Photo courtesy of Joel Vasquez-Home
Have you ever felt like you’ve been bored from playing video games solely because the game you like just doesn’t update quickly? Yeah, I have, and it’s agonizing. Waiting for my favorite game to update is tiring, and even after getting an update, I already have high hopes for the next one. But horror games are my type of thing. Horror games can be played individually or with friends or siblings. There are a variety of games out on the internet that include the nice thrill and suspense of a horror game, but most of the time, they are pretty hard to find in light of other game genres dominating the gaming world.
For all you gamers out there, if you’re ever feeling a little bored, here are some horror games I highly recommend you play alone or with your friends! All these games can be played on a PC. For single-player, I suggest Fears to Fathom, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and FAITH: the Unholy Trinity. For multiplayer games, I recommend Lethal Company, Phasmaphobia, and Roblox. I have watched or played most of these games, so let’s briefly break each game down to find which one you like best.
Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2506160/Fears_to_Fathom__Ironbark_Lookout/
Photo courtesy of Steam
Fears to Fathom, created by Rayll Studios, is a single-player game and is, according to the official Fears to Fathom page, “an episodic psychological horror game where each episode unveils a short story narrated by the ones who survived.” You play Jack Nelson, who has been transferred to a different outpost for his job. You are new to the place and do not know what lies outside. Your job in this game is to make the right choices and not be killed by what lurks outside. This game, in my opinion, is very mysterious and unsettling. Not to mention, you also use your microphone during the game, so if you shout, yell, or scream, the monsters can hear you, which makes things much scarier. One wrong move, and you could be dead! But that’s only the first episode. In other episodes, you play a different character in a different setting, so this game has much more than just working in an outpost. So, if you’re ever in the mood to play a horror game by yourself, I highly recommend this game.
Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/319510/Five_Nights_at_Freddys/
Photo courtesy of Steam
Five Nights at Freddy’s, made by Scott Cawthon, is a game you can play by yourself. It’s been almost ten years since the first FNAF game came out! In this game, you work as an officer in Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. During the nighttime, the animatronics in Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza begin to move and slowly creep closer to you until they kill you. Each animatronic has a different specialty, so it’s essential to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each. You can only survive by closing the doors when you feel safe. You can also turn on lights near the doors to get a clearer view of what’s outside, but you also have a limit. Your power begins at 100%, and the longer you keep your lights on and your doors closed, the quicker your energy will drain. Once you hit 0%, everything turns off, and you will be defenseless. You start at midnight (12 am) and must survive until dawn (6 am). As you complete each night, the game will progressively get more challenging, as the animatronics will move a lot quicker, spread out more, and attack you more often. The FNAF series has continued for many years. They’ve also included story games in the series, which mainly revolve around survival. They’ve even got their own movie! This game is very strategic yet scary because, like Fears to Fathom, one wrong move could potentially cost you the game.
Source: https://techraptor.net/games/faith-unholy-trinity
Photo courtesy of Tech Raptor
FAITH: the Unholy Trinity, made by Airdorf Games, has to be one of the most disturbing games I’ve ever seen. In this pixel horror game, you play as John Ward, and your goal is to explore abandoned houses, forests, etc. With your crucifix, you can defend yourself from monsters lurking within the homes and forests. In my opinion, I love and hate this game solely because of how scary it is. While most games have that frightening feeling, this game is more disturbing and thrilling than scary. The whole video game being pixelated (in my opinion) makes things look a bit surreal, but at the same time, intriguing since not many horror games are pixelated. There are different chapters with different protagonists, but each chapter feels disturbing. Overall, this game is just disturbing.
Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1966720/Lethal_Company/
Photo courtesy of Steam
Lethal Company, created by Zeekerss, is a multiplayer survival horror game. In this game, you can play with friends or other people, and essentially, you have to travel to different moons to get items worth different values to sell them to meet a given profit quota. Otherwise, you lose. Unfortunately, gathering resources will not be simple, as numerous entities vary on most moons. Honestly, I find this game to be hilarious with friends. I have yet to play with strangers, but playing with friends makes this game less scary. You will also have to talk through voice chat, and once you die, then no one will be able to hear you. It is a little pricey, but it’s worth it to buy this game.
Phasmaphobia, created by Kinetic Games, is a multiplayer mystery game. Here, you and your friends (maximum is four) play as ghost hunters, and your job is to investigate houses and figure out what ghost is haunting the map. Each ghost has specific clues that will define which ghost is which. For example, when dealing with a Hantu, you will find fingerprints, freezing temperatures, and a ghost orb, and with a Mare, you’ll find a ghost orb, ghostwriting, and a response in the spirit box. You will have to use tools to find out what type of ghost you’re dealing with and be cautious whenever the ghost begins. Like Lethal Company, you and your friends can use an in-game microphone while you play. Once you die, of course, everyone else will not be able to hear you, but you can listen to them. This game is thrilling and, at some points, funny because being with your friends can make things much less spookier and more fun. There are no jumpscares (except the one where you die, which is the same every time), but a ghost can spawn and appear anywhere, so it’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings. Though this game lost popularity, I would still recommend it.
Source: https://discord.com/channels/808816697401409568/947724459245178941
Photo courtesy of CTStudios Discord Server
Finally, we have Roblox, created by CEO David Baszucki. This is the only free game on this list with such fun and exciting horror games. Many of you might have seen this one coming from a mile away, but Roblox is a gaming platform with different game genres for all types and ages of people. Think of it as Netflix, but for video games. While some kid-friendly games are in Roblox, I mainly want to discuss the horror games. Sure, there are good and very bad horror games on this platform, but if I had to choose the best horror game on Roblox, it would have to go to The Mimic. In this game, you play a different chapter of a book, each containing the game’s lore. It also uses a bit of Japanese mythology in its game. Not only that, they also do events for holidays such as Christmas and Halloween. Every jumpscare is unique, and if you die, you don’t need to worry, as you will be respawned unless you’re doing something called Nightmare Mode, which means you have to do the chapter with one life. The game’s quality, design, and every aspect make it feel like you are in the protagonist’s head. It’s simply incredible how well the developers made this game! This game is multiplayer (maximum is 5 for regular chapters, maximum is 7-10 for event chapters), so if you want to, you can hop on a voice call with your friends and enjoy some thrill while discussing strategies or tips. While Roblox has many other horror games, I believe The Mimic is a prominent face for all horror games on the platform.
Six unique games to choose from, and the horror games out there on the internet are plentiful. These are just suggestions, but next time you hop on your console, computer, or mobile device, consider choosing one of these games to give you a good scare!