It’s that time of the year again with freaks and frights creeping in the night. Unfortunately, COVID is still out there, so Halloween for a lot of people is going to look different from what we’re used to.
That’s right, no spooky Halloween themed parties or even trick or treating for a lot of people this year. For the first time for many, this is the first year where Halloween fanatics will opt to stay indoors. Which, let’s be honest, kinda sucks.
However, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom this Halloween (at least not the depressing kind). Another way to get your fright on without going outside is by, you guessed it, playing some awesome horror games!
Today I’ve taken the liberty of drafting up a list of great horror games that will get you in the Halloween spirit and help you deal with the continuing effects or this pesky virus. So without further ado, let’s dive into the dark gaming void together.
Bioshock Series
The Bioshock series was probably the first horror game I’ve ever played and still holds up 13 years after it’s first release. You begin the game after mysteriously crash landing in the middle of the Pacific ocean next to an ominous lighthouse-type structure.
You enter the lighthouse to discover a submarine pod which takes you into the wondrous secret city of Rapture, a place meant to be a paradise away from the tyrannical government regimes that plagued the surface world.
Unfortunately, not soon after your arrival you realize that Rapture is far from any sort of paradise. A civilization crumbled with nothing left except crazed residents known as splicers and terrifying Big Daddies who still roam the desolate ocean floor who only want to kill you.
Bioshock is a fantastic adventure that combines a disturbing and interesting world and an engaging and never-before seen combat system. Shoot people with electricity out of one hand and shoot or melee them with your other hand as you try to escape this city of hell while figuring out who you really are.
Play the first game to explore the lost city of Rapture for the first time or revisit this tormented society as a Big Daddy in the sequel. Bioshock is hands down one of the best horror games I’ve played and whether you’re picking it up for the first time or jumping back in for the 10th time, it never fails to be a memorable and engaging experience.
Apex Legends Shadow Royale
The newest Apex Legends event, Fight or Fright, came out a few days ago and is so freaking fun. In this event you return to King’s Canyon, but it’s not the same King’s Canyon Apex Legends fans are familiar with. '
Another Revenant takes over the Apex Games, with a spooky themed King’s Canyon at dark where if you die, you don’t truly die, but come back as a shadow. This year, the Fight or Fright mode takes a different twist where you drop in with your squad, but if you die you come back as shadow until the last remaining living member of your squad is wiped out.
As a shadow, you’re able to run and climb walls faster, double jump, have increased attack power and range, and even be able to wall run. This new mode brings another level of intensity to the Apex Games as you try to survive hordes of both legends and shadows until you’re the last one standing.
Whether you’re a legend or become one with the shadows, the combat is fun, crazy, and almost never ending and is definitely something to check out if you’re an Apex Legend. Also, with the launch of the crossplay beta a few weeks ago, you can play with your friends in this fast-paced mode. Whether you have a Playstation, Xbox, or a PC, you can play with your friends across all these platforms with ease.
If you haven’t gotten into Apex yet and are looking for something to do this Halloween, this is the best time to jump in. Oh and did I mention that the game is free-to-play?
Alien Isolation
If you’re a fan of the classic Alien horror movies, then I can’t think of a better game to play this Halloween than Alien Isolation. This game takes place on the Sevastopol Space Station 15 years after the events of the original Alien movie. You play as Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, who travels to Sevastopol Station after getting intel that her lost mother might be in the area.
However, once you get there you realize the station is a ghost town,dark and almost devoid of all life except for something lurking in the shadows...I know, creepy right? Most of the inhabitants of the Sevastopol are either dead or fighting for survival.
As Ripley you have to carefully navigate yourself around the space station, outmaneuvering enemies and staying clear of the lurking xenomorph that haunts the remains of the space station by any means necessary.
This game stays true to the Alien franchise by putting you right in the tense and nerve-racking action displayed in the original movies while offering a fresh new story. This game isn’t just a generic horror game with a Aliens plug in, but rather a genuine experience that expands the Aliens universe that many people have loved since the 80’s.
If you’re a fan of first-person horror games and are looking for something truly horrifying then pick this baby up pronto!
Resident Evil Vll
Now I haven’t played a whole lot of Resident Evil games in my life. I never was really into the series, so I’ve pretty much slept on the franchise for years...that is until I got my hands on Resident Evil Vll: Biohazard.
There’s only a few horror games that I actually enjoy, and Resident Evil Vll is definitely one of those games. This title brings the series back to the original Resident Evil games with unsettling environments, a tight inventory system, and a chilling story that doesn’t break you away from the immersion for a second.
The enemies and settings that you’re faced with are horrifying and despite how much you might want to run away from your controller the game always finds a way to keep you hooked in just enough to keep you going. With intense action scenes and a surprising storyline, it’s hard not to enjoy what this game has to offer.
Not only that, but if you have a PS VR headset, the horror is only intensified. Nothing will get your heart pumping more than having a crazy woman claw at you and chop your own hand off in Virtual Reality. It’s definitely one of those games, where VR really takes it to the next level of immersion. Just don’t wear it on for too long or you’ll end up like me and have headaches that last for hours. Just a pro tip for ya.
Until Dawn
This is a horror game that I’ve never seen before. It combines the intense decision making seen in the TellTale games with the ominous and terrifying environments and characters seen in games like Resident Evil.
Until Dawn puts you in control of eight young adults who take a trip to a lodge for a weekend at a place called Blackwood Mountain who have to survive the night from a mysterious serial killer in the woods. I know it sounds like a cliché straight from a classic horror film.
However, what makes this game different from your standard horror movie is that you get to make all the decisions determining how the night goes. Similar to the TellTale games, every decision you make, even the seemingly inconsequential ones, shape your own horror experience.
You get to decide how you want to react to the terrifying situations that unfold throughout the night and your decisions determine who lives and who dies. This is the first horror game where your experience is completely personalized and up to you.
Being hunted by a serial killer is one thing, but when there’s no checkpoints and every decision counts, it completely ups the ante of what’s all at stake. You have to remain cool-headed, but at the same time make quick and smart decisions or else you’ll have to face the consequences.
It’s truly a unique experience that pays homage to the classic horror movies that really shaped the genre. If you’re looking for a night long of chills, intense action, and critical storytelling then I’d highly recommend picking up Until Dawn this Halloween. It will really make the time spent in the house count!
Well that's my list for ya. What are you doing this Halloween season? Are you playing any horror games to celebrate the holiday? Comment below and Happy Halloween!
Dean Willms
Gamer. Designer. Friend.
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