Silent Hill 2 is the best of horror games
Some people have differing opinions when it comes to their favorite Silent Hill games – a few even prefer the tension that comes from Downpour – but there’s something about Silent Hill 2 that sticks in our gut, even after it’s over. This chapter really nailed down the creepiness of the series, as poor James finds himself visiting the foggy city after receiving a letter from his dead wife. The tension mounts up throughout, with plenty of characters appearing (including the signature king of creeps, Pyramid Head), and the many endings guarantee that even if you think you’re doing everything right, that’s not always the case. While the graphics may have aged a bit, Silent Hill 2 retains that level of terror that’s still surprisingly fresh.
P.T.
We’re not sure what’s scarier – the fact that Hideo Kojima was able to ratchet up so many incredible moments within a small demo, or the fact that Konami is trying to bury it so quickly they want to forget it exists. But P.T. represented an unprecedented moment for the company, packing quite a bit into a small, free gameplay experience that very few players could forget. Granted, it was supposed to lead to something bigger – the now cancelled Silent Hills – but just seeing the little things that came up in this demo were really something. It’s a shame we’ll never see the full game reach fruition – or, for that matter, the demo become available again for those that missed out the first time around. Damn it.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Up until this game’s release, Resident Evil 4 was the definitive survival/horror experience for the saga, although some may argue it still is. But Resident Evil 7 is a rare treat, a game that proves that you can go back to basics, even when things go entirely off the rails like they did with Resident Evil 6. Biohazard introduces you to one of the creepiest families in existence, who are hiding all sorts of devastating secrets that – surprise! – tie in to a much bigger picture. The first-person perspective works wonders for this game, and its atmospheric design is truly off the charts. On top of that, some of the creatures you’ll run into here are absolutely unnerving. Good luck playing this one without your stomach tied up in knots.
Until Dawn
Finally, we have to hand it to the team at Supermassive Games. They took a concept that could’ve easily been one note and turned it on its head, with a 90’s style teen horror film that takes a surprisingly good direction. What starts out as a typical slasher drama in Until Dawn goes a lot deeper, as we start to learn more about characters and wonder who truly will make it out alive – even with us at the controls. The game has plenty of intense moments, and when someone bites you, you really feel the loss as you move on to the next scene. And, really, you can’t go wrong with a game that throws Peter Stormare into the mix. No, he may not be the killer, but he brings greatness to his role and has us questioning things even further. (The rest of the actors are great as well.) If you haven’t played this underappreciated gem yet, you need to fix that.
Outlast Horror Games
Okay, if we are going to simply talk “jump scares,” one could easily bring up how effective the Five Nights At Freddy’s games have been. But let’s point out a shining example in the genre, Outlast, where you find yourself in an asylum filled with all sorts of bloodthirsty crazies. But besides that, you can’t really fend them off – all you can try to do is find a way to survive, and even that doesn’t come easy, because you never know what’s lurking around the corner. Outlast perfectly nails its dark, blood-curdling nature, and the scares come often and aplenty. The sequel’s not bad, but if you really want to challenge yourself from pooping like crazy, the original is the best way to go. Oh, and turn off the lights for this one – we guarantee a few screams well into the night.
Alien: Isolation
While we’re talking sneaking around and trying to stay out of harm’s way, we might as well talk about the best Alien game to hit the franchise since Konami made the Aliens arcade game back in the 80’s. Isolation puts you on a ship loaded with the creepy little things, which will stop at nothing to hunt you down once you’ve been spotted. That’s why it’s vital to use your survival resources the best you can, so you can stay out of harm’s way. Even if you think you’re invincible with a flamethrower in your hand, these things happily remind you that you’re not. The game has dividends in fan service (even more so than Alien: Covenant), and it’s just plain scary to play. Tell us you didn’t freak out when an alien caught you and shredded you with its extended jaws.
