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Highlights

• Surveillance cameras enrich horror games with exciting surprises and increased immersion.
• Games like
  Observation, Paranormal Inc.,
  And
  Under the microscope
  offer unique surveillance camera survival experiences.
• In popular horror games, surveillance cameras provide suspense.

Security cameras are generally associated with protection and keeping unwanted visitors out of the private interiors of the home or workplace. While it can feel safer to know where enemies are and be able to monitor their movements, things can get a lot more sinister when enemies know someone is watching.

As a mechanic Surveillance cameras are particularly suitable for horror games because of the thrilling jumps between feeds and the hair-raising knowledge that someone or something is getting closer. In the following games, players can take on roles such as security guards, artificial intelligences, ghost hunters or spies in a series of spooky scenarios where they use surveillance cameras to survive.

13 surveillance

Steam user rating: 78%

Set in space in 2026, surveillance begins with Dr. Emma Fisher attempting to contact Houston after a mysterious accident. The player takes on the role of the space station’s AI software to guide Emma safely through the ship and find out what really happened.

By combining cosmic horror, exploration and puzzle elements surveillance has a disturbing claustrophobic atmosphere and is a great game for sci-fi fans who like both mystery and horror.

12 Paranormal Inc.

Itch.io score: 4.4

• Release date: May 9, 2023
• Developer: Riv3r

In Paranormal Inc., The player’s character is introduced as if he has just been hired by a family to look for paranormal “anomalies” in their home. He must then go through the camera feeds to find and report anything unusual.

The real camera shots make the gameplay much more intense and the variety of disturbing anomaly types keeps Paranormal Inc. interesting from start to finish without relying on jump scares.

11 Under the microscope

Steam user rating: 89%

• Release date: 5 August 2020
• Developer: Reflect Studios

Taking on the role of Luna, a crime analyst and neighborhood watcher, players must investigate locally filed reports of suspicious individuals in the neighborhood. to distinguish who is harmless and who poses a real threat.

In between working on the cases, players must regularly check their security cameras for criminals who are after Luna for their own reasons. With sinister plans in the background, Under the microscope offers a thrilling, paranoia-inducing experience.

10 Viewer

Steam user rating: 91%

Set in a totalitarian dystopia, Viewer requires players to act as a state landlord and spy on their tenants to uncover activities that threaten the state. They can choose to side with the regime or those who serve it, as each decision affects the course of the story.

While it is a rather relaxed horror experience, The viewer The dark aesthetic and dystopian themes make it a particularly disturbing experience for players who fear government surveillance.

9 Fears to be explored – Carson House

Steam user rating: 91%

• Release date: January 9, 2023
• Developer: Rayll

The third part of the Fears that need to be explored Series, Carson House In “The 18-Year Noah Baker,” 18-year-old Noah Baker looks after the house of media star Roy Carson. However, the part-time job becomes much more dangerous when the power goes out.

Using cameras, players track the stalker who invades Roy’s house and must evade him and escape his wrath. With a suspenseful plot Carson House is ideal for those who enjoy stealth or Strategy horror games.

8th Five Nights at Freddy’s

Steam user rating: 93%

One of the most famous horror game franchises of all time, Five Nights at Freddy’s puts the player in the role of a night watchman at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzaria. With the help of security cameras, they must keep an eye on the animatronic mascots and keep them out of the office with the help of lights and mechanical doors.

With limited power and surprisingly complex lore, FNAF takes simple gameplay mechanics and turns them into a terrifying means of survival, making the franchise well deserving of its popularity status.

7 Caught on camera

Steam user rating: 93%

• Release date: January 25, 2024
• Developer: Subscribe to

Caught on camera is an anomaly detection game. Players must use surveillance cameras to watch for and report anything unusual. If too many anomalies go unnoticed, players fail and surviving until 6am becomes a challenge.

While some changes are difficult to detect, Caught on camera differs from many other similar object search games through the tasteful use of jump scares and different levels.

6 Alternative clock

Itch.io score: 4.7

• Release date: 22 May 2022
• Developer: Tesseron

Another game in the style of “Find the Differences”, Alternative clock The player must monitor a house using CCTV for “Alternatives,” a hostile species that has begun invading the United States by disguising themselves as household objects. If the player files too many false reports or misses too many anomalies, they must start the night over.

This game is more obviously inspired by the “Mandela Catalogue” series with its scary alternative designs. For players looking for a greater challenge, there is also a dark mode where it is much harder to detect changes.

5 I am here to observe

Steam user rating: 95%

• Release date: 14 December 2018
• Developer: Notovia

Often heralded as a precursor to other anomaly spotting games, I am on observation duty requires players to use surveillance cameras to file reports for a mysterious organization in a point-and-click style horror game.

Although it is less scary due to the low-poly graphics, Duty of observation is easily addictive and requires a high level of perception and memory. Overall, this game is an ominous and sometimes funny homage to analog horror.

4 Phasmophobia

Steam user rating: 96%

Phasmophobia is a Online co-op Ghost hunting game. Players must work together and use devices such as EMF readers and EVP devices to find and record evidence of paranormal phenomena in various locations. Those who don’t want to put themselves in danger can stay in the van and use the surveillance features to help the rest of the crew.

With a range of locations, ghost types and game modes as well as great sound design and graphics, Phasmophobia is a truly terrifying experience that is worth forming a team for.

3 Poltergeist Observer

Steam user rating: 97%

• Release date: May 2, 2024
• Developer: Duck God

Works for the “Department for Protection from Paranormal Activities”, in Poltergeist Observer, The player must monitor an old haunted house from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for signs of paranormal activity such as flickering lights, moving objects, or full-blown apparitions.

This game has some interesting mechanics, such as a “curse alarm” and an activity detector, which either prove useful or increase the pressure. The atmospheric backdrop and spooky phenomena will keep players on the edge of their seats throughout.

2 Deadly Company

Steam user rating: 97%

Another cooperative horror game, Deadly Company requires players to travel to abandoned moons to collect scrap metal and sell it for the “company.” Players who prefer to stay in the (relative) safety of the ship can help their crewmates by using the terminal and monitor to track enemies and open locked doors.

Deadly Company combines science fiction and horror into a hilarious yet terrifying game with fascinating lore and world-building, while offering different challenges for both beginners and advanced players.

1 TOBOR

Steam user rating: 98%

• Release date: 15 November 2023
• Developer: Cogoo

In TOBOR, Players play as spy robot “TOBOR No. 2b” who must monitor 16 surveillance feeds, listen to objects, scan them and report results to headquarters. There are three rules: do not show compassion, do not interfere and do not betray the RA Corporation.

This game is slower paced but explores dark themes with dystopian elements in a narrative driven experience that changes depending on the players’ choices. There are multiple endings, and during the seven days, players can discover the truth about Undercroft and its unique inhabitants.