Summary
- Horror games need to innovate to keep players engaged and scared, breaking away from predictable formulas.
- Games like P.T., Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, and Phasmophobia showcase innovative approaches to horror gaming.
- Unique titles like Omori, Eternal Darkness, and Sunless Skies offer unconventional horror experiences worth exploring.
Horror gaming doesn't need to stick to tried-and-tested formulas to scare players. Sure, first-person POVs and chase sequences can make for a tense experience, but there comes a point when players want something different. More than any other genre, horror games need to keep players on their toes — predictability leads to lackluster scares.
This is why horror games that break the mold and try something different always deserve to be lauded. The innovation present in these games is palpable from the get-go, and elevates the experience for many horror fans.
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8 P.T.
The Looping Hallway & Lisa's Erratic Movements Are Legendary
P.T.
- Released
- August 12, 2014
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
From the moment players find themselves in Lisa's house, which loops over and over again, they know they're in for something special. This playable teaser was just an elaborate way to announce a new Silent Hill game with Kojima at the helm, but ultimately transformed into something special.
Lisa's jittery movements and the obtuse puzzles of this game further add to its unique horror. P.T. May technically be a lost piece of media now after Konami delisted it, but the fact that fans still rave about the game to this day shows how much of an impact this teaser had on the gaming zeitgeist at the time.
7 Resident Evil 4
Set The Standard For Third-Person Shooters
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
After placing a focus on tank controls and fixed cameras for the first few games in the series, Capcom decided to go above and beyond with the fourth mainline Resident Evil entry. Leon Kennedy's adventures in a Spanish village plagued by Las Plagas were mind-blowing back in the day.
This title featured a greater focus on action without losing its edge, and set the foundation that future third-person shooters would build upon. It's easy to see why Resident Evil 4 is considered such an important game, and fans were glad to see the remake do justice to this title.
6 Dead Space
Immersive Design And Limb-Hacking Gameplay
Dead Space
- Released
- October 14, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
In an era when gaming HUDs and UIs were getting a bit too cluttered for most people's liking, Dead Space showed the power of immersion by making its critical gameplay elements clear without the need for a heads-up display. It seems like a simple change, but this was a huge part of what made Dead Space's horror so effective.
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The limb-cutting gameplay was also quite bold for its time. Players must hack off the limbs of necromorphs to incapacitate them before they can close the distance and tear Isaac apart, making for tense combat.
5 Phasmophobia
Makes Co-op Horror Work Brilliantly
Phasmophobia
- Released
- October 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Puzzle
Gaming with friends is almost always a fun and relaxing experience. This is why people weren't sold on the idea of a co-op horror game, but Phasmophobia showed how well this genre amalgamation could work. Working together, players take on the roles of ghost hunters and must figure out the identity of a spirit before exorcising it. This gameplay loop makes for a surprisingly great time. The proximity chat adds to the tension, especially when players get split up and can't hear their friends anymore.
4 Omori
A Cute Facade Hides Psychological Trauma
OMORI
- Released
- December 25, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Players who think horror games can't be cute should give Omori a shot. This amazing game hides behind a veneer of cuteness and doesn't show its psychological horror influences until they can't hide anymore. The protagonist loves to hide in his dream world, making it clear that there's something he's trying to avoid. To say any more would spoil one of the most unique and engaging horror games ever made, which is unlike anything else in the genre. It's worth going into this one blind.
3 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
The Sanity Mechanics Were Innovative For The Time
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
- Released
- June 24, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
While it may not seem all that mind-blowing now, it can't be stated enough just how revolutionary Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem was when it came out. It's fitting that this was a Nintendo exclusive. This survival horror game boasted an ambitious narrative that took place across different timelines with multiple protagonists.
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The most innovative thing about this game was its sanity effects, simulating the process of someone losing their mind in the most creative way possible. Seeing the game delete a player's save files or reduce the volume made for chilling fourth-wall breaks that have become legendary in the years since.
2 Sunless Skies
Atmospheric Horror With A Focus On Exploration And Story
Sunless Skies
- Released
- January 31, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
Sunless Skies isn't as in-your-face as most games in the genre. The horror is more of a backdrop for a rich setting where humanity has taken to the skies. Players take the role of a sky captain who can pursue numerous goals in a wide-open setting that is full of things to do.
The writing in this game is top-notch, combat is vastly improved from its predecessor, and the environments will leave a lasting impression on players. There aren't many horror games like Sunless Skies out there. Players who found Sunless Sea hard to get into won't face the same problem with its masterful sequel.
1 Doki Doki Literature Club!
A Cute Visual Novel Transforms Into A Monstrosity
Doki Doki Literature Club!
- Released
- September 22, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel, Horror
When Doki Doki Literature Club! Came out, no one expected a game that looked like a dating sim to turn into one of the most viral horror experiences players could subject themselves to. What looked like a feel-good game about joining a high school Literature Club turned into a scene out of the player's worst nightmares.
Over time, the game starts becoming more meta, and the main character transforms into a silent stand-in for the player as they witness the world being slowly torn apart. Even then, the characters in this game are so lovable that fans would do everything in their power to ensure that no harm befalls them.
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