Best Story-Driven Horror Games

Highlights

Horror games with compelling narratives can be just as scary as those filled with jump scares and monsters.
Story-driven horror games like Observer, The Evil Within, and Dead Space offer immersive experiences and psychological depth.
Games like Alan Wake, SOMA, and Resident Evil 7 show that a good story can enhance the horror experience, even over time.

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating the darkest corners of virtual worlds, I must say that each of these horror games offers a unique and chilling experience. From the claustrophobic underwater terrors of Soma to the slasher homage of Until Dawn, they all manage to send shivers down my spine in their own special ways.

As a gamer diving into the latest chilling video game, I’m well-versed in the jump scares, spine-tingling monsters, and eerie backdrops that await me. What often catches me off guard, however, is a gripping narrative. It seems that many horror games focus primarily on creating fear rather than weaving an engaging storyline.

However, some of the scariest horror games of all time take a story-driven approach. Not only do they terrify fans with jump scares and nightmare-fueling monsters, but they weave tales designed to get under the skin. The following examples are some of the best narrative-driven horror games ranked on the quality of their stories, how good they are, and, of course, how scary they are. Countless great indie horror games take a narrative-driven approach, but these are more well-known titles.

8 Observer

Creepy Cyberpunk Horror

It’s challenging to objectively rank games, as what is frightening or enjoyable varies from person to person. The game titled “Observer,” set in the year 2084 and situated within a dystopian, cyberpunk-influenced world, follows Daniel Lzarski, a detective with the ability to penetrate minds to solve crimes. Summoned to investigate a dilapidated apartment complex, Daniel finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot as he probes into a string of grisly killings.

The Observer game excels in creating psychological terror, with its chilling apartment setting adding to the eerie atmosphere. A particularly unsettling aspect is the ability to invade victims’ memories, leading to “dream eater” sequences. Unlike many horror games, combat is minimal and fear is constructed primarily through atmospheric storytelling, haunting music, disturbing visuals, and sound effects. However, this game has its flaws. Its deliberate approach to horror may not appeal to everyone, and certain stealth sections actually lessen the tension instead of enhancing it. Despite these issues, Observer stands out as one of the best cyberpunk horror games ever produced, but its slower pace, flawed stealth segments, and niche audience mean it doesn’t rank as highly as it could.

7 The Evil Within

Close To Greatness

Under the guidance of Shinji Mikami, the mastermind behind the popular Resident Evil, the game titled The Evil Within boasted an impressive lineage. It stands as one of the top-tier survival horror games, yet carries a touch of dissatisfaction. Unlike its predecessor, the Resident Evil series, recognized for complicated narratives, The Evil Within presented a captivating premise. The main character, Sebastian Castellanos, finds himself unconscious during an investigation into a grisly hospital murder and wakes up in a world of nightmares, filled with monstrous creatures and disfigured landscapes.

In the game, Castellanos needs to locate and confront Ruvik, the enigmatic villain who’s bending reality and terrorizing the minds of his captives. The game boasts a chilling ambience, stunning monster designs, and skillfully blends action reminiscent of “Resident Evil” with psychological terror. The narrative itself was filled with unexpected twists and managed to delve surprisingly deep in certain areas. However, several issues prevented the game from reaching its full potential. Upon launch, it suffered from technical glitches and many players found its controls clunky. The story, though innovative, was also hard to follow due to its dreamlike portrayal. Most disappointingly, the horror aspect was diminished by an overemphasis on action towards the end and inconsistent difficulty levels.

6 Dead Space

In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream

As a gamer, let me tell you, playing Dead Space feels like Alien minus the xenomorphs, with a dash of mutated space zombies known as Necromorphs instead. The game primarily revolves around survival horror gameplay, but it also managed to deliver an engaging storyline, something the remake aimed to expand upon. In this chilling adventure, I, Isaac Clarke, am tasked with repairing the USG Ishimura, a mining ship. Upon arrival, I uncover a grim truth: the crew has been horrifically transformed into Necromorphs by a baffling alien artifact called the Marker.

A significant portion of the narrative in this game unfolds through its setting and audio logs, focusing on the enigma of the Marker’s origin and nature. Although the central mystery was captivating enough to spawn two follow-ups, the protagonist, Isaac Clarke, lacked depth, making him as engaging as a damp cardboard figure, thus diminishing the player’s investment in his adventure. On the positive side, the game could be genuinely frightening. The developers excelled at creating an oppressive ambiance, and the creature design was appropriately grotesque. The sudden shock moments, while initially terrifying, eventually lost their impact due to repetition. Lastly, the dismemberment, stasis, and kinesis features were entertaining, but they sometimes felt too powerful, compromising the horror aspect. In summary, Dead Space, despite being one of the finest third-person horror games ever crafted, is ranked lower due to its weak character development and overreliance on jump scares for this specific list.

5 Alan Wake

Shines Bright In Places

The original Alan Wake gets the nod here over the newer Alan Wake 2 purely because the original had a slightly greater emphasis on horror. Plus, much of what can be said about the original’s story can be said about the sequel. Both games follow Alan Wake, a bestselling author who travels to Bright Falls with his wife in an attempt to overcome the world’s worst writer’s block. Upon arriving, his wife, Alice, disappears and Alan finds himself trapped in a nightmarish reality where the events of his latest novel start coming to life. As he fights to free Bright Falls from all-consuming darkness, he must also fight to maintain his sanity.

As a dedicated fan, I still hold the original Alan Wake by Remedy Entertainment as one of my all-time favorites. Its tale is nothing less than captivating, and its TV series-like structure gives it a distinctive flair. Although it may not cause you to jump out of your seat in fear, the game’s psychological horror is skillfully executed, with certain segments genuinely sending shivers down my spine. Unfortunately, the gameplay aspect doesn’t age as gracefully, and after all these years, it leaves much to be desired. In Alan Wake, I must first break an enemy’s shield using either a torch or flare before dealing damage. At first, this tactic heightens the tension in combat, but over time, it becomes repetitive, transforming the drawn-out battles into filler that undermines the story’s rhythm.

4 SOMA

Claustrophobic Underwater Horror

In the game SOMa, our protagonist, Simon Jarrett, initially encounters a car accident that claims the life of his girlfriend and leaves him with brain damage. A subsequent brain scan results in an unexpected awakening 100 years later, now inhabiting a robotic body and confined within an underwater research facility. The primary gameplay revolves around solving intricate puzzles and evading adversaries. However, the narrative takes center stage, providing a captivating journey that keeps players hooked.

At first, the player is intrigued to uncover how Simon ended up in his current situation. However, the game cleverly employs its structure to delve into profound questions about life, existence, and the nature of consciousness. Unlike most horror games, it leans heavily on philosophy rather than jump scares, with the tense atmosphere and creepy creatures haunting the corridors providing most of the fear. The engaging plotline does have a downside, though – the gameplay can feel monotonous at times due to repetitive tasks and limited options. Additionally, those who prefer fast-paced action in their horror games may find themselves feeling restless during certain parts.

3 Until Dawn

A Homage To Classic Slashers

Until Dawn was designed for any horror enthusiast who’s ever found themselves yelling “Stay out!” or “Don’t separate!” during a traditional slasher film experience. The game takes place in a secluded mountain lodge where a group of eight friends become the target of an unidentified murderer. Your role is to make quick, life-altering decisions that determine the fate of each character.

The consequences of these choices affect the game’s butterfly effect mechanism, where your decisions and actions can greatly influence the storyline and result in various conclusions. This intricate narrative can become quite complex with numerous options and an almost infinite number of outcomes for several endings. The game skillfully combines classic horror elements with player control, offering a wealth of unexpected twists. While fewer quick-time events and more originality in certain areas would have been nice, Until Dawn stands out as a remarkable story-driven horror experience.

2 Resident Evil 7

A Return To The Franchise’s Horror Roots

As a hardcore fan of Resident Evil, it’s no secret that the series took a different path after the action-packed thrill ride of Resident Evil 4. Don’t get me wrong, RE4 was phenomenal, but it veered pretty far from the horror foundation the franchise was built on. However, Resident Evil 7 brought us back to our roots, offering a chilling experience that kept me on the edge of my seat, while also delivering a coherent narrative I could actually follow.

In this tale, ordinary Ethan Winters embarks on a journey to his wife’s mysterious family estate in search of her. Upon his arrival, he is unexpectedly captured by his wife and her grotesquely transformed hillbilly kin. The game offers an intensely engaging experience due to its first-person perspective and striking visuals, delivering some of the series’ most effective jump scares. However, the narrative becomes somewhat overburdened with typical Resident Evil elements near the climax. Yet, the chilling presence of the Baker family stands out, making them a terrifying adversary that leaves an indelible mark. Even those uninterested in the broader Resident Evil narrative may find themselves captivated by the game’s central enigma: the fate of the Bakers.

1 Silent Hill 2

The Perfect Blend Of Horror And Story

In the year 2001, horror games that focused heavily on story were less common compared to what we have today. However, Silent Hill 2’s gameplay may not hold up as well over time, but it is still widely regarded as one of the best horror games ever created, primarily due to its exceptional storytelling. This is largely because it tells the haunting tale of James Sunderland, a man who receives a letter from his deceased wife and ventures into the eerie town of Silent Hill. The game employs symbolism extensively, using various horrors to delve into themes such as grief, guilt, and, if the player is fortunate, redemption.

Although encountering some technological hurdles, Silent Hill offers a spine-tingling environment, made even more terrifying by Akira Yamaoka’s eerie soundtrack and grotesque monster designs. The pièce de résistance is the diverse range of endings in Silent Hill 2, which are influenced by the player’s choices and emotional state, varying from extremely disturbing to simply bizarre. Silent Hill 2 boasts engaging gameplay, deep psychological themes, and a compelling narrative that challenges fan assumptions.

2024-08-02 08:04