Horror Games That Let You Play Your Own Way

Summary

Horror games scare players by taking away control – some offer more tools and choices than others.
Alien: Isolation is a standout in immersion and terror, emphasizing player choice for survival tactics.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 excels in flexible gameplay, urging players to be creative with builds and strategy.

A significant factor contributing to the frightening nature of horror video games lies in their ability to strip players of control over their circumstances. At times, escape seems impossible, and no actions can alleviate the predicament, making this concept the scariest notion of all.

Nevertheless, not every horror game follows the same pattern. Some aim to offer a variety of choices, empowering players with tools, tactics, and playstyles that allow them to overcome the terror in ways they prefer. This compilation of horror games is ranked based on both the game’s quality and the range of options it provides the player to tackle their fears.

8. Alien: Isolation

Xenomorph On The Loose

For quite some time, the Alien series didn’t fare well in video game adaptations, producing some genuinely disappointing titles. Consequently, anticipation for Alien: Isolation was relatively subdued. However, since its debut, it has earned a reputation as a cult favorite and is often hailed as one of the most engrossing horror games from the 2010s. Moreover, it’s widely recognized as one of the scariest games too, thanks to a solitary Xenomorph pursuing the player relentlessly through the tight corridors of the Sevastopol space station.

In the game Alien: Isolation, the success of a player largely depends on their choices. They can opt to gather weapons to engage in combat with the alien menace, or they could opt for stealth, use various tools, make a quick escape, or any mix of these strategies to survive. The key to winning in Alien: Isolation lies in adapting the most effective strategy at hand, one that aligns best with the player’s preferred playstyle.

7. Dying Light 2

On The Rooftops

In contrast to most zombie games where players are thrust into the midst of the undead horde with limited options other than surviving, Dying Light 2 stands out by offering players control and flexibility. This is achieved through providing an extensive collection of traversal tools that enable players to glide over the zombie-infested landscapes, and choose their own methods for escape (with a robust modding community to further expand these options).

In Dying Light 2, players have the freedom to choose their own playstyle. They can opt for a powerful, gun-wielding approach to take down hordes of zombies, employ stealth and parkour moves to bypass adversaries, or even use the nighttime zombies as a weapon against human enemies. The game’s open world offers various factions whose choices will impact the game’s progression, making it clear that in Dying Light 2, choice truly reigns supreme.

6. Bloodborne

Fear The Old Blood

Back in 2015, despite FromSoftware’s established reputation for delivering exceptional RPGs over the past decade, there was still apprehension about Bloodborne. The original Dark Souls had amassed a substantial fanbase, but Dark Souls 2 was met with mixed reactions. Bloodborne, appearing to be a significant departure from the usual, added to this uncertainty.

It seems that “Bloodborne” stands among the greatest games ever created. While it may not have boasted the same level of character customization as FromSoftware’s other RPGs, it provided ample flexibility for players to tailor their hunter with magic, strength, dexterity, bleed, and beast builds. These options allowed players to tackle the game’s terrifying eldritch bosses effectively.

5. Hunt: Showdown 1896

The Weird West

In a more casual and understandable manner, Hunt: Showdown 1896 has managed to create an exceptionally scary PvPvE game that is also competitive and adaptable, allowing players to do as they please. This game has achieved the seemingly impossible and continues to be one of the top extraction shooters available today.

In this game, teams are deployed onto a battlefield alongside multiple other groups, with the objective being to locate a monster and then escape safely. The game offers an extensive range of options when it comes to character builds and strategies. Some players might opt for a tactical position in the mountains, using snipers to cover vast areas, while others might choose aggressive approaches, or even steer clear of other teams altogether. This game also incorporates a significant amount of psychological and strategic elements that reward creative thinking and individual playstyles. Furthermore, it boasts numerous build options as well.

4. Pathologic 2

Immune Response

Describing the Pathologic series to someone who hasn’t played them yet can be quite challenging. Although it essentially falls under the category of an open-world horror RPG focused on curing a widespread infectious disease, a brief 10 minutes of gameplay will quickly illustrate how uniquely strange and eccentric this game truly is.

In Pathologic 2, the game’s notoriously tough challenge encourages players to make distinctive decisions. To maintain a thriving economy, players may opt for altruistic acts, stealing, going hungry, or getting rid of their belongings. Each objective often has several ways to be accomplished, and various playthroughs provide branching storylines that are shaped by both the player’s actions and the unpredictable nature of the plague’s victims. Consequently, no two experiences in Pathologic 2 are exactly the same.

3. Sons Of The Forest

Mutant Island

Initially released in the early 2010s, “The Forest” swiftly gained a fearsome reputation as one of the most terrifying survival games ever created, thanks to its remarkable enemy AI and an immersive world brimming with peril. Developing a sequel wouldn’t be straightforward, but today, we have “Sons of the Forest,” which brings the ultimate gaming experience for the series.

Stranded on an unfamiliar island with no other option than adapting and enduring, gamers must swiftly decide where to establish their settlement, learn how to construct it, and deal with the menacing cannibals and mutants lurking around for prey. Should they scare them off, eliminate some of them (and determine the optimal number), or prepare defenses against future attacks? When is the ideal moment to venture into the island’s caves? The game offers numerous conundrums to solve, and its advanced AI encourages strategic thinking and innovative gameplay.

2. Project Zomboid

Live Your Unlife

Back in the 2010s, I was all about survival games, especially after hits like DayZ and Minecraft took over the scene. Every indie developer seemed to hop on the bandwagon, hoping to cash in on the craze. Most of those games are forgotten now, but Project Zomboid stands out as one of the bright stars from that era in gaming.

In a graphical world reminiscent of Runescape but with an isometric low-poly style, Project Zomboid stands out as the ultimate zombie survival game. It’s all about creativity, strategy, and resourcefulness – the key to surviving the ever-growing horde of zombies is to leverage your own strengths in unique ways.

1. Prey

Mimic The Competition

Immersive simulation games, known for their open-ended gameplay and intricate world design, often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. While these games provide players with an incredible amount of freedom and immersion, they have a hard time capturing a large player base. This is especially disappointing when you consider the exceptional quality of titles like Prey.

Stuck on a cosmic spacecraft inhabited by fearsome Typhon creatures capable of transforming into any game item, players find themselves constantly tense and inventiveness in tackling tricky predicaments is appreciated. This top-tier interactive experience brimming with secret nuances makes it an exciting prospect to play repeatedly, aiming to explore every hidden possibility.

2025-06-01 13:42