Summary
- Challenging horror games intensify player experience by ramping up difficulty for a more terrifying gameplay.
- Customizable difficulty settings in horror games allow players to adjust combat, puzzles, and interface to suit their preferred level of challenge.
- An increase in difficulty levels, like Madhouse or Hard mode, heightens tension, adds complexity, and enhances the scare factor in horror games.
Horror games are meant to be hard, instilling a sense of unease in players and making them think twice before taking a simple step. That being said, there's nothing wrong with these games relying on atmosphere and storytelling alone to scare players, especially if the title's goal is to be accessible enough to appeal to as many players as possible.
Yet, there's something lost in certain horror games that are too easy, which is why ramping up the difficulty to the max is so appealing for some players. The intensity of the gameplay adds to the scare factor as players are forced to either improve their skills, or face humiliating deaths and chilling game overs time and time again.
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8 Dead Space
Impossible Difficulty Makes The Game Scarier Than Ever
Dead Space
- Released
- January 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Dead Space is one of the most fun action-horror games that players can get their hands on. It helps that the combat is challenging enough on Normal without pressuring players too much, but this isn't a sentiment that long-time fans will agree with after a point.
This is why some players prefer attempting the game on Impossible, which retains all the qualities of Hard difficulty with the added challenge of a single save and a permanent end to their run if they die (unless players scale back to Normal difficulty). Thankfully, there's a bonus suit and weapon for players who take on this challenge and somehow come out victorious.
7 Alien: Isolation
Hard Difficulty Makes Enemies Smarter And Deadlier
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Alien: Isolation is a game that prioritizes stealth, and players who want sneaking around to be as tense as possible should try the game on the hardest difficulty. Enemies are more aware and will spot Amanda more easily, with human weapons being deadlier than ever and possibly taking down the protagonist with a single hit.
The Xenomorph hunting Amanda down is also more resilient to the flamethrower, and can lunge at the protagonist even when covered in flames. Even the trusted lean mechanic is a double-edged sword, since enemies will be more aware of Amanda as she moves around in the environment.
6 Silent Hill 2
Adjust Combat, Puzzles, & The Interface Itself To Customize Difficulty
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
Silent Hill 2's remake lets a new generation of players understand why this title is in a class of its own. James Sunderland's quest to find his wife after a mysterious letter marks the beginning of a journey where the difficulty can be customized however players see fit.
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Both combat and puzzles can be made easier or harder, with the latter option appealing to players who want their journey through Silent Hill to be as nerve-wracking as possible. Even the interface can be changed to Retro mode to make for a tougher challenge, which is an impressive way to heighten difficulty.
5 System Shock
Players Have Great Options To Customize Difficulty
System Shock (2023)
- Released
- May 30, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Sci-Fi, FPS
Players were salivating to get their hands on the System Shock remake, given how legendary this title is. The game had aged poorly in many ways, and this modern release allows players to enjoy its retro gameplay without being frustrated by the clunky controls.
One of the best parts about System Shock's remake is how the difficulty options from the original are retained. Combat, mission complexity, cyberspace segments, and puzzle difficulty can be made easier or harder based on what players want. The hardest settings actively challenge players to be downright perfect and not make a single mistake in this compelling immersive sim.
4 Prey
Survival Mode Changes The Way Players Approach The Game
Prey
- Released
- May 5, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Prey is one of the best immersive sims fans can get their hands on, with players both loving and hating every single time a mimic jumps at them. The game had decent difficulty options, but it wasn't until a new update was released that fans realized just how intense the difficulty could get.
Survival mode adds three parameters to the game: weapon degradation, oxygen levels, and the inclusion of additional traumas. It adds a refreshing breath of air to another playthrough where players must be wary of these metrics as they explore the Talos I space station.
3 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Madhouse Difficulty Scares Players Every Step Of The Way
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
Resident Evil 7 served as a return to form for the series, boasting a Madhouse difficulty setting that is no joke. On this setting, enemies are stronger and faster, with higher-tier foes appearing way sooner than they do in the base game.
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Scripted enemy encounters are also changed to up the challenge. Saving is limited and supplies are harder to find, among a bunch of other changes. All of these combine to ensure that players will have a tough time powering through a nightmarish experience as Ethan goes through numerous trials and tribulations to get his wife back from the clutches of the Baker family.
2 Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Hard Mode Was Added Later To Make The Game More Challenging
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Released
- September 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
Players always appreciate it when games are re-released with harder difficulty modes to challenge returning players. This is what happened with The Dark Descent in Amnesia: The Collection. Hard Mode changes how players approach this game, disabling autosaving and making enemies more challenging than ever. Players must manage their resources wisely, since this mode also severely limits the oil and tinderboxes that can be found in the game.
1 Thief: The Dark Project
An Immersive Sim With Horror Elements & A Unique Take On Difficulty
Thief: The Dark Project
- Released
- November 30, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Stealth, Action
The first Thief game had undertones of horror that made some of its levels quite nightmarish, even if the supernatural enemies drew mixed reactions from players. Nevertheless, The Dark Project was a generational immersive sim with a unique take on difficulty.
The higher the difficulty in this game is, the more objectives players must complete in each level. This compels them to explore these locations as much as possible while avoiding combat in any way, since the player's health is also significantly reduced.
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