Spooky With Disclaimer
Horror games come in all types these days and while most are chock full of gore, terrifying violence and in-your-face type scares, there are several others out there that are just plain spooky. More atmosphere and dread vs visceral content are the type of games I usually gravitate towards and for those of you who share the same affinity, here are my top three spooky PC games I’ll be playing this Halloween that won’t break the bank.
Amnesia: Rebirth
Steam - $29.99
Gog - $29.99
The geniuses Frictional Games once again prove they are the masters of contrast between light and dark with their recently launched Amnesia: Rebirth. Not only is the story unique, intriguing, and just plain brilliant, it’s got the perfect mix of terror, atmosphere, dread but also hope. It is definitely the most unique game on the list and I can’t wait to play more. This game is like a fine wine as you take it all in slowly through every note, memory, and unnerving decent into what is real and what isn’t..
Darkwood
Steam - $14.99
GOG - $14.99
Released a few years back but only getting better over time, Darkwood is a master class in atmosphere, especially in the audio department as every creek, shriek, and scream is more haunting as time goes on. Definitely frightening in some areas but a perfect example of taking it slow and enjoying every moment of this indie gem. Survive the night, pray for morning light.
Alien: Isolation
Amazon - $9.99
My final entry is another near-perfect example of how to build tension as you start out in a seemingly normal environment and then everything turns south. The lighting, sound, and level design of Alien: Isolation are epic and probably one of the more horror-esque titles on the list. That being said, it’s more tension as your claw your way through survival, being hunted at every turn that makes this game a modern classic.
