It’s late, outside looks pitch black. You have the lights off, the door locked, and nothing to illuminate the room with but the eerie light of your TV screen. You hear a noise; was that from the game, or your own house? As your paranoia grows and your supplies of in-game ammo and real-life Taquitos wear thin, the dread transforms into outright fear and you are left with a simple question: Why the hell do we do this to ourselves?
With the year’s spookiest season coming up, I thought I’d share some of my favorite video games in the horror genre. Horror gaming has a rich history, but it also has had some recent gems come out in the last couple of years as well. Its sub-genres and tones are as far-reaching as those of its cousins in the film and literature mediums, and with so many remasters littering consoles and PC alike, I’m sure there’s some spooky game out there for everyone. Here are my personal Top 5!
5. Alien: Isolation
Unlike its cousin Alien: Colonial Marines, Isolation is a terrific game that does hide-and-seek horror better than anything else I’ve played. I personally have never been a fan of this particular sub-genre of horror games, made popular by such titles as Outlast and Amnesia: Dark Descent, but Isolation does such an excellent job of balancing horror ambience with adrenaline-fueled scare sequences that I actually stayed engaged the whole time. Combine that balance with great immersion in the Alien universe, and you have a game that is great for newcomers and fantastic for fans of the series. Some of the checkpoints could be better paced, but if you want a game to play that is genuinely scary and pays great homage to the greater universe it’s set in, then Alien: Isolation is worth your consideration.
4. F.E.A.R (2005)
The original F.E.A.R. game is by far the standout in the series, both in terms of gameplay quality and horror narrative. While the lore gets somewhat muddy, especially in the later games, it tells a fascinating and immersive story about secret government psychic projects and peppers it pretty thoroughly with solid gunplay and tense combat. The horror in F.E.A.R. is much more psychologically based than Alien: Isolation, and it uses weird and disturbing visuals to pull the player in and keep them paranoid. If you are looking for a fun franchise to marathon for a horror week, the other F.E.A.R. games also present fun horror romps that, while not quite reaching the quality of the original, offer great fun for the scary game enthusiast.
3. Dead Space 1 & 2
I’m cheating a bit by listing two games in one spot, but that’s because I really believe that the Dead Space experience is incomplete if you only play one of the games. Both entries in the series also offer two different and equally terrific kinds of horror: Dead Space 1 is a master class in atmospheric horror the likes of which has not been replicated since the original Silent Hill team, and Dead Space 2 is a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled scarefest that leaves the player feeling tense and emotionally exhausted by the end of it. The two styles complement each other well and combine for one of the best horror experiences in gaming. Aside from the horror, they’re also terrific games! The weapons are diverse and fun to experiment with, game progression rewards you with meaty upgrades to your character, and each enemy poses a unique challenge that keeps you on your toes and forces you to experiment with your weapons and environments. The only reason these games aren’t at the top of my list is simple: Freaking. Zero Gravity. Levels.
2. Resident Evil 4
A game that can usually be counted on to occupy the second or first spot on anyone’s horror game list, RE4 is frequently in the conversation as not only the best horror game but also the best overall game ever. And honestly, making an argument against it is pretty tough. The combat is smooth, pacing feels good, the story is easy to get into even for newcomers to the series, and even without the quality of life changes that remasters have added, the original PS2 and Gamecube title has aged remarkably well. RE4 is one of mid-2000s games that helped establish the two dominant styles of horror gaming that would last over a decade: dread-based atmospheric horror, and action-packed gameplay horror. RE4 is the latter of the two, and its influence can still be felt on most horror games released today such as Evil Within and The Last of Us. The fact that it isn’t #1 on this list is a matter of personal preference; RE4 deserves its place in gaming fame for its influence, iconic gameplay, and incredible longevity. It’s a shame it had to wait 12 years to get a good sequel.
1. Silent Hill 2
Man, I love this game. If RE4 had the biggest influence on action-based horror, SH2 is the father of atmospheric survival horror. When the first Silent Hill game was released in 1999, it was hailed as one of the best horror games ever made up to that point. However, being a PS1 title, it also looked and played like trash (but we didn’t know any better at the time). SH2, even on the original PS2, still looks great, and its gameplay is easy to catch onto. Don’t let the 2 fool you, by the way; SH2 can easily be played as a standalone game with no prior knowledge of the series thanks to its self-contained story. It’s narrative tells the story of James Sunderland who receives a letter from his dead wife telling him to go to the town of Silent Hill and find her. James embarks on a psychological and spiritual journey in which he battles his own demons and confronts his own sins in this mysterious town. I don’t think any other game I’ve played has left such an impression on me as SH2; it’s atmosphere leaves players downright uncomfortable with incredible audio, impressive monster design, and slow-paced gameplay. Yes, I’m using slow-paced gameplay as a praise. James, unlike other horror game protagonists, is no anyone special. He isn’t a military vet or government agent or specialized engineer. He’s just a dude. And the slow, measured pace of the combat in SH2 forces you to feel that helplessness and creates an immersive character-based journey: by the end of the game, you feel ready to conquer the final boss after struggling through bizarre challenges battling with monsters who at any given point can take you out, just as James is finally ready to end this journey after struggling through his personal trials. SH2 birthed several terrific atmospheric survival horror games, such as SOMA, Alan Wake, Layers of Fear, and Observation. For its influence, engaging story and world-building, immersive gameplay, and incredible atmosphere, Silent Hill 2 sits at the top of my horror games list.
If these games don’t scratch your horror itch, or if you’ve played them and want other recommendations, here are some more excellent games for the horror fanatics among us ranging from the terrifying to the just-plain-silly:
Until Dawn, Visage, Bloodborne, Evil Within 2, The Last of Us, Resident Evil and RE2 remasters, Condemned 1 and 2, Fatal Frame 2, PT (if you can find it), RE7, and Deadly Premonition
