Summary
Most people may find it daunting to play games with a ton of horror elements, and it’s easy to see why this is the case. After all, actively seeking out a game meant to scare and unnerve players doesn’t sound like an unappealing prospect, and it doesn’t help that many people consider horror gaming to be marred by cheap jump scares and moments of shock value that don’t contribute a lot to the experience. It’s an unfair yet understandable assumption to make, given the sheer number of titles that use this form of horror to deliver quick and effective scares.
However, the best games that employ horror elements know how to build up tension and keep players on the edge of their seats, biting their fingernails nervously as they round a corner or turn out to witness everything from a sinister atrocity to muted moments of horror that are effective in their subtlety. Some of the best horror games aroundmake the most ofsupernatural elements, going so far as to give the protagonist access to said powers to aid them on their journey.
A short and rivetingJRPG set in 1997 New York,Parasite Eveplayers control Aya Brea for a total of six days as she deals with the threat of an evolved being by the name of Eve who has the power to manipulate mitochondria and cause spontaneous combustion in humans. Tailing this monstrosity and uncovering her true origins leads Aya to some mind-blowing revelations, with the secret ending of this game housing a plot twist that serves as a reward for those who decide to tackle the many floors of the intimidating Chrysler Building.
During her six-day adventure, Aya will find out that she has access to mysteriouspowers that she can use to heal herself, slow enemies down, scan their weaknesses, and unleash powerful attacks that can take down the mutated monsters standing in her way. These supernatural powers establish a link between Aya and the villain, further compelling players to power through this short and sweet JRPG.
Fans of Junji Ito will loveWorld of Horrorsince it’s clear from the get-go that this indie horror title is inspired by the works of this mangaka. Exploring local legends while a Lovecraftian threat looms over the player can be daunting at first, but it takes a few failures before gamers can get into this roguelike title and see what it’s all about. The difficulty of this game can take a while to get used to, and players may find themselves struggling in basic encounters even if they buy weapons and items.
This is where the spell system can step in as a lifesaver, letting players unleash supernatural abilities to take out their foes. Each protagonist in the game is capable of learning and casting these spells, with some boasting such skills in their arsenal from the get-go. An interesting thing aboutWorld of Horror’s spell systemis that the vast majority of these abilities deplete the player’s Reason, implying that the otherworldly nature of this magic is causing the user to lose their grip on reality.
3Point Man
His Reflexes And Unique Abilities Are Passed Down From Alma, A Psychic
TheF.E.A.R.games are some of the most underrated horror first-person shooters of all time, withthe AI in this title being quite impressiveto this day. Based on the tactics used by Point Man and his squad, enemies adapt on the fly and ensure that every gunfight is far from straightforward. Point Man can slow down time to deal with his enemies, and this was attributed to the experimental surgeries he went through, coupled with the training received by every member of this squad.
However,F.E.A.R. 3retcons this by stating that Point Man’s connection to Alma lets him harness his psychic powers in battle,allowing him to slow down timeand communicate with the angry spirit using his telepathy. It’s revealed that Point Man is Alma’s son, making it more likely that these supernatural powers were passed down from this psychic.
Preyis one of the most overlooked immersive sims of all time, with the Talos I featuring an oppressive atmosphere that lends to the title’s spookiness. With mimics awaiting the player at every corner and Morgan being so weak early on that taking on a single Typhon proves to be a major undertaking, it’s easy to see whyPrey’s horror succeeds in unnerving the player, making them second-guess their actions all the time.
However, as the game progresses, not only will the protagonist find more Neuromods to enhance his powers, but he can also opt to unlock Typhon powers that let him use these supernatural and otherworldly abilities to decimate his enemies. Unlike Arkane’s previous title, using these abilities won’t necessarilylock players into a bad ending, so there’s nothing wrong with using Typhon powers to shift the scales in Morgan’s favor from time to time.
While there’s no denying thatDark Soulsfeatures its fair share of scary moments augmented by its atmosphere, most people argue thatBloodborne’s focus on gothic and Lovecraftian horrormakes it one of FromSoftware’s scariest games. The high level of difficulty ensures that every well-hidden enemy scares players out of their wits, and the Hunter must maintain their composure to dodge and weave around their opponents before taking them out with the weapons and skills at their disposal.
If players invest in Arcane, they can use numerous supernatural abilities to great effect. Abilities like Augur of Ebrietas and A Call Beyond channel the energy of the Old Gods to unleash powerful attacks on enemies that can potentially one-shot them. It takes a lot of investment to make these skills viable in combat, but the effort is worthwhile for players who don’t want to follow a cookie-cutter build and wish to adopt a varied, unpredictable offense.
