Horror gaming need not be bound by the need to push cutting-edge visuals and make the most of the newest hardware. The rise of indie gaming has made it clear that a substantial portion of fans will have no problem playing good video games, regardless of what their visuals are.
Of course, this statement does a disserviceto horror gamesthat manage to look astounding courtesy of a riveting art style as opposed to high-definition visuals. Players who may not have the best hardware around can still boot up these games and enjoy a great time.
Players who love Junji Ito’s work willlove whatWorld of Horrorbrings to the table, with the amazing art style being appreciated across all kinds of systems. This roguelike horror RPG is quite challenging, and players should ideally play on a lower difficulty if they want to come to grips with the game’s systems.
The Lovecraftian horror instills a sense of hopelessness that veterans love in higher difficulties, forcing them to make tough choices and manage both body and mind to solve multiple cases. Only then can they reach the top of a lighthouse and enjoy a successful run, which is extremely satisfying after falling at the final leg multiple times.
Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milkis the successor toMilk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk, with both games using the visual novel medium and some chilling artwork to convey the struggles of a girl who just wants to go to the grocery store. As one would expect, this game can be played on all systems with ease.
Even such a mundane task becomes night impossible with the voices in her head and the trauma that haunts her. This is introduced inMilk Insideand explored inMilk Outside, withthe sequel expanding on the original’s conceptsand letting fans explore a unique psychological horror visual novel.
Darkwoodis one of the best indie horror video games that manages to make a top-down perspective more frightening than ever. The limited vision cone means that players must be on their toes andanticipate ambushes from their blind spotswhenever they venture into unfamiliar territory.
The overarching story is also incredible, as players are slowly drawn into the horror of the unknown. The feeling of helplessness inDarkwoodemanates from both the story and gameplay, ensuring that players will be tense every step of the way in this scintillating horror game with visuals that are far from system-intensive.
Players who love story-driven horror games willhave a blast withSunless Skies. It’s a massive improvement overSunless Seathat makes the UI more prominent, improves combat, and gives players bigger and more interesting zones to explore.
The sheer amount of hours players can sink into this game is impressive, with players being able to assign a different goal with each playthrough and uncovering new locations, quests, companions, and horrors in the process. The cherry on top is that players just need a halfway-decent PC to play this game because it relies more on its art style than visual technology.
A visual novel with visuals that can be processed by most PCs with ease,Slay the Princessboasts a level of presentation that would put most big-budget horror games to shame. The title features stellar voice acting and a nightmarish plot about a hero stuck in an endless conflict with a Princess.
Depending on their actions, they can unlock a bunch of endings. To say more would spoil what makes this game so special, and players should giveSlay the Princessto see how effective it is at conveying horror via the medium of video games.
A retro horror game with visuals reminiscent of the PS1,Mouthwashinglooks compelling from the very moment players start the game. A spaceship crash and a mutilated captain serve as a compelling hook for players to uncover this title’s mysteries.
The story ofMouthwashingis not for the faint of heart, and people who may be triggered by certain sensitive topics should give this game a wide berth. However, once players are hooked, they’ll be on the edge of their seats as they experience a short, twisted horror game that is as disturbing as they come.
Despite boasting visuals that may not be cutting-edge, the visual style ofInscryptiongives such an amazing first impression that fans will be hooked from the get-go. This allows the game to set up some major swerves as players uncover the mystery behind this game.
This card-building roguelike is dripping with intrigue and turns a simple board game into one of the most tantalizing and mysterious parts of the game. It’s a testament to Inscryption’s brilliance in writing that it manages to keep fans engaged in a chilling horror game without resorting to cheap scares.
Omoriisone of the most emotional RPGsplayers can get their hands on. The psychological horror side of things makes it clear that there’s a trauma that has affected Sunny for a long time, with players elated at the prospect of helping this introvert step out of his house after what feels like ages.
The beauty ofOmoristems from how it deals with mature topics and explains why Sunny finds it easier to recede into Headspace instead of confronting his demons. All of this culminates in a beautiful finale that will make fans shed a tear as the protagonist finally manages to find peace.
