Combining the macabre with strategic gameplay, these turn-based games will plunge you into a realm of darkness and suspense. Prepare to test your wits, nerve, and strategic prowess as you navigate treacherous labyrinths of terror, where each move holds the weight of survival and every decision carries dire consequences.

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This selection of games combines the thrill of strategic thinking with the heart-pounding suspense of horror, offering a truly unique and immersive experience. As you venture into these harrowing worlds, be prepared to confront nightmarish creatures, unravel sinister mysteries, and maybe even your own sanity.

10 Fear Equation

Scene from the train within Fear Equation

In this turn-based strategy, step into the role of a train conductor in a world plagued by a mysterious fog known as The Fear, which is rumored to manifest your nightmares if caught within it. As the conductor, you must navigate a post-apocalyptic landscape, filled with trepidation and danger. Your train acts as a sanctuary for survivors, but it's not without its perils.

The Fear manifests itself as tangible entities that board the train, spreading panic and terror among passengers. Employ your strategic thinking to manage resources, gather information, and command your crew to maintain order. With each journey, unravel the enigma of The Fear and restore hope to a shattered society.

9 Iratus: Lord Of The Dead

Combat between the Banshee class and an Elven Ranger-3

Take on the role of an ancient necromancer in this dark and immersive turn-based strategy game where players assume the role of Iratus. As Iratus, your goal is to reclaim your former power and unleash an army of undead minions upon the world. Through strategic decision-making, create a gruesome army by reanimating fallen foes and enhancing their abilities.

Assemble your forces, exploit the weaknesses of your enemies, and overcome challenging battles in a grim fantasy realm. Delve into a rich and atmospheric narrative as you manipulate life and death itself in Iratus: Lord of the Dead.

8 Stygian: Reign Of The Old Ones

Outsider class casts their Blood Circle spell during their turn in combat

Immerse yourself in a turn-based Lovecraftian world of cosmic horror and despair set in the town of Arkham during the end times in Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones. Reality itself has been warped and ancient entities known as the Old Ones have emerged. As a tormented protagonist, embark on a gripping journey, battling your own sanity and unraveling dark mysteries.

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Make crucial choices that impact the fates of both the remaining inhabitants and yourself. With a hauntingly atmospheric setting, unique hand-drawn art style, and deep narrative, navigate through a nightmarish realm where the line between sanity and madness is blurred, and you’re doomed from the very beginning.

7 Monark

Your group of fiends fighting in the Otherworld

Find yourself trapped in a mysterious and twisted realm known as the Otherworld. In Monark, you awaken in an academy where madness and chaos reign, and your only hope for escape lies in uncovering its secrets. Form alliances with enigmatic companions, each wielding their own supernatural powers, and navigate a branching narrative where your choices shape the outcome.

Engage in strategic turn-based battles against grotesque creatures, utilizing the power of your Ego to unleash devastating attacks. As the boundary between reality and delusion blurs, confront your inner demons and discover the truth behind the Shin Mikado Academy before darkness consumes all.

6 Othercide

The Daughters fighting against the Darkness

As a dark and haunting tactical game, Othercide transports you into a nightmarish dimension ruled by an ancient and malevolent force. As the last hope for humanity, you command an army of powerful warriors called Daughters, and battle against the terrifying creatures of darkness. With a visually stunning monochromatic art style and strategic gameplay, plan every move wisely in a timeline-based combat system.

Sacrifice is inevitable, and each decision alters the world's fate. Dive into a profound narrative where memories hold the key to salvation, and lead the Daughters in an epic struggle to change the course of destiny.

5 Redemption Reapers

Your group of mercenaries fighting against the Mort

As a tormented soul turned Reaper, you are tasked with hunting down rogue spirits and restoring cosmic balance. In Redemption Reapers, you’ll traverse haunting and ethereal realms, wielding powerful weaponry and harnessing supernatural abilities to vanquish malevolent entities.

Lead the Ashen Hawk Brigade, forge alliances with other Reapers, and navigate moral dilemmas that blur the line between right and wrong. As the fate of both the living and afterlife hangs in the balance, confront personal demons and seek redemption in a dark and atmospheric journey that will test your resolve and reshape the realms of existence.

4 Dead Age 2

Fighting against zombies during the tutorial

Set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by the undead, you join a group of survivors as they navigate through the remnants of civilization, facing hordes of zombies and treacherous human factions. As the leader, make tough decisions to ensure the group's survival, manage resources, and strengthen your base.

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Engage in tactical turn-based combat, utilizing an extensive skill system and crafting abilities to scavenge for essential supplies. Amidst the ruins in Dead Age 2, forge bonds with companions, each with unique backstories and abilities, and shape your destiny in a dark narrative-driven experience where every choice has profound consequences.

3 Rogue Lords

Baron Samedi attacks the opposing team, hitting a Privateer

Embrace your dark side and become the Devil as you lead a team of infamous evil geniuses from folklore and mythology. In a beautifully animated and gothic world, embark on a diabolical quest to regain power and wreak havoc upon the forces of good. Deploy tactical strategies in turn-based battles, exploiting the Devil's abilities to manipulate luck and cheat fate.

In Rogue Lords, you’ll confront legendary heroes, bent on vanquishing evil, and challenge them in battles where losing is part of the plan. With an immersive story and unique gameplay mechanics, revel in the thrill of being the ultimate villain in this dark and twisted roguelike adventure.

2 World Of Horror

An eerie scene helping explain the mystery that's unfolding

Experience a chilling and atmospheric cosmic horror adventure set in a small Japanese town. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and Junji Ito, the game's retro aesthetics will immerse you in an unsettling world of ancient terrors and eldritch mysteries. Investigate eerie occurrences, solve puzzles, and confront unfathomable horrors in turn-based combat.

As a group of intrepid investigators, piece together the truth behind the encroaching darkness and face the Old Gods in haunting, procedurally generated stories. With multiple characters, mysteries, and endings, World of Horror offers a harrowing journey that tests your sanity and courage in a unique, roguelike experience.

1 Darkest Dungeon

The enemy uses a psychic attack to hit everyone in your team

As the inheritor of a cursed estate, you’ll assemble a roster of flawed heroes and lead them through treacherous and dark dungeons. Fight against eldritch horrors, supernatural abominations, and the ever-encroaching madness that haunts your team. Manage stress, sanity, and resources while balancing the delicate mental state of your characters.

With unique turn-based combat and a hauntingly atmospheric art style, delve deeper into the depths of darkness, unraveling the mysteries that plague your ancestral home, and face the ultimate test of resilience, strategy, and survival in Darkest Dungeon.

Next: The Best Indie Horror Video Games Of All Time, According To Metacritic