Horror games uniquely showcase the subjective nature of fear; what terrifies one player may not faze another at all. This emotional variance is what makes the experience of playing horror games so compelling—each playthrough transforms into a personal journey that can amplify or temper fear depending on one’s individual triggers.
While some horror titles are undeniably thrilling, others fall short of maximum fright, presenting a lack of genuinely terrifying moments despite their strength in other areas. These games often excel in storytelling, character development, and engaging gameplay, prioritizing narrative richness over sheer horror. This article dives into notable horror games that promise captivating experiences but may leave players wanting more in the scare department.
10 The Closing Shift
So Much Work
Created by Chilla’s Art, The Closing Shift offers a riveting take on horror through the lens of a barista who unwittingly becomes the target of a stalker. With its retro PS1-style graphics, the game effectively evokes an eerie atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror experiences.
However, while its narrative is immersive and filled with tension, the game tends to play more like a thriller than a true horror title, featuring minimal jump scares. Players sometimes find themselves more focused on crafting coffee orders than engaging with the underlying fear, leading to the impression that it resembles a barista simulator as much as a horror game.
9 Layers of Fear
Bloober Team’s Trial Run
Before their mastery of horror in the Silent Hill 2 remake, Bloober Team ventured into the genre with Layers of Fear, showcasing the trials of a tortured artist striving to create his Magnum Opus. The game immerses players in a rich tapestry of atmospheric horror, yet ultimately lacks the robust fear elements that would elevate it beyond mere tension.
The experience feels haunting, but its slow pacing and simplistic mechanics afford little opportunity for genuine fright, relying predominantly on ambiance. While this makes for an engaging story, it doesn’t fully embody the horror experience, leaving players yearning for more variety in horror elements.
8 Devotion
A Tragedy Written in Blood
Upon completing my single playthrough of Devotion in 2019, I found its haunting narrative still vividly etched in memory. The game is steeped in tragedy, leaving a lasting emotional impact rather than deep-rooted fear. While it features horror elements, such as intense cult rituals, the horror itself often takes a backseat to the overarching themes of despair.
The game’s reliance on atmosphere and subtle tension makes it more of a somber experience than a spine-tingling one, shifting its focus away from fear and landing squarely in the realm of heartbreak. Nevertheless, Devotion stands as a masterpiece with immense replay value due to its intricate details that invite exploration.
7 The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
Bring in the Folk Horror
The Dark Pictures Anthology offers a choose-your-own-adventure approach to horror, where players control multiple characters and make decisions to ensure their survival. In House of Ashes, tensions arise during the Iraq War, leading to confrontations with ancient Mesopotamian mythological creatures. However, the potential for depth in horror feels diluted, as military characters often rely on humor rather than fear.
This unique blend captivates while also presenting an opportunity for cultural respect, especially through compelling characters like Salim. Yet, the humor detracts from the overall horror experience, leaving players wanting enhanced urgency from the non-military characters as well.
6 Still Wakes the Deep
Immaculate Vibes, More Please
Still Wakes the Deep explores the realm of cosmic horror, placing players in the shoes of Caz McCleary, an engineer grappling with a monstrous entity awakened by oil drilling. The visuals and narrative craft an immersive experience, culminating in an impactful conclusion, yet the game lacks the fright factor that could have truly accentuated its premise.
Despite the unsettling atmosphere, the horror elements remain subtle and understated. The game’s DLC, Siren’s Rest, expands upon its story, yet the core experience remains more about narrative-driven exploration than visceral fear.
5 The Forest
Anyone Seen Timmy?
Set in a dense and ominous forest on a remote island inhabited by cannibals, The Forest serves as a quintessential backdrop for horror gaming. However, the game’s focus on survival mechanics and engaging crafting often shifts players’ attention away from its horror elements.
The storyline revolves around searching for your son after a plane crash, but players frequently lose focus on the narrative amidst the captivating gameplay. Though the atmosphere is present, the overarching gameplay creates a fun environment—sometimes overshadowing the underlying horror themes.
4 Control
Imagine a Room, and There’s a Poster
Control offers an intriguing perspective on horror by making players embody a character infused with supernatural abilities. The semi-open world exploration creates a dynamic experience, yet the game’s reliance on the horror of the unknown often falls short, particularly in moments when corny dialogue detracts from its seriousness.
The protagonist’s attempts to articulate her experiences sometimes veer into awkward territory, dampening the overall creepy tone. However, for those who can overlook these tonal shifts, Control still provides a fascinating, engaging gaming experience.
3 Alan Wake
A Moody Nightmare
While Alan Wake 2 triumphs as a horror title, the original game leans more heavily on atmospheric tension than on delivering frightening adversaries. Its pacing and eerie tone successfully establish suspense, yet gameplay can become repetitive, leading to frustration rather than fear.
It checks all the boxes of a survival horror experience, but often lacks the fear factor that players expect from the genre, resulting in a consistently tense but rarely terrifying ambiance.
2 The Last of Us
Drama First, Horror Second
No game epitomizes narrative-driven storytelling quite like The Last of Us. Set against a backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal infection, players are thrust into profoundly emotional scenarios that overshadow traditional horror elements.
While fear elements exist, they often blend into the characters’ heart-wrenching journeys, resulting in less visceral terror and more feelings of helplessness and sorrow. The gut-wrenching narrative may overshadow horror in any potential future installments, prompting hopes for a stronger horror focus moving forward.
1 Resident Evil
Where Survival Horror Began
The Resident Evil series is often credited as the progenitor of modern survival horror, yet the original game from nearly three decades ago may not be as terrifying as one would expect. Many players, including those who started young, might find the game’s actual horror elements lack the potency seen in contemporary installments and other franchise titles.
With its campy dialogue, dated graphics, and a blend of B-movie charm, the game offers thrill but with limited horror impact. While a few jump scares may catch players off-guard, the overall experience is more playful than fear-inducing. Nevertheless, it remains a cherished classic and newly remade versions could reignite the horror elements intended from the start.
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