Best Horror Games To Play One-Handed

Key Takeaways

Some horror games like Doki Doki Literature Club! and At Dead of Night offer immersive experiences for one-handed gamers.
Until Dawn allows customization of QTE settings for easier gameplay, suitable for players with physical limitations.
Inscryption, a deck-building game, is praised for its strategic gameplay that can be enjoyed one-handed without complex controls.

As a seasoned gamer with decades under my belt, I must say that the games you’ve presented here are nothing short of extraordinary! The blend of genres, the intricate narratives, and the unique mechanics make for an unforgettable gaming experience.

For any number of reasons, be they physical disabilities or unforeseen injuries, some gamers may be forced to play with only one hand, either permanently or temporarily. While this hindrance does limit certain types of gameplay, some titles operate with a simple point-and-click progression. Others even offer more accessible alternatives in the Settings menu to make the typically challenging aspects of gameplay less strenuous. While some companies sell ergonomic controllers to support one-handed gaming, it isn’t always necessary to spend extra money to enjoy certain horror games, even if they aren’t all as fast-paced as Silent Hill or Resident Evil.

Disabilities or injuries shouldn’t deter gamers from doing what they love, even if the game catalog is a little thinned out for players who are forced to play without the advantage of two hands. Regardless, many innovative and intriguing horror games present an immersive, accessible experience for gamers of all ages, abilities, and impairments. Here are a few horror games that are suited to one-handed gamers.

1 Doki Doki Literature Club!

A Deceptive Point-And-Click Visual Novel

“Doki Doki Literature Club!” isn’t recommended for young kids or sensitive individuals due to its dark themes and potential distress. This psychological horror game, disguised as a simple dating simulator, can be played with just one hand without any adjustments.

Based on the result of the mini-game, the main character will encounter personalized scenes with their picked romantic interest, allowing them to interact directly with them. The game “Doki Doki Literature Club!” is played through a first-person perspective, requiring only clicking dialogue options or choosing keywords during the mini-game segments. For an unspoiled and immersive gaming experience, it’s best to start “Doki Doki Literature Club!” without prior knowledge of the plot and avoid looking up spoilers beforehand.

2 Until Dawn

A Cinematic Horror Experience With Customizable QTEs

As a gamer, I initially thought that action-packed horror games like “Until Dawn” might be too intense for one-handed play. But to my surprise, the creators at Supermassive Games made this game more approachable, not just for gamers with physical challenges, but also for those who prefer a calmer gaming experience and appreciate a deep narrative.

In the game “Until Dawn“, players can select either conventional or motion controls. To help with Quick Time Events (QTEs), the game’s settings allow you to customize how quickly the QTE prompts disappear. For those who prefer a relaxed gaming experience, especially one-handed gamers, it could be beneficial to extend the QTE time limit. This way, players can respond at their own pace instead of hurriedly pressing buttons. Similar QTE adjustments are available in other titles from Supermassive Games, such as “The Dark Pictures Anthology” and “The Quarry“.

3 At Dead Of Night

An Unsettling Puzzle-Solving Adventure

Under the Cover of Night presents another chilling point-and-click horror adventure, proving to be quite captivating. In this game, players assume the role of Maya, a student who becomes the target of Jimmy Hall, a deranged individual who abducts and slaughters guests at the Sea View Hotel. Jimmy has trapped Maya’s friends within their hotel rooms, compelling Maya to bravely embark on a perilous mission to save them single-handedly. To persuade Jimmy to set free her imprisoned companions, Maya must converse with the spirits of Jimmy’s past to unearth his most horrifying secret. Despite the straightforward point-and-click mechanics potentially appearing monotonous, Under the Cover of Night skillfully maintains an engaging and creative experience.

Under the Cover of Night, this captivating tale and chilling ambiance are skillfully used to create suspense. The user-friendly point-and-click design ensures a smooth learning curve for players. Often described as a blend of horror film, horror game, and ghost hunting, At Dead of Night employs vintage live-action cutscenes popular in the late ’90s and early 2000s to masterfully create an intense, nerve-wracking cat-and-mouse chase between Maya and Jimmy. Throughout the game, it draws inspiration from iconic horror games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, enriching its eerie atmosphere.

4 World of Horror

1-Bit Pixel Art Horror With Simple Yet Engaging Graphics

As a gamer, I’ve stumbled upon an intriguing 1-bit role-playing game developed by Polish creator Paweł Koźmiński titled World of Horror. This game takes me back to the traditional dungeon crawling format, but with a unique twist – it’s wrapped in a pixel art style that’s reminiscent of horror legends H.P. Lovecraft and Junji Ito. The narrative is built around solving five separate mysteries, each one offering a self-contained gaming experience. Once a mystery is resolved, I’m given a key as a reward. Gathering all five keys opens up a lighthouse where I face off against one of several deities from the Cthulhu Mythos.

In the game known as “World of Horror“, battles are turn-based with pre-selected counterattacks for combatting enemies. There are fourteen distinct characters to play and twenty different routes to choose from. Due to its numerous mysteries having multiple conclusions, the game offers extended playtime and high replay value. Since it’s a choice-based game, all you need is a computer mouse to fully experience it.

5 Alice is Dead

A Noir Mystery Based On A Children’s Book

Developer: Lorestone
Platform: Microsoft Windows

In a fresh interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, the game titled “Alice is Dead” unfolds as a noir-style point-and-click mystery. As an amnesiac character, you discover Alice already deceased and set out to uncover her murderer. Simultaneously, you delve into the quest of reclaiming your own identity. Not too long after entering Wonderland, your character is unveiled as none other than the White Rabbit, and a reward for your capture lurks somewhere within this fantastical realm.

Originally, the game titled “Alice is Dead” was playable across various web browsers. However, since a specific plug-in has been disabled, it can now only be played using specialized software like Flashpoint. Interestingly, a new version of the series called “Alice is Dead: Hearts and Diamonds” is set to be released in 2025. This remake will feature updated art, additional puzzles, and story elements inspired by Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” published in 1865.

6 Inscryption

A Pitch-Black Indie Horror With Tricks Up Its Sleeve

Inscryption is a unique blend of various genres, encapsulated in an engaging card-building game. This turn-based, roguelike, puzzle-solving tale places players within a captivating narrative where they are confined to a cabin and compelled to play a series of tabletop games by a mysterious game master. Inscryption is structured across three distinct acts, presented in a found-footage horror format. An online content creator named Luke discovers himself in a Jumanji-like predicament, obliged to engage with the game known as Inscryption, uncovered on an in-game floppy disk within the game itself. To confront Leshy, the game master, players must amass a collection of animal-themed cards through drafting, self-mutilation, and surgical procedures. With each game played, players draw closer to revealing the enigmas hidden within Leshy’s cabin.

Praised by Steam critics as one of the finest indie games from the last ten years, Inscryption eschews traditional boss battles and intricate combo maneuvers. Instead, it invites players to trust their gut feelings and intuition to outwit Leshy. Although Inscryption appears straightforward as a point-and-click game, it requires strategic thinking and knowledge to excel. Playing Inscryption with one hand is relatively simple if the player stays sharp-minded. Leshy doesn’t judge based on physical prowess, but he will penalize players who aren’t paying attention.

2024-09-06 09:05