Briony here! Ready to bring you my favourite horror themed games, just in time for Halloween. Don’t worry if horror isn’t your thing, whilst all the games below definitely have a spooky twist to them, some are definitely not as scary as others! So, I’m sure you’ll find something to enjoy. Remember to chat with us over on our Learning Resources social medias to let us know what you think of the games below, or just to wish everyone a Happy Halloween! If you’d like a more detailed breakdown of what’s in each game (age rating wise) check out https://www.commonsensemedia.org/. Now, let’s get spooky!
Little Nightmares
Kicking off today’s list is Little Nightmares! A game that’s perfect if you’re not a huge fan of horror but still want to get those goosebumps. In this game you play as Six, a girl in a bright yellow raincoat, trying to escape the surreal underwater resort you’re being held captive in. Along the way meet friendly characters, less than friendly characters, and last but definitely not least, collect adorable gnome creatures. The game itself is extremely fun to play (if not a little creepy) and it isn’t too difficult either. So, whether you game often or just every now and again, you’re guaranteed to enjoy this one! It even has a sequel if you get hooked.
Platforms:
Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
Release Date:
27th April 2017
Age Rating:
PEGI 16
IGN Rating:
8.8/10
Layers of Fear (!!M for Mature!!)
If you’re into psychological horror then you’re going to love this game. In Layers of Fear, you play as a tormented painter, walking through his house that is constantly changing and shifting, solving puzzles (nothing too difficult don’t worry!), and gradually descending into madness. As you move from room to room, you begin to slowly piece together the history behind your character, whilst creating your final masterpiece in the art room which you’ll frequently visit. I’ve played it several times and loved every single playthrough. And if you’re an achievement hunter like me, you can speed run this game and mop up the achievements in no time!
Platforms:
PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Android, Nintendo Switch
Release Date:
27th August 2015
Age Rating:
M for Mature 17+
IGN Rating:
5.8/10
Resident Evil Village (!!PEGI 18!!)
Probably one of the biggest releases this year, Resident Evil Village is one of my favourite games. If you’ve played Resident Evil 7, then you’ll be able to pick right up and go with Ethan Winters, plunging into the crazy events that are to follow. If you haven’t played Resident Evil 7 then that’s fine too! At the beginning of the game, it offers to catch you up on all the events through a short video, so you’ll understand everything you need to know before diving in. I can't describe how good this game is; you play as a frustrated father in a rural town, presumably in eastern Europe, fighting off a variety of enemies, each as daunting as the last. The game is quite combat heavy so if you don’t enjoy combat you might want to give this one a miss, but the combat itself isn’t too difficult, even on the harder difficulties. I don’t want to spoil too much about it, but I would highly recommend checking this one out!
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia
Release Date:
7th May 2021
Age Rating:
PEGI 18
IGN Rating:
8/10
The Sinking City (!!PEGI 18!!)
The Sinking City is an awesome game. Based off H.P. Lovecraft’s creations, it’s one of the best Cthulu lore-based games out there and definitely worth the play time. Whilst sometimes the combat can be frustrating, overall the story, characters, and environments make plenty up for it. Playing as a character plagued by bizarre nightmares, you’ll solve puzzles, investigate crimes and decide the fate of your world. All the while making decisions that will affect gameplay later down the line, so choose carefully!
Platforms:
PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S
Release Date:
27th June 2019
Age Rating:
PEGI 18
IGN Rating:
7.8/10
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope (!!PEGI 18!!)
Little Hope is the second installment in the Dark Pictures Anthology series, the first of which being Man of Medan (also definitely worth the play!). This is a great game to play if you want a fright but don’t want to deal with combat, preferring to focus on the story. Throughout the game you switch between the characters in the group, a band of students trying to find help after a bus crash. Encountering the eerie town of Andover, Massachusetts, you’ll make dialogue decisions that will decide the fate of each character and how the story plays out. I highly recommend giving this a play, despite the relatively low IGN rating, as it has such a powerful atmosphere (especially when playing at night in a pitch-black room). Not only that, you’ll get to say hello to ‘the curator’, by far one of my favourite characters going.
Platforms:
PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release Date:
30 October 2020
Age Rating:
PEGI 18
IGN Rating:
5/10
Well, that’s it for this round! Hopefully, at least one of these games has piqued your interest, although personally I hope all 5 have. There’s 2 weeks left until Halloween now, so get playing! And don’t forget to hit us up on our social medias @bfc_lr, we’ll see you over there. We’re also hosting a Horror Creative Writing Workshop on the 21st October that all students can attend for FREE, check out the registration form for more info. Happy Halloween!