The Geekly Grind Answers: Favorite Horror Video Games
In honor of Halloween, a few of us here have decided to share our favorite horror video games with you! Check out ours and join us on Discord to tell us yours!
Peeziest - Lakeview Cabin Collection
Take the premise and setting from a typical slasher film, mix it with a sandbox-style video game, and sprinkle in some puzzle solving. LCC features several chapters, with each paying homage to a classic horror film, such as the titular Lakeview Cabin. Gameplay involves the player controlling four characters while trying to achieve some larger task, such as escaping. At some point a killer will appear and try to eliminate the characters. It's up to the player to keep all four characters safe, while simultaneously exploring the level for useful items.
The game features almost no dialog, so figuring out how to reach the end of the stage with every character is a large part of the challenge. Items are placed at fixed locations around each stage, and are required to "solve" each stage. Exploration is required, but becomes very tense when you know a killer is lurking around somewhere.
RogueSymbiote - Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 was everything I wanted from a horror game when I was younger. Departing from the conventional zombie dynamic was refreshing and creative. The Las Plagas parasite allowed for insanely unique creatures and boss fights. The variety of weapons was extensive and provided a highly personalized method of play. With a mix of action, horror and elaborate puzzles, Resident Evil 4 stands out as one of the best installments in franchise history. The only reason I kept my GameCube for as long as I did was to replay this game over and over. If you haven’t played Resident Evil 4, do yourself a favor and do so immediately.
The Jewphin - Killer 7
Imagine you walk into an empty hallway. You look around, the coast is clear so you head forward. Then suddenly you hear a chuckle. Where did it come from? You can't tell. You scan the room furiously. The invisible becomes visible as a long limbed creature with a perpetual smile. Then the chuckle turns into a scream as he launches himself on top of you and explodes. This was every moment in Killer 7, a game where the suicide bomber enemies stayed invisible until you pressed the scan button and who only made their presence known by laughing. It created a constant eerie tension where any laugh could end in a scream and fiery explosion and I loved every minute of it.
EyeSpyeAlex - Clock Tower 3
Nothing is quite as terrifying as being the same age as the protagonist in a video game. Enter Clock Tower 3, a game that shaped my adolescence and helped grow my love of the horror genre. The game follows 14-year-old Alyssa Hamilton, a girl from a family of female warriors that travel time to defeat evil spirits.
What really makes the game terrifying is that Alyssa has no weapons and must solely rely on hiding to evade villains. Since villains can appear anywhere at any time, this leads to a lot of jumpscares, screaming, and an immense pressure to be aware of your surroundings. Having played this game when I was about 12, I felt a kinship to Alyssa and a fondness for scaring myself silly. If you’re looking for a throwback game to play this Halloween, definitely check out Clock Tower 3.