There's something uniquely thrilling about playing a horror game on your mobile device—maybe it's the intimacy of headphones late at night, or the way the scares feel even closer when the screen is right in your hands. If you're the type who loves a good fright, mobile platforms have no shortage of terrifying experiences that can make your heart race and your palms sweat. After exploring the darkest corners of the app store, I've found several horror games that deliver genuine chills, creepy stories, and some of the most memorable scares I've ever had on a phone. These are the best horror games for mobile—definitely not for the faint of heart!

• Eyes: Scary Thriller

  Eyes: Scary Thriller puts you inside a haunted mansion, tasking you with collecting scattered bags of money while avoiding the ghost that stalks the halls. What stands out is the game's simple setup—you're dropped in with only a flashlight, and there's no combat, so survival is all about listening carefully and staying alert. As you creep through each corridor, every creak and sudden sound sets you on edge.

  The tension in Eyes builds with every new attempt. Sometimes you think you're in the clear, only for the ghost to come out of nowhere and send you scrambling for a hiding place. The game makes great use of jump scares, and the unpredictable path of the monster means you never feel safe. I found myself holding my breath whenever I rounded a corner. There's also a variety of maps and monsters, each with its own quirks, which helps keep the gameplay fresh for repeat scares.

  One thing I truly enjoy about Eyes is the variety in its level design. Every mansion or abandoned hospital feels distinct, offering new layouts and hiding spots, which means you can't rely on memorizing escape routes. The visuals may not be photorealistic, but the darkness, flickering lights, and creepy details give every stage a genuinely unsettling mood. Over time, new ghosts and even special events get added, and you can unlock cosmetic upgrades or power-ups that change your approach. Whether you're sneaking past the lurking horror or daring your friends to try for a high score, Eyes always manages to raise the tension to nerve-wracking heights. It's a game that rewards patience and sharp observation, perfect for anyone who loves atmospheric scares with a touch of unpredictability.

• Forgotten Memories

  Forgotten Memories is a psychological horror adventure that really leans into atmosphere. You play as Rose, a woman searching for her missing daughter inside a decrepit, abandoned institution. The game uses moody lighting, haunting music, and unsettling sound effects to create an environment that feels oppressive and mysterious from the very start.

  One of the things that drew me in was the pacing—Forgotten Memories doesn't rely on cheap jump scares, but rather slowly builds dread as you explore. The puzzles are well integrated, often requiring careful exploration and attention to detail. Combat is sparse, which means that every enemy encounter feels genuinely dangerous. The story unfolds through cryptic notes and environmental clues, and the ending left me thinking long after I put my phone down. If you like your horror with a bit more psychological weight, this is one game you shouldn't miss.

  What really impressed me about Forgotten Memories is how the game balances its story and scares. There's a true sense of vulnerability throughout, and you're often forced to choose between using your limited resources for light or saving them for defense. Every time I entered a new area, I could feel my anxiety building—never knowing if the next shadow was just part of the scenery or something far more dangerous. The character animations are strikingly lifelike for a mobile game, and the voice acting adds depth to the mystery. While the game pulls inspiration from classic console horror, it still manages to carve out its own unique identity, focusing on the protagonist's psychological struggles as much as the supernatural threats she faces.

• Detention

  Detention stands out for its unique blend of horror and history. Set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law, you find yourself trapped in a nightmarish version of your school, haunted by both literal ghosts and the shadows of political oppression. The art style is striking—hand-drawn environments and character designs give everything an unsettling, dreamlike quality.

  Gameplay in Detention is all about exploration and solving puzzles, but the sense of unease never fades. There are moments where the threat isn't just supernatural, but also psychological—the atmosphere is thick with dread, and the story is packed with emotional depth. I found myself genuinely invested in the main characters, and the cultural details added an extra layer of intrigue. Every decision feels weighty, and the chilling soundtrack perfectly complements the unfolding horrors. Detention is a must-play for anyone who wants more than just jump scares from their horror games.

  What makes Detention truly remarkable is how it weaves Taiwanese folklore and real-world trauma into its gameplay. The supernatural threats—ghosts with unique rules and movement patterns—require you to pay attention and sometimes even hold your breath to avoid detection. As the narrative unravels, you're forced to confront the harsh realities faced by the characters, making every puzzle and encounter feel more meaningful. I was struck by the way the environment changes to reflect inner turmoil, with classrooms transforming into surreal, disturbing spaces. The final act delivers both horror and heartbreak, elevating Detention beyond a simple scare-fest into something genuinely thought-provoking and emotionally powerful.

• Five Nights at Freddy's

  Few mobile horror games are as iconic as Five Nights at Freddy's. Taking on the job of a night security guard at a pizza restaurant, you must monitor security cameras to survive against animatronic mascots that come to life after dark. What makes this game truly nerve-wracking is the limited power supply—you have to conserve energy or risk being left in the dark when you need it most.

  Every night increases in difficulty, with new behaviors and more aggressive animatronics. I remember sitting in the dark, watching for the slightest hint of movement on the cameras, feeling the tension build with each passing minute. The jump scares are legendary, and the simple mechanics make every choice feel critical. The series has spawned several sequels, each adding new twists, but the original still stands out for its pure, focused approach to survival horror.

  One of the elements I really appreciate in Five Nights at Freddy's is the way it builds paranoia and suspense with minimal tools. The soundtrack is almost nonexistent, making every little noise—mechanical whirring, distant footsteps, or the flicker of static—feel like a sign of imminent doom. There's a genuine sense of helplessness when you realize you've miscalculated and the lights go out, leaving you to pray that the animatronics stay away. As the nights go by, the patterns become less predictable and your reaction times are put to the test. The lore hidden in cryptic phone messages and newspaper clippings adds another layer of mystery for those who love to dig deeper. For me, few games have delivered such a simple, yet consistently terrifying, experience on mobile.

• Simulacra

  Simulacra takes the found-phone genre and turns it into an interactive nightmare. You discover a lost phone and, as you dig through messages, photos, and apps, it becomes clear that something sinister has happened to its owner. The game blurs the lines between reality and fiction, making you second-guess every notification or strange message you receive.

  The tension here is psychological—the story unravels piece by piece as you make decisions and uncover secrets. It's easy to lose yourself in the immersive interface, forgetting for a moment that it's just a game. Some of the choices you make have real consequences, leading to multiple endings that kept me coming back for more. Simulacra proves that you don't need jump scares or monsters to get under your skin; sometimes, the scariest stories are the ones that feel a little too close to real life.

  What sets Simulacra apart for me is how convincingly it mimics a real smartphone. As you sift through the phone's apps and data, you'll encounter glitched videos, corrupted audio, and cryptic clues that slowly build a sense of unease. Occasionally, the game even uses your real phone's notifications or vibrations to pull you further into the story. I was caught off guard more than once by the sudden appearance of a disturbing image or message at just the wrong moment. The branching narrative encourages you to play through more than once, taking different risks and uncovering alternate fates. It's a perfect pick for anyone who loves interactive mysteries with a sinister twist, and it'll definitely have you double-checking your own phone before bed.

  For those who crave chills and enjoy testing their bravery, these mobile horror games are guaranteed to deliver. Each one takes a different approach to fear—some use atmosphere, others go for relentless tension or disturbing storylines—but they all know how to keep you on the edge of your seat. Just remember: it's only a game… or is it?