Summary
- Horror games can prioritize exploration over combat to enhance player experience.
- Strong storytelling and setting can compensate for less satisfying combat mechanics.
- Traversal and story exploration make these games stand out more than their combat gameplay.
While most horror games will feature a combat system to at least give players a fighting chance, this doesn't always mean that the melee or shooting mechanics are the best part of the experience. In fact, there have been more than a few occasions where a horror game has been recognized a lot more for its player freedom and exploration, as opposed to the combat, which could be a little clunky or immersion-breaking if it isn't all that satisfying to partake in.
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The truth is, developers need to nail several aspects of a horror game to really make it stand out from the competition, so it's understandable why the combat may take a backseat every now and again. That being said, though, having an interesting and engaging setting that players can explore to their heart's content can help make up for this shortcoming, so with that in mind, it's time to analyze the horror games where traversal and exploration end up being a lot more enjoyable than the combat.
Tormented Souls
The Wildberger Hospital Is Full Of Unnerving Secrets To Uncover
Tormented Souls
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Dual Effect Games
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
It's clear that Tormented Souls was designed as an homage to the classic Resident Evil and Silent Hill games, especially with its fixed camera angles, which are very reminiscent of those early horror classics. However, another thing it replicates from those games is the rather clunky combat, as while protagonist Caroline is able to defend herself with a nail gun, it can be difficult to take down swarms of enemies at once, considering how fast and durable they all are.
As a result of this, the best parts of the game are when players are able to freely explore the Wildberger Hospital in all its endlessly creepy glory. After Caroline investigates the hospital upon receiving a letter from a mysterious pair of twins, she and the players slowly uncover that this abandoned building has been hiding a plethora of evil secrets for many years, and thanks to the staggering number of puzzles that are included in the game, it makes traversing the environment extremely fun and engaging from beginning to end.
Alone In The Dark
Combat Can Sometimes Feel Like It Gets In The Way Of The Crime Investigation
Alone in the Dark
- Released
- March 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature
- Developer(s)
- Pieces Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
After booting up Alone in the Dark and choosing one of the two protagonists, players will embark on a journey where they must investigate the sudden disappearance of a man by the name of Jeremy Hartwood. As a result, players will find themselves snooping around every inch of the rooms they walk into to try and find even a slight hint as to what may have happened to Jeremy, and while there are combat sections included, they can sometimes feel like they are thrown in just to ramp up the tension rather than being all that enjoyable.
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Still, the freaky enemy designs do provide a nice jump scare every now and again, but this really isn't why the Alone in the Dark remake received such favorable reviews, as it instead has to do with the exploration and intriguing plotline.
Silent Hill 2
James Isn't Much Of A Fighter, But There's An Entire City For Him To Explore
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- September 25, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Silent
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It's no secret that the combat in the original Silent Hill 2 isn't exactly all that fun or satisfying. Though James can use an array of firearms and melee weapons to fend off the mutants and monsters that he encounters, it's really the story and setting of Silent Hill 2 that shot the game to mainstream popularity. From the hospital to the bowling alley, all the way to the underground prison, there's a plethora of eerie destinations scattered across Silent Hill which players are free to explore, not only to collect resources, but also to learn more about what happened to the once lively town in the first place.
The original Silent Hill 2 also features some brutally challenging puzzles, which usually can only be completed by scoping out every area possible to find the solution. Team Silent also did an excellent job with the sound design so that players are always on edge, even if they feel like they have entered a safe space, ensuring that no matter how much the players explore and collect ammunition, they will always have that sense of dread running down their spine.
Dino Crisis
The Deadly Dinos Can Start To Get A Little Irritating After A While
Dino Crisis
- Released
- August 31, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Sega Dreamcast, PC, PlayStation (Original), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PS Vita
It's clear that Shinji Mikami was heavily inspired by his previous series, Resident Evil, when developing Dino Crisis, but the major difference that sets the games apart is their enemy types. While Resident Evil has the slow and dangerous zombies, Dino Crisis features lightning-fast dinosaurs who will throw Regina around like a ragdoll if they manage to catch up to her. While it's definitely intense to take on multiple raptors at once in a small and cramped room, the difficulty can begin to get a little irritating as the game goes on.
Thankfully, though, there's a lot more to Dino Crisis than just the combat. After finding themselves trapped on the mysterious Ibis Island, players are free to traverse the environment while also picking up on any hidden secrets along the way, uncovering the truth of why the dinosaurs have been warped from the past into the modern day. Dino Crisis also features quite a lot of collecting when it comes to solving puzzles and opening doors, making exploration an even bigger part of the overall gameplay loop.
Resident Evil 7
The Unnerving Baker Estate Is A Place That's Begging To Be Explored
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Psychological Horror, First-Person
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Because Ethan isn't a super soldier like Leon or Chris, it means he's not exactly well-prepared to take on the Molded monsters that he faces throughout Resident Evil 7. To reflect this, Capcom made sure that the combat system was intentionally a little clunky and unresponsive to make every enemy feel like a true threat, and while these combat segments are far from bad, it's not why many credit the game for reviving this series and ushering it into the modern era.
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The Baker Estate, which is where Ethan finds himself at the beginning of the game, is an area that's just begging to be explored. Each and every room in the house contains files revealing the backstory of the Baker family, alongside some videotapes which can showcase the adventures of Mia and other characters before she was kidnapped. Of course, being a Resident Evil game, exploration is also crucial for seeking out keys which are needed to progress through the story, so while combat is still there, it is ultimately largely overshadowed by the setting, characters, and enjoyable exploration.
The Evil Within 2
A Bold Open-World Horror Hybrid With Tons Of Areas To Uncover
The Evil Within 2
- Released
- October 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
On the surface, The Evil Within 2 may look like it plays like any other third-person horror game, but it's actually extremely unique in how it plays, primarily when it comes to navigating the world itself. Tango decided to take a risk and experiment with incorporating an open world into The Evil Within 2, forcing players to question whether it's worth traveling a few miles across the map to pick up resources and weapons to aid in their survival.
The simulated town of Union is crawling with monsters, but since these ghoulish freaks are terrifyingly fast on their feet, Sebastian can have a hard time dealing with several at once, considering he's all by himself. While the combat, therefore, isn't anything to write home about, what really elevates this game is how it presents a fully explorable world that generously rewards those players who take the time to uncover everything it has to offer.
Metro Exodus
Artyom And The Crew Stop Off At Numerous Beautiful Locales Along Their Adventure
Metro Exodus
- Released
- February 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- 4A Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
There aren't many horror games out there that are quite as immersive as Metro Exodus. As players navigate each of the open hub areas, they will need to make sure that they are constantly wiping their masks to get a clear vision of their surroundings, while also stocking up on supplies that will allow them to survive in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. The dedication to making players feel as if they themselves are living this nightmare also ends up making combat scenarios extremely difficult, since being able to get a clear shot without a gun randomly jamming is much easier said than done.
Along the journey, Artyom and his ragtag group of survivors will stop off at three areas, which all act as large hub worlds. While there are certain key objectives players need to achieve in each one, it's completely optional whether players want to venture through the rest of the area, allowing the exploration to feel natural and personalized rather than just one big linear hallway.
Alan Wake
Finding Pages Often Takes Priority Over Fighting The Darkness
Alan Wake
- Released
- February 16, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
In order to present the first Alan Wake as more than just the average third-person shooter, Remedy decided to incorporate a clever spin that would feed into the horror aesthetic of the game. As a result, players will first need to shine Alan's flashlight at an enemy to rid them of their darkness before they can take any damage. This is definitely a neat gimmick that helps freshen up the combat system for a little while, but it admittedly begins to become a little monotonous as the hours go by.
What keeps the game from ever becoming boring or predictable, though, aside from its frankly bizarre story, is how much there is to uncover in each area. As players move throughout Bright Falls, they will be able to pick up pages that essentially spell out the story, allowing them to prepare for what's up ahead if they dedicate some time and effort to exploring their surroundings as thoroughly as possible. It can also be hard to make full sense of the story without these pages, so seeking them out quickly takes priority over everything else, especially in the later levels.
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