By Marrissa Ballard | Co-Editor-in-Chief
Halloween is finally approaching, which makes this the best time to select some scary entertainment to keep you company on these brisk October nights. If you’re a fan of horror films, you’ll love being in the action yourself in these games. With creepy monsters, unnerving narratives, and some classic jump scares, these games are sure to give you chills. Be sure to play them in the dark and with the sound turned up for the full effect, and all your cravings for creepy will be satisfied.
- Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Created by Frictional Games in 2010, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the most well-known survival horror games, especially since YouTube gaming celebrities like Pewdiepie and Markiplier each played and screeched for our entertainment. However, playing it firsthand is always better than watching it, and what better time to try out one of the classics than Halloween? Grotesque monsters lie behind corners and your only choice is to run away, deeper into the creepy castle.
- Inside
Though it is not a “traditional” horror game and does not linger on jump scares, Playdead’s Inside has an intensity that will have your heart racing. With a beautiful art style and disturbing narrative, the game will stay with you long after you hit the credits. You enter the dark environment as a young boy and spend the game running from various adversaries, including rabid dogs. The game also manages to use its horrific elements to craft a provocative commentary about society, making it perfect for any players who like to analyze things. Be prepared, because the ending of this game will have you shocked and maybe even disgusted. After Inside, you can also check out Limbo, another game from this studio with a great art style where a giant spider plays a starring role.
- Alien: Isolation
Based on the hugely successful Alien film series, Alien: Isolation is a battle to scavenge and stay alive. The main character and Ridley’s daughter, Amanda, must fight against a ruthless alien while piecing together the facts about her mother’s disappearance. As Amanda, you’ll have to sneak around the enemies to survive and find supplies. A cool fact about this game is that it was created on a brand new engine made specifically to cater to its technologies, allowing it to use more advanced lighting and behavioral elements for the enemies. The atmosphere will have you shaking and the story will suck you in. If you’re a fan of the films, you should definitely check it out.
- Soma
With its most recent release, Soma, Frictional Games earns another spot on this list. The game takes place at an underwater research facility called PATHOS-II. The researchers there were the last humans alive after an apocalyptic comet hit Earth, and worked on a program called the ARK which runs a simulated version of life. The ultimate point of the game is finding the ARK and then figuring out what to do with it, but along the way you’ll encounter creepy figures that cause your screen to start crackling. The music and sound in Soma really add to the scare factors, and the game ends with a crippling realization that will stick with you.
- Neverending Nightmares
In Neverending Nightmares, you’ll face different endings depending on your choices, and explore settings like a haunted house and a mental hospital. Giant, misshapen creatures will chase after you as your character gasps for air, sometimes stopping when they can’t go any further. The breathing and sound design in this game are features that really demonstrate the horror, especially coupled with the gruesome imagery. Neverending Nightmares also flips through different timelines and universes that change the relationships of characters, which will leave you confused and begging for answers. It definitely invites you to play again to appreciate all the content you can experience.
- Silent Hill 2
You might be wondering why the recommendation here is for the second installment, Silent Hill 2, instead of the original. First, Konami’s second installment in the Silent Hill series isn’t a direct sequel, which means the games don’t have to be played in a particular order. Why play the second? Besides the improved graphics, the psychological elements in the game changed how horror could work in stories. Rather than focusing on arbitrary monsters with no explanation, the game demonstrates how these monsters manifest as an extension of our own problems. Silent Hill 2 also expertly combines gameplay and complex storytelling, which makes it a scary and thought-provoking experience.
- Lone Survivor
Outfitted with retro 2-D graphics, Lone Survivor is one of the best independently-made survival horror games out there. The game, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, features different endings and scenarios depending on the food you eat, the medicine you take, and the choices you make. This means you can play the game several times to try to experience each of these different results. The best thing about Lone Survivor is the way it deals with vulnerability and choices, all made more poignant in that the main character’s only given name is “You.” If you like post-apocalyptic stories and really enjoy a different graphic art style, definitely give Lone Survivor a try this Halloween.
- Slender: The Eight Pages
Chances are that you’ve heard of Slender Man, a meme/urban legend about a man with no face, a tall body, and a dark suit. Known for pictures where he shows up in the backgrounds of parks and forests, Slender Man inspired several stories about child abductions. In Slender: The Eight Pages the aim is to collect eight pages of text while avoiding Slender. He’ll appear in the corner of the screens or sometimes closer, and the player must navigate through deepening fog to find all the notes. The most terrifying aspect of the game is easily when Slender gets to close to you, and the screen begins to cut out with static. The game will end if he reaches you, so tread carefully.
- Oxenfree
Developed by Night School Studio, Oxenfree is a horror game packed with mystery, gorgeous art, and a synthy soundtrack. The game follows a group of teenagers as they perform the ritual of heading to Edward’s Island for a night of high school debauchery. The night goes awry when Alex, the protagonist, taps into unknown forces with her radio. From there, you’ll explore the island and try to face ghosts that routinely change things and even possess your friends. This game also invites many play-throughs as you can get different endings and conversations depending on your choices. The way the game uses time and timelines is really unique, which makes it a must-play for this October.
- Resident Evil Remake
Hollywood may leave a bad taste in your mouth for remakes, but the 2002 Resident Evil reboot contains the best things about the original game with added benefits of new content and improved gameplay mechanics. In the game, you can play as either Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield as you investigate murders taking place in small town called Raccoon City. During gameplay, you’ll walk through a seemingly abandoned mansion as you try to piece together evidence. Resident Evil maintains tension by encouraging the player to explore a terrifying environment, evading monsters rather than fighting them head on. Be sure to check it out, especially if you love third-person horror games.
