Summary
When ahorrorgame is well-made, the setting is practically irrelevant. As long as there are scary elements around the story and enough nightmarish creatures to give players goosebumps, it’s the experience that matters, not the location. However, if developers can pair a good story with a fitting location, they strike gold.
Abandoned mental institutions, cemeteries, and other desecrated areas are the most common settings for most modernhorror stories, whether it is in movies or in video games. But as some titles prove, rural areas surrounded by mountains are also a wonderful option to give players a scare. Here are some of thebest horror games set in mountainous regions.
WhileUntil Dawndidn’t invent games with multiple playable characters, it did an amazing job at delivering an immersive experience for players throughout the story. When a group of friends gets together in the Washington Lodge located on Blackwood Mountain, a trip that would seemingly go smoothly takes a turn for the worse, resulting in the apparent death of two of them. One year later, in the same snowy, mountainous location, the game follows the story of eight friends (Josh, Sam, Jessica, Emily, Beth, Mike, Matt, and Ashley) as they try to survive the vicious creatures they encounter in the woods.
With multiple branching storylines and a strong butterfly effect that determines future events as players make one decision or another, the game gives players full control over who lives and who dies. It’s possible to have all eight characters live by the end of the game, but making the wrong choice can also result in the death of one or many of them.
Mundaunis a highly underrated game with a unique art style and a compelling, if not flawed, story. The game focuses on Curdin, a man who returns to his hometown to attend his grandfather’s funeral. At first, everything seems normal; however, as Curdin investigates further, he finds many inconsistencies around his grandfather’s demise. Set in the Swiss Alps, this game follows Curdin as he seeks answers and finds some that he never expected.
Players looking for a colorful experience orhighly detailed graphicswon’t find either here, as the game is designed to have a Sepia tone reminiscent of photographs from the early 20th century, which adds to the horrifying experience and gives a unique touch of mystery. Gameplay-wise,Mundaunhas the right amount of exploration and narrative encounters to make it feel complete and interesting.
Set in the decade of the 80sin the middle of a forest in Soviet territory,Darkwoodfeatures a top-down perspective view and great horror elements that make it a wonderful addition to the list. Focusing on The Stranger, this title will have players exploring the darkest reaches of the mysterious forest to find answers and discover points of interest.Darkwooddelivers a stressful, yet thrilling experience, and proves that a horror game can work with a top-down perspective view.
While it’s never mentioned that the forest where the game is set is within a mountainous region, it’s a safe assumption to make given the terrain that can be observed. As they progress through the game, players will encounter creatures such as Banshees, Centipedes, Human Spiders and Shadows that they’ll have to fend off and escape to survive.
Alan Wakeis arguably one of the most popular horror games of the last 20 years. Focusing on bestselling writerAlan Wakeand his wife Alice, the game follows them as they go on an improvised vacation to a remote location called Bright Falls in Washington. Both Alan and Alice hope that this trip will help him overcome his writer’s block, which has been affecting him for a few years; however, upon their arrival at Bright Falls, things take a turn for the worse.
Some would argue thatAlan Wakeis a psychological thriller first and a horror game second, but a horror game second is still a horror game. The mountainous area of Bright Falls delivers the perfect setting for Alan to explore and uncover the region’s dark secrets to rescue his wife.
Even non-Resident Evilfans might knowResident Evil Villagethanks to the iconic Lady Dimitrescu and all the cosplayers who attend conventions characterized as her. However, this antagonist isn’t the only element that makes this title great, as there are many other horror aspects that have contributed to elevating it to the status it currently holds.Resident Evil Villageis set in the mountainous regions of Eastern Europe and takes inspiration from the folklore and castles of the area.
The game is set roughly three years after the events ofResident Evil 7, when Ethan and Mia relocate to Europe to start anew. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse, and Ethan is left to fend for himself and survive the many dangers he will face throughout the game.Resident Evil Villagefeatures great combat mechanics, amazing enemy designs, and a location that works extremely well with its horror theme. While there are obvious variations, some of the game’s areas feel very similar to those inResident Evil 4, but with a heavy Slavic touch.
