Hardcore gamers will always occupy a niche in the industry, with many skilled players feeling like their needs are finally being metcourtesy ofDark Souls' immense successand the rise of indie gaming. Various genres have started catering to a hardcore group of players who are almost gluttons for punishment.
It helps that the oppressive atmosphere of ahorrorgame intensifies the stress induced by its tough gameplay. Players need to learn a title’s in-depth gameplay mechanics and get used to failing if they want to eventually become skilled at the following horror games.
Pathologic 2serves as both a remake and a sequel to the first game, placing it in a weird zone that is completely in line with this franchise’s oddities. Whilethe sandbox can be challenging to adjust to, players will love the hardcore trappings of this game after a point.
Players must manage their sustenance and fatigue levels while trying to deal with enemies without having their heads caved in. The fact that death makes this game harder is a unique mechanic that will truly horrify players, forcing them to either get better during their run or start from the beginning.
It speaks volumes when players highlight one title in a hardcore series as the hardest of the lot, which is whyClear Skycan be one of themost daunting survival horror gamesplayers can get their hands on.
The beginning of this game takes no prisoners, with players dying over and over again before they can finally get a grasp of things. The title takes a while to open up, but the reward for adjusting to this title’s immense difficulty is one of the most rewarding firefights, where a player’s tension is at an all-time high as they try to scrape by these shootouts without incurring a gazillion wounds in the process.
Audio design is a huge part of what makes any horror game tick, andDarkwoodis no exception here. Players will be immersed in this game’s unique brand of horror in no time, forcing them to get creative as they struggle to deal with the most basic monsters in the game without being ripped to shreds.
Darkwoodcan be a bit too challenging at times, but players should treat every death like a learning experience. Preparation, quick reflexes, and caution are key to surviving in this hard-as-nails horror game.
The Last of Us Part 2is one of the best horror games of all time, even if its story rubbed some fans the wrong way. No one can deny thestrengths of the combat system, which are in a class of their own.
Players must get familiar with the strengths that both Ellie and Abby bring to the table, with their unique abilities adding a whole new layer to the combat system. Eventually, sneaking around and clearing enemy encounters in record time will become second nature for players who were struggling with the game, with theNo Returnmode serving as the ultimate test of the player’s skills.
Alien: Isolationis a horror game that came out of nowhere to wow the masses. What could’ve been a simple, phoned-in entry that used an established horror IP to market itself turned into a glowing example of how technical excellence canelevate the tension in a horror game.
Save points are intermittent, enemies are tough, and the threat of the xenomorph is always looming over players. No matter how adept players get with this game, they will still feel a wave of panic descending on them whenever the alien spots them and starts homing in on their location.
Players who lovedSunless Seabut found its combat and slow pace to be a bit too plodding for them will love whatSunless Skiesbrings to the table. The inclusion of real-time combat mechanics and improved pacing ensures that a player’s adventures in the skies won’t be nearly as boring.
However, anyone who takes the combat system too lightly will be in for a rough time. A group of basic enemies can still tear players apart, and the choices players must make can have long-reaching consequences, forcing them to get better and learn how this game works to prevent a premature demise.
Thesinister atmosphere ofInscryptionturns its roguelike deckbuilding gameplay into something magical. While the difficulty of this game isn’t too overbearing over the course of the main story, fans will sing a different tune when they get into Kaycee’s Mod.
All of a sudden, bosses that could be plowed over could become so challenging that players needed to stick with certain strategies to overcome foes. Keeping a lean deck, buffing important cards, and quickly finishing encounters becomes paramount for players who don’t want to lose in an especially promising run.
Bloodborneis one of the greatest video games ever made, with fans loving just how sinister and compelling this title’s lore is. However, the biggest draw of this action RPG is obviously the combat, which boasts a faster pace than most other FromSoftware games.
Players must power through their opponents and either adhere to the game’s fast-paced combat system or die repeatedly. Eventually, after becoming more skilled at the game, players will be able to cut down tough bosses who were giving them a hard time just a few hours ago, making for an extremely satisfying experience… only for a player’s ego to be torn to shreds once they reach the DLC bosses.
