Top 5 Scariest Games To Play In The Dark

With October 31st on its way I know some of you may be looking for that scary game to play alone, or with a bunch of friends. So, why not offer up my services and recommend the top 5 titles that will have you so scared you will want  to turn off your gaming console and find the nearest light source of any kind.  Survival horror titles have become a personal favorite of mine in the last couple years, simply based on my first experience with them. My first true game was Resident Evil 4, well you might say “yeah that’s not really survival horror,” and I would agree to a certain extent. Although it did spark my interest into getting into other titles, some of which will be in my top 5 below.

“Come on, the cover is creepy….”

1) Silent Hill 2

This has to be the pinnacle of my survival horror experience. No doubt you have more than likely heard about this game in the past. No? Allow me to explain. After the effects of Resident Evil 4, the tension, the suspense, I was hooked. I never thought an experience in a game could instill so much fear, it really was an eye opening experience, literally. So I set out to learn all I could about other survival horror games. I had read slightly about the Silent Hill series but never too much to run out and find a copy. I came across a copy of Silent Hill 2 at a local GameStop and decided to give it a run. The first 10 minutes of the game would change my entire outlook on survival horror. All I will say is Resident Evil 4 became an action game, in comparison to roaming the narrow darken halls of Silent Hill 2. The game embodies such a psychological fear factor, it often would scare me to a point of not playing it alone. I could only play the game when I was around others, to which they could experience it with me. The game will literally freeze you in your tracks, as the sounds that loom around every corner are almost unbearable. It will take every ounce of what you have as an individual to turn the corner and find the source. Not only is the game terrifying in every way, the story is phenomenal and is so incredibly deep that you could spend hours on Wikipedia, reading all the references to monsters and how they relate to the various actions and emotions that embody James, the main character. If you feel like being scared out of your wits, frozen in place by the unknown lurking a few feet away, then you must experience the world of Silent Hill 2. Boot it up alone or with others, your call, either way be prepared.

“I knew I shouldn’t have eaten spaghetti”

2) Dead Space

With the next generation of consoles upon us I knew at some point in time we would come to a road in survival horror games. The years of what some would call broken mechanics in many survival horror games, although I could argue against it, someone had to reinvent the bar. It did however get its jump start with the reinventing of the Resident Evil series with the release of RE4. Bringing more of an action orientated style to the series it performed well, and would eventually help stylize Dead Space. Unfortunately Dead Space did not preform as well as intended, possibly due to over infatuation of sequels the gaming industry. I digress, Dead Space for me highlights a survival horror experience like that of past generations, although with new generation mechanics and visuals. With it comes one of the most unique character designs and environments. As an entire package Dead Space does almost everything right, down to the music and secrets. Sent on a rescue misson, Issac and his team discover something is terribly wrong and find themselves trapped onboard a nonfunctional, drifting vessel. I mean how is that not already scary? Throw in awesome game mechanics, such as using mining tools as weapons and an incredible Sci-Fi fiction and you’ll find yourself hardpressed not to continue to find out what really happen to the crew aboard the ship, even though the narrow corridors and sounds scare you to a point of not playing. It’s when a game can create fear in a reality that the user knows is unreal is when you know that the developers have achieved the goal of reaching you emotionally. Again, an absolute pick up for any action/survival horror fans and make sure you turn the lights down and surround sound up.

“Mom?”

3) Siren : Blood Curse

There are two versions of Siren. The original release on the Playstation 2 and the remake on Playstation 3. Although I would recommend the remake simply because it is capable of a more engaging experience. Known often as a semi-underground title Siren recently went through an High Definition make over, and with it comes an even more frightful experience. My time spent with Siren : Blood Curse was a short one, but in all honesty it must stand in my top 5 survival horror games. The formula is as iconic as the genre but it has its own twists that make it unique. With a true emphasis on survival horror this game reminds me more of the old Resident Evil titles, keeping you constantly running not of fear per say but of sure lack of ability to fend off the hordes of diseased/cursed carcasses that stagger after you (which will create a feeling of weakness and vulnerability, its called survival horror for a reason right?).  Siren also introduces a interesting level of fear with the option to often times try an attempt to sneak by your opponents, adding a level of tension I don’t often experience in horror games. Of course  I am taking about the suspense of getting caught, slowing walking past your eyes are glue to the monster, just waiting for it to see you out of the corner of its eye.  Most horror titles, nowadays have you bust through the door guns blazing or pipes swinging which is fine by me, but sometime you need that psychological tension that we all experience in the face of true fear. Siren will often make use of this tension, and challenge you along the way while keeping you constantly running for fear of getting pounced on by a black blooded nurse. Another recommendation for a great horror title if you looking for something to keep you busy Halloween Night.

“Does my hair look okay?”

4) Fatal Frame

Next up on my list is a game to get your heart pounding, Fatal Frame. Utilizing the fear of ghosts the main character finds herself with a magical (yes, you heard it right, magical) camera that has the ability to see and capture ghosts, YAY. Well as you can imagine you can’t really see these ghost unless you point the camera in their general direction. Once seen the game uses a somewhat mini game of taking pictures to attack these ghost and eventually capture them. As you can see by the shot above not all these ghost are really happy that they can be seen. I mean hell, I wouldn’t want me to be seen wandering aimlessly down a darkened hallway either. Although with this mechanic the developers are able to create a unique experience because most of the exploring you do will result with eerie noises in the distant, closing of door and objects moving in randomness. So imagine for a moment, walking down a hallway as the camera (not yours) twists in obtuse ways and all of sudden you hear a knock, or a thud from above you. You turn to investigate and nothing is there, so you raise you camera only to find through eye piece that a angry ghost is bolting your direction and your only protection is the quickness of your finger to hit the shutter button. Yeah, the entire game revolves around this type of gameplay, and often times you will find yourself having a hard time bringing up the camera to see what exactly is making such an skin crawling noise. So, if your lucky enough to net yourself a copy of any of the series titles (somewhat rare) this is a perfect example of a horror game to play in the dark, and possibly several others as well.

“Man, come on this leather jacket was expensive”

5) Resident Evil 4

Last, but certainly not least is the fable Resident Evil 4. Now as I stated above, this was my first “Survival Horror” title, and with it came the obsession for anything an everything that could scare me. Granted with this iteration of Resident Evil, many long time fans of the series would considers this a cop-out of what the original series offered, favoring a more action based approach which served the series well (in sales, of course). Regardless the situation, Resident Evil 4 does in fact create suspense and fear within the player so it will be included. I can remember a defining moment in which I approached a church and on a small dirt road beside it a dog stood, motionless. It was raining, dark and all I could do is stand there and look. Is it alive? What the hell? As I got closer of course it jumped at me and even though I expected it I was startled. These feelings are what got myself and a few buddies into survival horror and the simple fact of why I continue to play them. Resident Evil 4 is full of tense action from trying to fend off a entire village of diseased to merely trying to survive a crazed madman with a very destructive chainsaw, ouch. Overall you’ll find Resident Evil 4 the least “scary” or “bone chilling” of all the titles on the list, but if you anything like me you might want to work your way from bottom to top.

Runner Ups

F.E.A.R : This survival horror first person shooter will have you jumping more than one of those mexican jumping beans. With a new twist of first person action you have a sense power, but don’t let that fool you Alma will screw with you more times in a single play than your girlfriend could in a year.

Bioshock : This game didn’t make my list simple because it was not designed to be a survival horror. A first person shooter that EVERYONE should play not matter your position on the genre, because it is simply that good. It makes my runner up list  because the environment is so eerie and demented that this game can often send chills down your spine.

Doom 3 : Although a bit old, Doom 3 can still offer more than just a scare. With its dark, abandoned hallways to deformed monsters its fun for the entire family. This Sci-Fi first person shooter will have you thinking twice about walking alone in the dark.