Summary
While the visual style, aesthetic, and enemies of ahorror gamecan go a long way in ramping up the intensity of a playthrough, what is arguably as important, if not more important, is the audio. To fully immerse themselves in the experience, it’s always recommended that players wear headphones before loading into a new game. While this is optional for most horror titles, for some, it’s almost a necessity.
This has become especially relevant in recent years, where many horror titles have been incorporating 3D audio as an option players can choose to switch on, enhancing the intensity of the experience even more. While the horror titles below are already excellent in terms of their quality and scare factor, they were clearly designed to be played with headphones to get the most out of the experience, so it’s a good idea to keep a pair handy when trying these games out.
In a game where makingeven a single noisecan result in the protagonist being killed,Amnesia: The Bunkeris a game that can be brutally difficult unless players decide to use headphones. By keeping the audio close to their ears, players will be able to determine how much noise they are making traveling through the dark and dingy bunker, which is important considering that there’s also a beast that will react to these audio cues if it manages to pick up on them.
Another reason headphones are so crucial for a playthrough ofAmnesia: The Bunkeris because of the beast itself. This horrific monster will often try to remain in the shadows to avoid detection, so the best way to know whether it’s lurking nearby is by paying close attention to its disturbing groans. ThoughAmnesia: The Bunkeris fairly short, the attention to detail and dedication to making audio a big part of the gameplay loop still make it a standout horror game that all fans of the genre ought to try.
MADiSONis afairly niche horror titlethat takes place entirely in a single house. After players retrieve the camera at the beginning of the game, they will be free to explore the building while also dealing with plenty of spirits and even a few puzzles along the way, but what helps to amplify the tension in between these moments are the random noises that set off every now and again.
It’s not uncommon to hear a random creak or smash emanating through the entire house, reminding players that they are certainly not alone.MADiSONcan feel like it goes on for just a little too long considering the gameplay is quite basic, but it’s worth a go for those horror fans who enjoy being scared without needing to have an enemy in front of them, which is why it’s heavily advised to go into this game with a pair of headphones on.
ThoughCallisto Protocolreceived a mixed reception from survival horror fans upon its release, one thing that can’t be argued is that the game isn’t extremely well-made. One only needs to take a look at the gorgeous graphics to get an idea of how much money was put into thisexperimental title, but it’s also clear that plenty of work went into creating an environment which felt eerily realistic, and one way the team at Striking Distance managed to achieve this was through it sound design.
The grizzly and grotesque noises that the monsters make put into perspective just how heavily the residents of Black Iron Prison have been mutated, to the point where they can barely even speak. While a pair of headphones will make the game more immersive, they are also necessary due to the style of combat that the game includes. Because players are forced to get up close and personal to hack enemies to death, being able to listen out for when a monster is behind Jacob can make a playthrough a lot easier, especially on those brutal hard difficulties.
In a desperate attempt to get the latest scoop, journalist Miles Upshur decides to embark on a journey into the mysteriousMount Massive Asylum. However, he quickly realizes that this seemingly abandoned building is packed full of crazed inmates who are all more than happy to kill Miles the moment they get the chance. Many people rememberOutlastas more of a visual experience, considering the entire game is viewed through a camera lens, but those who want to get the most out of a playthrough ought to pay attention to the audio too.
Because the asylum itself is usually quiet, and due to the lack of a prominent soundtrack, it means the whispers and murmurs of the inmates can be heard pretty clearly when wearing headphones. Needless to say, this ramps up the scare factor of the game considerably. There’s even a point in the game where the player’s camera will crack, forcing them to rely on sound cues a lot more than before. WhileOutlast’s enemy variety could have been a little better, this survival horror classic is still an amazing game that’s made even better when honing in on the audio.
If the Alien manages to spot players during a playthrough ofAlien: Isolation, in most cases, this will result in an instantgame over screen, making the moment-to-moment gameplay extremely intense as a result. The best way to steer clear of the merciless Xenomorph is by paying close attention to its snarls and growls, but the benefit of wearing headphones is that players will be able to know exactly where these noises are coming from to ensure they stay protected.
Alien: Isolationalso contains plenty of sound cues which are direct references to the movies, so being able to hear the audio as closely as possible helps to invoke that sense of dread and horror that so many fans are already so familiar with. Despite only featuring a handful of enemies,Alien: Isolationthrives as a horror experience thanks to how it keeps players on the back foot for the entire game, making every play session feel like a terrifying thrill ride.
While the grotesque appearance of the Necromorphs is one reason they are such terrifying enemies to take on, another is the sounds they make. Even when they aren’t visible on screen, players will still be able to hear the Necromorphs scuttling around the vents of the abandoned USG Ishimura, but at the same time, there will also be faint whispers that highlight how Isaac is slowly losing his mind the closer he gets to the Marker.
Of course, all of this can be missed if players aren’t listening closely enough, which is why the game was designed with headphones in mind. As a remake of the originalDead Space, the game also sports some jaw-dropping graphics, no loading screens to speak of, and a story full of exciting twists and turns, but it’s evident the developers also dedicated a lot of time and effort to ensuring the3D audio design is top-notch, which is best experienced with headphones on.
When Capcom announced they would be developing a fully-fledged remake for the 1998 classic,Resident Evil 2, they weren’t only talking about upgrading the visuals. While traveling through the dark corridors of the RPD, players will be able to faintly hear the moans and screams of the zombies who lurk around every corner, keeping players on their guard from beginning to end. The 3D audio allows players to feel as though they’re living throughthe Raccoon City nightmarefor real, amplifying the immersion tenfold.
When playing the game with regular speakers, it can be hard to appreciate the amount of work that Capcom has put into the soundscape. Of course, the game already features a fun and quite addictive survival horror gameplay loop of scavenging resources and trying to survive against hordes of enemies, but having a pair of headphones on for the ride goes a long way in making the game feel as creepy as possible.
While there were a lot of people doubting whether Bloober Team could recapture what made the originalSilent Hill 2so special, thankfully, they managed to knock it out of the park with the remake. While the combat has been greatly improved, along with the story being slightly more fleshed out than the original,Silent Hill 2 Remakealso carries over the general atmosphere that made that classic game so terrifying, and a lot of this comes from the audio. As a game that is more centered around providing its own form of psychological horror, one waySilent Hill 2 Remakeinvokes fear in the player is by using small and subtle audio cues to catch them off guard.
Whether it’s the scraping ofPyramid Head’sblade, the distorted speech of the nurses, or even just the noise of an invisible horse running around a giant courtyard, there are plenty of hidden noises that can only be picked up when using headphones. Sure, there’s still a lot of gory imagery and terrifying monster designs packed into the game, but it’s really the oppressive soundtrack and audio that takes the true horror ofSilent Hill 2to a whole different level.
