. Amnesia: The Dark Descent art: a pale green stone hall in Brennenburg Castle with a carved fountain at its centre PsychologicalAmnesia: The Dark DescentDaniel carries an oil-burning lantern, and the oil to keep it lit is limited 95% on Steam (35,840 reviews)about 8 hPaidPC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
  2. Goodnight Meowmie title art: a white cat asleep on a windowsill under a starry night sky, with the game's name below PsychologicalGoodnight MeowmieOutside the bedroom the house is dark, and you cross its corridors in the small circle of your lantern's light 96% on itch.io (1,219 ratings)about 30 minFreeBrowser
  3. The Last Door Collector's Edition key art: a man in a coat holds a lantern before a dark manor at sunset, a crow beside the gold title PsychologicalThe Last DoorJeremiah carries a lamp into dark places, and one puzzle has you fill it with oil and light it for a dark passage. 95% on Steam (2,476 reviews)about 4 hPaidPC, Mac, Linux, iPhone
  4. Lake of Voices key art: a wooden bridge winding across a misty, dark lake between black trees PsychologicalLake of VoicesThe nameless Guide leads the party by the light of a lantern hung from a crooked staff. 95% on Steam (645 reviews)about 4.5 hFreePC, Mac, Linux
  5. Key art of a flooded basement corridor in green and red light, with a lift on floor B2 glowing red and a girl's silhouette in its doorway SurvivalThe Bridge Curse 2: The ExtricationAt set points you carry the Anima Lantern, which dispels spiritual barriers and fends off evil spirits. 94% on Steam (3,375 reviews)about 4 hPaidPC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
  6. Amnesia: The Bunker art: a soldier's hands, one holding a revolver, as a pale clawed creature reaches out of a dark tunnel SurvivalAmnesia: The BunkerYou can only save at lanterns in the safe rooms, and there are only a few of them in the bunker. 93% on Steam (12,814 reviews)about 5.5 hPaidPC, PlayStation, Xbox
  7. Lies Beneath key art: the title in orange letters beside a hooded figure holding an axe in a dark room SurvivalLies BeneathSave points are lanterns that you light along the way. 92% on the Meta Quest store (1,817 ratings)about 5 hPaidVR, PC
  8. Clea key art: two frightened red-haired children huddle together under a stormy night sky as pale, red-clawed hands reach for them SurvivalCleaClea carries a candle lantern through every dark corridor and room of the mansion 97% on Steam (372 reviews)about 4.5 hPaidPC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
  9. Dreadhalls key art: a cracked stone medallion of a woman's face with blank eyes and snake-like hair, set in a dungeon wall among smoke SurvivalDreadhallsYour only light is a lantern that runs low and must be refilled from jars of oil 90% on the Meta Quest store (903 ratings)about 3 hPaidPC, VR, PlayStation
  10. Ginkgo key art: a skeletal woman with a pale face and dark hair crawls through a red-lit Japanese room of painted screens, framed by ginkgo leaves Puzzle horrorGinkgoLantern-lit corridors throughout, and a lantern yokai that helps you open doors. 91% on Steam (343 reviews)about 30 minFreePC
  11. Lamentum key art: a man in a blue coat with a bloody axe and pistol among three other figures and tentacles, a dark mansion on a floating rock SurvivalLamentumVictor needs a lamp to see in the dark, and the cellars are lit only by the glow of the lantern he carries 88% on Steam (846 reviews)about 5 hPaidPC, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
  12. Vlad Circus: Descend Into Madness key art: a balding clown in white gloves and a loose tie clutches his face and screams upward, lit teal above and red below in dark smoke PsychologicalVlad Circus: Descend Into MadnessOliver carries a lantern through the dark rooms and grounds, and its small pool of light is often all you can see. 89% on Steam (205 reviews)about 4.5 hPaidPC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
  13. Yûrei Station key art: the title in orange kanji, katakana and English over watercolour blue mountains and a green field ShortYûrei StationThe deserted town she arrives in is lit only by orange paper lanterns 90% on itch.io (322 ratings)about 30 minFreePC, Mac, Linux
  14. The 7th Guest Remake key art: Stauf's Victorian mansion under a purple, stormy sky, a figure standing in a lit upper window Puzzle horrorThe 7th Guest RemakeA ghost lantern you carry reveals glowing symbols, hints and jokes hidden on floors, tables and walls. 87% on Steam (317 reviews)about 6.5 hPaidPC, PlayStation, Xbox
  15. Clea 2 key art: a red-haired girl with a black bow looks worried as a white-haired figure in a bleeding-eyed mask holds her shoulders under a stormy sky SurvivalClea 2Florine carries a small candle lantern through every dark hall, the only light around her 98% on Steam (96 reviews)about 9 hPaidPC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
  16. Trick Or Treat cover: a pumpkin-headed scarecrow in a witch's hat beside the title in dripping red letters, in a village square at night HalloweenTrick Or TreatFour lanterns, each burning for six minutes, are all that keeps Bogey away 100% on itch.io (40 ratings)about 30 minFreeBrowser, PC
  17. Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity key art: a cracked pocket watch on a grey floor, spattered with blood, under the title 2D horrorSkautfold: Shrouded in SanityYou carry a lantern whose limited light is often all that shows you the dark manor rooms. 80% on Steam (505 reviews)about 5.5 hPaidPC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
  18. Amnesia: Rebirth key art: Tasi holds up a lit match, a pale clawed creature lurking in the dark beside her PsychologicalAmnesia: RebirthAn oil lantern with a fuel gauge is Tasi's main light besides her matches, and oil for it has to be found. 77% on Steam (9,396 reviews)about 8.5 hPaidPC, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
  19. There is Something in the Anderghast Mine key art: the title over a red-speckled black background with a swirling, distorted red figure 2D horrorThere is Something in the Anderghast MineMarion carries a lantern, and its small oval of light is all you see of each tunnel. 92% on itch.io (33 ratings)about 1.5 hPay what you wantBrowser, PC, Mac
  20. The Bellows key art: a church pipe organ topped by a crucifix, wrapped in dark branches and teal mist, with the words A VR Horror Experience Walking simulatorsThe BellowsWhen the lights go out in the manor, a handheld lantern is your only light. 86% on Steam (245 reviews)about 20 minFreePC, VR, PlayStation
  21. The Butler itch.io cover: the scratchy white title over a dark library of bookshelves leading to a lit doorway EscapeThe ButlerThe butler carries a glowing lantern as he walks the halls toward you 86% (26 ratings)about 30 minFreePC
  22. Little Maddie Dear key art: a frightened black-haired girl holding a blue cat plush as a giant grey rabbit with red eyes looms behind her, beside the red handwritten title SurvivalLittle Maddie DearMadison carries a lantern (Shift) and sees only the small circle it lights; Blind Mode takes it away. 100% on itch.io (2 ratings)about 50 minFreeBrowser, PC

Short enough for one evening

Done in an hour or so

Free to play

9 games

Every game of the kind

More picks

Scores are those players and critics give on the stores and sites named; each game's page says where.

More kinds of horror

  1. Short horror games621
  2. Psychological horror games530
  3. Horror games with multiple endings417
  4. Horror puzzle games341
  5. Survival horror games259
  6. 2D horror games254
  7. PS1 horror games233
  8. Stealth horror games180
  9. Horror escape games164
  10. Surreal horror games145
  11. Horror visual novels137
  12. Anime horror games132
  13. Haunted house games131
  14. Mystery and detective horror games127
Every genre

Where you play

  1. Steam horror games1009
  2. Epic horror games97
  3. GOG horror games270
  4. itch.io horror games592
  5. PC horror games1337
  6. Mac horror games391
  7. Linux horror games261
  8. PlayStation horror games404
  9. Xbox horror games367
  10. Switch horror games317
  11. Mobile horror games188
  12. VR horror games69
  13. Browser horror games236
  1. Scary games1456
  2. Free horror games561
Every game, A to Z