Summary
Horror games are plentiful in the modern day, heavily saturated with asset-flips andfirst-person walking simulators. However, there are a great number of well-crafted horror games on the market from all manner of developers, both AAA and indie. From the highly immersive WW1 setting ofAmnesia: The Bunker, to the still-impressiveAlien: Isolation, all the way to the faithfully constructedResident Evilremakes, there’s never been a better time to be a fan of horror games.
While supernatural themes are common across many horror titles (Silent Hill,Alan Wake 2, andThe Evil Withinare just a few examples), science-fiction is used somewhat less, with games such as the aforementionedAlien: Isolationand third-person survival horrorDead Spacebeing two of the most obvious examples. However, indie games have also made great use of science-fiction settings in horror games, and these are just a few examples of the best ones worth trying out.
First-person, action-packed, and charmingly clunky,Dino Trauma’sindie budget is immediately apparent and, as a result, takes a bit getting used to. However, players that can look past its rough edges and current Early Access state will find acompetent first-person shooter with an immersive atmospherethat promotes a consistent sense of dread in its dark, overgrown environments.
Fans of Steven Spielberg’s evergreenJurassic Parkwho spent the whole film wondering what it would be like if the characters had firearms (and actually used them with competence) will find some serious catharsis here. TheDino Crisisinspirations are also ever-present, but the game takes equal inspiration fromthe best 90s shooterssuch asTurokand evenDOOM. It fails to be a nail-biting experience, butDino Traumais more akin to B-movie horror than it is psychological, and like those movies, it is unafraid to throw a bounty of jump-scares at its audience.
Set in a clandestine research station on a remote asteroid,Endoparasiticthrows the player into the deep-end from the very beginning, starting things off by tearing the player apart limb from limb. Left with just a single arm, players must crawl their way through the station in search of an escape, all while staving off a deadly parasite.
Gameplay inEndoparasiticis wholly unique, as players will have to control their character by literally dragging themselves across the ground with their only remaining arm, doing so with intuitive mouse controls. This presentsa horrifying twist, however, as players also need this arm to draw their weapons, reload their guns, and actually use items. All this is to say thatEndoparasiticfrequently bombards players with chaotic encounters in tight corridors, and the limitations on the player make it all the more intense.
DUSKERSisn’t the most terrifying game out there, instead offering to induce a quieter, slow-burning feeling of dread in its players. The minimalist aesthetic, built out of glitchy camera feeds and retro computer terminals, results inan immersive, tangible atmospherethat can be incredibly eerie. It’s spooky to the first degree, and the adrenaline can really start pumping when things go awry, especially once players have become attached to their drones.
These drones are controlled by the player through console commands, making any movement or action a slow and methodical process, emphatically encouraging careful planning. Controlling the drones and searching for salvage in wrecked, abandoned spaceships can be an initially detached experience. However, once players begin to grow attached to their hardy drones,DUSKERScan become a much scarier experience.
It’sway more fun with friends, butLethal Companycan be funny and terrifying all at once, with its jarring, janky creatures and abundance of random items. The systems in place for proximity voice chat and enemies that react to sound makeLethal Companyextremely immersive, all in spite of its silly tone and lo-fi visuals.
Lethal Companyis a first-person horror game that gives players next-to-no methods of defense — though, as players acquire more items, defense becomes slightly more possible. The environments are always dark, always dangerous, and the ensemble cast of unique creatures ensures players are always kept on their toes. The loop is fairly simple: enter abandoned facilities, gather as many valuables as possible, and make enough cash to meet the company quota (or get spaced). It’s simple but effective, resulting in an easy-to-learn game that any fan of horror can enjoy.
Quiet, contemplative, and frequently unsettling,SIGNALISis a science-fiction survival-horror game that takes heavy inspiration from pioneers of the genre, such asResident Evil. Its gameplay may be rooted in classic systems, butSIGNALISis far from a run-of-the-mill horror experience, with its use of mixed media and a compelling narrative presenting a truly unique title.
SIGNALISalso featuresa distinctive art stylethat combines 3D animations with dynamic lighting and cinematic illustrations, resulting in a chaotic jumble of visual ideas that works in the game’s favor. It’s a slow-burning experience, and one that may grow on players over time, butSIGNALISis well worth a shot for any fan of science-fiction horror games.
