Best Horror Games That Play On Your Fear Of The Dark

Key Takeaways

The best horror games tap into primal fears like darkness and powerlessness for a truly terrifying experience.
Little Nightmares, Alien: Isolation, Outlast, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent excel at utilizing darkness effectively.
Devour and Fatal Frame also showcase how darkness can enhance atmosphere, isolation, and fear in horror games.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can confidently say that horror games have a special place in my heart (and nightmares). The best of these games tap into our primal fears, and none do it better than those that delve into the darkness.

Horror video games are some of the longest-lasting and iconic games in the gaming industry. Regardless of their themes, whether they involve chilling and desolate survival horror or psychological thrillers, many top-tier horror games have been around for a long time, if not since the early days, and continue to be seen as benchmarks for the genre and its potential.

What do top-tier horror video games share? They all tap into fundamental human dread and instinct. Whether it’s surreal horror RPGs or timeless classics like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, they all employ similar strategies to stir fear. Claustrophobic environments, vulnerability, helplessness – these elements are frequently used in horror games to provoke fear. Interestingly, one of the oldest and most potent human fears is the dark. These horror games skillfully exploit this ancient dread, resulting in genuinely chilling experiences.

1 Little Nightmares

Darkness Takes This Unnerving Game Into Terrifying Territory

scarcely a handful of video games can stir the same eerie, unsettling fear that Little Nightmares does. The game’s fixed viewpoint and somber manipulation of shadows ensure that darkness looms oppressively and pervasively throughout any stage in the game.

Notably, the notorious “leech room” is exceptionally dark, except for the illumination provided by the player’s light and the ominous, gleaming reflections of starving leeches lurking in the shadows as they creep towards the hero.

2 Alien: Isolation

A Terrifying Experience Worthy Of The Classic Film

It might be a bit of a hot take, but the Alien series is at its best when the threat is a single xenomorph, a relentless and ever-adaptable natural killing machine against the wits, and perhaps the flame throwers, of one human.

In the abandoned spaceship within “Alien: Isolation,” there are numerous dim-lit corridors and shadowy floors that offer the perfect camouflage for the xenomorph. Those who fail to utilize their tools effectively in the darkness will find themselves swiftly and mercilessly punished by this alien creature.

3 Outlast

Atmosphere And Intensity Only Grows In The Dark

In contrast to both Outlast games, it is the oppressively tight and gloomy atmosphere of the initial title set in Mount Massive Asylum that gives the darkness an eerie sense of being a foe for the player to confront.

Experiencing the constraints of a night vision camcorder’s battery life in this game creates an intense, immersive darkness that feels real and dangerous, yet manageable for the player. It’s a perfect setup for the anticipated movie, making now the ideal time to explore the shadows and dive into this intriguing game experience.

4 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

A Horror Classic With An Emphasis On Darkness

Amnesia: The Dark Descent” likely became popular not just because of the surge in YouTubers at its release, but also because it’s widely recognized as one of the best and most eerie horror games ever made. This is largely due to its exceptional use of darkness and atmosphere.

Using a gas lantern that can sometimes be friend or foe, players need to carefully manage using light to navigate through the dimly lit castle corridors while also strategically extinguishing it to evade enemies. But if players remain in darkness for an extended period, they might lose their mental stability.

5 Lethal Company

The Darkness Feels Worse During The Day

Among the most atmospheric games released so far, Lethal Company places players on deserted industrial moons to gather scrap. Although the exteriors of these moons are usually bright or well-lit, the interiors of the factories are dim and confined.

In these factories, you’ll often encounter the formidable creatures that challenge the player. They exploit the shadows to attack workers in unusual manners. The very act of deliberately venturing into these shadowy factories amplifies the terror of navigating through them.

6 Devour

Classic Multiplayer Horror In The Dark

Devour is a chilling cooperative game where players work together to halt demonic ceremonies across multiple maps. The combination of nearby chat and the dense, enveloping darkness in every setting creates an eerie atmosphere that makes players feel disoriented and secluded.

In this game, isolation serves as a formidable adversary, accompanied by the ominous darkness and truly chilling supernatural beings. The monsters lurk in the shadows, ready to single out players for attack.

7 Fatal Frame

An Incredibly Novel Survival Horror Title

The initial release of this timeless title was underestimated, but it stands independently as a brilliant example of horror gaming, offering a distinctive take on Japan’s extensive ghostly folklore and supernatural traditions. In the game Fatal Frame, darkness isn’t merely used for atmosphere; it’s a powerful entity that actively opposes the player.

In a camera obscura, the brief flash is employed to trap malevolent spirits, yet it can also be the sole source of light for players, compelling them to strategically utilize fleeting views of their surroundings to move through the environment without encountering the numerous ghostly threats hidden in the darkness.

2024-11-24 17:34