Horror has always been one of my favourite rpg genres (one I have the most experience GMing anyway), mostly thanks to my beloved Call of Cthulhu so I’d say that any time of the year is good for running scary adventures. Still I generally tried to set my games at roughly same season as the one outside the window( in an attempt to slightly improve immersion I guess), and I agree autumn/winter provides just what you need. Anyhow, while tales of Lovecraftian horror were the staple diet, I have a few alternatives.

One game that has always captured my imagination is Kult, originally by Target Games. While not without flaws the setting is very captivating if controversial – definitely mature content only. It’s a contemporary (predominately urban) horror set in the world that borders with a much darker and more twisted universe. There are places where the boundaries of our reality blur; deep down disused subway tunnels, at mass-murder crime scenes, in abandoned buildings one may sometimes catch a glimpse of the other side or even trespass over, sometimes what’s on the other side will creep in… Kult is a game of psychological horror more than action-oriented monster hunting. The game has a quite sombre and serious feel to it and its many grotesque elements do not detract from this mood. It draws from works of Clive Barker, and Koontz among others, yet while violent and graphic it doesn’t emphasise gore even when using it as a stylistic device. I would recommend the game to groups who look for an opportunity to portray tormented and often forsaken characters and want something different than the White Wolf’s cocktail. Unfortunately, the game is out of print and extremely hard to get, however there is some good (and free) setting material online, which can easily be ported to your system of choice.

Another campaign worth considering is more on the quirky side. It’s is a type of a horror game which puts gamers in unusual roles either of children or animated toys. There are numerous examples here but the following two are the best in my opinion:
Puppetland is the setting inhabited by different puppets and marionettes, created by the enigmatic Maker. There is a twist however, long time ago one puppet grew jealous and greedy; it killed the Maker and claimed the Puppetland as its realm, since then the land has became dark and oppressed, a prison full of despair. The players are puppets that are desperately trying to oppose the terror and/or escape. Sadly they are much weaker then the usurper’s minions and they can’t tell what lies beyond their land. This is a brilliant little game, which can be a great rpg option for our busy lives; each session takes exactly one hour of a real time (timed with an old fashion clock natch). Still it can be very demanding and rewarding since it encourages a peculiar way of acting and narrating.
Grimm, originally a Horizon booklet for d20 now a separate stand-alone from Fantasy Flight. Does exactly what it says – places children characters in the setting derived from the original (more sinister and uncensored) fables by Grimm Brothers. The ideas and artwork are top notch.

Finally, I think that one shouldn’t neglect settings of fantasy horror. I personally would always render my Warhammer games to be darker (then necessary), and this would be my game of choice, however I also enjoyed the setting of Ravenloft, which highlights the very themes I often borrowed for my WFRP campaigns. It’s still one of the best-crafted settings available out there and it’s definitely worth taking advantage of. I would recommend going back to the roots (nostalgia creeping in, sorry) and picking up the original edition of this setting. There is something absolutely phenomenal about those old TSR supplements, starting with the stunning cover art.

Have a scary autumn!

@Geek Gazette: Thanks for reminding me of Monte Cook’s World of Darknes. It’s another great horror RPG. His reinvention of the WoD is just awesome. I especially like his version of Vampires.

I felt it helped to set the tone of the game and could even be tweaked a bit as follows: If the players are split-up, only allow the specific players who are currently “in scene” to use their flashlights… all other players would be encouraged to sit quietly in the dark.
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