Horror games in 2026 have captured a significant share of the computer game market with revenues exceeding $1.3 billion. According to the latest report from Alinea Analytics, this popular genre has managed to record 7% of its total revenue from the Steam store.
Success of Horror Genre Games on Steam
The total revenue of the Steam store this year has reached approximately $18.1 billion, with horror genre games accounting for nearly 7% of this figure. Notably, 41% of the revenue from this genre, equivalent to $516.2 million, comes from games released in 2026.
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Best-Selling Games and Market Share
In the list of best-selling horror games on Steam, Resident Evil Requiem ranks first with an estimated revenue of $211.3 million. This game alone accounts for about 16.6% of the total revenue of the horror genre in this store. In second place, the game The Outlast Trials is seen with a revenue of $62.1 million, and the remastered version of Resident Evil 4 has secured third place with a revenue of $50.4 million.
The dominance of the Resident Evil franchise is not limited to the top ranks of this list. The total revenue of games in this franchise has reached approximately $410 million, which accounts for 32% of the total revenue of the horror genre on Steam. Following that, the Outlast and Silent Hill franchises hold approximately 5% and 2% market shares, respectively.
However, the commercial success of the horror genre is not limited to major franchises and AAA games. Independent titles have also captured a significant share of this market. The game R.E.P.O. has generated about $44.7 million in revenue this year, and Phasmophobia has also recorded a successful performance with an estimated revenue of $28.9 million.
This data indicates that independent horror games, especially multiplayer and co-op titles, continue to enjoy high popularity among players and can capture a significant share of the market alongside major franchises in the gaming industry.
However, it should be noted that the figures published by Alinea Analytics are analytical estimates and do not necessarily correspond to the official and net revenues reported by publishers. Additionally, the reported $1.3 billion figure pertains solely to the sales of horror games in the Steam store and does not include revenue from sales of these titles on consoles and other digital platforms.
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