5 Horror Games Perfect For Stephen King Fans
Stephen King may be the most influential horror author of all time, with his prolific catalog of novels and short stories inspiring generations of writers, filmmakers, artists, and even video game developers. While King’s work has given us plenty of incredible modern live-action adaptations, such as HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, the recently released Carrie series from Mike Flanagan, and numerous upcoming projects, gamers looking for a direct adaptation of his work might be hard-pressed to find quality releases.
That said, there are plenty of highly rated titles explicitly inspired by King’s eclectic writing, with the following developers expressly noting his work as a source for the games’ ideas, setting, story, characters, horror elements, and more. As such, the following horror games are must-plays for anybody who calls themselves a Stephen King enthusiast.
5
Alan Wake 2
Of all the horror games inspired by Stephen King, Alan Wake 2 is arguably one of the most obvious, and developer Remedy Entertainment has been very open about the connection. Creative director Sam Lake has confirmed that King’s fiction was a major inspiration for the original Alan Wake, while also acknowledging the author’s continued influence on its sequel. In particular, Lake compared the game’s overlapping realities and nightmarish Dark Place to ideas explored in King’s The Dark Tower series.
Released in 2023, Alan Wake 2 follows two playable protagonists: FBI agent Saga Anderson, investigating ritualistic murders in Bright Falls, and the horror novelist Alan Wake himself, desperately attempting to escape a supernatural dimension where his writing can reshape reality. Gameplay combines detective work, environmental puzzles, and exploration with intense survival-horror combat, where players have to use flashlights to weaken shadowy enemies before they can attack.
King fans will recognize plenty of familiar elements, particularly the seemingly ordinary town hiding an ancient supernatural threat, reminiscent of IT. Meanwhile, the tortured writer protagonist and haunting Oceanview Hotel sequences evoke The Shining, while the concept of an author’s fictional creations becoming dangerously real will remind players of works like The Dark Half.
4
Silent Hill
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When Silent Hill first launched for the original PlayStation in 1999, it introduced one of gaming’s most iconic and memorable horror settings, but its connection to Stephen King runs much deeper than those terrifying fog-shrouded streets. Director Keiichiro Toyama commented that he originally hoped to make a video game adaptation of King’s novella, The Mist, even pursuing negotiations in the United States. Those plans never materialized, leading the team to develop an original story instead.
King’s influence remained central to the finished game, though. In a 1999 interview, Toyama specifically cited the author’s approach to modern horror, making ordinary American settings feel terrifyingly believable. Players control Harry Mason, an everyday father searching for his missing daughter in a seemingly deserted resort town. Armed with limited resources, Harry takes on monstrous creatures, disturbing alternate realities, and the town’s sinister cult. The isolated, fog-covered setting evokes The Mist perfectly, while the supernatural threat lurking in the background is quintessential King.
Fortunately, fans are getting a chance to replay the original after the acclaimed 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake. Bloober Team announced in June 2025 that it was officially remaking the original 1999 game, with development currently underway, although Konami has yet to confirm a specific release date.
3
Stories Untold
Released in February 2017, Stories Untold is a somewhat underrated horror gem with a direct creative connection to Stephen King. In an interview with Game Informer, No Code co-founder Jon McKellan revealed that King’s novels and short-story anthologies were major inspirations, alongside The Twilight Zone and the unsettling science-fiction and horror television of the 80s.
Rather than adapting any single King story, Stories Untold embraces the author’s talent for turning ordinary situations into pure horror. The game features four interconnected episodes, beginning with The House Abandon, a retro text adventure in which events playing out on an old computer begin affecting the player’s surroundings. Subsequent episodes introduce sinister scientific experiments, mysterious radio transmissions, and weird/creepy puzzles, with each story contributing to a larger mystery.
Nearly a decade after its release, Stories Untold is still an excellent horror experience, boasting an impressive 81 Metascore, and with Screen Rant describing it as “the perfect game for a quick escape, which is ironic because it almost feels like a virtual escape room.” Its inventive storytelling, eerie atmosphere, and relatively short runtime make it an overlooked modern classic that Stephen King fans shouldn’t miss.
2
Deadlight
In a 2012 interview, Tequila Works creative director Raúl Rubio explicitly cited King’s 2006 novel Cell, alongside Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, as inspirations behind Deadlight‘s bleak post-apocalyptic story. It’s readily apparent in the atmospheric survival-horror platformer, which imagines an alternate 1986 where civilization has collapsed and zombie-like creatures known as Shadows roam Seattle.
Players control Randall Wayne, an ordinary man desperately searching for his family, in a game that combines cinematic-style side-scrolling and environmental puzzles, as well as limited combat. Players are also encouraged to flee or outsmart enemies throughout the experience.
Although the original received mixed reviews, the unique art-style and POV, as well as the narrative-driven take on the zombie apocalypse make it something of an underrated gem. A Director’s Cut arrived in June 2016 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, introducing improved visuals, refined controls, and a new Survival Arena mode. With a Mostly Positive Steam rating, Deadlight is well worth revisiting today, particularly for King fans seeking a different kind of zombie horror experience.
1
The Drifter
Even if you’re not a fan of the pixel-art style, The Drifter is an absolute masterpiece when it comes to Stephen King-related games. Released in July 2025, this critically acclaimed point-and-click thriller from Powerhoof draws directly from King’s supernatural storytelling, alongside the science-fiction thrillers of Michael Crichton and the films of John Carpenter.
In an interview, developer Dave Lloyd specifically acknowledged King’s influence, explaining that he wanted to incorporate some of the author’s signature supernatural atmosphere into the experience. The story follows Mick Carter, a drifter returning to his hometown who witnesses a brutal murder, becomes the target of mysterious armed men, and is ultimately killed. However, Mick inexplicably awakens moments before his death, setting up a twisted conspiracy with supernatural mysteries and terrifying secrets.
The Drifter combines fast-paced point-and-click gameplay with clever puzzles, cinematic storytelling, excellent voice acting, and beautifully animated pixel art. It’s a unique interpretation of King’s literary style that feels like playing through one of his most disturbing thrillers. Boasting an impressive 84 Metascore and widespread critical acclaim, The Drifter is an essential experience for King fans looking for something a little different.
Ultimately, Stephen King‘s influence can be found in a range of great games, but these five games in particular demonstrate just how well his storytelling translates to the medium, offering unforgettable experiences that any fan of the legendary author should give a shot over the Halloween weekend.
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