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Top 5 Horror Games (To Scare the S#%T Outta You)

Top 5 Horror Games (To Scare the S#%T Outta You)

No matter what time of year it is, spooky, scary media should be consumed in large quantities. Halloween is nice because it’s one of the few that don’t come with any obligations for many. It’s not like I’m going to fly home to see my family just for this. Instead, I’m going to engage with the spirit of the holiday with video games. Here are five games that I recommend for this, or really any, occasion. They range in overall scariness, so there should, theoretically, be something for everybody.

Dead by Daylight

Dead by Daylight

What’s better than a horror game that includes every possible baddie ever? Dead by Daylight is one of those games where it is as scary as the people you are playing with, as it is an asymmetric horror game where one person is an iconic being and the other four are innocents just trying to stay alive. In addition to generic “killers,” people can face enemies like Stranger Things’ Demogorgon, Scream’ s Ghost Face, Saw’ s The Pig , and Leatherface’ s The Cannibal. It’s like all of your worst nightmares rolled into one.

Eternal Darkness

Eternal Darkness

This is another old game, but it’s a goodie! It’s also on the GameCube and is one of Nintendo’s more adult endeavors. The reason Eternal Darkness makes the list is because it was actually pretty innovative and, in an ideal world, it would have been remade by now. It’s a psychological thriller with sound mechanics and the tendency to play with your sanity. Heck, it even breaks the fourth wall, Metal Gear Solid style. It may be inconvenient to track down but, if you can, I recommend checking out this piece of gaming history. Worst case scenario, perhaps you can just watch a playthrough of it so you can see just what makes this game so rad.

Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5

This may not be the scariest Resident Evil title out there, and it’s certainly not as dark as some of its predecessors. It also turns the idea of a conventional zombie on its head, continuing the legacy that began with Resident Evil 4 . Also, it has been released for current generation systems and can even be acquired for free via Microsoft’s Game Pass. I’ve been playing through the co-op mode with a friend lately, and I’m amazed by how well it holds up. Upgrading weapons, speedrunning the game, and encountering strange, exciting enemies is all part of what makes the experience great. And, again, co-op gameplay makes this one stand out. It’s even possible to play online.

Doki Doki Literature Club

Doki Doki Literature Club

Doki Doki Literature Club almost escaped my mind and, therefore, didn’t make the list. That would be a shame, though, because this atypical game is exceedingly unsettling. Part of the twist, and I hate to give this way, is that it’s a horror game in the first place. At first glance, it appears to be an overly cute virtual novel about a, well, literature club. As the game goes on, it takes a couple twists. Before you know it, you’re screaming “what the hell?” at your screen. Two moments, in particular, stand out as mind blowing, and I really want more people to experience this title.

Friday the 13th the Game

Friday the 13th the Game

Friday the 13 th the Game got off to a bit of a rocky start, due to matchmaking issues, but this very anticipated game still had a lot going for it at its core. It has cultivated a very passionate fanbase, and for good reason. The game’s asymmetric multiplayer is simply addicting. In the game, one player takes control of the very powerful Jason, who has to use his ability to hunt down fragile campers. The campers have to work together to escape. Communication is limited, too. There’s a proximity mic that means, unless you have a walkie talkie, you can only talk to people near you. It also means that Jason can hear you when you’re talking to your friends. It’s a very tense style of multiplayer that heightens the horror and ensures that you’ll be queuing up for round after round.

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