A good game, like a good movie, will hook you with its characters and plot. What makes video games stand out, however, is that you are responsible for the outcome. While some games play a linear storyline, others let your decisions directly affect the ending, and there’s nowhere else this more effective than the genre of horror games.
It might seem strange that one of the most popular game genres is one that actively seeks to upset, unnerve, and downright terrify the person playing, but for horror fans, that’s all part of the fun. When we’re scared, our bodies respond by releasing adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine – all chemicals which make us feel excited and happy in other circumstances. Because horror games are played in a safe environment – it isn’t actually you being chased down that alleyway by a horde of zombies – we are able to enjoy the ‘hormone high’ without actually being in danger. It’s the same reason why people enjoy extreme sports, jumping out of planes and surprise parties.
But getting the horror theme right isn’t as easy as you might think. Lots of games go down the route of relying on jump scares rather than taking the time to create a genuinely scary atmosphere. While jump scares are effective, they are best used sparingly and as part of a well-written plot and scary setting. Let’s have a look at some of the games which got the genre absolutely spot on.
The Perseverance
Now that VR tech has become more mainstream, it offers the perfect way to play horror games.
The Persistence is a sci-fi horror game set on an abandoned spaceship, with you as the sole human survivor. The only thing standing between you and your attempts to repair the ship is its malfunctioning clone machine, which continues to spew out new, malformed enemies intent on ripping you to shreds.
The game is designed to work in VR, making the best of the limited viewing angles and full-body controls to get your heart pumping. A great twist on the genre means that when you die, you are downloaded into a fresh clone, and while this happens, the ship rearranges itself (because future science is cool) into a completely unique level.
So now not only do you have to find your way back to where you died in order to continue, but it’s somewhere completely different. The Persistence is available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
Until Dawn
Isolated locations are the perfect settings for a scary game.
Available on PS4 only, Until Dawn is survival horror at its best. Taking the form of a typical teen slasher movie, the game ticks all the boxes; a group of teenagers, a remote mountain cabin, a deranged killer lurking in the shadows.
Not only are the graphics amazing, but the story has so many possible branches that you’ll never play the same scenario twice. Every decision you make for the characters takes them down a different path. Who lives and who dies is entirely up to you, and that’s a real part of the horror – do you really want to be responsible for someone’s death?
The Unholy
If you love a scary atmosphere but find horror games too much to handle, you could always try your hand at a horror-themed slot game.
One such operator who has nailed this genre on their trusted online casino site is 888 Casino. Their slots page features more than 1,000 slot games, including games based on the iconic movies, such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, plus impressive daily jackpots and stunning graphics.
For chills and thrills, you can’t beat The Unholy, a five-reel slot set in the demonic realms of the underworld. The slot itself features terrifying demons and dark spirits, which rise from the depths to tempt you away from your goal – winning the jackpot. There are several bonus levels featuring a pick-me-style game, just don’t be tempted by the empty promises of the evil creatures swarming your screen.
With suitably scary images and sound effects, this top operator is the place to go for adrenaline-inducing slots.
Resident Evil
Zombies have become the most popular horror creature in recent years.
Any list of top horror games would be incomplete without a title from the long-running Resident Evil franchise, and there are so many good ones to choose from. Resident Evil 7 is one of the more recent offerings in a long line of games, which have been scaring players since 1996, and the first one to switch the viewpoint from 1st to 3rd person. This brings the scares much closer to the gamer and heightens the tension in what is already a very scary situation.
Another first for the series sees players controlling Ethan, a civilian character, rather than the military police and soldiers from previous installments. This limits your skills and means that much more of the game is spent hiding, sneaking and running, rather than fighting the mutated creatures you come across. There’s nothing scarier than finding yourself in a situation you aren’t equipped to handle, and RE7 builds wonderfully on this premise.
Conclusion
There are dozens of more horror games from the last few decades which will give your nightmares, but these are an excellent place to start. Just remember to lock all the doors and windows and keep the lights on, because once you pick up that controller, you may not feel safe again!
