My Horror Video Games

Many debate whether Bloodborne is a Horror game or not. I, for one, believe firmly that it is for the amazing gothic atmosphere, horrifying beasts, copious amounts of blood and gore, and the tension that builds when you don't know what to expect next in the dark allies of Yharnam. I see this game as a beautiful and rare breed of Horror RPG. Regardless of whether one believes this game is actually Horror or not I will include it because simply put Bloodborne is one of the best games I have ever played. The difficulty is well known throughout the gaming community and has even prompted Sony to send an email congratulating players who beat the game for having done so. That said the difficulty is only what you make of it. I have found that while the beginning of Bloodborne was the most frustratingly difficult part of it progressing through it will yield a much more comfortable and rewarding experience. The boss battles are fierce. Most of the time the player will have to do some leveling up before taking on many of the games boss fights. Leveling up is done through a system of gaining "blood echoes" by killing enemies, selling items, and finding certain other items that yield blood echoes. The frustration is the game mostly derives from the fact that if the player is killed he/she drops all of the blood echoes on their person and have only one opportunity in which to get them back. If the player dies again before retrieving them, they are gone forever. I have found the easiest way to prevent this is to simply get to checkpoints as quickly as possible and spend all of my points on leveling and whatever repairs/items I may need. There is literally nothing about this game that I don't like. The design is beautiful and the gameplay is without a doubt the most addictive I have ever experienced. I could go on forever about this game so I will end here saying that no matter how you feel about the horror aspects of this game ANYONE can appreciate the way this beautiful piece of gothic art makes you work for its final approval.

Though it says it's for Ps3 I am referring in this section to Doom as released on May 13th, 2016. Doom has always had a place in the hearts of Horror game fans. With it's increasingly disorienting and expanding levels of gameplay and it's endless corridors of badass demons waiting to kill of be killed by one of the games many weapons, Doom has always been a grandfather classic in the way of Horror. The new release of Doom (unofficially Doom 4) is no exception to that classic approach. Where Doom 3 took on a much more atmosphere, exploration, and pure terror approach by putting the player in dark places with limited ammo and giving the enemy the advantage, Doom takes it back to the basics. In this hard hitting, fast paced, demon smashing, blood spurting, slash and gash and cut another hole in your ass addition to the Doom series the player can do...well all the things I just mentioned. Doom is AMAZING! In every way. While there isn't much in the way of atmosphere or sheer horror the new version of the game brings to life what Doom is and always should have been. It has beautiful graphics, an unbelievable assortment of demon crushing weapons, addictive gameplay, and just all around fun in every aspect of the game. While fans of Doom 3 who saw the franchise go to a place no other Doom game went may not be fans of it going back to the basics, true fans of the series will surely appreciate what Bethesda did in this masterpiece several years in the making.

Neverending Nightmares takes an interesting perspective on horror games. It's a 2d side scroller presented in an eerie, almost child-like drawing style of animation with a color emphasis on blood, gore, and important items. The protagonist finds himself repeatedly waking up to relive slightly different nightmarish experiences as they gradually get worse and worse. The mechanics are relatively simple and the atmosphere is all in. The game is genuinely creepy with little in the way of jump scares and an emphasis on exploration. As is now popular in the Horror genre your character is completely useless in the way of defending himself and has very little stamina with which to run from enemies which proves to be about the only real challenge in the game. The playthrough is not difficult at all with some small exceptions such as having to maneuver around enemies literally within inches of them. After possibly only having to experience trial and error once the player can easily figure out how to get around the obstacle. Neverending Nightmares has it's highlight creep points and is honestly a good game save for one major point. The very concept around which the game was built makes it a bit exhausting and works against it as the endless, inception-style, sleep wake, sleep wake cycle and somewhat mundane environments with minor changes makes the game a bit hard to play through simply because it's easy to lose interest. The game is not very long but it is just long enough that until near the very end it starts to become more repetitive than most will be comfortable with. However the eerie conclusions to each segment and unsettling gothic atmosphere will definitely captivate the most hardcore of horror fans thus making Neverending Nightmares a worthy addition to any collection.

The Park if nothing else is creepy as fuck. There's some cheap jump scares but the nonstop impending feeling of being stalked and just doom in general coupled with a very intriguing and surreal storyline makes up for the jump scares. The story follows a mother who is on her way out of her son's favorite theme park. When he realizes he lost his teddy bear she decides to go back into the park to try to find it. During a chat with a security guard however, her son runs back into the park and she is forced to go in after him to try and find him as well. The graphics suffer just a bit in the renderings of the people in the game but the environments are very well designed. The story follows the theme of Hansel and Gretel and takes the player to some controversial places that most video games won't go. I won't give away what that entails but it's worth it to play and find out for yourself. Like many of the indie developed horror games coming out lately there is no death in The Park as it is more focused on exploration, understanding what happened, and the developing story at hand. It's more of a free roam interactive movie than anything else but this "movie" isn't without it's moments of dread. The twist at the end is unsettling, disturbing, and emotionally distressing. One of the only spots this game really loses points with me is the length. The game is waaaaay too short for my liking especially at it's list price of $12.99 on the Playstation Store. A bit of a steep price for probably a little over an hour to an hour and twenty minutes of gameplay if you really take the time to look through everything. Still The Park is a wonderful experience nonetheless and should appease horror fans with it's fantastic sound design, unnerving atmosphere, and really fucked ending. If you have a fear of losing your child in a theme park do NOT play this game. However, if you are looking for something with some really genuine creeps then you have to take a trip to The Park.

I am still in the midst of playing this but I have to say that thus far I am a bit disappointed with the experience. The game has good graphics, and a unique concept, along with a vast open world. It is based on a truly terrifying real life mystery that still remains to be solved to this day and best of all it's voiced by Sean Bean. There is a constant feeling of impending doom and all the things you would expect from a good horror game except that Kholat's execution is overall the worst thing about it. The sheer absence of any kind of objective or goal of any sort leaves you lost literally from the opening scene. There is no way to determine where you are at any point due to the fact that the map and compass are based on real world navigation techniques so there is no "you are here" on the map or really any way to tell where you have to go save for the cryptic symbols on your map and various coordinates given in latitude and longitude. This leads to much backtracking and not in the fun way. Everything in the environment looks exactly the same since you're in the mountains during a blizzard. There is no linear plot so you can literally end up on any point of the mountain at any time to uncover various notes unveiling the story behind the mystery. The creature that stalks you is probably some of the most easily avoidable, horribly programmed, and least threatening AI I've ever come across in a game on a next gen console. You also have the misfortune of failing to properly navigate the landscape as even the smallest bumps in the snow cause your player to get stuck and have to go around them. The whole thing just feels shoddy. Sadly I jumped on this game and handed over $20 as soon as it came out seeing as the Dyatlov Pass Incident upon which it is based is truly the stuff of horrific nightmares and instantly caught my attention. The reason I have not finished this is that I don't believe I can. My life is too busy to spend backtracking through a game which I can not navigate. I appreciate the attempt at authenticity with the real world navigation however this concept was lost on me as I have never actually had to use a map and compass to go anywhere. I am not a sailor or a hiker in real life and to me forcing these skills upon a player, while educational (which I applaud for the attempt), makes for poor gameplay. This is a video game, not real life. I want so badly to like this game and I will continue to attempt and find something worthwhile to make me want to beat this game but so far the the only mystery I truly want an answer to is why I spent money on this.

Let me start by saying WHAT A FUCKING AWESOME GAME Layers of Fear is! Unique concept unlike anything I've ever seen in video gaming. This game will fuck with your head the whole time and plays out like a series of REALLY DISTURBING paintings. There is no fear of death in this game which is the only thing that I find lacking in it but the atmosphere, psychedelic effects, surreal visuals, and CREEPYCREEPYCREEPY atmosphere make this one of the best and most refreshing experiences I've had in gaming in the past 10 years at least. This game has set a new level of fear and nightmare fuel that should be inspirational to other games in the future. Layers of Fear should be played by anyone not just horror fans. It is an experience that will definitely stick with you for the rest of your life.

If nothing else this game brings back childhood memories. With the original 2 having always been the first games I'd run to in any arcade, HOTD 3 continues the tradition of being one of the most challenging, fun, and overwhelmingly well known arcade zombie shooters of all time. While gameplay on the Xbox was quite difficult without the likes of a gun controller one can get used to it with some practice ultimately wading through the relentless action and challenges of fighting legions of zombies and unique monsters throughout a laboratory. The boss battles are insanely difficult as is expected with any HOTD game but beating them will have you feeling great about how much of a fucking geek you are for not doing something more productive with your life which is just the greatest feeling ever. This cult classic game just begs to be played at parties everywhere and the challenges that await you are well worth pushing through.

Any of the shortcomings of the first game were completely done away with in this one. The fixed controls give Rayne even more fluid ass kicking ability making the slashing and gashing even bloodier and more enjoyable than the first which I did not know was possible. She even has intensely gory finishing moves which just makes killing vampires even better. Combat aside the story is more enveloping than the first in my opinion following Rayne on her quest for revenge against Kagan, the vampire who killed her mother. The enemies are much more capable of kicking your ass in this game too and the boss battles are fucking awesome. The sex appeal is off the charts with Rayne sporting some VERY revealing outfits and one of the female vampire enemies basically just being naked without the anatomical features. If you enjoyed the first game you'll enjoy this one even more. Bloodrayne 2 is fucking awesome in every way.

Bloodrayne has it all. Sex appeal, horror, zombies, vampires, nazis, etc. etc. etc. Everyone's favorite video game female vampire protagonist kicks insane amounts of ass in this game wielding several different fighting techniques and weapons to lay waste to an army of the dead. Slashing enemies apart with her famous wrist blades is probably one of the most enjoyable experiences ever in a horror game. While there is a ton of action in this game it still maintains the fact that it is horror with it's eerie environments and creepy monster designs. Bloodrayne is a classic Xbox horror game for all to enjoy.

As many awesome games before it, Lollipop Chainsaw can sport the fact that it had it's sound design and music composed by the great Akira Yamaoka which basically means it already scores awesome points. Let's lay it out straight. There is nothing scary about Lollipop Chainsaw at all. It only makes this list due to it's horror themes. The game however is fantastically fun to play. It's arcade themed and the perfect single player game to play with friends if you want something you can switch off on. The action and scenarios are so over the top you can't help but love this game. The female protagonist is probably one of the most kick ass chicks in any horror game ever and her skimpy outfits make her any nerdy gamer's dream. With several new outfits, combos, and other unlockables the game gives you something to shoot for outside of just finishing it. It takes obvious influence from several cult horror films and just all out does a great job being fun as fuck. There's no reason to discount this game as far as it being great. The world needs more arcade style games like Lollipop Chainsaw.

I only just purchased this game but will review it upon completion.

The Last of Us hits hard with unrelenting action, horror, and a deep, powerful, and dramatic story that pushes this game beyond just being a game. Many people have referred to The Last of Us as being the greatest game ever created. The story takes a different angle on life during the apocalypse where society has somewhat realized how to move on while living amongst the horrific things outside of quarantine. The protagonist (if he can be called that) is a smuggler coping with the many bad things he's done and seen since the loss of his daughter at the beginning of the apocalypse. He is without a doubt one of the greatest antiheroes of this generation and if you beat the game you understand why. The emotions run high through this gem of an experience and the ending is unparalleled by any other game (or movie for that matter). The Last of Us is a testament to how far video games have come and how they can now rival films as the preferred cinematic experience.

Until Dawn has, in my opinion, the BEST graphics I've seen in any video game to date. The story line, though seemingly typical, threw me for a loop the first time I played it. Plenty of reason to replay this game as no one decision turns out the same result twice. Creepy and mysterious atmosphere to keep you guessing the whole way through. Gives players the chance to finally see if they really would be the ones to survive a Horror movie or not. As a take on the classic slasher approach with a dramatic and tense atmosphere along with a very unique stylistic approach, an unexpected plot twist, and GORGEOUS visuals this game is definitely worth a play.

A great video game take on a great Horror classic. The video game works well as a sequel to the movie and gives an interesting feeling throughout. The enemies can be challenging though it is mostly due to the clunky controls typical with most survival horror games. It does well to play on the unknown as you may very well be working side by side with one of the "things" and not find out until it's too late. A creepy atmosphere coupled with a lonely and untrusting paranoia makes this a great horror game worth a play.

Splatterhouse is really more of an action horror game than actually something menacing and creepy. It does give a somewhat tense air depending on the difficulty setting as the enemies can be challenging at times but mostly this game is just fun. Your character has a good amount of power vs. weakness given the kind of game this is supposed to be. Overall the game is not bad however it's not overly amazing. No one aspect of the game makes it really outwardly fantastic. This is really more of something to pass the time and give a one time playthrough as there isn't much else to find or do a second time around.

Slender: The Arrival is a decent game as far as a tense atmosphere is concerned. You are constantly under the watch of Slenderman and not knowing exactly where he is at gives you a reason to consistently fear for your life. The beauty of the game is that it plays on the unknown as well as childhood fears of the dark. You don't want to go into the dark woods because you know that Slenderman is out there but at the same time you do go because you simply have to. Great game, great atmosphere, and great tenseness throughout.

As a game involving the great Akira Yamaoka this game was a definite on my list. The game is undoubtedly action-horror with a touch of comedy. It makes references to some great horror movie classics (Evil Dead to name one) and presents some hefty challenges. The controls make this game rather difficult to play through but once you get past them it's quite the experience. The puzzles aren't overly ridiculous and present just enough of a challenge to keep you interested. As any fans of horror games may be aware, action-horror is never really "scary" but this game still does a great job of being entertaining, dark, and funny enough to be worth the play.

It's been quite some time since I played this however I recall it being like Resident Evil meets The Thing. This game is classic survival horror if I ever saw it. Fixed camera angles, clunky controls, cryptic puzzles, strong and dangerous enemies as well as non-linear progression. The game has some good jump-scares and a creepy air about it at some parts though it mostly isn't overly frightening. It definitely fits into any necessary survival horror collection as it is a decent game drawing influence from some favorite classic horror movies and video games alike.

Daylight does a great job with giving you the creeps. The game's sound design is very eerie and the fact that you could get attacked at any moment anywhere continues the tradition of the tense feelings you get with modern horror games. The fact that you have to run around and find just enough pieces of paper unveiling the story of what happened while simultaneously having no clue where you are or why you're there gives this game a deeply unsettling atmosphere. Where I deduct points is that it becomes somewhat tedious and repetitive doing the same thing over and over again. However it takes a page from Slenderman in that with each level the intensity grows. With levels getting bigger and bigger and the ghosts stalking you more avidly as you progress it still keeps things interesting and challenging. Buying this game won't leave any horror junkie unsatisfied.

Among the Sleep is the epitome of childhood fears realized as a video game. With possibly one of the most unique approaches I've ever seen to a horror game you play the role of an infant in search of his mother who has gone missing one dark and dreary night. With only the comfort of holding your teddy bear close you must traverse a very dark, surreal, and uncomfortable terrain as only a child could dream. The game is wonderful in it's simple design. The puzzles are not hard to overcome but when you have a monster constantly stalking you the simplest task becomes hard to do. Sound design is everything in this game as what you hear but can't see becomes your worst enemy. The ending comes with a twist that will only make this game even darker for those who finish it. While the game is incredibly short, it works for what it is since length is only one small fraction of what makes a game great. This one will stick with you long after you play it.

Not many people have had the ability to play this rare game. I have however and I must say that Undying is everything you would expect from Clive Barker. It's medieval, dark, gothic, and surreal. The monsters are straight from the depths of hell itself. There is a variety of weapons as well as magic to combat creatures of all shapes and sizes. The combat is tense and there are tons of jump scares coupled with a bit of a lovecraftian feel. Undying is a unique experience all around and something one can only truly understand after playing it.

The first time I played this game I had no idea what would come of it. As a fan of Lovecraft I knew at least that much of it but it still managed to scare the crap out of me. The atmosphere is heavy and literally EVERYONE in the town of Innsmouth absolutely despises you being there and they share it openly only adding an atmosphere of loneliness that leaves you feeling reluctant to find out they're not telling you. At no point in this game does the player feel safe. It does a great job of empowering the player at certain points but resources are scarce and you can quickly become vulnerable again. There are some parts of the game that without question become much much creepier than others (the sewers for example) but by no means is this game not terrifying during any other part. This game was ahead of it's time even for an xbox release and the graphics are quite amazing as well. If you haven't played Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth then you need to.

Rule of Rose is not like anything I've ever played. The music is dark and foreboding but also light and cheery at times that it is most unexpected giving an eerie juxtaposition to the experiences that you incur. The themes that are incorporated into this rare and compelling gem of a video game are quite dark and VERY controversial. In fact so controversial that this game barely saw the light of day in any country aside from being banned and censored in several. Some aspects of the game imply lesbian love among underage girls, limited but still somewhat prevalent pedophilia, a deeply depressing atmosphere involving bullying and hatred toward the innocent protagonist continuously referred to as a poor, unlucky girl, as well as cruelty to animals, suicide, and worst of all it is all perpetrated by children. Many attributes of this game make it seem like a classic dark fairy tale with enemies to match. You combat creepy imp-like creatures some resembling distorted, disturbing versions of farm animals, and other similarly distorted and disturbing children. The game focuses heavily on exploration of a creepy airship and orphanage by which the player finds items and gifts to appease the Red Crayon Aristocrat Club (a club full of conniving, sadistic children who constantly torment the protagonist, Jennifer). This game is well known for being possibly the most depressing game ever created. The style of horror manifests itself as more psychological than physical though the environments definitely do add to the creep factor. Everything feels surreal yet still realistic enough to make you feel like you're exploring a horrifically bad dream that could potentially happen to you. Everything about this game is as dark as it gets, period. I've yet to play something that leaves you questioning whether you should keep going just out of sheer morality. The game bullies you and makes you feel shitty yet you want to know more about what is happening and it leaves you longing to give poor Jennifer some peace. This is one of the best known video games that few people have ever had the pleasure of playing. It is extremely rare and EXPENSIVE which is usually the factor keeping people from getting to experience the majesty that is this artistic masterpiece. Having taken much influence from the style of Silent Hill you know this game is good. If you get the chance to play this or find it for less than it's worth trust me you won't regret it.

Curse: The Eye of Isis has a surprisingly eerie atmosphere. Mummies don't really scare me but these things can be intense. It's set during the same time period that the moves in The Mummy series took place in with the first portion of it happening in a creepy, dark museum (a setting not often seen in horror games) Some parts of this game are somewhat uninspired but you'll find yourself having to search for missing pieces to puzzles, keys, running into challenging enemies, being low on ammo, and generally questioning whether you can go on. It can be a bit campy at some points but everyone loves a good B movie right? Besides this game was released under a low budget and honestly for the amount of time and work that was put in for being on a tight budget Curse: The Eye of Isis is definitely a noteworthy survival horror game and one that should be experienced by anyone who considers themselves a fan if not for the fact that it is old fashioned then for the fact that it's at least not just another zombie game.

Deadly Premonition has become a bit of a cult classic as far as releases on a next gen system. It sucked as far as sales goes but I'm not sure why. This is one of the most unique and strange video games I have ever laid my hands upon. Taking place in an open world with a nonlinear plot this game is extremely different from anything you've ever played in a horror game. Gameplay is an complex as playing GTA San Andreas in the sense that you are not only expected to follow the story but also get your character food, dress him, get him sleep, etc. It implements equal parts disturbing content and comedy as well. The plot follows an investigator looking into the murder of an 18 year old girl in the fictional town of Greenvale. The game has it's intensely creepy moments. Even the pause menu is creepy in it's sheer strangeness. However since it is also comedy not everything falls in that category. The game is extremely entertaining and has a very intriguing plot. While it actually holds the Guiness Book of World Records record for being the most critically polarized game in history (it's an extreme "love it" or "hate it" game) I lean more toward the "love it" category as it definitely brings something different to the realm of horror games.

I intend to play this game and figure out exactly what to say about it. Last time I tried to play it my 360 caught the red ring of death so I've never given this game a fair run mostly due to the fact that I was worried it would happen again.

From the creator of Resident Evil comes The Evil Within. This game is INTENSE. From the start of the game you don't know what the hell is happening as the first challenge involves you being unarmed, helpless, alone, hurt, and being chased by a chainsaw wielding monster through a maze of horrifying shit that can kill you instantly. As you progress you eventually gain some footing by finding a gun however that doesn't make the enemies any easier. Ammo is incredibly scarce and it WILL go fast. Typically you will be presented with just enough to kill only the necessary enemies. It is very stealth based to help conserve ammo but the AI are smart enough that sneaking up on them can be a task especially with a large group of them. The story itself is interesting enough to keep you wanting to know what's next and figure out the mystery of the situation that you are in. The graphics are great as well with some very unique monster designs. All of that coupled with DLC that is even scarier than the main game, The Evil Within is a must.

I was never much of a fan of Dead Rising. The game was incredibly well received despite the fact that it was obviously just Dawn of the Dead. Granted that movie is awesome. I feel that Dead Rising's approach to real time events is a bit forecful. The game wants you to spend an entire day, if not more, just sitting and playing it. It can be a bit overwhelming with the constant addition of new challenges constantly cropping up without stopping and before you know it, the final hour has come and you have not done much in the way of actually beating the game. The concept of only having 72 hours before you have to leave for the sake of your own life is nothing new but the way that they approach it as being a literally timed event makes the game a bit too hard to enjoy in my opinion. There isn't enough time to really experience the game without just constantly running from one end of the mall to the other scavenging for resources just to miss an event by moments and realize it wasn't worth it to make the run at all. When you do make it to the missions you often find that they are near impossible to complete especially if they involve escorting another character to safety. The AI in this game are SHIT. 9/10 times on an escort mission you will fail because the AI are not programmed well enough to be of any use to themselves and it's simultaneously impossible for you to combat all the enemies you will encounter on the trek back to a safe point. If this game didn't have the strict time constraints tied to it I would say it's a lot of fun but personally that just ruined the whole experience for me. There are a few highlights to the game but not many. It can be quite funny at times since it's a bit more of a lighthearted romp through a zombie filled mall and the limited save points make it really tense (though also really irritating). There are some classic survival horror aspects to this game that could have saved it if it didn't work against itself. It's fun but tedious, not really scary, overly difficult, and I fail to really care about any of the characters or story enough to make it worth dealing with the challenges. How this game ever got sequels is beyond me.

Once again not much to say. This game is basically DLC for the first L4D but it's still a ton of fun. Game is way too short but still super enjoyable. The implementation of the online versus mode gives this game a much needed addition since playing as the infected is kind of one of the best things in the world. If you're big on online multiplayer games then you need L4D2.

Not much to say about this. This game is awesome! L4D is the ultimate horror themed multiplayer game. Playing online makes the experience even better. The game forces you to work with your team and discourages flying solo which many people need a lesson in anyway (almost like it teaches you a moral). The only bad thing I would say about this game is that it's waaaaaaayyyy too short. If I had paid $60 for it when it first came out I would have been pissed. Luckily though I waited till it dropped dramatically in price and can enjoy it to this day.

Condemned does great work with making you question what you just saw. Enemies dart in and out of your peripheral throughout the game and will get the drop on you if you're not careful (and possibly make you drop something yourself at that) As one of the first horror games released on the XBOX 360 the graphics suffer just a bit compared to newer games on the system but the settings and story make up for it. Playing as a forensic investigator who has been framed by the serial killer he is tracking quickly turns into a dramatic and terrifying experience. The crazy, drug fueled, overpowering enemies in the game become creepier and creepier as you progress. This game WILL make you jump and regret going into that dark corridor....and the mannequins in the department store......well enough said. Condemned is a must have for any horror game fan.

I played this game when it first came out and it used to scare the hell out of me. From the great Activision comes a game whose title tells you exactly what you're dealing with. The graphics aren't bad given the generation of release. The game is really quite difficult especially given the controls. The setting is quite unique taking place in an extremely gothic setting in the 19th century. There is a surprising amount of atmosphere to this game even with it being slightly more focused on action than a lot of other survival horror games from this era. This is as much a classic from the golden age of survival horror as resident evil. The environment is unique and so are the monsters. It's heavy, dark, and intense. A must have for fans of horror.

Who doesn't love Evil Dead? Seriously if you don't like Evil Dead don't even read my reviews. with Ash being voiced by THE Bruce Campbell this game makes for a classic addition to the franchise. It's hilarious, twisted, dark, and all around everything we can expect from Sam Raimi and Bruce. You get to play as Ash with his deadite sidekick on one hell of an adventure to save the world and reverse the evil that has been set forth. I don't know how else to really describe this game other than if you like horror at all you probably already own this.

Celebrity cameos weren't too big on PS1 save for a few games starring Bruce Willis but Hail to the King sports the voice of none other than Bruce Campbell himself. This game is survival horror with a comedic twist. You get to blast and talk mad shit to deadites at an unprecedented rate in this game as well as explore the cult classic setting from the hit movies. Despite the fact that this game has bouts of comedy you'll find it still rather terrifying to explore. The combat gives you a severe disadvantage and the cryptic puzzles force you to go out into the darkest parts of the woods with little to no clue as to what you're even looking for. While you don't necessarily get overwhelmed by numerous amounts of enemies, you will get your ass kicked if you're not careful. Ammo is INSANELY scarce and you actually need fuel for your chainsaw hand so use it sparingly. This game is an incredibly well put together take on a classic movie that anyone and everyone should experience.

Doom is scary as fuck. Seriously there's no denying it. You are alone in a military research base on Mars where things have gone HORRIBLY awry. You encounter several different breeds of hell's finest and some of the most disturbing imagery to come from any release on the XBOX. The sound design will keep you on your toes with it's fantastically creepy and masterful composition. There is little differentiating between something being just another noise and it being something creeping up behind you. The ever present darkness will put you at wit's end and there will be a constant knot of fear in your stomach playing this. The game consistently has you trying to reach another team that you will never reach adding a strong sense of hopelessness. Never before have I played a horror game where you literally have no help from human intervention from point A to point Z before this. Since then the concept has become a staple of what makes something terrifying. The additional gameplay from the lost chapter and resurrection of evil gives you hours of endless horror at it's best. If this game doesn't scare you then you're probably not even human.

The Madness Returns is just flat out dark and creepy. Some could argue this isn't really a horror game but I dare you to play through it and come out feeling the same at the end. There is just a dark pervading feeling through this entire game and since it's Alice in Wonderland it's definitely surreal and really quite disturbing. This game is everything a dark Alice in Wonderland movie should be. The visuals are quite astonishing and the game is a TON of fun. None of the challenges are really overly difficult meaning you can play this game and really enjoy it more for the story and atmosphere. The game gets darker and darker as you progress and the later levels (especially the doll level) will give you nightmares guaranteed. This game deserves all the respect for being quite intriguing and well adapted. If you want to know what strolling through Wonderland while tripping on some bad acid feels like then experience this amazing piece of dark surrealism.

The controls are a bit difficult to deal with but this game is everything you'd expect from Alice in Wonderland. It's quite dark and the enemies can be very difficult. Getting around the game can be a hassle only adding to the overall sense of dread one gets while playing this. The graphics have not held up well over time but for the time period it was released they are very well done. Not much can be said about this game other than it is a very well done adaptation of classic story to horror/fantasy video game. If you haven't got a PC there is a downloadable version for XBOX 360 available with a purchase of The Madness Returns bringing this classic game to a next gen console and making it available for everyone to again enjoy.

Clock Tower 3 implements the run for your life kind of terror that we all know and love. This game is the first, and to date the last, to stray from the franchise's original point and click gameplay and trade it for direct control of the player. Facing varying creatures known as "subordinates" as well as the ghosts of those that were slain by said "subordinates" the player must progress through the game in typical survival horror fashion (finding keys, significant items, etc.) The game features a "panic mode" meter which, if filled, will cause the player to basically lose control and become very difficult to utilize also preventing the character from hiding. Panic mode can be subdued using lavender water. Pretty much what I'm trying to say is this game presents all the challenges of a survival horror game. The atmosphere is tense when in the midst of being chased and thus presents a hefty challenge as enemies are quite strong. It's rather unique in that there is a good balance of both fight and flight. You must run for the better portion of the level but ultimately must face the subordinate who has tormented you through the chapter. Though it didn't receive much commercial success this game is great for what it is and brings some rather interesting perspectives on gameplay in survival horror.

Dinosaurs in fucking space, period. This game is awesome! It's fun and the enemies are very difficult and intimidating. The game feels like a classic survival horror and sticks well to the series though it does get a bit campy at some points. Everything about this game still makes dinosaurs fucking scary which is great because you just don't really think about them as being implemented in horror at all. For fans of resident evil and the dino crisis series this is a no brainer. The controls aren't the best but what true survival horror really has good controls anyway? Besides they're better than the controls in the originals. Oh and the final boss battle is HARD AS FUCK. Guaranteed you will have to redo it several times. It's been so long since I've played it I've forgotten if I ever even beat it.

This game is amazing. Where most other zombie survival games involve you simply trying to fight for yourself, survive, and escape this game lets you save survivors, find a home base, scavenge for supplies, deal with your team members' personal issues, clear out infestations near by, find vehicles, establish outposts, find weapons, medicine, and building supplies to add needed additions to your base in a wide open world and that's all just side mission stuff there's also a storyline that you follow to the end. With missions continuously populating this game never runs out of stuff to do. There are special zombies that roam throughout that can be super dangerous if not properly dealt with as well as roaming hordes that make life in this supposed to be vacation wilderness difficult. If you haven't played this and you're a fan of zombie survival it really doesn't get anymore survival than this.

Manhunt 2 continues Rockstar's tradition of being controversial and would have received an AO (Adults Only) rating if it wasn't forced into being censored. With depictions of graphic violence wrought by the protagonist who shares a personality with a former killer this game brings on the gore. More hiding in the shadows with stealth borne fetish style murders not so much for the enjoyment of someone else this time but more from survival and the fact that your player is constantly being mentally fucked with by the voice in his head. Manhunt 2 is just as great as it's predecessor save for the whole being censored thing which I feel is unnecessary. You already know he's stabbing the guy in the face with a piece of fucking glass so how does blurring it and covering it with color filters make any difference? Seriously man. Anyway the gore and uneasiness come strong with this game and it's a worthy addition to any collection.

Can you say controversy? As if GTA wasn't enough to make Rockstar games synonymous with the word, this game practically puts the company's logo next to the word in the damn dictionary. Manhunt is GRUESOME AND AWESOME! Playing as a prisoner on death row being given a second chance at life has it's downside as you are pitted against an army of badass killers roaming the streets who want you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all for the enjoyment of the man directing a citywide snuff film. The game focuses on stealth and has a charge up attack system with it's various makeshift weapons. The more you charge up the more violent the kill. Unlike it's sequel this game made it onto the shelves of video game stores everywhere completely uncensored. Blood, gore, brutal violence, thrill kill, language, sexual themes, etc. run abundant in this game and it's horror heaven. Having to overcome some of the obstacles you'll face here will actually draw a sweat. The AI are quite intelligent and plenty capable of hearing and seeing you if you don't tread lightly which you should because combat outside of stealth WILL cost you lots of health. The enemies are very disturbing to behold as a lot of them wear insanely creepy masks and the pig dude.....the pig dude. That's all I can say. This game is a rare piece of brutal game violence we probably can't hope to see again any time soon in our butthurt, crybaby society so if you can I say buy this game and play the shit out of it.

Amy is a pretty difficult game. It has a strong emphasis on stealth and you constantly have to look out for another person as Amy follows you everywhere. She is the protagonist of the story so it makes sense. Like RE0 and Martian Gothic this game sports a symbiotic relationship between the 2 main characters forcing them to cooperate and utilize their individual skills for the various situations that arise (Amy has to sneak into small inaccessible places that Lana can't fit into. Overall the game is not bad. As I said before the enemies can be quite difficult and you will find yourself reluctant to fight many of them. Despite it's absolutely god awful ratings Amy has some similarities, few but some, to the great title "The Last of Us". The most notable relation being that you play as character protecting a little girl who is immune to a virus and trying to get her from point A to point B, etc. Despite it's bad reviews, which I believe to stem from the difficulty of the game, I'd say Amy is actually worth a try. Just because a game is challenging doesn't mean it can't still be good. It has a lot of unique highlights and can be quite fun if you give yourself the chance to get into it.

Okay. I'll be honest here. My fascination with the Alien series only ever went as far as the fact that the environments and creatures were designed by the great H.R. Giger however I never really found the movies or any other game in the series to be scary in the slightest. I owned all the toys as a kid and have seen the films hundreds of times but scares were null....until this came out. Alien Isolation is the definitive "you are weak and your enemies are strong" game. You will be intimidated as you are stalked THE WHOLE GAME by the xenomorph onboard the Nostromo. Hiding in lockers and vents provides no safety. If the alien hears or sees you even slightly you are absolutely fucked. It will rip you out of the locker or generic hiding place and kill you instantly. You literally stand no chance at fighting it until you get the flamethrower which only scares it away temporarily. It literally can show up at any second in the game and the only way to track it is to use a handheld radar which makes noise so you have to use it sparingly. Resources are plentiful but you have to be willing to make the venture into the next room and search for them which you most likely won't. The alien isn't the only enemy either. You have to face human enemies and androids that just straight up want you dead. Most of the puzzles are slow and take time to solve while you are stuck literally 10 feet away from the alien. This game is one of the hardest and best horror games I've ever played. You will die HUNDREDS OF TIMES GUARANTEED while playing this and that might just be in one level. That said if you want to literally be uncomfortable the whole time you play something like you've never felt before then Alien Isolation is it.

Dead Island is a fantastic FPS zombie survival game. It offers the player endless amounts of challenges all with varying difficulty and all set in a HUGE open world. The zombies are endless and a lot of the spots you have to explore get very scary very quickly. Who knew a tropical paradise could be this scary? Just when you think you're making progress in the game you find out that there is an entirely new setting that you have to explore again offering dozens and dozens of missions. The game seems never ending and if you decide to do every little side mission it very well might be. This game is for those who can be dedicated and have time for a fantastic RPG style zombie game with tons to offer. There's a tons of story and challenges awaiting you in this unique zombie survival RPG that demands attention and exploration.

My review of Dying Light is going to have to be updated as I only recently purchased this and am still slowly making my way through it. I will say that so far Dying Light is a fun game however not much of it sets it apart from Dead Island thus far. Still as a fan of Dead Island I can deal with that. The graphics are very good especially for the open world style of the game and the enemies are much more difficult to combat than those in Dead Island. I'm going to give it good ratings for the sheer fun of it and because I'm optimistic but so far, it's basically Dead Island.

I will properly review this game upon completion.

Limbo is eerie and unlike any other puzzle game I've ever seen. The first time I played it I didn't know what to expect. Something about the minimalist quality of it makes it just creepy. The 2D perspective coupled with a loss of depth perception due to the lack of saturation makes it easy for this game to completely mind fuck you. The puzzles get crazy and some are unbelievably hard especially on a first time playthrough. Limbo is a classic side scroller of the best kind and has quickly become iconic. Many games try to be but will never be quite as good. Some might say the game is too short but given what it is I think it's just the right length. This game is beautiful, amazing, and unlike anything you will ever see in a 2D side scroller. Limbo is not a game, it's a piece of art.

First off let me start by saying WHAT A GAME! Soma is amazing in every single aspect. This existential horror game will make you question your life, your existence, our future as a species, the very technology we use, and the technology we are striving to develop. A lot of the scares in this game come from after the fact realization of what the experience you just had really means. It gives a mostly bleak outlook on the future of our species paralleled with the process of saving it. This game will hit you in the gut with it's conclusion and continues the tradition of great games like "The Last of Us" with it's stunningly refreshing and unique ending unlike anything you've ever seen. The story will keep you locked into it the whole time and the game does what many others fail to do by making you actually want to explore this horrifying environment against your better judgement in order to better understand the mystery behind what happened and why things are the way they are. There is literally nothing wrong with this game. The monsters are mortifying, the environments are terrifying, the graphics are beautiful, and everything about it is uplifting and depressing at the same time. This game will jar you emotionally and leave you wanting to replay it again and again.

As a DLC for the already brutal game Whistleblower proves that Outlast was just a drop in the bucket. I personally see this little portion of the story to be more disturbing, vicious, scary, unsettling, controversial, morbid, and nightmare inducing than the main storyline itself. The things you will see in this game will leave a lasting impression on you. The Outlast games have officially pushed the limits of what it means to experience horror. This DLC goes where no others have gone before sporting horrifying visions of near rape, cannibalism, mass mutilation, nudity, and grisly violence all perpetrated by disturbed mental patients. Whistleblower will leave you actually feeling violated after playing it which is a rare quality in a game. You don't play this game, it plays you and it makes you it's bitch. The only thing akin to playing this game would be experiencing it in real life which you DEFINITELY don't want to happen. This game hits with a bang in a way I can't describe. It simply begs to be played.