Summary
- Bloodborne’s deep lore is well-hidden, focusing on exceptional combat and level design.
- Prey offers fantastic writing and exploration outside the main story for a rich world experience.
- Phasmophobia excels in ghost-hunting with no story, boasting exceptional sound design for maximum scares.
Occasionally, a game doesn’t need a horror theme to deliver an impactful experience. Although a compelling narrative may enhance a player’s emotional bond with the characters and setting, thereby amplifying the fear or excitement, often, the most terrifying or thrilling moments of a game can exist beyond the main storyline. Many horror games provide opportunities for players to explore elements outside the narrative, and these off-story experiences can be among the genre’s finest offerings.
Absolutely, veering off the primary narrative can sometimes prevent a game from becoming exceptional. It’s beneficial to identify which horror games excel in this area, as knowing which ones might not be worth your time can help players avoid disappointment. That’s why this list showcases the top horror games that don’t prioritize the main storyline.
8. Dying Light
Scary Fun
- The open world allows for fun side missions
- The main story is fine, but the characters are fleshed out in the side content
In essence, “Dying Light” isn’t purely a horror game; it leans more towards action. You, as a player, become a survivor navigating an open world overrun by zombies. The game equips you with the means to traverse and dispose of the undead effortlessly. However, it does incorporate scary moments that justify its inclusion in this list.
In this open-world game, you’ll find numerous activities that don’t directly tie into the main narrative. While the storyline itself is decent, it follows the familiar pattern of a quest for a cure in a zombie setting. However, some of the most engaging aspects of the game lie in the additional content, where players can delve deeper into the world and its characters.
7. In Silence
Best Be Quiet
- Unique, fun gameplay loop
- Each match feels fresh in little ways
In the realm of asymmetrical horror games, In Silence offers an unique twist. With its premise requiring stealth due to a blind monster that navigates by sound, the game creates an unsettling tension that defies expectations. It may be simple, but it’s engaging and worthy of a try.
This game doesn’t have any levels for players to navigate through, and that’s not necessarily a drawback. Similar to other games in the same category, it leverages its straightforward concept to create a powerful impact. It’s a remarkable game that offers plenty of entertainment for players.
6. Slender: The Eight Pages
Simple, Spooky, Scary
- A basic formula that creates serious scares
- The story is minimal
In the early 2010s, it was the game ‘Slender: Eight Pages’ that truly boosted the fame of Slender Man. This straightforward game tasks players with venturing into a small, confined forest to gather eight pages before being chased by the title character, Slender Man. The more pages you collect, the more aggressive he becomes in his pursuit.
In this game, the narrative might be sparse, yet it doesn’t make it any less terrifying. The persistent sensation of being pursued is a constant for players, and Slender Man has an uncanny ability to appear suddenly right in front of them. Prolonged gazes at him could induce madness, making it a challenging task to maintain surveillance while also avoiding direct eye contact.
5. The Forest
Survive And Hide
- Survival is the name of the game
- Cannibals make for effective antagonists
Navigating through a forest teeming with cannibals gives me an unnerving sensation. The Forest twists the conventional survival gameplay by infusing it with a chilling horror theme. Though there’s a narrative to follow, the core gameplay revolves around staying alive and evading these terrifying inhabitants as much as possible.
This game offers an exciting spin on the survival genre, packed with many suspenseful instances that keep you on edge. With numerous hours of gameplay for players to delve into, it’s always appealing. Remarkably, one can enjoy themselves immensely even without directly engaging with the main story aspects.
4. Phasmophobia
Simple Ghost Hunting
- No story to be found in the game
- Excellent sound design to amplify scares
In 2020, Phasmophobia became an unstoppable phenomenon within the gaming community due to its minimalistic yet captivating structure, where players explore diverse settings in search of determining the type of spectral entity tormenting them. Unlike many games, there is no narrative to follow; instead, it focuses on ghost-hunting adventures across various maps and upgrading your skills.
In this game, the scares stand out as among the top-notch ones available. Particularly impressive is the game’s sound design, which creates an atmosphere that makes players genuinely believe they are not the only ones in the house. It’s definitely worth the effort to round up some friends, dim the lights, and let the chills take over.
3. Returnal
Mind-Bending And Bizarre
- While the narrative is interesting, the game is all about the gameplay
- An absolute blast to play
Following shortly after the debut of the PlayStation 5, Returnal caught many gamers off guard by emerging as one of the console’s flagship exclusives. This was largely due to its incredibly smooth gameplay, a diverse assortment of weapons for players to tinker with, and some thrilling and formidable boss battles.
The primary narrative of the game is captivating, but for the majority of the experience, it plays second fiddle. Instead, the game centers around immediate gameplay mechanics and character progression during each playthrough. This seems to be the core focus, making it worthwhile for players to invest their time.
2. Prey
A Sci-Fi Adventure In Horror
- Some fantastic writing that deserves to be seen
- Exploring the world outside the main objectives is a treat
This game, titled “Prey”, is incredibly captivating, boasting a compelling primary narrative that players will be compelled to complete till the very end. Unfortunately, this description might not do justice to the rest of the game. There are numerous intricate details outside the main storyline that add depth and richness to the game’s world in a stunning manner.
This game offers an exceptional journey deeply embedded in the realm of science fiction, one that merits a thorough examination. Arkane has crafted something uniquely captivating with this title, and I strongly recommend experiencing it in its entirety.
1. Bloodborne
A Deep Story That Has To Be Discovered
- FromSoftware always has exceptional and well-hidden lore
- Possibly the best game they’ve ever made
For years now, enthusiasts of the game Bloodborne have been eagerly demanding a remake or remaster. This is because Bloodborne stands out among FromSoftware games for its exceptional combat, level design, and overall atmosphere, drawing evident inspiration from the cosmic horror genre popularized by H.P. Lovecraft. The game is a true masterpiece, boasting intricate lore that captivates players deeply.
To put it simply, Bloodborne isn’t renowned for its rich narrative but rather its exceptional gameplay. As a dedicated fan, I can attest to the fact that the intricacies of the story are not the main draw for most players. Instead, Bloodborne stands out as an unparalleled masterpiece in terms of gameplay, making it a deserved number one on this list.
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2025-01-30 15:38