Halloween is one week away, so it’s the perfect time for some spooky Switch games. I’m not a huge horror fan, to be honest. I like a creepy mansion and a good ghost story, but I don’t need jump scares every five minutes.

That’s why this list goes from cozy to properly scary. Each game gets a scare meter from 0 to 5, so you can pick one that fits your evening, or your kids.

How I picked these spooky Switch games

All of these spooky Switch games are on the original Switch, and they also work on the Switch 2. I looked at three things: atmosphere, how well the game holds up, and how scary it actually gets. I also skipped games that are only gore, because that’s not really Halloween to me.

1. Luigi’s Mansion 3: the best spooky game for kids

Scare meter: 1/5

Luigi checks into a fancy hotel called The Last Resort, and of course it’s full of ghosts. Every floor has its own theme, from a movie studio to a pirate ship. You suck up ghosts with the Poltergust, and Gooigi, a green slime copy of Luigi, can join in for co-op.

It’s funny and charming, and it’s never really scary. So of all the spooky Switch games on this list, it’s my top pick for playing with kids. Also, Luigi’s scared little hums are still the best sound effect Nintendo has ever made.

2. Ghost Trick: a spooky puzzle game with heart

Scare meter: 1/5

You play as Sissel, a ghost who wakes up dead and has one night to find out who killed him. As a ghost, you can jump into objects and move them to change what happens. It’s made by Shu Takumi, the creator of Ace Attorney, so expect sharp writing and wild twists.

Ghost Trick first came out on the Nintendo DS in 2010. The remaster on Switch looks great, though, and it’s one of my favorite story games of all time.

3. Majora’s Mask: the creepiest Zelda game

Scare meter: 3/5

A moon with a face is falling, and you have three days to stop it. Majora’s Mask isn’t a horror game. Still, the masks, the Happy Mask Salesman and that weird moon gave a whole generation of kids nightmares, me included.

You can play the N64 version through Nintendo Switch Online with the Expansion Pack. If you loved Ocarina of Time, this is its strange younger sibling. And with the Ocarina of Time remake coming on November 5, it’s a good time to revisit it.

4. Little Nightmares II: tiny, dark and tense

Scare meter: 3/5

You play as Mono, a small boy in a paper bag hat, who teams up with Six from the first game. Together you sneak through a city full of huge, twisted adults. There’s barely any text, so the world tells the story.

It’s short, so you can finish it in a few evenings. However, the hospital chapter is the moment I paused the game and turned the lights on.

5. Metroid Dread: sci-fi horror on the run

Scare meter: 3/5

Samus is on a strange planet, and it’s hunted by robots called E.M.M.I. When one of them spots you, you run. Because most of the time you can’t fight back, every chase turns into pure panic.

Between those chases it’s a classic Metroid adventure, with great controls and tough bosses. So if you want tension without real horror, this is the one.

6. Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Scare meter: 5/5

In the US this series is called Fatal Frame, while here in Europe we know it as Project Zero. Either way, this is the real deal. You explore an abandoned island hospital, and your only weapon is an old camera that captures ghosts.

Because you have to look straight at a ghost to take its picture, you can’t just run away. Instead, you wait until the very last second. It’s slow, dark and quiet, and that silence is what gets you. So definitely not one for the kids.

7. Animal Crossing: a cozy spooky night

Scare meter: 0/5

Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat. Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a Halloween event every year on the evening of October 31. Jack, the czar of Halloween, visits your island, and your neighbors go trick-or-treating.

Stock up on candy before the night starts, because villagers who don’t get a treat will play a trick on you. Of all the spooky Switch games out there, it’s also the coziest way to spend Halloween.

Which spooky Switch game should you play?

• With kids: Luigi’s Mansion 3 or Animal Crossing
• Great story: Ghost Trick
• Nostalgia: Majora’s Mask
• Tension without real horror: Metroid Dread or Little Nightmares II
• Real scares: Project Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

FAQ: spooky Switch games

What is the scariest game on Switch?

Out of these picks, Project Zero (Fatal Frame): Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is the scariest. It’s a slow, dark ghost story with plenty of tense moments.

Are there spooky games on Switch for kids?

Yes, there are plenty of spooky Switch games for kids. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is spooky but never really scary, and Animal Crossing has a cozy Halloween event. Still, always check the age rating first.

Do these games work on Switch 2?

Yes, all of them run on the Switch 2. Nintendo says nearly every Switch game works on the new console.

Can I play Majora’s Mask on Switch?

Yes, through Nintendo Switch Online with the Expansion Pack. The N64 version is in the library there.

Final thoughts

You don’t need a horror movie marathon to have a good Halloween. Grab a blanket, turn the lights down and pick one of these spooky Switch games. My personal pick this year is Ghost Trick, because the story is so good.

Want to know more about the ghost detective game? Its Wikipedia page has the full history, but watch out for spoilers. For more Zelda, check out my top 5 Zelda games ranked.

What’s your go-to Halloween game? Tell me in the comments. Bonus points if it scared you as a kid.