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Top 20 cute video games that are actually horror

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - October 27th 2024, 14:00 GMT+1

Port2 — About this gallery:

To create this list, we focused on games that look adorable on the outside or seem like they're made for kids, but are actually terrifying. As always, we’ve stuck to just one game per franchise.

Remember, this list is totally subjective! If you think we missed a cute-yet-creepy game, why not shout it out in the comments? | © DreadXP

20. Garten of Banban series (2023 - 2024)

The colorful, preschool setting of *Garten of Banban* feels like a kid’s cartoon come to life—until the mascots start stalking you. This game lures you in with its cute atmosphere before flipping the script and plunging you into a creepy, mascot-filled nightmare. | © Euphoric Brothers

19. Duck Season (2017)

What looks like a nostalgic Duck Hunt homage quickly turns into a surreal nightmare in *Duck Season*. As you play this VR game, reality warps, and the friendly dog from your childhood turns out to be anything but. It’s a perfect blend of retro fun and chilling horror. | © Stress Level Zero

18. Little Misfortune (2019)

With its storybook art and quirky humor, *Little Misfortune* seems like a whimsical adventure, but its dark themes of death, fate, and bad luck creep up on you fast. It’s a tragic, unsettling tale wrapped in cute packaging, making the emotional whiplash all the more shocking. | © Killmonday Games

17. Among the Sleep (2014)

You play as a toddler in *Among the Sleep*, and the game’s soft, dreamlike visuals might lull you into thinking it’s a child-friendly adventure. But the deeper you go, the more nightmarish it becomes, as you realize the horrors hiding in this baby’s world are far too real. | © Krillbite Studio

16. Cooking Companions (2021)

Who knew a cooking game could be this unsettling? *Cooking Companions* mixes a colorful, innocent art style with a deeply disturbing narrative about surviving in the woods with questionable companions. Things quickly spiral out of control, making you rethink every meal you’ve ever made. | © Deer Dream Studios

15. The Count Lucanor (2016)

This pixelated fairy-tale game starts off charming and whimsical, but soon drags you into a dark and twisted world full of riddles, traps, and eerie creatures. *The Count of Lucanor* may look cute, but its blend of creepy atmosphere and survival elements will keep you on your toes. | © Baroque Decay

14. Hello Neighbor (2017)

*Hello Neighbor* greets you with a bright suburban neighborhood and cartoonish characters, but don’t be fooled—this game quickly descends into stealth horror as you try to uncover your neighbor’s dark secrets. It’s a lot less "Mr. Rogers" and a lot more "What is he hiding in the basement?" | © Dynamic Pixels

Five Nights at Freddys — 13. Five Nights at Freddy's (2014)

The animatronics of *Five Nights at Freddy's* may look like family-friendly pizza party entertainment, but spend a few nights with them and you'll wish you never clocked in. What looks like a cute kid’s game quickly turns into a heart-pounding survival horror as those mechanical mascots come for you. | © Scott Cawthon

12. My Friendly Neighborhood (2024)

A fun puppet show, right? Wrong. *My Friendly Neighborhood* gives you the illusion of harmless Sesame Street-like puppets, only for them to turn into horrifying enemies as you navigate the eerie studio. It’s the kind of game where you’ll laugh at the absurdity, then scream at the scares. | © DreadXP

11. Tattletail (2016)

Remember those Furby-like toys from the ‘90s? *Tattletail* turns that childhood nostalgia into pure horror. What starts as a cute gift quickly becomes a nightmare as you try to survive the night while keeping your noisy, needy pet quiet—because something much scarier is lurking in the dark. | © Waygetter Electronics

10. Poppy Playtime series (2021 - 2024)

*Poppy Playtime* lures you in with its colorful toy factory setting, but don’t let the cheerful mascots fool you—those toys aren’t just here for playtime. The game’s mix of creepy atmosphere and jump scares will keep you on edge, turning this innocent-looking playground into a factory of frights. | © MOB Games

9. Smile For Me (2019)

*Smile For Me* greets you with a surreal, colorful world and quirky characters, but beneath the bizarre charm lies a dark undercurrent of unsettling mysteries. This game’s bright, childlike aesthetic cleverly masks its deeper, more disturbing themes, making you question what’s really going on behind those smiles. | © LimboLane

Spookys Jump Scare Mansion — 8. Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion (2014)

The cute, retro graphics and playful ghosts in *Spooky's Jump Scare Mansion* might make you think this is just a fun little romp. But as you progress, those cutesy jump scares turn into genuinely terrifying creatures, and you’ll find yourself jumping out of your seat for real. It's spooky and adorable, all at once. | © Lag Studios

7. Doki Doki Literature Club (2017)

Ah, *Doki Doki Literature Club*, where cute anime girls invite you into a seemingly harmless dating sim. But once you scratch the surface, it becomes a psychological horror masterpiece that shatters the fourth wall and your trust in visual novels. Say goodbye to the idea of harmless school clubs! | © Team Salvato

6. NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE (2022)

It starts off like a quirky, colorful simulation about managing a girl’s social media presence, but *NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE* quickly spirals into a psychological horror nightmare. The darker side of influencer culture and mental health creeps up on you, making this game as disturbing as it is deceptively cute. | © WSS playground

Cropped Lilys Well — 5. Lily's Well (2022)

*Lily's Well* may look like an innocent pixel-art game, but beneath the charming exterior lies a deeply unsettling horror story. As you guide little Lily through a dark, mysterious well, the game twists your expectations with its eerie atmosphere and shocking revelations. Going down the well has never been so terrifying! | © Pure Ice Blue

4. Bendy and the Ink Machine (2017)

At first, *Bendy and the Ink Machine* feels like a trip to a nostalgic cartoon studio from the 1930s, but don't be fooled by its playful, old-school animation. As the ink monsters come to life and the shadows close in, you’ll quickly discover that this isn't the Saturday morning cartoon you signed up for. | © Joey Drew Studios

3. Little Goody Two Shoes (2023)

*Little Goody Two Shoes* serves up a slice of charming, storybook visuals before dragging you into a twisted fairy tale filled with sinister secrets. Playing as a seemingly innocent protagonist, you’ll quickly realize that the more you explore, the darker things get. Who knew being a goody-goody could lead to such a creepy adventure? | © AstralShift

2. Little Nightmares (2017)

With its hauntingly cute, Tim Burton-esque art style, *Little Nightmares* pulls you into a world that feels like a children's storybook—until the horror kicks in. As you guide a tiny raincoat-wearing protagonist through surreal, disturbing environments, you'll face grotesque monsters that will make you rethink your love for dollhouses. | © Tarsier Studios

Bramble The Mountain King — 1. Bramble: The Mountain King (2023)

At first glance, *Bramble: The Mountain King* looks like a charming fairy tale adventure, but don’t let the lush landscapes fool you. The moment you step into its dark, twisted folklore, it becomes a nightmare of giant trolls and creepy creatures lurking in the shadows. You'll go from "ooh, pretty scenery" to "ahh, why is that thing chasing me?!" in no time. | © Dimfrost Studio

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Sometimes, the most terrifying things come in the cutest packages. Video games are no exception. Just when you think you're settling into a colorful world of friendly characters and playful puzzles, the horror creeps in—turning adorable into alarming. From charming animations to pixel-perfect nostalgia, these games lure you in with their kid-friendly looks before hitting you with unexpected twists and spine-chilling moments.

In this list, we're diving into the top 20 video games that seem sweet at first glance but are secretly hiding nightmares beneath the surface. Brace yourself for a trip through the cutest worlds you should never trust!

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Sometimes, the most terrifying things come in the cutest packages. Video games are no exception. Just when you think you're settling into a colorful world of friendly characters and playful puzzles, the horror creeps in—turning adorable into alarming. From charming animations to pixel-perfect nostalgia, these games lure you in with their kid-friendly looks before hitting you with unexpected twists and spine-chilling moments.

In this list, we're diving into the top 20 video games that seem sweet at first glance but are secretly hiding nightmares beneath the surface. Brace yourself for a trip through the cutest worlds you should never trust!