Summary
Horror games encompass a variety of subgenres that vary wildly from one another, and while they all have their fans, many of them favor scares and immersion over actual gameplay. Walking simulators and gimmicky designs are aplenty in the horror genre, but there are a great many titles that excel with their gameplay, as well.
From survival horror games and their focus on resource management to cooperative shooters that emphasize teamwork, there should be something for all kinds of players here. Furthermore, not all of these titles are necessarily terrifying, and many of them will be accessible to newcomers to the genre, too.
Crow Countryis anindie survival-horrorgame with a unique theme-park setting that’s remarkably creepy. The game’s distinctive art style and winning atmosphere are certainly strengths, butCrow Country’s accessible gameplay gives it a broader appeal.
Taking clear inspiration from games such asResident Evil,Crow Countryprovidesa classic survival-horrorgameplay loop. However, its generosity with resources takes some of the anxiety out of spending ammunition. While this draws some of the horror from the moment-to-moment gameplay, it also provides a slightly more satisfying experience.
Lethal Companyis a cooperative first-person horror game that excels with itsemphasis on teamworkand enemy variety. Each of the horrifying creatures inLethal Companyfeatures its own behavior that players must work around in order to survive. This creates consistently tense scenarios, especially when players are forced to tackle multiple threats.
The diversity of tools and items that players are able to make use of also adds a great deal of variety to the gameplay, allowing players to tackle obstacles and explore in creative ways. For fans of immersive,first-person horrorand cooperative chaos,Lethal Companyprovides consistent thrills and hysterics in equal measure.
Left 4 Dead 2is a tried and true horror FPS that excels with its dynamic AI director, accessible gameplay, and variety of special enemies. These unique threats provide an ebb and flow to combat, adding variety to the hordes of undead that players are forced to wade through.
Each special enemy also provides an opportunity for teamwork, as players will have to work together in order to limit the damage they bring or avoid it altogether. With its intuitive FPS combat, fluid level designs, and focus on teamwork,Left 4 Dead 2makes fora great co-op horror experienceeven today.
Many of theResident Evilgames feature methodical gameplay thatrevolves around resource managementand threat assessment. Be it the originalResident Evilor the more action-packed remakes, these games have plenty to offer with their gameplay, however niche.Resident Evil 5in particular is unique for its balance of action, horror, and cooperative play.
However,Resident Evil 5is significantly more fun when playing with a friend, and the game is clearly designed for this. With its variety of deadly enemies, tense combat arenas, and dramatic set-pieces,Resident Evil 5is able to offer players a memorable experience that excels with its careful balance of survival horrorand third-person action.
Dead Spaceis an action-packed sci-fi horror game with a winning atmosphere and immersive setting that provides a constantly looming sense of dread. However, this title’s greatest strength is arguably its gameplay. More specifically,Dead Spaceexcels with its visceral and truly unique combat system.
InDead Space, players are tasked with taking out the aggressive and tremendously creepy Necromorphs, a gangling species of undead creatures that must be defeated through dismemberment. Though it’s not the scariest of horror games, the action-oriented approach toDead Space’sdesign provides a consistently thrilling loop as players explore the iconic Ishimura.
CULTICis a classic shooter with its own unique sense of style, combining the action of games such asBloodwith the tense atmosphere of titles such asResident Evil 4. Though not a game dedicated to terror,CULTICprovides players with a dynamic ebb and flow by interlacing its expressive combat encounters with minor horror sequences.
Certain enemies in particular will offer scares to those less experienced with the genre, and there’s plenty of gore to go around, however pixelated. All in all, this results in a distinctive title with broad appeal that’s likely to appeal to fans of horror games and shooters alike, using scares and gore as a spice rather than the meat of its design.
Endoparasiticis a top-down horror game with a simple but effective art style, and while this doesn’t provide the most intense of thrills, this indie title excels with its gameplay. More specifically,Endoparasiticoffers players a unique control scheme facilitated by its one-limbed protagonist.
In the game, players must drag their way through claustrophobic environments, battling enemies with a variety of weapons and manually reloading while navigating. Since the player character only has one limb, there’s no way to move and shoot simultaneously, which leads to some tense combat encounters throughout the game.
Condemned: Criminal Originsis a unique psychological horror game with a focus on scrappy first-person melee combat. The dingy, decrepit environments and crazed enemies make for a distinctly downtrodden atmosphere, but it’s the game’s immersive combat that drives the experience forward.
There are firearms inCondemned, but ammunition is severely limited and players can never rely on them. Instead, they’re forced to fight tooth and nail against conniving, unpredictable enemies that constantly attempt to ambush them. Thankfully, the game gives players plenty of weapons to salvage from the environment, including fire axes, pipes pried from the walls, and even loose two-by-fours, providing a diverse arsenal that’s always changing.
