As a seasoned horror gaming aficionado, I must say that 2024 has been quite the year for chilling experiences! Let me take you on a little journey through my gaming room where the eerie whispers of these games echo.
Horror video games explore universal fears, both physical and existential, found within people, providing a unique opportunity for players to engage with and conquer their apprehensions unlike any other form of entertainment. The previous year witnessed an abundance of excellent horror games, demonstrating the genre’s vitality regardless of time period. However, while 2024 unveiled some innovative horror titles that expanded the boundaries of the genre, many remarkable games also embraced the visual style and greatness reminiscent of the PS1 era.
2024 saw a notable addition to the list of highly anticipated game remakes, and that was none other than Bloober Team’s take on Silent Hill 2. This wasn’t merely an aesthetic upgrade of a cherished classic; it was a triumph for the team, swiftly earning a spot among the year’s top horror games, and indeed, among the year’s finest titles overall. Alongside the smaller games produced by talented indie studios, Silent Hill 2 and other genre standouts offered captivating narratives that challenged players to confront the darker realities of life, for those daring enough. Here are the top 10 horror games of 2024, listed in no particular order:
Conscript
Atmospheric World War I Survival Horror
From the solo creation of developer Jordan Mochi emerges the standout title, Conscript. This game distinguishes itself due to its authentic backdrop and intense focus on psychological terror. Set amidst the notorious Battle of Verdun during World War I, players in Conscript adopt the persona of a French soldier conscripted into service, battling the German advance while searching for their lost younger brother. The game’s striking PS1-style graphics and suffocating ambiance primarily captivate, but its traditional survival horror mechanics seal the deal, making Conscript one of the top retro-inspired survival horror games of the year.
Crow Country
Read Game Rant’s Crow Country Review
SFB Games’ “Crow Country” is a compact game that demonstrates the power of small packages, delivering one of the truest-to-form retro survival horror experiences of the year. As FBI Agent Mara Forest, you journey to the deserted titular amusement park in search of its enigmatic owner, Edward Crow. Not only does “Crow Country” offer a traditionally designed survival horror experience without any unnecessary additions, but its story unfolds gradually to become one of the year’s most peculiar and emotionally resonant horror tales.
Fear the Spotlight
Read Game Rant’s Fear the Spotlight Review
Moving beyond its reputation as a top studio for horror movies, Blumhouse has launched a gaming division focused on creating horror games with comparable production quality and mass appeal. One of these games is Fear the Spotlight, which delivers all the elements expected in a traditional survival horror game, including challenging puzzles and an intriguing story that hooks players into the game’s enigma. Similarly to Crow Country, Fear the Spotlight offers a taut gaming experience that avoids feeling overly prolonged.
Home Safety Hotline
Early 90s Analog Horror
In 2024, the standout indie studio’s debut game, Home Safety Hotline, proved to be one of the year’s top horror releases early on. The concept is simple: players take on the role of an emergency operator handling calls about home incidents. However, it’s the execution that sets this game apart, as it twists reality and confounds player expectations by transforming into a psychedelic nightmare reminiscent of Too Many Cooks. This innovative approach has raised the bar high for future analog horror games.
Mouthwashing
Mind-Bending Psychological Horror
Occasionally, a survival horror game emerges that delivers a tough storyline, compelling players to face the grim realities of human nature. Without a doubt, “Mouthwashing” belongs in this category, offering a narrative about sexual assault and survivor’s guilt handled with the sensitivity and seriousness it demands. Essentially, “Mouthwashing” can be described as a dreamlike exploration game with potent horror aspects, but its storyline and character growth are so impactful that they linger in players’ minds even after finishing the game.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Read Game Rant’s Silent Hill 2 Remake Review
Much like how Capcom revamped Resident Evil 2, Bloober Team’s reimagining of Silent Hill 2 skillfully updates a cherished classic in the survival horror genre for today’s audience. There were concerns about their capacity to recreate such an iconic game within this genre, making their successful “walking the fine line” with the remake even more commendable. The enhanced visuals and combat of Silent Hill 2 build upon its original, while maintaining and elevating the exceptional storytelling that made it a benchmark in gaming. Future video game adaptations should learn from this example.
Sorry, We’re Closed
Neon-Soaked Persona-Meets-Silent Hill Survival Horror
In 2024, the latest PS1-style survival horror game, titled “Sorry, We’re Closed“, offers a unique experience distinct from contemporaries like “Crow Country” or “Conscript“. This game deviates with its lively color scheme and humor, as well as an allure reminiscent of the Persona series. “Sorry, We’re Closed“, a survival horror title, combines equal parts style and substance.
Still Wakes The Deep
Claustrophobic Eldritch Nightmare Fuel
Though it may not last long, Still Wakes The Deep, approximately 4 hours in length, is still a captivating experience thanks to the intense tension and excitement it delivers. Set in an oil refinery amidst the ocean, this game immerses players in a chilling, confined environment where they must confront a creature reminiscent of Lovecraft’s nightmares. As reality seems to disintegrate, players are left questioning their own perceptions. With its fast-paced narrative and eerie atmosphere, Still Wakes The Deep stands out as one of the most gripping games of the year despite its brief duration.
Tormenture
An 8-Bit Horror Take on The Neverending Story
The lesser-known game “Tormenture” by Croxel Studios deserves more attention from horror gaming enthusiasts, as it presents one of the year’s most intriguing premises for the genre. If you imagine “Jumanji” with its board game replaced by a haunted 8-bit video game cartridge, then you get an idea of what “Tormenture” is about. The game cleverly employs its Atari-like style to create an eerie atmosphere. By using the concept of a cursed or haunted game cartridge, “Tormenture” effectively brings to life the schoolyard legends from our childhood.
Zero Protocol
Survival Horror-Meets-Immersive Sim At an Abandoned Antarctic Facility
Zero Protocol” can be aptly summed up as a blend between “System Shock” and “Signalis“. Despite being one of the year’s standout survival horror games, it might have slipped under many gamers’ radars. The game’s low-poly graphics and an atmosphere akin to John Carpenter’s “The Thing” could lead players to assume they know what to anticipate from “Zero Protocol“. However, the developers at R_Games have a knack for keeping players on their toes, consistently introducing unexpected elements that generate genuine scares, even for those who believe they’ve experienced everything the genre has to offer.
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2024-12-02 15:24