Not everyone in the world loves horror video games, but absolutely every gamer loves an adrenaline rush, and that’s exactly what scary games bring. From haunted houses to zombie apocalypses, and every possible nightmarish situation in-between. Paddy Power Online Games brings you this in-depth list of the five most terrifying, unnerving and unsettling video games in gaming history.
Silent Hill
Back in 1999, Konami released Silent Hill, the genre defining game that spawned countless clones, sequels and Hollywood adaptations. Upon release, it was an instant hit, selling well commercially and receiving rave reviews from critics, going on to be considered one of the greatest games in history.
The premise follows ‘everyman’ Harry Mason on his search for his daughter in the sleepy town of Silent Hill. On his search, he discovers his daughters association with a cult, and the nightmare begins to unfold.
Outlast
Outlast was developed by independent Canadian Red Barrels Inc. The company began after a handful of employees left development giant Ubisoft Montreal to begin their own venture, resulting in Outlast, their debut release.
Outlast is a first-person survival psychological horror game that differs from many other horror games, for the main character cannot defend themselves using physical attacks or weapons. Instead, the game relies heavily on stealth and luck to survive.
Much of the game is seen through the lens of the character as he tries to find his way around a ruined psychiatric hospital overrun by murderous patients.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Indie developer Scott Cawthon managed to take a collection of animatronic characters clearly intended for a children’s game and turned them into maniacal homicidal monsters.
The player takes the place of a security guard, working the nightshift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza who has to survive the night by checking the security cameras to monitor the mobile, murderous animatronics. Be careful not to use too much power though…
The simplicity of this game is what earned it a spot on our list. All it requires is two things from players: calmness and attention. The more you pay attention to the animatronics, the likelier you are to fail, but if you’re too relaxed, you’ll still receive a nasty surprise. It’s all about balance, which can be difficult to find when the power is draining every time you lift the camera, close a door or turn a light on.
Also, the fact your character is immobile renders completely the player helpless – there’s no option to run, hide or attack with weapons like most horror games.
The first FNaF game was huge success, spawning 6 sequels and a spin-off. It also earned a Guinness World Record for the number of sequels released in a year.
Resident Evil Biohazard
The Resident Evil franchise has been a mainstay for horror fans, but as games 5 & 6 rolled in, the focus seemed to step away from survival and towards more action focused elements, similar to games such as Call of Duty and Battlefield.
Resident Evil VII headed back to its survival roots, and upped the scares like never before. The story follows Ethan Winters, who heads into the household of the cannibalistic Baker family on a search for his missing wife.
Alien Isolation
Following the critically bruised Colonial Marines game, the Alien franchise needed a heavy hitter to get it back on top. Isolation follows Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley on her mission to discover the fate of her mother aboard the doomed ship the Nostromo.
The game became notorious in the horror genre due to the advanced AI of the monster, which learned the player’s moves and tricks to stay one step ahead of the game.
What would you add to this list? And do you think we picked the right titles? Let us know in the comments!
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