Key Takeaways
- Horror games’ effectiveness isn’t solely reliant on jump scares, but on a slow burn of unease and exploration.
- Urban horror settings in games hit closer to home, making players relate more to the protagonist’s turmoil.
- Some horror games like Devotion manage to create a terrifying atmosphere in mundane locations like an apartment.
Horror gaming has progressed by leaps and bounds to become one of the most immersive genres in the medium. It’s easy to dismiss the impact of these games as being nothing more than jumpscare fests meant to coerce the most viral reactions from creators, but the fact is that numerous titles in this genre don’t rely on surprises to make their horror effective. Rather, it’s the slow burn that fans of horror gaming love, lending to a sense of unease as players explore horrific environments and uncover the mysteries at the heart of these adventures.
This is why horror games in urban settings can be so unnerving. Sure, spirits, monsters, and other such creatures can be scary, but it’s hard for players to relate to a protagonist’s turmoil if they can’t place themselves in the same situation. However, being trapped in a home or having to explore desolate cities hits closer to home, and players can’t help but feel how they’d react if they had to come back home in the dead of night with someone (or something) chasing them every step of the way.
5 Cry Of Fear
Takes Place Entirely In A Deserted Town Full Of Nightmarish Monstrosities
The Source Engine served as a gateway for many aspiring developers to try their hand at making video games that used this malleable engine to great effect. Various mods made for Valve’s games that use this engine have either expanded to become standalone projects or paved the way for developers to take the leap and enter this industry full-time. One such game that experimented with horror elements to great effect is Cry of Fear, a game that takes place within the urban confines of a desolate city.
Players control a protagonist with issues of his own who must navigate urban locales that are full to the brim with nightmarish monsters. However, the true horror of Cry of Fear takes place within the protagonist’s mind, whose story is slowly uncovered as players make their way through this abandoned city and face off against the many horrifying creatures that try to rip the player apart every chance they get.
4 Condemned: Criminal Origins
Uncovering A Serial Killer In The City Of Metro Is A Horrifying Task
Many horror games don’t give players a means to defend themselves, leading to tense moments where players must either hide from their assailants or run away after triggering a pursuit. Such games are usually considered to be scarier than their contemporaries that sport self-defense options, so Condemned: Criminal Origins should be commended for being an effective horror game despite having a major emphasis on combat. Not only is the simple act of exploration more unnerving than it has any right to be, but the game somehow integrates an excellent melee combat system that is challenging without being unfair.
Exploring the many claustrophobic urban environments in the game makes for some tense moments that can leave fans gasping for air when an enemy takes them by surprise. Despite lacking any supernatural elements, the simple act of encountering deranged vagrants is so scary that every combat encounter in Condemned: Criminal Origins leads to a spike in a player’s heartbeat that takes a while to go back to normal, even if players come out victorious against these maddened foes.
3 Silent Hill 4: The Room
Being Unable To Leave An Apartment Leads To Some Horrifying Scenarios
The Silent Hill games have made it a point to experiment with each entry instead of resting on their laurels, barring a few exceptions. The first game introduced players to the eponymous town and its oppressive fog, while the focus on psychological horror in the sequel coupled with an incredible story helped Silent Hill 2 stand out as one of the greatest video games ever made. However, Silent Hill 3 is where people felt that Konami didn’t add anything new to the formula, so the developers decided to go all out for the fourth mainline entry.
Silent Hill 4‘s premise is as interesting as can be, with the protagonist stuck within the confines of his own home and trying to escape by any means necessary. Things become trickier when he discovers a hole in his bathroom that leads to other dimensions, sending players on a wild journey as they uncover the diabolical plans of an undead serial killer and try to figure out how to stop this mad entity. Depending on the state of the player’s apartment and whether they could save their friends at major turning points in the story, fans can uncover one of four possible endings that serve to enhance the game’s replayability.
2 Devotion
Turns An Apartment Into One Of The Most Stifling Locations In A Horror Game
By the time players are done playing through Devotion, an apartment will somehow turn into one of the scariest locations they can explore. Such is the impact of this psychological horror game that hits closer to home than most people would like. Watching a family strive to be happy before eventually breaking apart as things become more disturbing is hard to witness. Devotion is a master of manipulating a player’s emotions, getting them invested in the lives of a family that is struggling to make ends meet.
The way Devotion provides some incredible social commentary and uses the medium of horror to convey the oppressive nature of an abusive parent is done splendidly. Despite sympathizing with the protagonist’s woes, fans will find themselves hating every fiber of Du Feng-yu, especially as he sinks further into his delusions and rips his family apart in the process.
1 Resident Evil 2
Raccoon City Is Completely Destroyed By The T-Virus
The classic Resident Evil games boast a kind of magic that’s hard to replicate, and seeing Capcom do right by the franchise with their remakes shows how well the company understands the strengths and weaknesses of their iconic survival horror franchise. Resident Evil 2 made a huge splash back in the day, and its remake was one of 2019’s best games as well, with players struggling to escape an infected Raccoon City where most residents have turned into zombies courtesy of the T-virus.
Players must navigate the ruined streets of the city, taking out zombies and uncovering the events that led to the infection. Both Leon and Claire have amazing and distinct campaigns that show Resident Evil 2 at its very best, and the sense of dread players experience when they’re being chased by The Tyrant can’t be explained in words. Despite having a huge focus on action, Resident Evil 2 can scare the wits out of players without being overly gratuitous.
