Summary
Trains and train stations may not be the first things that come to mind when thinking about horror, but they can in fact be perfect locations for creating terrifying scenarios. Many people fear crashing or having no control. Not only that, but with no way to escape when hurtling down the tracks, the narrow carriages can prove claustrophobic, especially when stuck with dangerous strangers.
These horror titles contain hellish trains full of ghosts, zombies, and demons, a safe haven on wheels, or oddly familiar railway stations that don’t seem to offer a way out. No matter what they use to create scares, they give a new meaning to the “horrors of public transport”.
9The Ghost Train
Steam User Rating: 79%
InThe Ghost Train,the player follows Kensuke Tanaka, a 42-year-old Sales Manager on his evening commute home from work. With each ride, the journey gets more and more peculiar. Players experience strange interactions inan increasingly decaying environment.
This game is equal parts unnerving and somber. There areseven endingstoThe Ghost Train,each revealing the truth about the train, its passengers, and Kensuke.
8Resident Evil 0 (HD Remaster)
Steam User Rating: 82%
The prequel to one of the most popular horror game franchises of all time,Resident Evil 0transports gamers back to before the Arklay mansion incident. Players step into the shoes of Rebecca Chambers, a rookie S.T.A.R.S. cop who becomes involved in investigating the crashed Ecliptic Express in Raccoon Forest, uncovering the origins of the T-virus.
It’s not the most polished game, with janky cutscene-to-gameplay transitions and at times cringey voice acting. However,Resident Evil 0retains a lot of its original charm, making it a nostalgic experience for those who played the 2002 version.
World War Zis a third-person co-op shooter inspired by Max Brooks' zombiebook of the same name. The first chapter of the campaign is set in New York and follows four survivors trying to escape the city to an evacuation site via a train in a combination of objectives and combat.
Players have access to different specialized classes and guns, both of which can be leveled up to unlock perks. Fighting off the increasingly difficult zombie hordes is an extremely satisfying experience that is fun to play with friends.
6Shinkansen 0
Steam User Rating: 84%
Shinkansen 0takes placeon a Japanese “bullet train.” Players must try to escape the looping carriage by keeping an eye out for anomalies, turning back if they notice anything unfamiliar or risk having to start again from the beginning. With creepy anomaly designs andclaustrophobic atmosphere,Shinkansen 0turns this familiar mode of transport into an uncanny and high-tension experience with two possible endings.
5The Final Station
Steam User Rating: 87%
The Final Stationis a side scroller, survival, horror-mystery game. The player takes on the role of a survivor in a zombie-ridden world, hired to operate a train needed to pick up components for the “war machine.” Meanwhile, they must also care for other survivors and maintain the train in between supply stops at various stations.
Alongside an increasingly surprising and dark narrative,The Final Stationcombines strategy, exploration, and action to keep the player invested in what is otherwise a simple concept.
4Zompiercer
Steam User Rating: 88%
The game begins with an alarm warning the protagonist that zombies have breached their sanctuary.Zompiercersees the player take control of a train and drive through a series of different locations while fighting against a range of different zombie types.
This game is both sandbox and survival, withresource managementand base building mechanics that the player can use to make the train a home on wheels. With each level, the player can also upgrade health, stamina, strength, and stealth, makingZompiercera versatile title for all kinds of gamers.
3Choo-Choo Charles
Steam User Rating: 91%
Combining the allure of trains with arachnophobia,Choo-Choo Charlesis a unique horror game. The player takes on the role of a monster hunter, tasked with taking down Charles, a horrifying spider-train that hunts humansat the mines on the island of Aranearum. The beast is described as “half train, half giga-spider from hell.”
Between collecting eggs to summon Charles to a final duel, the player can complete other quests for scrap rewards. These can be used to upgrade the player’s train’s speed and defenses, all while fending Charles off with a mounted machine gun. Overall,Choo-Choo Charlesis a surprisingly fun game full of wacky lore and terrifying chases.
2Granny 3
Steam User Rating: 93%
In version 1.1,the developer added a train ending toGranny 3.The player must search Granny’s house for different components in order to get the train under the house up and running and use it to escape, all while evading the baseball bat-wielding Granny, whohears the player’s every movement.
The third installment takes longer to beat than the precedingGrannygames, because of the bigger labyrinthine house and (optional) additional enemies. The extra routes and items offer a more engaging experience that is both challenging and frightening.
Similar to Chilla’s Art’sShinkansen 0, The Exit 8is an anomaly-spotting game slash walking-simulator. Theplayer is stuck loopingin the sterile passageways of Japan’s underground train station. They must reach exit 8 by continuing until they see an anomaly, at which point they must walk in the reverse direction.
Despite some anomalies being subtle and difficult to spot, the bright artificial light and the repeating tiled walls transform the station into a stifling place that, like the backrooms, feels all too familiar.
