Horror and Survival Horror games have become one of the most popular video game genres in the past decade. Games like Dead by Daylight, the Last of Us franchise, and the ‘OG’ Resident Evil franchise have won the hearts of millions. However, these just scratch the surface of the best horror video games. And thus, we’ve created a list of the five best scary video games for you to play, and if you’re brave, play in the dark.
Alien: Isolation
On top of this being a great game, this is a faithful continuation of the film franchise. Following Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, (set 15 years after the first Alien film) investigating the disappearance of her mother. After a series of terrifying space events, Amanda finds herself face-to-face with the same creature her mother fought against.
With the ever-looming Xenomorph driving the storyline and terror through the space station, the alien isn’t the only major threat in the game. Other humans and deranged ‘Working Joe’ androids are a constant conflict throughout your exploration for a way out. Hiding, finding new tools, and creating useful instruments are the keys to survival.
Outlast
Outlast truly highlights your fear of the unknown. The majority of this game takes place in complete darkness, requiring you to utilize the night vision on your camera. However, each time you use the camera it drains the batteries and once you’re out, you’re left in the dark, literally. You sneak around and find replacement batteries while traversing a psychiatric hospital overrun by homicidal patients where you are desperately trying to find your way out.
Stealth is your best friend in this game. Finding the balance between hiding in lockers and using your night vision to avoid danger gets increasingly more difficult as the game goes on. Each heart-pounding scenario will leave you wanting to reach for the light switch.
And if you find yourself wanting more, the sequel Outlast 2 is a great continuation of the franchise, and a third installment, The Outlast Trials is expected to release in 2021.
Phasmophobia
Ghost hunting the game! If you ever wanted to ghost hunt from the comfort of your home, well this is the game for you. Four players traverse different haunted sites, where the goal is to discover which type of ghost is haunting them. With your journal and numerous ghost hunting instruments, you must collect as much evidence as you can and complete tasks before leaving the site and collect the reward money.
This game has caught the attention of Twitch streamers this October, and its VR support gives it the extra edge in immersion. Oh, and did I mention, you need a microphone, because the ghosts can hear you.
Amnesia: Collection
The Amnesia Collection is great for players who love tense situations. The full collection includes Amnesia: The Dark Descent, the expansion Amnesia: Justine, and sequel Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.
Throughout the game, you find yourself in tense situations while trying to maintain your sanity. The more you lose your sanity, the more difficult and scarier the game becomes. And with no real way to fight back, you must hide and try to navigate your way out to survive.
Play the original games before the newest in the series, Amnesia: Rebirth, releases on October 20th on PC and PlayStation 4.
Until Dawn
Until Dawn is the closest you can get to playing a horror movie, with a star-studded cast, featuring Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek and Heros‘ Hayden Panettiere. This story-driven game has you play as multiple characters, and your actions throughout the game can lead to their demise.
Following a group of friends’ return to the cabin where a year prior a cruel prank leads to the death of one in the group. Dealing with their grief and individual drama, the group separates and engages in their own activities while being stalked by a mysterious masked man that torments the group throughout the night.
Honorable Mention: P.T.
This would be my number one pick on this list, however, since this game was never finished and only lives on if you have the demo installed on your PlayStation 4, it didn’t feel right adding this to the list. However, if you have a friend who has the demo on a PS4 that’s just collecting dust somewhere, I highly suggest you borrow it and hunker down for a true horror masterpiece.
That concludes this list of the best scary video games to play in the dark. Let us know on Twitter which scary video games give you nightmares. Good luck and sleep tight.
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