Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
Steam has started its spooky-scary sale of Halloween games for the season of pure evil, you can find a full list of the morbid, deliciously twisted, and questionably spooky here.
EDIT: Grrr, I had asked to make the Halloween Sales Topic but it would take some time since I was doing various write-ups, but seems someone on SteamGAF didn't listen. Rechanged the title to recommendations, but here it is.
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Being a horror enthusiast, I thought I might point out some good horror titles for all you horror-lovers, or even just the curious, to check out. These are a few titles I think are good in their own ways, each and every one of them worth the price of admission... If you dare.
Going to start in order of release date from oldest to newest, not in any sort of order of quality or significance (though I hand-picked titles I thought were worth checking out), after that period will list some older games.
>There also are some... Decidedly questionably spooky titles on sale, I will leave it to others to mention these, I'll be sticking to my horror games.
If you want me to talk about any of these games in more detail, just ask.
Listing USD prices, but of course available in different prices regionally.
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BloodRayne - $0.99
From the creators of NOCTURNE, you play as a vampire, known as BloodRayne, in this classic action-horror game where you take on all sorts of evils, from monsters to nazis, in the dark of the night and feast on their blood. Shlocky, B-faring fun.
BloodRayne 2 - $0.99
The B-fare action-horror continues as you dismember and feed off your foes in the sequel, the controls were a bit behind the times when this came out, but it's still a solid and old-school romp through a Gothic underworld.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - $4.99
Possibly the best vampire game ever made. There are some mods that improve the experience by a margin here on GAF somewhere, sure someone can dig it out. A first-person RPG-action game with horror tones (and some levels in particular) where you are a creature of the underworld, dealing with the filth and grit of the world to get by. Good atmosphere, writing, and quests.
BioShock - $3.99
Do any of you really not know what BioShock is? You're in an underwater city separating divers from their daughters or something. It's good, go check it out if you haven't already.
Dead Space - $4.99
Dismember the shit out of body-altered human 'Necromorphs' on a mining ship, as you learn that religion is corrupt, only engineers can do jackshit in space, and an atmosphereic and jump-scare ridden Resident Evil 4 meets The Thing meets Alien combo can work out pretty well, actually.
Penumbra Complete Series Pack - $2.99
The game series that started it all for Frictional Games, who would go on to make Amnesia and SOMA. Personally, I always liked the Penumbra series more than the Amnesia series, but that may just be me. As a defenseless man, hide and sneak through the dark, solve puzzles, and survive the monstrosities in a hidden underground Greenland facility. Was split into two parts, both worth playing though the second part is definitely the most memorable, then a third part was a puzzle-based expansion. The above includes all three.
The Path - $2.99
An experimental art game... Hey, where are all you guys going!? It's a game not for everyone, but it takes the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, multiple different versions from around the world, and explores them. The Path is about actually going off the Path, as going to Grandma's house is maybe not desirable, but be careful of the 'wolves' out there... Good atmosphere, music, and an abstract story, even though yes, it's one of those art games where the gameplay is shit, unless you really enjoy trotting through the woods picking flowers or something. But an interesting little experience.
F.E.A.R. - $2.49
That game everyone claimers about the amazing A.I. and shotgun. And to be sure, these things are both amazing. Really it's more of an FPS with horror tones, a bit repetitive, but its mechanics are extremely solid and can hold the experience for some the whole way through. I personally have always liked its expansion, Extraction Point, more than the main game (much more horror-oriented), but it's included for free with the game right now, so what is there to lose?
Eversion. - $2.49
The only non-horror game on this list!...Maybe. Press X to Evert!
Amnesia: The Dark Descent - $4.99
Some obscure horror game no one's ever heard of.
Dead Rising 2 - $6.79
Suffer the problems of a gambling man as he must pay off for the medicine of his dying daughter by winning it big in a corrupt, casino-ridden city. Or just dress up like a pretty princess and kill zombies all day, hey, either works.
Dead Rising 2: Off the Record - $6.79
The above game, but screw the daughter, and now stars Frank West, the main character of the first game. Also added a sandbox mode and improved co-op.
Dead Space 2 - $4.99
A more action-oriented, but in my opinion, much better paced game than the original. With more unique monsters, more varied locations, a more intricate story. Isaac, the main character from the first game, has been in a mental hospital for years out of his mind, and finally comes too... Did him some good since between that time he seems to have finally learned how to talk. However, this poor unfortunate soul can't catch a break, for as soon as he comes too, BAM, Necromorphs are back, and he may still be out of his mind. Features Not-Velociraptors and exploding babies.
Lucius - $0.99
Basically The Omen: The Game. You play as the son of Satan, killing all the people in a mansion who believe your the owner's child. Sort of like Hitman, except Satanism, as you're a little demon child who has to use his growing arsenal of Devil powers to discreetly kill the people who come here one by one. There's also a sequel I won't list, cheaper than it's ever been and there's a pack that includes both game on the Steam page for the first one.
Resident Evil 6 - $7.49
Fuck all of you, this game is actually pretty decent. It's not scary, don't try to pretend it is, but what it does have is some pretty good third-person action game mechanics, interesting and varied enemies, a very mix-bag set of campaigns that's maybe too bloated for its own good but with a variety of good and bad moments, and some fantastic Mercenaries. Best experienced with a friend.
Outlast - $4.99
Do you like sitting in the dark trying to preserve camera battery life as naked dudes run free in a closed-off mental asylum? Sure you do! The game and its expansion pack, Whistle Blower, are on sale. The game is a bit front-loaded, but definitely has its moments of spooky scariness.
Gorky 17 - $0.69
Don't let the outdated graphics fool you, this is a cult classic post-apocalyptic strategy-RPG game with strong horror tones and atmosphere that's something of a hidden gem.
Knock-Knock - $1.99
Who's there? An odd dive into the an odd world of time management, survival, picture-book esque horrors, and obtuse directions, but figuring it out and how to survive is part of the fun. Best experienced going in blind, and with a bit of patience and willingness to retry and learn from your mistakes, there is a pretty good experience in here.
Typing of the Dead: Overkill - $4.99
Grindhouse cheese & sleaze for either a mouse on-rail shooter, or a keyboard typing-a-thon. Has a cheesy but enjoyable plot that never takes itself seriously and has a great dumb ending, some pretty good boss battles, and more cussing than I could mother-fucking say. If you want something not really scary, but with all the sweet 70s horror grindhouse violence and twisted bio-organic monstrosities, and maybe want to spruce up your typing, this is a game for you.
Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut - $2.49
It's a cult-classic for a reason. A game that is truly unlike anything you'll ever play, but also similar to a lot of things. Basically Twin Peaks: The Game, but more so it has some amazing elements, does some things that are so-bad-its-good, but is grounded by a likable and well-developed group of characters, an over-the-top story, humor that is laugh-out-loud funny both intentionally and unintentionally, and an intriguing central murderer mystery, and overall strangeness. Not scary, but has its twistedness.
The Cat Lady - $3.39
Twisted point'n'click among the best of em. An older woman decides she wants nothing more to do with life, and commits suicide. However, some form of reaper contacts her in purgatory and tells her that it will not let her die, until she can in life kill five demons in the real world wearing the skin of men. Really good story, atmosphere, twists, and style.
Resident Evil 4 Ultimate HD Edition - $6.79
The best version of the classic action-horror game. You play as Leon, a man who goes to Spain to save the President's Daughter. Not really requiring knowledge of the series past to be played, the game has great pacing and twisted monsters that try to stop you in this hammy tale of a bad-ass American versus a twisted cult. Was a game-changer in its time, and still is a well-paced title that continuously throws new things at the player all the way through to the end.
Harvester - $1.49
One of the shlockiest games you may ever play. Full of shocking, crude, 90s-filled horror, over-the-top violence, trying to be super offensive to everyone, and has a number of downright hilarious moments. Stars a man who awakens in a strange 1950s-styled town with no memory of how he got here, people he doesn't know claiming to be his family, and something more sinister lurking beneath the surface of the small town. One of the B-est games of all time.
DreadOut - $3.74
An Indonesian horror game that's inspired by Fatal Frame. Has a strong atmosphere and sound design, low-budget graphics, but full of surprises, twists, turns, and a lot of variety actually. Has some stand-out horror moments, especially in the last third, which stick-out as quality horror. Some fun, but simple, combat mixed with some cryptic puzzles, some interesting and haunting scenes, and a lot of creativity with a bit of jank. One of the most 'old-school' feeling newer horror games that captures what made those games enjoyable though, but definitely can be cryptic sometimes.
The Last Door - $2.49
A point'n'click with a pixely style, but don't let its appearance fool you, this is actually a really good horror point'n'click with a great story, good music, some actually creepy parts, and is told in an episodic way. Season 2 is coming out very soon, completely worth playing through Season 1 (which is what this is).
Claire - $2.49
A 2D side-scrolling horror game featuring a teen girl and a dog she meets, named Anubis. Taking care of her mother in the hospital, she suddenly walks out to get coffee, but gets trapped in some form of nightmare world. Something of a mixture of Silent Hill and Clock Tower, she now must make her escape from labyrinth-like locations as she unravels a bigger going-on. Has some creepy scenes, tense sequences, and some interesting run and hide gameplay with shadow monsters, darkness, and light. It's a strange experience down the rabbit hole.
Silence of the Sleep - $3.39
A 2D side-scrolling horror game made by one person. Has an interesting 'cut-out' visual style, matched with a strange story that's somewhere between The Shining and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. A man with thoughts of suicide ends up meeting an odd bartender who goes on to take him into a world where shadows resides, and memories lie. Has some really creepy and tense moments, and then some down-time with the weirdos and eccentric characters. Also has a good atmosphere and great sound design.
Alien: Isolation - $24.99
The hide'n'seek game with an intelligent Xenomorph enemy. Has some combat and maybe goes on for a bit longer than it needs to, but has some tense cat-and-mouse gameplay set in the detailed- & full of lore world of Alien, and make the sort of horror game in that universe fans have wanted for a while now, mixed with some fun twists on similar hide'n'seek horror games, most of all being the Xenomorph being an interesting enemy itself.
The Evil Within - $19.79
Truly a love it or hate it game, though I quite liked it. It's a bit rough around the edges, has some trial-and-error moments, and changes tones multiple times through its course. But it's stacked-full of variety, has stand-out moments, some engrossing, violent, and satisfying gunplay when you get the hang of it, and has some twisted monsters in a variety of locations with a variety of tasks. Limited supplies and surreality, with a somewhat thin plot, but something of a rollercoaster of an experience. Has a demo if you want to give it a try with the first few chapters, also a lengthy game and the game really starts with the third chapter (the final chapter of the demo).
Sanitarium - $4.99
One of the old classics of point'n'click horror, but stands-up due to some amazing atmosphere and a good story. Starts somewhat typical, an amnesiac wakes up in a twisted sanitarium mental hospital, but gives way to all sorts of twists, and some legitimately creepy moments. Considered a masterpiece by many, and for good reason.
Resident Evil HD Remaster - $14.99
One of the best-regarded classic survival-horror games of all time gets a release in HD on Steam. A 'RE'make of the first game in the series, it stands-up well even all these years later, showing the classic survival-horror style in true form with atmosphere in aces, creepy enemies and mechanics, a cheesy but staple plot that launches the series, limited supplies, fixed camera-angles with tank controls, and all sorts of twists and turns through an iconic mansion. It has some beautiful art direction and introduces new things through its course to keep things interesting and unexpected.
Dying Light - $29.99
An action-horror game with great parkour, surprising atmosphere and tenseness in scenes, a dumb story, but enjoyable zombified gameplay that's basically Dead Island, but better in every way. A realization of a strong concept, and some really fun 4-player co-op gameplay to boot. Zombie killing, parkouring, twisted fun.
Sunless Sea - $12.72
Set sail to the deep, a Lovecraftian game about you as captain with a crew at sea, a rogue-like where you must manage your crew and explore, and what happens is up to you. Unearth otherworldly horrors, go mad and eat your crew, explore uncharted waters and fish for supplies, and much more. Also has quite a good story to it.
Resident Evil Revelations 2 - $14.99
Hey, it turns out this game is actually pretty good. It returns Resident Evil to hammy but enjoyable plots with enjoyably quirky characters, matched with a more limited-supplies action-horror game with more atmosphere than the last few games combined, told in an episodic way with a fun little narrative and cheesy writing, but some tense, challenging, and surprising moments through-out. It's maybe the best blend of horror and atmosphere Capcom have done since RE4, and though a bit low-quality in some areas, makes up for it in execution. Each episode is generally better than the last.
Zombie Army Trilogy - $15.29
A co-op grindhouse zombie game with some fun gunplay, great 80s style, fun and varied stages, interesting and varied enemies, and some challenging mechanics. There's virtually no story (there is one, but it's super minor), Hitler was into Satanism and brings back his nazis as an army to rule Germany once more, and you must put a stop to him. A good amount of content, full of secrets and fun things, it's straight-forward but nails the execution and is not only super solid, but very fun with friends, and surprisingly atmospheric.
Shutter - $1.49
Made by a GAF'er, a short horror game that isn't amazing, but actually fairly decent with some good creep-out moments and story. You play as a security camera robot who records the surrounding area to survey a house on sale, but begin to find paranormal activity... Puzzle solving and some unique camcorder gameplay commence.
Into The Gloom - $1.49
An actually really creepy puzzle-horror game, the world in the game is composed of nothing but black, white, and red, shades of gray, and simple, retro-like graphics, but it is really oppressive, the puzzles are challenging but fun, and has things from the shadow that slowly are after you... Multiple endings as well.
(continued in a next post)
