Most gamers can name the heavy hitters of the horror genre quite easily. Series such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil loom large in the minds of horror junkies. But the genre is so much more varied than some people may realize. Underrated titles, unfortunately, slip through the cracks all the time.
The good news is that the last five years have been great for horror gaming. It shouldn’t be forgotten that indie developers often crank out some pretty solid horror experiences every day. Thus, it would surely be a mistake for players to overlook this selection of entertaining titles.
10 Murder House (2020)
The developers at Puppet Combo consistently deliver truly terrifying horror experiences. Their titles typically revolve around more realistic scenarios centered around serial killers, rather than ghosts or mythical creatures. The pacing in Murder House is spot on as it slowly builds the creepiness and tension to a fever pitch, before being shattered by the appearance of the killer.
Speaking of the killer, this particular antagonist goes about his business in a bloody Easter bunny suit. Seeing that image emerge from a dark hallway gets the blood flowing, to say the least. The atmosphere is well-served by the PS1 aesthetic, making things appear pixelated and causing the player to often wonder: What did I just see out of the corner of my eye?
9 Downfall (2016)
Developed by Harvester Games, Downfall is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed The Cat Lady. Downfall, much like its predecessor, tackles some pretty serious subject matter. Unlike other horror titles, the storytelling and the gameplay “click” in an immensely satisfying manner. The plot. The characters. The setting. All of it is weaved together in a way that makes the game both fun to play and engaging to witness as a spectator.
The game’s art style is arguably its strongest feature. Predominantly set in black-and-white, splashes of visceral color are added to certain scenes for dramatic effect. Downfall often makes the player feel uncomfortable on an emotional level, which is not something every horror game manages to pull off, to be sure. It makes the player really think about his decisions, which is always a plus for a video game of any genre.
8 White Day: A Labyrinth Named School (2017)
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School was given a fresh coat of paint in 2017. It undoubtedly made the game scarier than the 2001 original by adding a host of new features and content. There are even more macabre encounters to experience whilst exploring the haunted high school. But exploration isn’t easy. There is, after all, a baseball bat-wielding janitor to avoid along the way.
The janitor is just the tip of the iceberg. A whole array of ghosts swarm the hallways and classrooms, not all of whom are malevolent. Some may randomly turn off light switches or produce noises, like a chalkboard being used (which is actually quite unsettling). Others are more direct, appearing in front of the player in order to scare or even harm him. It all makes for great replayability, at least for the brave.
7 Observer (2017)
Observer is a psychological horror game that utilizes a creative cyberpunk atmosphere. It blends a futuristic aesthetic with aspects of the horror genre in a manner that is a bit reminiscent of Soma and even Blade Runner. The game poses a series of moral questions by giving the protagonist a frightening toolkit of gadgets in order to solve crimes.
In the world of Observer, the ability to hack into someone’s mind is made possible by a device called the Dream Eater. A person’s darkest thoughts and deepest secrets are laid bare with such an implement. It asks the player to wrestle with the potential dangers and pitfalls posed by the unrestrained advancement of technology.
6 At Dead Of Night (2020)
Hotels can often be naturally creepy places. That sentiment certainly holds true for the establishment depicted in At Dead of Night. This particular game is beautiful to look at seeing as how it’s shot using Full Motion Video, or FMV. In 2021, FMV isn’t something that is regularly seen anymore. However, At Dead of Night utilizes this antiquated feature superbly.
A psychopathic killer stalks the halls of the dark, rundown hotel. The player, of course, needs to avoid him at all costs. Doing so requires keen eyes and open ears. Sometimes, the player will even spot the antagonist peeking around corners or catch a glimpse of his shadow on the ground. It’s simple and yet immensely effective. Catching sight of movement out of one’s peripheral vision when danger is known to be lurking is incredibly tense. This game possesses tension and atmosphere in spades.
5 Welcome To The Game II (2018)
The home invasion sub-genre is criminally underrepresented in video games. Reflect Studios’ Welcome to the Game series aims to fill that void. The idea of someone malevolent lurking inside one’s house or apartment is obviously an unsettling thought. This game brings those fears home quite effectively.
Welcome to the Game II requires the player to search the Dark Web for hidden codes in order to rescue a missing woman. The danger, however, comes in the form of kidnappers, a hitman, and a serial killer. All these individuals can, and will, break into the player’s apartment with evil intentions. Looking over one’s shoulder is effectively made into a game mechanic.
4 Dead End Road (2016)
Like home invasion, horror games that take place behind the wheel of a car isn’t something that is seen too frequently. Dead End Road manages to pull it off very well. The game is actually a race against time. Evil slowly stalks the player, catching up to him, little by little, in the vein of It Follows.
The developers at DDD Wares also opt for a retro aesthetic, looking like something that would have been released in the late 90s. Driving the car fast enough to avoid the encroaching evil, whilst also avoiding obstacles, is surprisingly difficult. That difficulty is compounded by a perma-death system that is undeniably harsh.
3 Song of Horror (2019)
Protocol Games’ Song of Horror is a supernatural nail-biter from start to finish. Its gameplay features, like its fixed camera angles and inventory management, take a lot of inspiration from the early Resident Evil entries.
Collecting objects and solving puzzles constitute the meat and potatoes of this game. Of course, avoiding the assortment of horrific enemies along the way is also a concern. Interestingly, a protagonist who falls victim to one of these enemies is permanently killed. A new character must be selected to continue the story.
2 Visage (2020)
When the disappointing news broke that P.T. had been canceled, many game developers tried to fill the void. A lot of so-called P.T. “clones” would be released over the years, with many of them being abysmal endeavors. Visage, however, probably came the closest to realizing the potential that P.T. had to offer.
Set within the walls of a dark and foreboding suburban house, the player is tasked with unraveling the mysteries of the home’s tragic past. Unsettling, supernatural encounters soon follow as the player character struggles to maintain his sanity.
1 Northbury Grove (2019)
The 70s and 80s saw the release of a plethora of slasher films, which usually involved teenagers meeting their untimely ends. Northbury Grove is clearly a homage to movies like Friday the 13th and Halloween. Rather than attending a rock concert, the player character stumbles upon a bloodthirsty maniac wearing an animal skull as a mask.
The goal of Northbury Grove is simple: escape. That’s easier said than done as the killer is unusually quick to hunt the player down. Outrunning the fiend within a confined space typically doesn’t end very well. Hiding is a much more useful, albeit more nerve-racking, strategy in order to survive.
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