Horror Games that Have Reached Iconic Status
Horror game viewership rises by a dramatic 39% during Halloween season. However, the popularity of shows like Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Black Mirror, shows that audiences have an eternal fascination with scary, mysterious narratives that raise heart rates and require them to ‘save the day’. If creaky doors, aliens, and zombies make you laugh, scream, or jump out of your seat, but you somehow can’t resist their strange appeal, try out the following games, which are already considered classics among horror genre lovers.
Resident Evil
There are now a whopping nine games in the Resident Evil series, a sign of the game’s continued popularity over two decades. Initially released for PlayStation before being taken to various platforms, it introduced audiences to Chris and Jill, whose remit was to investigate the outbreak of the T-virus in Racoon City. In addition to unexpected scares from the walking dead, there are many more elements to this game that boost its appeal. They include puzzles, survival tactics, and inventory management, to name a few. Later versions include interesting elements like claustrophobic environments, tense battles, and visually appealing graphic enhancements.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Influencers like PewDiePie did plenty to put Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) on the top of many gamers’ lists, yet the extended popularity of the game suggests that it has a host of attractive features that are irresistible to beginners and seasoned players alike. The game is affordable, provides big thrills, and the enjoyment of winning a night. Top FNAF characters like Foxy, a rebellious pirate that is one of the game’s main antagonists, are funny as well as creepy. Foxy, for instance, delights with his phases, which include hiding behind the curtain, peaking, leaving the curtain, and bolting down West Hall. He attacks quickly and when least expected, taking percentages away from the player every time he knocks on their door. He’s a culprit that is fun to hate and tricky to get away from!
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Released in 2010 for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, Amnesia: The Dark Descent took a few years to reach the PlayStation and Xbox One platforms. It is centred on Daniel, an anti-hero protagonist who explores a dark and mysterious castle while escaping from the clutches of monsters and other troubling events. It is considered one of the top games in the psychological horror genre for many reasons. First, it doesn’t enable you to battle monsters (or even look at them). Secondly, you simply get flashes of what type of monster it is, so your imagination runs wild. The sound effects add to the terror, putting you on the edge in case you need to run and hide from an unexpected attack.
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There are many exciting, adrenalin-charging games in the horror genre. Three that have struck a chord with many audiences are Resident Evil, FNAF, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent; all of which feed into childhood and primal fears, providing gamers with the kind of tension and release that makes them so addictive.
