Summary
Horror gameshave always been a staple of the gaming world, but ever since the early 2010s, there has been a massive boom in horror game popularity, particularly in the indie world. While that’s great for horror gamers, inevitably, some games get cast aside and never get the attention they deserve, particularly in the saturatedfirst-person horror gamemarket.
That doesn’t mean that these games should be missed. In actuality, some of the most unique experiences in all of horror gaming come from underappreciated projects that need a little love. Whether it’s playing as a toddler or exploring the bottom of the deep, dark ocean, there are a lot ofgreat first-person horror games you’ve probably never heard ofthat are worth checking out.
In the early 2010s, the horror game boom taught developers a lot, but maybe most importantly, it taught them that horror was a genre primed for experimentation and emotional storytelling. While there were certainly manyAmnesiaclones, there was also a slew of other projects that tried to take horror games in entirely new directions.
Among the Sleepis one of the very best experiments in this category. Instead of playing as a capable adult, the player controls a toddler. This genius move makes everything else feel scarier from a child’s perspective, and the game delivers some incrediblymemorable scares without a big budget.
Unfortunately, getting attention as an indie developer during the horror boom of the 2010s was sometimes tricky. For every smash hit likeDoki Doki Literature Club, there were hundreds of games that went unfairly unnoticed and unplayed.
Narcosiswas one of those games that missed finding a big audience, which is a shame, because its deep-sea setting mixed with psychological horror and a hefty dose of arachnophobia is really punchy stuff.For players who loved games likeSOMAorhorror games set at sea,Narcosisis the next best thing.
The removal ofP.T.from all game stores was a tragedy, particularly as the short playable demo is probably one of the greatest horror games ever made, which is saying something. Yet, the fallout of the Kojima/Konami fiasco and the subsequent cancellation ofSilent Hillsmeant a follow-up was not forthcoming.
Luckily, there were plenty of indie developers willing to take up the mantle, andVisageis the best of the lot. With a strong focus on hyper-realistic graphics, visceral first-person scares, and brilliant lighting systems,Visageis theP.T.successor that gamers were clamoring for, one that’sfull of unsettling detailsfor the keen-eyed gamer.
Valve is a unique company for a lot of reasons, but it’s truly remarkable how many mods and fan games based on their properties are spun into brilliant games all on their own, matching and even surpassing the efforts of AAA developers. WhileGarry’s ModandCounter-Strikeget all the glory, horror gamers need to check outCry of Fear.
Based on a mod forHalf-Life,Cry of Fearis a psychologically intensive and viscerally terrifying romp through a nightmarish version of Stockholm full of creepy monsters and devilish horror set pieces. It’s a rollicking good time with a lot to say about mental health, and is criminally underplayed.
For unclear reasons, the mid- to late-2010s, and even the early 2020s, saw a massive boom in popularity for Norse and Viking history, with a deluge of games and media taking inspiration from it dropping almost every week. Inevitably, some games would get lost in that flood, and unfortunately,Apsulov: End of Godswas one of them.
That’s a shame, becauseApsulovis actually unique in transposing Norse mythology, symbology, and imagery into a futuristic sci-fi horror setting, making it stand out from the crowd. Still, it never got the crowd it deserved, but for any fans of Norse-inspired games with a keen eye for folk horror, no game plays quite likeApsulov.
Wales gets overlooked more often than it deserves. It’s a country brimming with creative talent, yet it struggles to make a splash on the world stage. Wales Interactive, the developers behindMaid of Sker, made a conscious effort to change the conversation and let the gaming world take notice by setting all their games in Wales, often drawing on Welsh folklore.
WhileMaid of Skermay not have made the splash they were hoping for, it’s still well worth playing, It’s a great horror game with a unique setting (which is probably one ofthe best horror game hotels ever made), and makes for a great weekend game that doesn’t take up too much time. Even with its short runtime, it sticks in the memory thanks to its effective sound-based scares and stunning graphical fidelity.
Horror book fans will know that Clive Barker is one of the greatest horror authors of all time. His books, and particularly his short stories, are gruesome little affairs that draw on grisly imagery and Lovecraftian elements to cement themselves in the canon of great horror literature.
However, Barker’s success never fully translated into the world of video games. That said,Clive Barker’s Undying, the most notable effort that was first released in 2001 as, ostensibly, aDoomclone, successfully translates what makes his novels great into a whole new medium. The game has a cult following, particularly for its unique story, which follows an Irish paranormal investigator, and its crunchy magic and gun-based gameplay.
Though its reputation has become somewhat mixed since its release,Amnesia: The Dark Descentis one of the most important horror games ever made, fundamentally shifting the style of horror games that came afterwards in a way that the gaming world still feels to this day. With that much attention, it’s really surprising that Frictional Games' previous effort in thePenumbraseries—three episodic horror games that take players deep within strange icy caverns, hidden facilities, and dread-filled caves—remains relatively unknown despite the developer’s pedigree.
With each entry, it’s easy to say Frictional honed their horror craft, delivering on much of what makesAmnesia: The Dark Descentwork later on, includinga really eerie atmosphere. The entirePenumbraseries of games is criminally underplayed and underrated, so any horror fan looking for their next terrifying experience should take notice.
