Summary
Horror gaming can offer memorable and impactful experiences if those playing manage to resonate with the themes and gameplay that the titles are trying to convey. Sadly, it’s easy for games in this genre to rely more on shock value instead of a thought-provoking experience.
So,when certain horror titles manage to tell a great story, they become all the more notable. This is especially true in the case of scary games with ambitious stories that are told via multiple protagonists.
Despite being an experience that willtake less than three hours for most players,Mouthwashing’s impact lasts way, way longer than that. The story of a crew stranded in space after a crash makes for a nerve-racking time, especially when more information comes to light.
Players control Jimmy after the crash and Curly before it. This PoV shift makes for a fun twist later down the line as certain actions are contextualized, and a seemingly normal character turns into one of the most terrible people to ever exist.
Technically speaking, players control Alex for the bulk of the adventure inEternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. However, while learning about a story that spans multiple lifetimes, the game shifts the PoV to other relevant characters.
It’s a simple and engaging way to tell a story that spans multiple eras, hammering in the all-reaching threat of a powerful ancient evil that threatens to destroy the world. The cycling protagonists ensure thatEternal Darknesswill grab a player’s attention and keep them occupied for hours on end.
Alan Wake 2is one ofthe greatest survival horror gamesthat fans of the genre can check out, with the sheer love put into this title making it clear why video game auteurs are more necessary than ever. This bizarre video game can feel downright surreal at times, yet this doesn’t detract from the amazing story it wants to convey.
It helps thatboth Alan and Saga are great protagoniststo control in their respective adventures. Dealing with the Taken using firearms and a trusty flashlight makes for pulse-pounding gameplay as both lead characters do everything in their power to survive.
Resident Evil 2is an iconic entry in theREseries, and countless fans were glad tosee the remake do justice to the original title’s legacy. As one would expect from this series, the narrative is quite complicated and told via multiple PoVs, encouraging players to clock in multiple playthroughs.
After completing the Leon and Claire campaigns, the game surprises players by introducing two new characters to the fray. Both Ada Wong and Chris Redfield are compelling figures in their own right and make for a fun treat to control after players assume that they’ve seen everything this title has to offer.
Gamers who want to check out a playable version of a teen horror movie will likely love whatUntil Dawnbrings to the table. The story follows a group of eight teenagers as they arrive at Blackwood Mountain for a party, but things end up going south for them pretty quickly.
All eight characters are playable and can be saved as long as players are smart aboutusing the Butterfly Effect to their advantage. This is easier said than done, however, especially since the threat of the Wendigos can be so nerve-racking that players may slip up, causing one of the teenagers to die a brutal death.
Sunless Skiesis one of the best narrative-driven horror titles that gamers can enjoy. Those who enjoy the simple vibe of horror media over monsters being chucked in their faces will likely lovethe amazing atmospheric explorationavailable in this game, which is a huge step above its predecessor.
The combat is real-time and frenetic without being too frustrating, and the multiple hubs ensure that exploration remains fresh and engaging. Death can be a pain in this game, but players will continue as another captain who can live out a different story if they end up encountering it.
World of Horrorisa fun roguelike take on solving horror mysteriesin a world where a Lovecraftian entity will destroy the town of Shiokawa and bring forth an apocalypse. That is unless players do something about it. The mysteries are far from straightforward, and players are recommended to check out an easier difficulty if they don’t want to get frustrated early on.
Eventually, they’ll unlock numerous protagonists with unique traits, allowing them to tackle each run in a distinct manner. Players may even settle into a rhythm as they make a habit of thwarting the apocalypse, giving them the confidence to bump up the difficulty and make things more challenging.
While it may be true that Omori and Sunny are two sides of the same coin, there are certain spoiler-heavy reasons why they may as well be different entities. The emotionally distant Sunny is clearly trying to repress his trauma and prefers to escape into Headspace, where he takes on the role of Omori instead.
However, as players will Sunny to confront his fears, Omori stands in his way as this separate entity starts taking control. Depending on what players choose, they can either succumb to Omori’s influence orrefuse to hide from their horrid actionsas they finally take ownership of what they did.