PLEASE NOTE

Entries marked with a * are not recommended for newbies to SCP lore, as they contain format breakers or other material that might confuse a beginner. This list is, and will remain, a work in progress. Content warnings are to be considered incomplete; read at your own risk.

HORROR

Though not all SCPs are of the horror genre, it's certainly where the Foundation got its start. It's also my genre of choice. As such, this section will likely be the longest.

• SCP-1981, “RONALD REAGAN CUT UP WHILE TALKING”: A classic. Blood ‘n’ guts isn’t usually my thing, but the ending to this one is purely psychological. This one’s also a great intro to how the Foundation works overall!
  • CW: Unreality, gore, violence


• SCP-1861, “The Crew of the HMS Wintersheimer”: Another deliciously spooky classic! This one uses parallel imagery and callbacks with beautiful precision, without ever tipping its hand as to what the hell is going on.
  • CW: Drowning, armageddon, gore


• SCP-2006, “Too Spooky”: Starts out kind of silly, but has a revelation towards the end that makes your stomach drop.
  • CW: Mentions of apocalypse and armageddon


• SCP-2316, “Field Trip”*: On the other hand, this one’s scariness comes in more slowly, in a particularly spine-chilling way. Also, plays with the idea of cognitohazards affecting the audience. This one abounds with hidden Easter eggs; look carefully for hidden clickables. (My personal favorite.)
  • CW: Unreality


• SCP-3034, “The Counting Station”: Leaves just the right amount of questions unanswered, and ends on a terrifying note. (Another favorite of mine.)
  • CW: Child death, implied child abuse


• SCP-1678, “UnLondon”: I don’t get quite as spooked by this one, but I still find it fascinating. Make sure to read the logs. Recommended for fans of Bioshock or Fallen London.
  • CW: Victorian-typical colonialist & classist attitudes, dystopia, body horror


• SCP-3074, "Kafka's Parking Garage": Sometimes horror is a twist that makes your stomach drop. Sometimes, it’s a looming sense of dread. This time, it’s a slow, agonizing desperation. I have a feeling this author really hates parking garages.
  • CW: Starvation, insects, gore


• SCP-2614, “Sometimes I Go Out In Pity For Myself”: Some comedy-horror line crossers are funny in spite of their horror. This one is funny because of its horror. Uses the line between nervous laughter and genuine laughter as a jump rope


• SCP-3999, “I Am at the Center of Everything That Happens to Me”*: I couldn’t write this rec list without including this masterpiece of an entry. You can tell the sheer amount of love and dedication that went into writing this, from the insanely braintwisty format breaking to the meticulous detail of its horror. Not for beginners, but a must-read for enthusiasts; this is what happens when you try to contain a nightmare.
  • CW: Major unreality, brief mention of sexual assault, nightmare logic


• SCP-3001, “Red Reality”: Another absolute masterpiece of an entry, and a must-read for enthusiasts. This is the exact opposite to 3999, yet in some ways is its twin: if 3999 is the center of everything, 3001 is the center of nothing. Heads up, this is a long one.
  • CW: Minor gore, minor body horror, intense themes of loneliness


• [REDACTED PER PROTOCOL 4000-ESHU]*: An absolutely genius piece of writing, heavily inspired by mythology from the British Isles that you may be familiar with. Not all horror, either!
  • CW: Body horror

COMEDY

If you're not big on horror, the wiki also abounds with some golden comedic entries. Not just J-class entries, either!

• SCP-3008, “Perfectly Normal, Regular Old IKEA”: I couldn’t make this list without mentioning this absolute classic. Decidedly lighthearted, while still unafraid to dip into the horror genre. Something of a long read (but 100% worth it).
  • CW: Violence, mild body horror


• SCP-1171, “Humans Go Home”: A house haunted by a mysterious presence that really, really hates people.


• SCP-2337, “Dr. Spanko”: For those of us who love mischief, shenanigans, and very loud birds.


• SCP-2206, “Maximum League Baseball”: Sometimes it’s funnier to describe something than to outright show it to the audience. This is a perfect example.
  • CW: Some violence