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The Horror, The Horror! Top 5 Necessary Horror Games

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The horror genre in Hollywood has recently taken a plunge into mediocrity, with a few entries from independent filmmakers that managed to reinvent what we think scares us. Almost two years ago now, Ari Aster brought us one of the most horrifying cinematic experiences in recent memory. Hereditary, released back in June of 2018, struck a different nerve as it focused on the horror of familial drama. He dug deep into a type of horror that we, as moviegoers, could all relate to at some point in time. It was a nice diversion from the unimaginative, high-budget slashers we get a dozen times in a single year. I’d like to reiterate though that what I find scary, others may not.

Layers of Fear
Layers of Fear is a work of art – see what I did there?

Video games, as a different medium for horror, have the same problems as modern day cinema. As consumers, we look for something innovative in many aspects including narrative, game mechanics and design. If even one of those core aspects is missing from the final product, it could be met with heavy criticism – like most things on the internet today (ehem, The Last of Us Part II). It’s important to note that this list is of my own personal opinion and nothing more. I will not be including playable demos or those that classify as “walking simulators”, such as P.T. or Layers of Fear, as I wanted to focus on more cohesive titles.

These are the five most inventive horror games that offered some of the most memorable scares in recent memory. 

Outlast 2 – Hide or Die

Outlast 2
 I love Outlast 2, but I don’t plan on revisiting it anytime soon.

We all knew at some point that Outlast would be on the list, but did you ever think that I would prefer the second? Outlast 2 is a nightmare from beginning to end. Though the dark corridors of Mount Massive Asylum from the first game are surely missed, Outlast 2 wins my favoritism thanks to its sheer creativity and unabashedly brutal nature of its setting. As an indirect sequel, Outlast 2 nails everything that made the first game scary, but developer Red Barrels decided that wasn’t enough.

Though some may consider most of the scares to be derivative and reliant on the much-maligned jump scare tactic, I found the dynamic setting change from the secluded, apocalypse cult village in Arizona to the dimly lit St. Sybil Catholic school of protagonist Blake Langermann’s past to be a breath of fresh air. All of these setting changes are scripted moments, but I couldn’t help but admire how cinematic it felt. Sure, a good portion of the game relied on trial and error gameplay, but as the story unfolded it touched on some really mature themes that most games tend to avoid. Normally, I wouldn’t recommend a sequel over the first one, but considering Red Barrels’ plans to continue this anthology-esque narrative structure all contained in the same universe, it was an easy choice.

Dead Space – Cut Off Their Limbs!

Dead Space
Though I find the first to be the scariest, I absolutely love this art cover!

As a gamer, I’m sure you’ve heard the name Isaac Clarke at least once over the years since Dead Space’s initial release back in October of 2008 – the perfect Halloween gift. If I failed to include the Dead Space trilogy on a horror game list, I would be committing an injustice. Unlike recent horror entries that borrow the “run and hide” ideation of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Dead Space arms you with an arsenal. The one aspect that separates Dead Space from the other action horror titles is limb dismemberment as a strategic tool. Isaac’s engineer weaponry easily slices through Necromorph limbs, giving the player an opportunity to think when tackling multiple threats.

Dead Space, developed by the ill-fated Visceral Games (ehem, thanks EA), spawned two more sequels, with the third being the weakest of the three as it loses focus of what made the series unique. Visceral Games prematurely shut down in 2017 due in part to sales of the third game not meeting expectations. Some could argue that EA poked their fingers in development, asking for more action elements to ultimately appeal to a larger audience. From its Alien-esque deep space setting to its fantastic creature design, Dead Space was a huge hit when it released. If you’re interested in learning more about the series’ development, there’s a YouTube video of creator/director Glen Schofield showcasing everything from Resident Evil 4 inspiration to Visceral’s unfortunate shutdown. Hopefully one day someone takes advantage of the IP, and just maybe we’ll see a fourth entry. Fingers crossed. 

Resident Evil 7 – The Texas Chain Saw Game You Never Knew You Wanted

Resident Evil 7
If The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was a game…

Have you ever wondered what a Texas Chain Saw Massacre game would be like if it ever came into fruition? Well, here’s Resident Evil 7. Reinventing the series in a new first-person perspective, RE7 offers one of the most visceral, unrelenting horror experiences in video games. As a fan of the recent RE2 and RE3 remakes, I was pleased to see that RE7 maintained unique aspects of the series, while also attempting to adapt our expectations. Aside from an underwhelming, and surprisingly drab, ending location, RE7 could stand alone for those that are new to the series, while also paying respect to fans with some narrative tie-ins. As I’ve mentioned in my Resident Evil 3 remake comparison article, some of the entries came off as way too over-the-top and nonsensical for my tastes – Chris Redfield’s QTE section towards the end of Resident Evil 5, when he punches a boulder repeatedly, springs to mind.

Though not grounded in reality in any way shape or form, RE7’s change in perspective added a new layer of fear on top of the fact that Dulvey, Louisiana and the Baker house are perfectly realized. The plot felt… insignificant when compared to the scale of Resident Evil 6. Most Resident Evil games place you in the shoes of these trained mercenaries as they attempt to contain a deadly outbreak that could reasonably destroy the world. RE7 strips you of your mercenary background, placing you in the shoes of Ethan Winters. His reasons for travelling to the derelict plantation of the Baker house are trivial when compared to the other entries, but much more personal, grounded and believable. After receiving a message from his wife Mia, who has been presumed dead since her disappearance in 2014, Ethan travels to Louisiana to find and rescue her. It’s simplistic, yet fresh for the series. Don’t miss out on this thrill ride because Capcom has announced that RE8 will take a similar perspective

System Shock 2 – After 21 Years, Shodan Still Manages to Hold Up

System Shock 2
Though the graphics don’t hold up, System Shock 2 is one of the scariest games ever.

“I AM SHODAN”. Iconic, spine-tingling, and memorable. System Shock 2 serves as inspiration for many great games like Bioshock, and has reinvented the survival horror genre. Released in August of 1999 – and surely looking like it did – System Shock 2 was originally intended to be a standalone title, but at one point in development Irrational Games decided to make it a sequel set 42 years after the events of the 1994 original, in the year 2114. Let’s focus on what made System Shock 2 unique in its scare methodology. From its narrow corridors to its puzzle structure layout, System Shock 2 relied solely on atmosphere. It was so quiet at points that a drop of a pencil would have me jumping out of my seat.

Another layer of stress in the game, in which Resident Evil mastered, is inventory management – the pinnacle of survival horror. Add on an additional stressor of specific RPG builds and you have one helluva game. Before delving into deep space, I’d recommend a brief tutorial video on general builds and controls, as the game rarely holds your hand. For those of you who haven’t played it yet, Nightdive Studios is currently developing a remake of the 1994 original. If you back the project now, you will receive a playable medical lab Alpha-stage demo. In total, it took me around 90 minutes to complete, and I’m more than excited to report that it feels like a 2020 game while maintaining this retro, neon aesthetic. Remember, in space, no one can hear you scream.

Control – One of the Scariest Twilight Zone Episodes Ever…

Control
Ew.

I placed Control at the bottom of this list as some of you might question my ideology. At its core, Control is a third-person sci-fi action game with horror elements. I recently had an open discussion with a few people on Reddit to see if others thought Control fits within the horror classification. It was about 50/50, but I found myself more uneasy playing it as opposed to other titles whose sole purpose is to scare the shit out of me.

This is due in part to some of the collectibles hidden around the environment. At multiple points throughout the game, the player comes across TVs that play “Threshold Kids,” a short, episodic children’s puppet show made through the Federal Bureau of Control that often ties directly into narrative elements. The real horror comes from the low-budget look of it all and the long, drawn out takes. The show covers up complex themes such as death and solitude with childish imagery and dialogue. It’s utterly unnerving, and sometimes those that succeed in creeping me out are much more memorable than those that attempt to scare me through shock value and jump scares. I don’t want to spoil too much about Control, so try it out for yourself and see how it makes you feel. 


There you have it, folks. Do you agree with my top 5? I avoided a lot of entries from older generation consoles such as Silent Hill or Fatal Frame, as I was too young to experience them at the time of their release. Maybe I should go back, play them, and offer a new list of horror games from the late ‘90s, early ‘00s. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.         

Nicholas Farinola
Nicholas Farinola
Professional [tbd]
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