Not trick or treating during Halloween this year? Well, there are many other creative and compelling ways to celebrate October 31 such as watching scary movies, eating candy, or going to dress-up parties. However, nothing beats being alone in a room with the lights closed and playing a spooky Survival Horror video game. That’s why Gamer Headlines has made this list of ten Survival Horror games you should play during this year’s Halloween.
Note: Before going any further, I should preface that this is not a top 10 list. The list is composed of recent/most compelling Survival Horror games that are filled with multiple scares. They are not listed in any order whatsoever.
- Alien: Isolation
In space no one can hear you scream, and this aspect truly stands out in The Creative Assembly’s First-Person Survival Horror Stealth game inspired by Ridley Scott’s 1979 cult classic film. As Amanda Ripley, you must investigate the Sevastopol space station in search of clues to find the location of Ellen, her mom. Unfortunately, you’ll be hunted down by an unpredictable Xenomorph alien who will react differently every time he sees you, hears you, or smells you. This makes for some very tense sequences as you’ll need to hide under desks, in closets, or simply run away because the Alien instantly kills you once he reaches you. Alien: Isolation is a fairly recent game that is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and you can read our review for it right here.
- Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
In this disturbing sequel to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, you play as Oswald Mandus who must fix The Machine in order to save his children Edwin and Enoch. However, it proves to be a harder task because the depths where the device is located are filled with Manpigs, deformed swine-like monstrosities, that patrol the area. You are limited to only a few tools, so you’ll have to take quick decisions in order to survive. It is scary, dark and captivating, with themes that touch on real-life struggles and events. It is available on PC exclusively.
- Dead Space
Dead Space is one of those games that is immersive from the moment you start your experience. The fact that all of the HUD is located on your main character’s gear never breaks the action, and is the reason why it successfully delivers unexpected scares because you are so invested and focused on what is displayed on-screen. Plus, the fact that there are hundreds of Necromorphs, alien-type enemies, on board the USG Ishimura and limited ammunition to wipe them all out only add to the tension and urgency factors within the game. Dead Space is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
- Outlast
Once again, First-Person Survival Horror stealth games prove to be the best of the genre, making the player feel helpless because he doesn’t have the necessary tools to defend himself. In Outlast, the only piece of equipment you have is a night vision camcorder, which acts as your flashlight throughout the entire game. However, you must limit its use because its battery quickly runs out, and the only way to keep using it is to scavenge for additional batteries that scattered all around the insane asylum where the game takes place. It’s a short game that can be completed in one sitting, and one you should definitely try out if you want to experience some big jump scares. Outlast is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
- P.T. (Silent Hills)
P.T. is the playable teaser demo for the upcoming Silent Hills game directed by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro. You are put into a mansion without any guidance whatsoever and your objective is to find a way to get out of it. Unfortunately, it won’t be that easy because you are only limited to your movement and vision as you’ll need to solve the puzzle of the looping mansion corridor. Once again, P.T. is the perfect example of a game that has the simplest game mechanics possible and succeeds in delivering a satisfying horror experience because of the atmosphere and utter confusion as to what needs to be accomplished. Plus, the tension only intensifies when a ghost chases you around and gives one of the biggest jump scares you’ll ever witness in a video game. P.T. is available for free on the PlayStation 4’s store exclusively.
- Resident Evil 4
I could honestly recommend any of the first four Resident Evil games as they all capture the essence of Survival Horror. However, Resident Evil 4 stands out from the previous installments because of how it innovated Capcom’s franchise, and set the standard for upcoming experience in the same genre. RE4 will not be the scariest game you’ll ever play, but it will certainly creep you out the moment you step foot into the Spanish village, and learn more about its psychotic inhabitants and mysterious cult organization. You should definitely play Resident Evil 4 even if it isn’t Halloween as it ranks among the best games of all time. Fortunately, it is available on a lot of platforms, having versions available on Gamecube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and PC, so there is no reason to not experience this masterpiece.
- Silent Hill
One could argue that Silent Hill has not aged very well over the years and is a mess in terms of today’s standards. Nevertheless, it is one of those games that set the bar for the Survival Horror genre alongside games like Alone in the Dark and Resident Evil in the 90s. With its supply-limited combat, exploration through environments filled with demonic monsters, and puzzle-solving elements, Silent Hill has all the right elements to make a great Survival Horror experience. You would be surprised how scary it still is, despite it being 15 years old. Silent Hill is available on the original PlayStation, but you’d probably want to play the PSN version on your PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Vita.
- Slender: The Eight Pages
While its sequel, Slender: The Arrival, is more recent, polished and varied than the first installment, nothing compares to the jump scares that The Eight Pages delivers in a simple matter of seconds. Slender is very simplistic in its design, yet it manages to stress the player out with its atmosphere and lack of direction. Running around the dark woods looking for the missing pages does get tedious after a while, but there is nothing that comes close the fear factor that is provided in the initial instances of this title. Slender can be download for free on your PC.
- The Evil Within
Coming from Shinji Mikami, the Director of the Resident Evil franchise, The Evil Within puts you in the shoes of Sebastian Castellanos as he must face unimaginable terror and fight for his survival. It features some tense and exciting atmosphere that will keep you on your toes as you’ll be facing countless enemies with limited ammo at your disposal. If you are a fan of the Resident Evil franchise, you’ll certainly find the same quality experience with The Evil Within. The game is available on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC, and you can read our review for it right here.
- ZombiU
As a random survivor during a zombie outbreak, you goal is to survive through the abomination and find a way to escape the city safely. However, ZombiU has an interesting mechanic where your character permanently dies after he is killed by a zombie and you’ll then take on the role of another random survivor. You’ll be able to pick up your lost supplies by killing your previous self, making for interesting scenarios and keeping you on your toes because one mistake can make you restart all over. ZombiU is available on the Wii U exclusively.
Are you planning on playing any of these games during Halloween? If not, what are your favorite Survival Horror games of all-time? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, stay tuned to Gamer Headlines for all things gaming.
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