Top 10 Open-World Games With Cosmic Horror Elements

Summary

Prey (2006) by Human Head Studios offers innovative gameplay, dark setting, and eldritch alien enemies.
Dishonored features a gaslight-fantasy world, an Eldritch Entity, and player choices shaping the game’s outcome.
Bloodborne by FromSoftware combines cosmic horror with gothic elements, captivating players with its eerie atmosphere.

Open-world games frequently enrich player experiences with additional dimensions of quality derived from their immersive settings, captivating world-building, and especially their game mechanics. When developers subtly incorporate elements of “Cosmic Horror” into the gameplay, players are in store for some chilling, thought-provoking adventures.

For enthusiasts of eldritch terror, this list ranks top Open-World games featuring cosmic horror elements. Ranging from an underappreciated sci-fi survival horror to a game that embodies the essence of niche yet boasts a massive global fanbase.

8. Prey

One Of The Most Underrated Cosmic Horror Sci-Fi Games

In its day, the game “Prey,” developed by Human Head Studios, was a groundbreaking Sci-Fi shooter due to its unique setting and innovative gameplay. Players found themselves in a chilling and ominous environment where they had to endure an alien invasion within a Cherokee reservation, eventually battling the invaders on their mothership through the use of portals. The aliens were a nightmarish fusion of eldritch horrors, animals, and mutated zombies, which would leave players feeling queasy and disoriented.

In this game, one standout survival feature is its frequent shifts in gravity and traversal through portals, paving the way for similar mechanics in numerous subsequent games. However, what truly transforms the gameplay into a chilling Cosmic Horror narrative are the ominous invader aliens known as Hunters, and their connection to the Spiritual Realm – an integral part of the game’s atmosphere.

7. Dishonored

An Eldritch Entity Offers You Her Heart, And You Accepted?

Dishonored” is among the most chilling and captivating games, a fact that’s hard to dispute. Initially, the game environment immerses players into a gaslight-inspired fantasy realm where swords and magic are as grimy as they come. Later on, when players think things have calmed down and they’re part of the nobility, an unexpected murder plot targeting the Empress arises, framing Corvo Attano as the prime suspect for regicide. He must then flee to stay alive.

Following this, there’s some haggling with an entity known as the Outsider, who bestows upon Corvo a Heart (one wonders from where it originated), infused with his power. Players then have the liberty to traverse a vast city, utilizing the heart of their beloved Empress to hear eerie whispers about the metropolis, its dependence on Whale Oil, and the hidden truths others harbor. With the influence of the Outsider, players can opt for a low profile or enact brutal retribution. This decision will shape the world: the more violence they instigate, the more the plague spreads, misery fills the streets, and the environment becomes increasingly perilous. A true masterwork.

6. Bloodborne

Deranged Gods, Eldrich Entities Corrupting Everything

In the heart of a city, an ominous disease spreads, transforming inhabitants into terrifying creatures. A lone warrior navigates through this nightmare, employing his expertise and an extensive arsenal to combat these aberrations. Bloodborne , crafted by FromSoftware, stands out as the premier open-world game, maintaining its appeal even after years (apparently) of neglect from its creators.

In simpler terms, the game’s environment blends a gaslit Victorian-style world with a blend of gothic and cosmic horror in a harmonious yet subtle fashion, captivating countless players over time. With the recent announcement of The Duskbloods, many fans of Bloodborne have shown excitement, both positive and negative, so if you’ve misplaced this gem from the past decade somewhere in your gaming collection, it might be worth revisiting.

5. Borderlands 2

The Vault Was Closed For A Damn Good Reason

Despite some players viewing Borderlands 2 as merely a science fiction looter shooter, the narrative actually revolves around an ancient alien race that engaged in brutal combat to imprison malevolent galactic forces within massive vaults. They left numerous warnings and defenses, but, predictably, careless humans failed to heed these precautions.

In the intricate universe of Vault Hunters and Sirens, there’s an ever-present sense of cosmic dread, as if peering into the abyss of what lies beyond the stars, in the uncharted territories of the cosmos. And when players dare to defy all warnings and unlock the Vault, chaos ensues – a monstrosity so alien and grotesque that it’s hard to classify as anything recognizable. But fear not, for by the time they open Pandora’s ‘box’, which serves as a massive caution sign, players will be armed with an arsenal of potent weapons to combat this horrifying beast. So go ahead and unleash your inner slayer!

4. The Sinking City

The Most Lovecraftian Open-World Game You’ll Ever See

The Sinking City is a game you might want to play during daylight hours or with your lights on for an eerie experience. Blending Cosmic Horror aspects with a chilling storyline that Lovecraft himself would approve of, this game was created by Frogwares and received widespread acclaim from both critics and gamers alike.

The primary appeal lies in its captivating storyline, which blends detective work with chilling psychological terror, often causing players to hesitate before venturing into a shadowy corner to uncover a clue. The map size is expansive, yet there are certain aspects that disrupt the smoothness of player navigation and give it a somewhat linear quality. Nonetheless, it can be classified as an open-world game.

What makes it special is its intriguing story, which combines detective work with scary psychological elements, sometimes making players think hard before going down a dark path to find a clue. The map is large, but there are parts that can make movement tricky and make the game feel more linear. Still, it’s considered an open-world game.

3. The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter

Eerie, Sinister, Devoid Of Life

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter creates an atmosphere of oppressive emptiness in its grand, seemingly abandoned landscapes that appear so isolated from civilization, they might as well be another dimension. As players explore, they may experience a sense of being watched, causing unease and uncertainty about their actions.

Apart from the vast map waiting to be explored with few or no clues for them to discover, it’s also due to the eerie supernatural elements woven into its narrative that makes Red Creek Valley intriguing. In reality, a sinister and potent force has taken hold of this valley, and players will personally encounter how the events leading to a missing boy’s disappearance continue to cast a shadow over the isolated Wisconsin town and all its residents.

2. Alan Wake II

Mindbreaking, Thrilling, And Panic Inducing

If the initial Alan Wake game was well-received, it’s possible that the next installment in the series could be moving in the right direction, despite being somewhat overlooked. One of the game’s strongest points is its ability to maintain the unsettling and mind-bending atmosphere that made the original story such a hit.

The eerie feeling of stepping into a Lovecraftian story is consistently present, hovering at the periphery of the screen as players strive to avoid the suffocating weight of darkness that seems to advance relentlessly. This game is truly awe-inspiring.

1. Pathologic 2

One Of The Most Gruesome Horror Experiences, Highly Underrated

Pathologic 2 transports gamers into one of the eeriest and stomach-churning environments ever seen in gaming. The game unfolds within a secluded Russian steppe village, where players must navigate their existence in perpetual dread, engaging with its peculiar inhabitants, trading, bartering, and maintaining their fragile grip on sanity as reality seems to warp at alarming speeds around them.

As a passionate admirer, I’d like to share my thoughts on this extraordinary game that I’ve had the pleasure of exploring. It’s set within a chilling time-loop narrative, where the boundaries between reality and illusion are blurred, making it both intriguing and unsettling as it occasionally breaks the fourth wall in unique and unnerving ways.

The protagonist, Artemy Burakh, is a complex character who isn’t just a physician and surgeon; he’s also a man struggling to heal not only the residents of this cursed place but his own fractured psyche as well. This game, unfortunately overlooked by many, offers so much more than just cosmic horror in a confined dimension. It’s a raw and unfiltered dose of dread, wrapped in a heavy blanket of madness.

2025-04-18 08:38