October is the month of Halloween, so what better time to sit down and play some spooky games? Here are a few of my top picks (in no particular order) for spooky games–which are not necessarily all horror games–to play this month.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is a great survival horror series, and I want to specifically call out the remake of the first game. The 2002 remake of Resident Evil, which was later remastered in HD as well, is my major go-to example of both what a survival horror game and a remake should be. Starring Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine as they explore a puzzle-filled, zombie-infested mansion, it holds true to the core elements of the original game while adding new content and making everything feel better.
Alien: Isolation
Meanwhile, Alien: Isolation is one of the best examples I’ve seen of a survival horror game that takes all of the classic genre elements and translates them into a modern format. (The Resident Evil 2 remake also did a great job with this.) And while I wouldn’t call it the scariest game I’ve ever played, it is hands-down the most tense. Walking through the creepy space station, trying to sneak past the prowling Alien, desperately watching the motion tracker to judge if it’s safe to emerge from hiding… Alien: Isolation is a master at creating an atmosphere of sheer, unrelenting dread.
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
Now it’s time for one that isn’t a survival horror game–and one a lot of you probably aren’t familiar with. Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon is an action RPG exclusive to the Wii about a boy named Seto traveling through the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Tokyo. Along the way, he encounters and fights many ghosts, and there are some other horror elements mixed into its gameplay as well. It isn’t scary so much as haunting, and it’s a beautiful game you definitely should look into if you have a way to play it.
Shadow Hearts
Sticking with the RPG theme, Shadow Hearts is a turn-based RPG for the PlayStation 2 that is filled with gothic horror themes. Curses, vampires, a protagonist who transforms into monsters–there’s a lot of good stuff here, and I’m so happy I was finally able to play it for the first time last year. It has a good cast, a somewhat unique combat system, and all the spookiness you could ask for without being a horror game. It and its sequels are also in dire need of the HD remaster collection–or even ports. Is that so much to ask?
Saya no Uta
Onto the entry of the list that can only be recommended with warnings and caveats, Saya no Uta, or The Song of Saya, is a horror eroge–a visual novel with sexual content. It’s also very Lovecraftian and very disturbing. The protagonist’s perception of the world has been altered so that he views everyone and everything around him as horrific monstrosities–all except a mysterious girl named Saya who has become his one link to sanity. It’s the sort of unsettling horror story that creeps into your mind and lingers long after you’ve finished reading it. As long as you aren’t put off by the content, it’s a delightfully disturbing treat.
Silent Hill 4: The Room
It might be the most divisive of the original Team Silent games, but Silent Hill 4: The Room is my favorite Silent Hill game and a survival horror title I’ll always defend. Henry Townshend is trapped in his apartment by sinister powers, and the only way out is through a hole in the wall that leads to a twisted Otherworld. It’s got disturbing monster designs, a good horror story, and even a number of ghosts that will relentlessly pursue you in certain areas, making it even more fitting for this time of year. It also recently got released on GOG, although the PC release is missing some content.
Yomawari: Night Alone
How about a survival horror title that’s a bit less well-known? Yomawari: Night Alone was a pleasant surprise when I played it because, despite its cutesy graphics, it is a horror game through and through. As you search for your missing sister, solving puzzles and hiding from the monsters and spirits that stalk the streets of town, you’ll rarely be able to relax for long. Its somewhat open-ended exploration reminds me oddly of the first Silent Hill, and while the second Yomawari game has a more guided focus, it’s just as good. I keep waiting for a third entry in this series, because it deserves it.
Detention
Another lesser-known game I have to include on my list is Detention. Set in 1960s Taiwan, Detention is a 2D side-scrolling game about a student who becomes trapped in a school that has transformed into a twisted version of itself. With its dark imagery, supernatural puzzles, and psychological horror themes, this is another one that definitely reminded me of Silent Hill, and it shouldn’t be missed. I’m still disappointed I missed the developers’ second horror game, Devotion, before it was pulled from Steam, and I’ll be first in line if it ever reappears.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Now let’s jump back to cosmic horror to discuss Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem on the GameCube, another fantastic game in dire need of a remaster or port (because good luck trying to find a reasonable copy now). Eternal Darkness follows a central narrative about a young woman named Alex investigating her grandfather’s death, but as she learns more about the dark plot that claimed his life, you learn the stories of other people involved by playing as them. As such, the game follows several different characters at different points in history, and it feels like a collection of playable short stories connected by one overarching plot. In addition to its great story (and one of the best Lovecraft-inspired games I’ve played), it also features unique sanity effects and many other features that make Eternal Darkness a game that shouldn’t be forgotten.
Costume Quest
Finally, I’d like to wrap things up with a game that isn’t horror, isn’t dark or scary, and probably seems out of place on this list–but which is possibly the Halloweeniest of Halloween games ever made. Costume Quest is a turn-based RPG about kids fighting monsters on Halloween night. The characters’ costumes determine how they fight in battle, candy is used as currency, trick-or-treating is an important gameplay mechanic–it’s a perfect game for Halloween, and one you definitely should look into if you want something on the lighter side of spooky.
Conclusion
These are only some of my favorite spooky games, and I’m sure I’ll find new favorites as I play more! What are your favorite games to play around this time of year?
