Spook-Tastic Horror Games

By Chloe Barrett  Halloween is the season where people long to be scared beneath the falling autumn leaves. It is also the time of year where you can be anyone and ask for sweets. Is there honestly anything better? Maybe some awesome horror games might make the night even spookier. Whether you are an avid horror fan with prior experience, or you just want to give some games a try, hopefully there will be something here for you. Be aware, there will be jump scares aplenty. It is the spookiest season, after all. Let’s start off with a few well-known classics that will be familiar to many. First off, we have none other than Five Nights at Freddy’s. Scott Cawthon had everyone playing his game, so much that there were nine games in total so far. You are a security guard tasked with watching the cameras in Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a ‘safe’ kids restaurant that is filled with animatronics. You must survive five nights, as the title suggests, without getting caught by these scary creatures. If they manage to grab ahold of you, then you are screwed. Your body will live on inside a mascot costume, yippee!Very few are a stranger to the Resident Evil universe. Created by Capcom, the series has spanned for many years, resulting in dozens of games being created. There are still regular releases, as well as the older games being remade for new and older players alike. Essentially, there are zombies. A lot of them. Due to the t-Virus, Raccoon City is overrun with undead creatures that want nothing more than to make a feast out of you. With fearsome bosses lurking throughout the game, there is not a moment to relax. My favourite instalment personally was Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, but they are all pretty solid games.Doki Doki Literature Club! is a unique entry to the horror gaming world. Set in a Japanese high school, this psychological experience will truly set you on edge. It starts off innocent, but the player soon realises that everything and everyone is not what they seem. There are multiple endings and lots of secrets, so it does have plenty of replay value. Developed by Team Salvato, this free to play game will twist your mind in many ways. Have fun!Can Your Pet is an older game that still holds up well today, providing you do not know much about it. You are given a pet chick and have the task of looking after it, which includes feeding it, dressing them up and playing fun games. However, the ending is one to witness for yourself. It is only a short game, but an attachment can certainly form between you and your new pet. Developer GameAde made sure of it.Little Nightmares, developed by Tarsier Studios and Engine Software is a puzzle-platform game that takes a new approach to the horror genre. It revolves around Six, a girl who has the objective of escaping the horrifying monsters in her extremely immersive world. The game is also highly acclaimed for many aspects, such as graphics and sound. If your wish is to get lost in a game this season, grab your yellow raincoat and have bravery stored up. For a multiplayer game that you and your friends can equally get spooked at, look no further than Phasmophobia. Developed by Kinetic Games, you are able to team up with three friends and visit haunted locations, having strange encounters with ghosts and other creatures. With plenty of jump scares and creative gameplay, you will keep going back for more. If you wish to brave it alone, that is totally an option too, but don’t say you weren’t warned.If you crave something more of an indie style, Granny, developed by Dennis Vukanvoic, will tick all of your boxes. If you ever had dreams of being chased by a creepy, elderly relative, this is for you. She may lock you within her home and chase you aggressively if you attempt to move around, but that is all out of love, right? Well, you can see for yourselfTo immerse yourself in a first-person survival game is a daring task. So, why not play two? A sequel, perhaps, if you fancy. The first game is set in an abandoned psychiatric hospital occupied with some interesting patients, while the second consists of the same characters tragically enduring a helicopter crash and getting separated. There are cults, lots of spooks and awesome storylines. Thanks to Red Barrels, the Outlast series makes a truly awesome Halloween experience.Keiichiro Toyama had a stroke of brilliance when Silent Hill was created (and the sequels). While it may seem like the ideal vacation spot, I can assure you, it is not. Follow Harry Mason as he explores the terrifying town in search of his missing daughter, desperate to get her back. There are a few other instalments in the series, all set in the delightful location of Silent Hill. Make sure you come home safely, though.Space itself is quite a scary concept to think about. As you leave your familiar earth behind, along with any control you may have to float amongst the stars, you probably have enough worries in your mind without adding monsters to the mix. With a new remake coming soon, Dead Space captures the vulnerability of being out of this world and afraid for your life. Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey successfully created a very intense game, so please remember to buckle in and hold on tight.For those of you out there, and I know you are, there are plenty of alternatives if you do not like the horrific scares jumping out at you. I too have hidden in the comment section while watching playthroughs of horror games, searching for the jump scare list that a brave internet person has typed out (what a sacrifice). Seasonal events that also bring you the spirit of Halloween are just as much fun, but with a bit less spook. A few that may tickle your fancy are Luigi’s Mansion if you would like some ghosts, but cute, Nintendo styled ones. Night in the Woods (Infinite Fall) has great animal characters plus an awesome plot, while still holding a slightly creepy atmosphere. Hello Neighbour (Dynamic Pixels) is filled with jump-scares, but not necessarily scary, gory ones. The art style is fun, which you will notice as your strange neighbour chases you around with sinister intent. I think he and Granny would make a great pair.Happy Halloween, gamers!(Check out these other spooky games: Slender Man, Dead By Daylight, Amnesia, Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, Visage, Alien: Isolation, Soma, Back 4 Blood, Labyrinthine, Observation, and Lunch Lady.)