Now, we can get to the meat and potatoes of the list, and a few honorable mentions.
5. Outlast ***
From Steam:
Hell is an experiment you can't survive in Outlast, a first-person survival horror game developed by veterans of some of the biggest game franchises in history. As investigative journalist Miles Upshur, explore Mount Massive Asylum and try to survive long enough to discover its terrible secret... if you dare.
Synopsis:
In the remote mountains of Colorado, horrors wait inside Mount Massive Asylum. A long-abandoned home for the mentally ill, recently re-opened by the “research and charity” branch of the transnational Murkoff Corporation, the asylum has been operating in strict secrecy… until now.
Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, independent journalist Miles Upshur breaks into the facility, and what he discovers walks a terrifying line between science and religion, nature and something else entirely. Once inside, his only hope of escape lies with the terrible truth at the heart of Mount Massive.
Outlast is a true survival horror experience which aims to show that the most terrifying monsters of all come from the human mind.
Features:
- True Survival Horror Experience: You are no fighter - if you want to survive the horrors of the asylum, your only chance is to run... or hide
- Immersive Graphics: AAA-quality graphics give players a detailed, terrifying world to explore
- Hide and Sneak: Stealth-based gameplay, with parkour-inspired platforming elements
- Unpredictable Enemies: Players cannot know when - and from where - one of the asylum’s terrifying inhabitants will finally catch up to them
- Real Horror: Outlast’s setting and characters are inspired by real asylums and cases of criminal insanity
Warning:
Outlast contains intense violence, gore, graphic sexual content, and strong language. Please enjoy.
Why it's recommended:
This game was the first game in over a decade that made me jumpy a little. It plays quite a bit like a found footage horror film which makes the game itself more immersive. Once you start to unravel the story, things get a bit more complicated. At some points, I found myself not sure what to do or where to go, and when I did figure it out, I honestly dreaded it. Definitely not for kids, but if you do play, play in the dark.
4. Amnesia **
From Steam:
The last remaining memories fade away into darkness. Your mind is a mess and only a feeling of being hunted remains. You must escape.
Awake...
Amnesia: The Dark Descent, a first person survival horror. A game about immersion, discovery and living through a nightmare. An experience that will chill you to the core.
You stumble through the narrow corridors as the distant cry is heard.
It is getting closer.
Explore...
Amnesia: The Dark Descent puts you in the shoes of Daniel as he wakes up in a desolate castle, barely remembering anything about his past. Exploring the eerie pathways, you must also take part of Daniel's troubled memories. The horror does not only come from the outside, but from the inside as well. A disturbing odyssey into the dark corners of the human mind awaits.
A sound of dragging feet? Or is your mind playing tricks on you?
Experience...
By using a fully physically simulated world, cutting edge 3D graphics and a dynamic sound system, the game pulls no punches when trying to immerse you. Once the game starts, you will be in control from the beginning to the end. There are no cut-scenes or time-jumps, whatever happens will happen to you first hand.
Something emerges out of the darkness. It's approaching. Fast.
Survive...
Amnesia: The Dark Descent throws you headfirst into a dangerous world where danger can lurk behind every corner. Your only means of defense are hiding, running or using your wits.
Do you have what it takes to survive?
Why it's recommended:
This is another immersive game where headphones and darkness is suggested. The game has a lot of surprises, and although the puzzles can get tricky at times, the gameplay itself seems pretty straight-forward. However, the question is, do you stay in the dark and go crazy, or do you leave the darkness and risk being seen? Definitely for those into psychological horror.
3. The Happy Hereafter *
Welcome to The Happy Hereafter, a casual sim in which you guide the newly dead as they build an afterlife for themselves and their fellow lost souls. Possessing uncanny management skills, you'll control a legion of zany characters as they arrive at their eternal destination and settle in. There will be no rest for the wickedly funny as you put them to work building houses, harvesting resources and earning money to build a village to rival Paradise. Explore weird but wonderful landscapes, discover cleverly hidden secrets, and complete dozens of challenging missions in your quest to create a little slice of Heaven in the underworld!
- Six locations
- Over 100 missions
- Dozens of wacky characters
- Comic book style story scenes
- Learn-as-you-play tutorial
Why it's recommended:
You may be wondering why this is above Outlast and Amnesia, and the honest answer is that when we're talking about Halloween, we're talking about not just general horror, but the actual feel. While most of the games on this list is geared towards horror overall, this is one that has a feel of the holiday specifically. It's a light hearted sim game that is easy to pickup. The colors are great and the characters are fun. This game can get addictive if you're into sims. At the moment, Steam is selling it for $1.19, and it's definitely worth checking out for that price.
2. Resident Evil 7***
From Steam:
Resident Evil 7 biohazard is the next major entry in the renowned Resident Evil series and sets a new course for the franchise as it leverages its roots and opens the door to a truly terrifying horror experience. A dramatic new shift for the series to first person view in a photorealistic style powered by Capcom’s new RE Engine, Resident Evil 7 delivers an unprecedented level of immersion that brings the thrilling horror up close and personal.
Set in modern day rural America and taking place after the dramatic events of Resident Evil® 6, players experience the terror directly from the first person perspective. Resident Evil 7 embodies the series’ signature gameplay elements of exploration and tense atmosphere that first coined “survival horror” some twenty years ago; meanwhile, a complete refresh of gameplay systems simultaneously propels the survival horror experience to the next level
Set in modern day rural America and taking place after the dramatic events of Resident Evil® 6, players experience the terror directly from the first person perspective. Resident Evil 7 embodies the series’ signature gameplay elements of exploration and tense atmosphere that first coined “survival horror” some twenty years ago; meanwhile, a complete refresh of gameplay systems simultaneously propels the survival horror experience to the next level
Why it's recommended:
This was a departure from traditional Resident Evil entries. The game sends you head first into this atmosphere and story that plays more like a horror film than the 3rd person zombie/infected shooter we're used to. The graphics are amazing and the sound FX brings everything together. Not much really shocks me, but I did find myself saying, "This is completely fucked" at times.
--Now for some honorable mentions--
- Decay: The Mare
- Halloween Forever
- Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
- Fran Bow
- American McGee's Alice
- Haunt the House: Terrortown
- Slender
- Knock-Knock
- The Evil Within
- Sally Face
1. Costume Quest*
From Steam:
Costume Quest is a Halloween adventure from Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions. In this charming role-playing game, choose your hero and trick-or-treat through three beautiful environments full of Double Fine humor and story. Complete quests, build your party, and collect costumes along the way that allow you to transform into powerful champions and take down the evil Repugians. This heroic holiday tale will capture the imaginations of kids and kids-at-heart.
Continue the Costume Quest adventure with the Grubbins on Ice DLC pack, included free in the PC version! Face new enemies while collecting additional quests, costumes, battle stamps and creepy treat cards. Help the monsters overthrow Araxia to bring peace back to Repugia!
Continue the Costume Quest adventure with the Grubbins on Ice DLC pack, included free in the PC version! Face new enemies while collecting additional quests, costumes, battle stamps and creepy treat cards. Help the monsters overthrow Araxia to bring peace back to Repugia!
Why it's recommended:
I'm generally a fan of Double Fine games, but this one might be my favorite. If you're into turn based combat similar to Final Fantasy mixed with Halloween and adventure/exploration games, this might be your thing. The story is solid, as is the gameplay. Each costume you create/collect has a different power, and is useful in their own way. Sometimes, you may find yourself switching out everyone's costumes to see what combos work in battle, which is where the strategy comes in. You can also use special costume specific powers outside of combat (i.e. rollerblading, hook, etc...). This is definitely a game anyone can pick up and get into.
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I tried to mix up the list so that there was something for everyone. Hopefully if you've not heard of some of these games, you'll check them out.
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