Top 10 Horror Games Fueled by Revenge: Scary Plot Twists and Dark Motives

To create an engaging protagonist or antagonist, it’s usually essential that they have personal objectives and aspirations that drive them. This motivation not only hooks the player but also transforms them from flat, two-dimensional characters. Regrettably, in horror games, the main character’s aims are seldom straightforward, and they frequently encounter obstacles, which can be either internal or external (frequently both).

Some captivating stories revolve around themes of vengeance; when a character is deeply motivated by this desire, it can lead to a multitude of complex situations and outcomes. Whether the main character is seeking retribution themselves or enduring another’s, these are some top-notch horror games that explore revenge.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m more drawn to games where seeking revenge is not just an option, but a central theme that shapes the narrative. Games like The Walking Dead, with its focus on survival and decision-making, while engaging, don’t quite scratch that itch for me. Instead, I prefer titles where the plot revolves around retribution – games that make me feel the weight of vengeance in every choice I make.

Spoiler Warning: some of the entries on this list discuss major plot points and characters’ actions

10. Harthorn

The Return Of A Scorned Artist

In the fictional town of Harthorn, you take on the role of a freshly employed security officer at Harthorn High School. Prompted by a triggered alarm, your task is to explore and determine the source behind the activation.

Eventually, it’s made clear that the stories about the school’s history are accurate, and the game turns into an intense game of hide-and-seek with high stakes, where the protagonist is pursued by the villain, who is out for vengeance against those who once called for his capture.

9. The Backrooms 1998

Who Is The Real Monster?

Platform: Windows
Release Date: May 25, 2022
Developer: Steelkrill Studios

In the game “The Backrooms” from 1998, your character, who’s a skateboarder, gets drawn into a dimly lit, yellow-hued area known as the backrooms. As you explore in search of an exit, you stumble upon and gather various items. However, there’s a catch: something ominous is lurking in the seemingly infinite labyrinth.

Experiencing Backrooms 1998 offers an intensely suspenseful journey. Initially appearing as a standard stealth horror game, it cleverly unfolds into a much more ominous narrative that leaves players questioning if justice can ever truly be achieved through violence.

8. Monster House

Home Not-So-Sweet Home

Developer: Behaviour Interactive Inc.
Publisher: THQ

Many children from the 90s and 2000s might recall “Monster House” as a distinctive, albeit somewhat eerie, animated horror film. The video game adaptation, sharing the same title, is often overlooked nowadays. It tells the tale of our three protagonists who are trying to flee and demolish the infamous house.

The story of vengeance in “Monster House” is a somewhat sad one, where the house’s consciousness stems from the former circus performer, Constance, who unintentionally met her end and was interred beneath its foundations. Bitter about her past, she sets out to exact revenge on those who dare come near.

7. Red And The Whispering Wood

A Dark Version Of The Classic Fairy Tale

Platforms: Windows, macOS
Release Date: N/A
Developer: Mike Ren

In a chilling twist on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, the game titled “Red and the Haunting Forest” places players in control of Red, using their voice for interaction. The narrative starts off peacefully enough, with the player delivering medicine to the grandma. However, the idyllic setting takes a darker turn as the notorious Big Bad Wolf sets its sights on both Red and the player.

In the forest, Red encounters her grandma with a dangerous animal that has no qualms about attacking its victim. With no other options, Red can only flee until she locates an axe. Unfortunately, this doesn’t lead to a cheerful outcome, but it does bring relief knowing that the creature causing havoc in the woods is now eliminated.

6. Alice: Madness Returns

Hack-And-Slash Therapy

Alice: Madness Returns is a chilling hack-and-slash game that offers a grim take on Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Haunted by grief and self-recrimination, she embarks on a mission to discover the source of Wonderland’s decay, unearthing disturbing revelations about her past as she goes.

Essentially, “Alice: Madness Returns” is a creative portrayal of dealing with and conquering trauma. Throughout her journey, Alice encounters and vanquishes characters symbolizing their real-life counterparts. While the question of whether she truly returned to reality remains uncertain, seeking revenge served as a significant milestone towards attaining tranquility.

5. Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Revenge

The Vampire Vs. Vampire Hunter Conflict Continues

In “Castlevania 2: Belmont’s Vengeance,” Dracula seeks retribution against Christopher Belmont, a relative of the lineage that vanquished him in “The Adventure.” On the eve of Soleil, his son’s rite of passage, Dracula kidnaps him and transforms him into a demon.

In response, Christopher decides to undertake the mission of rescuing his son and protecting Transylvania. The second installment in the series, titled “Belmont’s Revenge“, was launched on the Game Boy. It retains much of the original charm while offering notable enhancements to gameplay elements such as combat, level design, and sound quality.

In many of the Castlevania games, the central motif revolves around revenge, stemming from the tragic loss of Dracula’s spouse.

4. Silent Hill 3

Seeking Revenge But Finding Something Much Worse

In the story of “Silent Hill 3”, revenge plays a significant role. The high priestess of a cult orchestrates the death of Heather’s father due to his interference with their sinister schemes. Driven by her desire for vengeance, Heather embarks on her journey to Silent Hill, which sets the events in motion.

Three different conclusions exist for the game ‘Silent Hill 3’, one of which is titled “Revenge”. This ending often resembles a humorous UFO event that’s common in many games within the franchise. In the Revenge ending, players witness Harry Mason alive and thriving, collaborating with some extraterrestrial allies to annihilate Silent Hill.

3. The Last Of Us Part 2

Will The Eye For An Eye Cycle Ever End?

It’s not surprising at all that The Last of Us Part 2 boasts a multitude of awards given its exceptional narrative and immersive world-building. One aspect that has garnered particular acclaim is the character writing, which manages to portray individuals as authentically human and relatable, whether through their virtues or flaws.

Living in a world post-apocalypse comes with immense risks, leading many characters to suffer loss and anguish, which often pushes them towards retribution instead of maintaining civility. In the course of Part 2, Abby and Ellie share a common goal of seeking revenge for their respective fathers, but this journey comes at a heavy personal cost.

2. Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Revenge As An Alternative To Taking Accountability

The Dark Descent ” is a psychological horror video game where you play as Daniel, a man with amnesia, exploring Brennenburg Castle. As he progresses, he learns that he had been kidnapping, tormenting, and murdering people, allegedly to break free from the “Shadow’s” grasp, as instructed by Baron Alexander.

Intriguingly, Daniel’s thirst for vengeance arises from his unwillingness to acknowledge his own actions or confront his guilt in “The Dark Descent”. Rather than taking responsibility, he lays a significant portion of the blame on Alexander for his misdeeds, planning to kill him as a means of seeking redemption.

1. Until Dawn

A Deranged Plan Goes Awry

Supermassive creates an expanding collection of engaging horror games that offer multiple playable characters and interwoven plotlines. Each game delves into various eerie or supernatural themes, frequently with a unique spin. The game Until Dawn centers around a group of friends gathering at a cabin belonging to Josh, the brother of their twin friends who tragically perished on a mountain a year ago.

Following multiple perilous and upsetting confrontations with a masked individual, it’s unveiled that the journey was orchestrated by Josh as a means of exacting revenge on the group, whom he holds accountable for his sisters’ demise. However, his plans didn’t go smoothly, as an unexpected danger surfaced. It’s later disclosed that Josh isn’t the only one seeking retribution; there are also Wendigos lurking in the mountains, intent on avenging the desecration of their home for centuries.

2025-02-22 08:15