5 Great Horror Games to Snag Before The STEAM Autumn Sale Ends!
1. Resident Evil 4 (Remake) ($19.99)
Resident Evil 4 is an all-time great horror game, and the remake only enhanced the horror atmosphere and tone of the original. While it's certainly true that many of the Resident Evil games could have made this list (and I do recommend them all!), I chose Resident Evil 4 Remake for the list because it's the latest to have been released and is coming in at a very affordable $19.99. The game is fairly lengthy, features gorgeous graphics, smooth gameplay, and stars one of the franchise's best main characters: Leon! This game is also a standout because it has a unique twist from the typical zombie haunt fare of the first three games. I highly recommend this beloved horror classic!
You can pick it up here: Save 50% on Resident Evil 4 on Steam
2. Alan Wake ($1.49)
This game was originally an exclusive glued to the Xbox 360, but, thankfully, it has since made its way to all manner of platforms. At only $1.49, this may be one of the highest recommendations on this list. What Alan Wake does so well is the uncanny ability to capture true Americana in snippets strewn between some of the most unsettling and nerve-shredding segments I have ever played. Like many a Stephen King protagonist, the game features a writer who is facing something of a block. In order to attempt to complete his work, he and his wife travel to a remote town. Without spoiling anything, nearly immediately his wife goes missing, and he sets out to try to find her and figure out just what is going on around him. The thing that goes so far in this game to make such stand-out horror is specifically the game's unique use of the flashlight mechanic, which has some really awesome impact on the visuals, and which is actually the core of the game's combat system as well, as you will find yourself scrambling for flashlight batteries in order to point the torch at the dark and twisted enemies you encounter to weaken them enough to then be able to truly kill them with your weapons. The story is a bit of a psychological horror thriller, and, while that certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea, it definitely is mine. I also have to note that this is not the remastered version of the game. I don't count that as a negative, though, as, in my opinion, the remaster didn't quite retain the same atmosphere of the original, with changes to color grading and so on. In any case, it's hard not to recommend the original Alan Wake at just $1.49!
You can pick it up here: Save 90% on Alan Wake on Steam
3. Fatal Frame / Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water ($27.99)
Fatal Frame stands alongside Alan Wake in an odd way. I don't mean to imply that they are at all similar in story, tone, themes, or anything like that, but they stand together solely by virtue of the fact that they both feature gameplay which hinges on highly unique mechanics. In the former's case, it's the flashlight, but, in Fatal Frame, it's the camera (which the game calls the Camera Obscura). You see, in Fatal Frame, combat is oriented around taking photos of the apparitions which seek to harm you. It, of course, has depth and intricacies, but, at root, the combat really is a "point and shoot" affair, with factors such as shot framing, the closeness of the apparition/enemy to the camera/player, and more coming into play in terms of damage and whatnot. Of course, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water oozes spooky Japanese atmosphere (which I personally consider to be among the scariest kinds of horror), as the game sees the player following three protagonists (two female and one male) as they venture into the paths of, and explore around, the ominous and reportedly haunted Mt. Hikami. Fatal Frame offers a highly distinctive and especially compelling horror experience that will have you coming back until the end, just on atmosphere and character charisma alone. At $27.99, this is a definite recommend from me!
You can pick it up here: Save 30% on FATAL FRAME / PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water on Steam
4. FEAR Complete Pack ($5.49)
Hear me out: a truly great first-person shooter, but mixed with something like an eerie SWAT-like force dedicated to addressing paranormal occurrences — and don't misunderstand, this is anything but the slow, methodical, investigation-centric drip-feed you get from the likes of, say, X-Files (which I love anyway!). Rather, this is all-out, full-on, bullet-spraying, slow-mo-dodging, heart-pounding action for a sizeable chunk of the run of all the games included in this compelling bundle. Having said that — and don't ask me how the developers managed this — the games all carry true and genuine horror, complete with quiet dread, haunting atmosphere, hair-raising sound and music, and, of course, genuinely surprising jump-scare moments. I think the thing that really works best for me with the whole FEAR franchise (RIP) is that it captures the truly uncomfortable weirdness that surfaces when one is confronted with these sort of faceless, government-esque organizations, and then sees such as engaging with truly supernatural and paranormal forces in the game. It combines into something that creates an incredibly specific but deeply, deeply chilling atmosphere — especially when played with headphones! I can't say much more than this without actually spoiling the premise, but trust me when I tell you it was top-dog in the mid-2000s for a reason, and this specific bundle contains all of the FEAR content available (FEAR 1–3 and the DLCs for 1 and 2) for just $5.49!
You can pick it up here: Save 90% on FEAR Complete Pack on Steam
5. Call of Cthulhu ($2.99)
If you are even remotely interested in horror, then it's likely you already know of H. P. Lovecraft and his stories. Probably his most famous story, Call of Cthulhu has seen many adaptations in a plethora of mediums over the years, and, while in the bonus area of this list I may have another couple of Lovecraft-based game recommendations (I am a fan if you can't tell), I think, for most people, 2018's Call of Cthulhu from developer Cyanide Studio and publisher Focus Entertainment is the easiest recommendation and best fit. This game is set in 1924 and sees the player taking on the role of P. I. Pierce as he takes on an investigation into a tragic death that leads him to the seriously unnerving and isolated Darkwater Island. This one is great because it is directly inspired not only by Lovecraft's own work (obviously), but also by Chaosium's tabletop, pen-and-paper RPG. That means the storytelling is actually quite deep, and you truly have some role-playing mechanics built into the game from the very roots. While I would not say this is the deepest RPG or anything like that, it certainly is a bit less shallow than many other Lovecraft-inspired games. I also find the graphics and presentation in this title to be fun, while delivering on the signature Lovecraft vibe. The game has some cool moments and effects stemming from its sanity system (a system that is admittedly somewhat commonplace for Lovecraftian games, but which stands on its own feet in this title despite that fact). The settings can be downright nightmarish, but there are also strangely charming areas of the game's world, which, while still quite scary in their own way, juxtapose nicely against some of the more intense sections and locales. This also is not an overly long title, which is why I say it is likely the best of the few Lovecraft titles I note in this article for the average player — it stays just long enough to feel filling, but doesn't stay so long as to make one gain a sense of distaste for it. At only $2.99, this title is absolutely worth your time this Halloween season!
You can pick it up here: Save 85% on Call of Cthulhu® on Steam
Honorable Mentions
I don't usually do honorable mentions, but I felt these titles also needed a quick callout:
1. Yomawari Series Deluxe Bundle ($28.73)
This old-school aesthetic horror franchise typically revolves around some kids in Japan getting quickly mixed up in some deeply disturbing supernatural shenanigans. These games lean into horror in a purer sense, with limited options to do anything but run and avoid enemies (with some exceptions). The sense of horror is fundamentally built around the emotional undercurrents of the stories, the adventure-game type of gameplay, and the dread of knowing you have very limited options when the ghouls come out to get you! Best of all, this bundle comes with three games and some additional content. I haven't played them all, but what I have played is enough for me to say this would be a good, and really under-the-radar, lesser-known pick-up for any true horror fans (especially if you grew up playing, or at least appreciate, games from the SNES era).
You can pick it up here: Save 63% on Yomawari Series Deluxe Edition on Steam
2. The Sinking City Remastered ($9.99)
The Sinking City is one of my personal favorite Lovecraft-inspired games. This one is a lot like the Sherlock Holmes games of recent years and centers heavily on the spirit of the old, point-and-click-style adventure games — only set in a fully realized 3D city absolutely drenched in filth and terror. The terror here is a much slower and creeping sort of terror, but there are, of course, moments that are a bit more "blockbuster" in their approach to scaring the player. This one, like Call of Cthulhu above, features a sanity system but ties it uniquely to some of the investigation-centric aspects of its design, which helps it to feel distinctive. I think this title does the best at capturing the unique feel of one of Lovecraft's other very famous stories: The Shadow Over Innsmouth — but it does have elements of his other tales (including Cthulhu) strewn throughout. This title won't be for everyone, but, if you are even remotely a Lovecraft or cosmic horror fan (or if you appreciate a more exploration-based horror approach), this game will very likely give you something to smile through your fear at for only $9.99!
You can pick it up here: Save 75% on The Sinking City Remastered on Steam
3. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth ($1.64)
Dark Corners stands beside Yomawari as one of the lesser-known, more "hidden-gem" recommendations on this list. I think the best way to sum this one up is to say it's something like a what-if scenario of Cthulhu-meets-FEAR. Now, please don't misunderstand. The first-person gameplay is nowhere close to the heights of FEAR as a shooter, but it is serviceable enough. That twist, though, helps Dark Corners to retain a very specific and individualistic identity even after all these years since its release way back in 2006. It also is not the most consistent game, with the first half leaning far heavier into the slow, first-person-exploration-horror approach, while the latter half swings heavily to the other end and emphasizes first-person-shooter horror. All in all, though, the atmosphere still shines through even almost 20 years later, with some pretty unique flavor and writing compared to many other Lovecraftian games. At $1.64, I would say this is a pick-up that surely won't be on any of your friends' lists this Halloween season, but will give you a pretty memorable and spooky cosmic horror time!
You can pick it up here: Save 67% on Call of Cthulhu®: Dark Corners of the Earth on Steam
If you enjoyed this list, please be sure to check out my RPG list here: 5 Great RPGs to Pick Up on the Steam Autumn Games Sale! — OMNIMINK