It’s spooky season, which means we’re inundated with horror games, seriously freaky stuff and jump scares aplenty. But what if you’re not a fan of horror but still want to enjoy the spooks? We’ve got you covered with this list of suitably Halloween-themed games without the scares.
From Halloween-themed platforming games to adventures set in spooky lands, we’ve got some great games for everyone to enjoy over the season. So, light up your pumpkins, get your skeleton onesies on and load up the Halloween snacks. Read on to find our picks of the best Halloween games for those who don’t like horror.
Looking for something a bit more scary? Check out our list of the best horror games of 2023.
1. Pumpkin Jack
- Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC
Pumpkin Jack is the perfect Halloween game for those who are scaredy-cats: it packs in the wonderful visuals of the Halloween period: dark, foreboding forests, spooky cemeteries and, of course, pumpkins. Your protagonist, Jack, has a pumpkin for a head, in fact. Equipped with a gun and a nimble pair of legs, you’ll run and jump through this 3D platformer, defeating enemies as you go.
Read our review of Pumpkin Jack
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2. Grim Fandango Remastered
- Available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC
One of our favourite games of all time, Grim Fandango is well worth a place on this list of best Halloween games that aren’t scary. This classic adventure from LucasArts puts you in the shoes of Manny Calavera, a grim reaper tasked with selling afterlife packages to the recently deceased. But in the course of his job, he gets himself embroiled in a dark mystery – all while falling in love with the enchanting Merche. Packed with skeletons galore and a fantastic Mexican Day of the Dead spirit, there’s so much to love here.
Read our review of Grim Fandango Remastered
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3. Graveyard Keeper
- Available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC
Imagine Stardew Valley, but instead of tending to your own farm, it’s a graveyard. And instead of growing various crops, you’re burying bodies and building nice graves for ’em. That’s Graveyard Keeper, the perfect dark and spooky simulator game to play this Halloween. As you grow your graveyard and unlock new skills, you can also meet new people, go visit the rather creepy nearby town and spend your hard-earned cash. There’s a lot to like here if you enjoy farming simulator games like Stardew Valley.
Read our review of Graveyard Keeper
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4. Slayaway Camp
- Available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC
Fancy a Halloween-themed puzzle game? They don’t come much better than Slayaway Camp. This engaging puzzled will have you making your way through blocky summer camp locations – all the while trying to avoid the serial killer on the loose. It’s essentially Friday the 13th, with added brainteasers, and much less screaming and gore. You’ll love it.
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5. MediEvil
- Available on PS4
Ah, a classic. Originally released on PlayStation 1, a remaster in 2019 brought MediEvil and its iconic protagonist, Sir Daniel Fortesque, into the modern age. Its medieval setting already makes MediEvil a little bit spooky. Add to the fact that Sir Dan is, in fact, a skeleton, and you’ve got the perfect game to play this Halloween that isn’t a horror. This 3D hack-and-slash platforming adventure is great fun for all the family – whether you have fond memories of the original or you’ve never played it.
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