Summary
Horror games thrive inside the tight confines of oppressive, claustrophobic spaces, building up tension for each corner and door players encounter, as they cannot see what may lie beyond in wait for them. With a dilapidated, crumbling building serving as a setting, most of the developers' work is done in terms of building up suspense, as these locations are inherently terrifying.
But, not all games take place indoors, with some worlds of horrors sprawling put into the great outdoors, corrupting nature with terror. Beautiful forests, parks, nature trails, and other such places of nature can hold great horror beneath the lush greenery.
One would thinka game played together with friendsmight not be scary at all, but they would be gravely mistaken. Although some tension can be diffused thanks to the laughs to be had while using the in-game proximity chat, that mechanic can also be the means to their demise.
The sheer size, brutality, and overall design of the monster are effectively terrifying!
Set in a dark, sprawling forest, fourfriends must gather their means of escapestrewn across the world map while a fifth friend controls the monster. The monster cannot only join the chat but also hear the survivors. As it is mostly blind, the sound can lead them to their friends and their untimely demise. The sheer size, brutality, and overall design of the monster are effectively terrifying.
The purpose of the eponymousYear Walkis to survive the dangerous trek through the woods to reach a Church, which is rumored toreveal a fleeting glimpse into the future. After the protagonist’s lover’s cousin goes on one of these dangerous jaunts and subsequently vanishes, Daniel is not deterred and sets out on his pilgrimage.
The art style ofYear Walkis unique yet somewhat reminiscent of old fairytales!
The art style ofYear Walkis unique yet somewhatreminiscent of old fairytales, which is fitting as players will encounter frightening monsters during their journey. Knowing what dangers lay out there in the wilds makes every screen transition a haunting experience and one that will stay with the players for much longer than a year.
A Horrifying Faceless Entity Stalks the Player Through the Woods
Slender: The Eight Pages
An intense horror experience with a unique atmosphere, where players find themselves in a dense, mysterious forest at night.It’s ideal for horror enthusiasts and those seeking a tense gaming experience with elements of mystery and uncertainty.Atmosphere of Horror: The gloomy forest at night creates a tense setting.Simple Gameplay: Collecting pages requires strategy and attention. Slenderman: A faceless antagonist who intensifies fear. Limited Resources: A flashlight with limited charge and stamina increase vulnerability.Threat Signals: Audio and visual effects warn of Slender’s approach.Unpredictability and Difficulty: A dynamic environment and increasing difficulty make each session unique.This game provides a unique experience for adrenaline seekers and horror genre fans, offering a distinctive blend of atmosphere, simplicity, and constant tension.
Back in 2012, the originalSlenderwas released to much fanfare and fame, spawning several copycats that all took place in different locales, such as schools or mansions. It was the original game that saw players making their way through woodlands, collecting the eight pages that would randomly spawn throughout the map.
What sounds like an easy and relaxing game quickly devolves into a nightmare!
What sounds like aneasy and relaxing gamequickly devolves into a nightmare. Players arearmed only with a feeble flashlightas they brave through the woods at night, collecting pages that have unsettling imagery or words scrawled on them. The more that are gathered, the more the ambiance ramps up, and eventually, they will catch fleeting glimpses of a tall, faceless stalker growing closer and closer.
Fend off a Horror Movie Icon
Blair Witch
It’s 1996. A young boy disappears in the Black Hills Forest near Burkittsville, Maryland. As Ellis, a former police officer with a troubled past, you join the search. What starts as an ordinary investigation soon turns into an endless nightmare as you confront your fears and the Blair Witch, a mysterious force that haunts the woods…A STORY OF THE HUMAN DESCENT INTO DARKNESSFrom the creative minds behind the critically acclaimed Layers of Fear, experience first-hand the toll that fear can take on the mind in an original story inspired by the cinematic lore of Blair Witch.FIND THE WAY THROUGH THE HAUNTED WOODSWith just your loyal dog Bullet by your side, navigate your way through a cursed forest that warps and distorts both time and space.YOUR SANITY AGAINST HER CURSEStand against the horrors of the Blair Witch and the decaying sanity of a man burdened by his past.
Based on the movie of the same name, Blair Witch takes place in the woods of legend, featuring an unwitting new protagonist,Ellis Lynch, suffering from PTSD, and his beloved support dog, Bullet. Ellis is on arescue missionto find Peter, a young boy reported missing in the woods, but finds himself in need of rescue as he discovers the horrifying entity that haunts these woods.
Blair Witch will have players constantly scanning their surroundings at every rustling leaf and snapping twig.
Players will struggle through thedangerously dark woods,stumbling upon new landmarks and the witch in question. Even when there are no apparent dangers present, the woods remain a terrifying location thanks to the oppressive darkness and the intense atmosphere crafted. Blair Witch will have players constantly scanning their surroundings at every rustling leaf and snapping twig.
Chasing Staticcomes from a very recent era in gaming that was obsessed withcapturing the retro aesthetics of classic PlayStationhorror titles, with the inspiration evident in its visuals. The grainy, pixelated graphics do nothing to deter the terrors of rural Wales, which acts as a tense and frightening setting.
The grainy, pixelated graphics of Chasing Static do nothing to deter the terrors of rural Wales!
The main character, Chris Selwood, passes out in a cafe after attending his father’s funeral, awakening from aterrifying nightmareto see it now devoid of all life. While exploring the outside surrounding area, he finds a device that can help him uncover the answers about the surrounding village, shrouded in supernatural mystery,
Thehorror survival gameThe Forestsees players left stranded on adeserted islandafter the plane they are onboard crashes, leaving them hapless and hopeless in this remote setting. The immediate kidnapping of the player character’s son lets the player know there is more danger on the island than the possibility of falling to exposure or starvation.
The majority ofThe Foresttakes place in the vast wilderness!
As with most survival games, players will need tocraft their means of survival, such as shelter, food, and weaponry, to fend off the dangerous, cannibalistic islanders. Though later stages will see players traversing down into the terrifying tunnel system, the majority ofThe Foresttakes place in the vast wilderness, which can be equally frightening thanks to the mutants that call the island home, especially when night falls.
Darkwood
Craft weapons, prepare traps, fortify hideouts - you will explore and scavenge the eerie forests of the Soviet Bloc by day, then hunker down in your hideout at night. With nightmarish forces corrupting the woods, wait and pray for the sun to come up the next morning.
Wade through the grueling, bizarre world of Darkwood and delve into the creepiest secrets of its inhabitants to escape the infested land before it destroys your body and consumes your mind.
No jump scares: an atmospheric horror experience that creates a feeling of tension without cheap horror tricks.
Day and night cycle: roam the corrupted woods by Day and use your hideout to seek survival during the night.
Randomly generated map and events: the world will vary for each play-through and each player.
Crafting: scavenge for materials to upgrade your hideout and create weapons, traps or potions.
Skills and perks: develop your character by injecting a strange essence into your bloodstream.
No hand holding: test your skills and figure out things on your own!
Branching storyline: shape the world of Darkwood and determine the fate of its inhabitants.
The clue is in the name: this survival horror game is set in the dark anddangerous eponymous woodslocated somewhere in the Soviet Bloc. The woods came into existence one day, engulfing swathes of land and trapping numerous people inside its confines, twisting them into dangerous monsters. The government forces sent to infiltrate also fall victim, which is all the evidence players need to know these woods are not to be taken lightly.
Terrifying horrors and dangers come literally creeping out of the woodwork in Darkwood!
Unfortunately for them, they will assume the role of a doctor who has seemingly abandoned his oath to help and heal and instead wants to escape with his life intact. By day, players will wile away the hours crafting resources to help them survive the dangerous nights when the horror and dangers come literally creeping out of the woodwork.
Heavily based around Scandinavian folklore,Bramble: The Mountain Kingis an exciting adventure set across various sprawling locations such as forests and marshes. While this sounds like a fun and whimsical adventure a laLegend of Zelda,Bramble: The Mountain Kingstill holds plenty of horrifying aspects in the otherwise beautiful wildlands.
Bramble: The Mountain Kingholds plenty of horrifying aspects in the otherwise beautiful wildlands.
Shapeshifters, gnomes, witches, water spirits, and trolls inhabit these lands, acting as obstacles on Olle’s journey to rescue his older sister Lillemor. Death and sacrifice are prominent themes as Olle explores the Nordic wilderness to track the troll that took his sister, and players will need to beversed in stealthand speed in order to stop themselves from falling victim to the terrifying monsters.
Alan Wakeis a masterclass in horror excellence, following the tale of the titularbest-selling authorwho is struggling with a bout of writer’s block and takes a vacation with his wife at the advice of his agent. His dreams become plagued by shadowy monsters that attack him, and how exactly to fend them off, but it turns out these nightmares aren’t just the imaginings of an over-wrought imagination.
Alan Wakeis a masterclass in horror excellence!
Alan Wakedelves heavily into survival horror, with a large section of the game taking place in the national park where the deadly shadows prowl. Thanks to the unsettling monster design that thrives in darkness, playing on a common fear, the game is rife with tension and danger, particularly in the park.Alan Wakestillremains a successful gameeven after over 10 years since its initial release.
