Scary Video Games
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I was ninja'd on Haunting Ground, so I'll just have to +1 it.
The scariest games, I feel, are the ones that take safety away from the players, and actually make the enemy seem threatening. Haunting Ground does a pretty darn good job of doing so, along with making the area in general spooky, even before you get attacked. It's probably my favorite horror game.
The scariest games, I feel, are the ones that take safety away from the players, and actually make the enemy seem threatening. Haunting Ground does a pretty darn good job of doing so, along with making the area in general spooky, even before you get attacked. It's probably my favorite horror game.
Haunting Ground +2 then. Very unnerving game. I think the latter half of the game flops a bit though. It's an apropos recommendation since it is considered a Clock Tower spin-off/successor.
Also BioShock for being in a similar relationship with System Shock.
Also BioShock for being in a similar relationship with System Shock.
You might like Amnesia: The Dark Descent. If you're looking for something similar, if condensed to a raw gameplay format, I'd have to recommend Slender. Lone Survivor is less scary than it is incredibly tense at times, and I'd definitely have to tell you to keep an eye out for Outlast.
Otherwise, all the classics in the genre were already named by other people above me.
Otherwise, all the classics in the genre were already named by other people above me.
Silent Hill 2, Amnesia: Dark Descent, and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis are the scariest games I can think of, with SH2 taking the crown (really made me short of breath and panicky at parts, the only game to ever do so).
And whatever anybody says, the Dead Space and F.E.A.R. games are also serviceable, atmospheric, fun horror, particularly the first games in those series. Not to the extent of the three I mentioned first, but still good games.
And whatever anybody says, the Dead Space and F.E.A.R. games are also serviceable, atmospheric, fun horror, particularly the first games in those series. Not to the extent of the three I mentioned first, but still good games.
For paranoia: Slender.
For atmosphere: Alan Wake/Silent Hill 2/Amnesia.
For gore: Silent Hill 3/maybe Amnesia/maybe Penumbra.
For moments of panic: Amnesia/Penumbra/Outlast/Haunting Ground/maybe Slender.
For being totally messed up: Silent Hill (all of them, especially 4)/Penumbra/Amnesia.
If you like point-and-click adventure, try Dark Fall and Scratches as well.
For atmosphere: Alan Wake/Silent Hill 2/Amnesia.
For gore: Silent Hill 3/maybe Amnesia/maybe Penumbra.
For moments of panic: Amnesia/Penumbra/Outlast/Haunting Ground/maybe Slender.
For being totally messed up: Silent Hill (all of them, especially 4)/Penumbra/Amnesia.
If you like point-and-click adventure, try Dark Fall and Scratches as well.
I'd have to also recommend Silent Hill 2. Not the collection though. I guess in that case then it would be kind of hard to find for the original Xbox and PS2.
Also, I have to recommend Aliens vs Predator Classic 2000. That game isn't scary as it is simply harrowing.
Also, I have to recommend Aliens vs Predator Classic 2000. That game isn't scary as it is simply harrowing.
Due to long-term money problems, I've recently started looking for free indie horror myself. There is laughable crap out there, for sure. But there are also diamonds in the rough. Bandwidth problems keep me from playing many of them. But there are two I can vouch for atm. I swear they will scare you.
Bunker 16 - I can't say much without ruining it. So here's what I will say: It doesn't have any save system whatsoever. It does have a nerve-wracking atmosphere, and it takes its time building up to it. There are three miss-able notes that provide back-story. (hint: they look different from all the other notes) Loading times are rare and well disguised to maintain (and further build-up) the mood. I do have one minor complaint, but I'll keep it to myself because its a spoiler no matter how I say it. One more thing: don't skip the instructions at the beginning.
Link:
http://gamejolt.com/games/adventure/bunker16/24718/
and
Phobia 1.5 - Its similar to Amnesia TDD in that you have a single enemy to evade. The graphics are a bit wanting, there are infrequent glitches, and the long loading times will temporarily break immersion. But if you can forgive these small problems, this games delivers the frights. One suggestion: take the time to revisit some familiar sights during the second night.
Link:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/phobia-15
Neither of these titles are very long. But for free games, they rock.
Bunker 16 - I can't say much without ruining it. So here's what I will say: It doesn't have any save system whatsoever. It does have a nerve-wracking atmosphere, and it takes its time building up to it. There are three miss-able notes that provide back-story. (hint: they look different from all the other notes) Loading times are rare and well disguised to maintain (and further build-up) the mood. I do have one minor complaint, but I'll keep it to myself because its a spoiler no matter how I say it. One more thing: don't skip the instructions at the beginning.
Link:
http://gamejolt.com/games/adventure/bunker16/24718/
and
Phobia 1.5 - Its similar to Amnesia TDD in that you have a single enemy to evade. The graphics are a bit wanting, there are infrequent glitches, and the long loading times will temporarily break immersion. But if you can forgive these small problems, this games delivers the frights. One suggestion: take the time to revisit some familiar sights during the second night.
Link:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/phobia-15
Neither of these titles are very long. But for free games, they rock.
Not really. Neither version fetches collector prices for used versions over here in jolly old England. I don't know about anywhere else.Frezzato said:
Are 'mom and pop' electronics/game stores still a thing over there?Pink Gregory said:
I suspect there are still small places here that carry stuff from the original Xbox era and earlier, but they must be random places hidden in strip malls or a vendor's table at a flea market. It's the one thing that makes me want to travel out to the middle of nowhere.
You know I was watching Jim Sterling playing Flight Control on his YouTube channel and to be honest it was one of the scariest things I've ever seen. The idea of people buying it is even scarier.
As for the ot I say the fatal frame series is scariest.
As for the ot I say the fatal frame series is scariest.
well, silent hill 2 is the golden child of the genre. The story telling is amongst the finest, not just in horror, but in all of video games. Like dark souls, it tells it's story through the environment. In fact, it deserves a minimum of 2 playthroughs to fully appreciate it. This is basically the high water mark of horror after the genre exploded in the 90s. Silent hill 1 tends to get overshadowed by its sequel, but I would argue it had some of the best atmosphere I've seen in horror. It's not quite as polished as 2, but it was WAY ahead of its time, and you can tell that team silent was aiming to make something ambitious. They wanted to make a classic. Both are surprisingly emotional, and even philosophical experiences, on top of being scary. The first 3 resident evils are fun in a B movie kind of way. The gameplay and atmosphere is good, but take some getting used to. The storylines are delightfully cheesy, fun, stupid garbage. The RE 1 remake is probably the best. Otherwise I would say look into indi games. That's where horror survives, even thrives, today. You can check markipliers YouTube channel for a look at some great horror games that tend to fall below the radar.playcrazy said:
Dead Space and FEAR have their moments. I can recommend both.
There seems to be an abundance of 'pure' survival horror around at the moment, with more on offer soon.
A couple of titles not mentioned already would have to be
Siren: Blood Curse
Japanese horror, film crew happen to film rural community involved in a shared blood ritual, you can fight in some sections, but you ultimately have to run & hide. You can also (in a limited sense) see the world from point of view of the creatures attacking you. Freaky stuff.
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
1st/3rd person RPG, based on the tabletop RPG. Pretty dark themes throughout as you would expect. Amazing scope for a game of this era, somewhat flawed by bugs on release, but brilliant in it's ambition.
The Hollowbrook Hotel section is particularly worthy of note. It is necessary to enter the hotel to continue the the narrative of the game. I am a huge horror fan, books, films and games. I only managed to complete Hollowbrook in the middle of the day, with bright sunshine outside.
But I will not do it again.
(I'd rather have a fight with the entire cast of demons from The Grudge, armed only with a bit of wood)
There seems to be an abundance of 'pure' survival horror around at the moment, with more on offer soon.
A couple of titles not mentioned already would have to be
Siren: Blood Curse
Japanese horror, film crew happen to film rural community involved in a shared blood ritual, you can fight in some sections, but you ultimately have to run & hide. You can also (in a limited sense) see the world from point of view of the creatures attacking you. Freaky stuff.
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
1st/3rd person RPG, based on the tabletop RPG. Pretty dark themes throughout as you would expect. Amazing scope for a game of this era, somewhat flawed by bugs on release, but brilliant in it's ambition.
The Hollowbrook Hotel section is particularly worthy of note. It is necessary to enter the hotel to continue the the narrative of the game. I am a huge horror fan, books, films and games. I only managed to complete Hollowbrook in the middle of the day, with bright sunshine outside.
But I will not do it again.
(I'd rather have a fight with the entire cast of demons from The Grudge, armed only with a bit of wood)
Silent Hill, Resident Evil 2 is still pretty scary, Fatal Frame, even the Devil hunters/survivor games can be pretty creepy, Rule of Roses is still pretty creepy as well. For PC there is a shitton. Evidence the Last Ritual is a great horror game, if a bit difficult and rage inducing. Also good is Outlast, Slender, The Forrest as well. There are so many, hah.
And not to forget "Kraven Manor". It is free, too, and has such creepy and frightening stuff like statues which only move when you don't look at them. I could only last through that by watching a Let's Play of itEiMitch said:
Some of the SCP games are amazing (and free)
SCP-087b [http://www.scpcbgame.com/scp-087-b.html], the original SCP-087 [http://scp-087.en.softonic.com] and not to forget SCP Containment Breach [http://www.scpcbgame.com] are some of the best horror games I've played in ages.
For paid games, the three Penumbra games by the same guys that made Amnesia are well worth it.
SCP-087b [http://www.scpcbgame.com/scp-087-b.html], the original SCP-087 [http://scp-087.en.softonic.com] and not to forget SCP Containment Breach [http://www.scpcbgame.com] are some of the best horror games I've played in ages.
For paid games, the three Penumbra games by the same guys that made Amnesia are well worth it.