Spooky Season is here, and to kick things off this Friday, we are looking at seven titles that are perfect for those wanting to get into the Halloween spirit without the scares.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The first game on our list is none other than Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Similar to past entries in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons features the Halloween season and is a perfect low-stress game to relax with during the holiday. Each day, Nook's Cranny will feature a new decoration to purchase, along with a piece of candy to buy, and additional items can be crafted using pumpkins. Come Halloween night itself, players can trade in their daily candy for additional items, which can then be reused the next year. Players are free to go "all out" if they wish, or simply enjoy the slowly changing fall colors and partake in the event when the time comes.
Animal Crossing is all about giving you the freedom to enjoy it as you wish, making it a perfect game for Spooky Season.
Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion is Nintendo's very own "survival horror" game, but without the horror. The game puts players in the shoes of Luigi as he explores haunted mansions—or, in Luigi's Mansion 3's case, a haunted hotel—and uses his Poltergust to suck up ghosts. The game is a very lighthearted and silly adventure, to say the least, and is perfect for players of all ages. While Luigi's Mansion is playable on Nintendo Switch 2 thanks to the Nintendo Classics library, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and Luigi's Mansion 3 are natively available on the Nintendo Switch as well. Luigi's Mansion 3 also features a full co-op mode, making it a perfect title for family and friends to play together during the season.
Little Witch in the Woods
Costume Quest 1 & 2
Costume Quest and Costume Quest 2 are jolly, adorable games. Developed by Double Fine Productions, the studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. Both titles follow the adventures of twins, Reynold and Wren, as they explore their town and neighborhood, make friends, battle monsters and most importantly—go trick or treating. The story isn't particularly deep, and neither is the gameplay, but that isn't what the games were even going for. They're both short, sweet, wholesome RPGs that aren't necessarily trying to break the mold, but that is novel in and of itself. It is a perfect title for those looking for a short, yet fun, adventure, and what better time to play it than during Spooky Season itself?
Both game are available on PC, while Costume Quest 2 can be accessed on PlayStation and Xbox.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a somber story of a young girl named Edith Finch as she returns to her family's home, which is packed full of tragedy. As a walking simulator, players explore the mysterious house and eventually dive into the stories of those who used to inhabit it. Every story is unique, with ever-changing gameplay to match, and many of them have you walking away questioning the truth of what happened. While simple ones, such as the story of the boy who went over the swingset, are pretty self-explanatory, others make you wonder if something a bit more supernatural was involved. That said, the game contains no jump scares and no true horror to speak of, but the subject matter itself is on the darker side of things. Even so, there's something comforting about exploring someone's childhood home, even if it is filled with memories best left forgotten.
What Remains of Edith Finch is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and iOS. It isn't a long game, but you'll never forget it.
Thumper
Thumper is a unique title for fans of rhythm games. It is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, as well as in VR on PlayStation 4, Meta Quest, and PC.
Taking control of a beetle-like creature, players are placed on a track where they must hit lights, take turns, and avoid objects to the beat of the background music. Stages get more intense as they go on, increasing in speed and upping the number of objects to avoid, eventually coming to a close with a boss fight against an eerie-looking creature. Though the game itself isn't scary, the designs are unsettling, to say the least, but the gameplay loop is simply addicting. After some practice, don't be too surprised if you find yourself relaxing as you follow along with the music out of pure instinct and shoot for higher scores. When it comes to playing in VR, floating in a black void as you charge headfirst toward these monstrosities can be a bit more terrifying at first, but it is still a fun ride.
Disgaea
The final "main" game on our list is a bit different and might not appeal to everyone, but it also perfectly captures the spirit of Spooky Season while providing a low-stress, grindy experience.
The Disgaea series is primarily made up of tactical role-playing games where players take control of characters living in an Underworld. Here, the opposite of everything rings true: the "good guys" cause chaos, and the baddies are rule-abiding citizens. Every entry is lighthearted and filled to the brim with jokes, with the gameplay itself focusing on taking out enemies and becoming as strong as possible. With options that allow you to break the game and gain levels by the hundreds, alongside a never-ending reincarnation system to return to level one while retaining stats and gear, it is easy to get sucked into this game of numbers. For those who simply want to enjoy the story and characters at their own pace, the experience can be made as easy or as difficult as you like, and there is plenty to see and do outside of simply becoming stronger. With multiple entries available across all major platforms, it is an easy series to dive into, though picking the perfect starting point is up to you. Each game has its own unique quirks, so feel free to choose whichever one looks the most appealing.
Bonus: Mario Party Superstars
As a bonus, there is one last game we'd like to mention: Mario Party Superstars, or alternatively, the original Mario Party 2.
Featured in both games is a game board titled "Horror Land," which is exactly what it sounds like—a map themed after all things horror. While the original Mario Party 2 decks out our playable characters in costumes, the newer entry, Mario Party Superstars, includes a full remake of the board and is a bit more accessible compared to the older title. Of course, Mario Party 2 is included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, but for those looking for a game they can simply own, Superstars is there for you.
That said, Mario Party is a great game series to play with both friends and family, with Superstars being one of the stronger entries. Horror Land is the perfect game board to play on during Halloween, but why stop there? Gather a group and make a full night out of it—you'll have a blast.
And that's our list for today! We hope we were able to give you at least some idea on what to play this year, and for more, don't forget to check out our Trick or Treat 2026 page.
Until next time!
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