Halloween is almost upon us and it’s at this time of the year that we are reminded of spooky things and pumpkin spice lattes (by far the scariest thing of the season). Without further ado, allow me to take the chance to share with you the top 5 games that would make my heartbeat sound like a drum solo on steroids and as the title suggests, caused rapid changes to my wardrobe.
#5 – Doom III (PC)
Critics and fans are both divided on whether or not this constitutes a truly scary game. Yes, the game had lots of cheap jump scares but that wasn’t the only thing it had going for it. The levels were incredibly crafted making clever use of shadows and secret areas, which in combination with the brilliant sound design made you really lose yourself in the game. Hearing the enemies coming for you, their grunts, their screams and footsteps, made you feel the pressure of being trapped in narrow corridors with no escape in sight and no other choice but to fight for your life. And don’t get me started on the levels in Hell and those creepy babies.
#4 – Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii)
One of the most unique games I’ve ever played and a clever twist on the Silent Hill franchise. You are alone, no weapons or fancy gadgets, just a flashlight and a phone with no signal. You see weird shit happening? Better run for your life. The game also had this unique feature of changing details based on your personal fears/insecurities. It achieved this by taking into account your gameplay choices as well as the time your character spent answering a psychologists questions in-game. The implementation of Wii controls was just right, functional and I can’t stress how cool it was to have a dedicated button just to shout your daughter’s name while you look for her.
#3 – Condemned: Criminal Origins (PC)
It has mannequins and psychopaths. Still want to try it? If so, you will discover a deeply disturbing yet satisfying experience. The story, voice-acting, sound design and environments are well-made and guaranteed to mess with your mind. Back when this game came out it had some of the most interesting combat I had seen in a first-person ‘shooter’ if you can call it that. Bullets were scarce and at times you had to get up-close and personal with whatever was threatening your life. I am forever scarred and permanently afraid of the dark. Play it, no regrets.
#2 – Resident Evil 2 (PC port)
Even the box art creeps me out to this day. This spot almost went to the chilling Resident Evil 4 but I had to go with 2. Maybe I’m being nostalgic but few things have terrified me since then as much as Raccoon City did. It might seem like a relic of past game design in 2016 but back then it was perfect. The set camera angles and the need to scavenge for supplies gave this game the perfect feel. You were trapped in a city during a zombie outbreak. It is true survival-horror at its best.
#1 – Alone in the Dark (1992 – DOS)
Back when floppy discs were actually floppy, this game was credited as the first 3D survival-horror game; it is also the first I ever played, quite a few years after its release. No game to this day ever made me feel the terror I felt when playing this. While I don’t think it would invoke the same feelings in the younger generation of gamers, it is absolutely the scariest for me. Playing as Edward Carnby going through the haunted mansion is a testament to how awesome games can be as an entertainment medium.
What are your scariest experiences in gaming? Was your heart racing as you read through this list?