Summary
The horror genre is often confined to games where theplayer survives against an evil threatwith limited supplies, or uses a wealth of guns to put countless bullets through demonic entities. Sometimes, developers choose to do things differently and use strategy as a way to implement all of those things that go bump in the night.
Some of the best uses of horror come from games that require patience and tactics to overcome abominations from the depths of the worst possible nightmare, and it is in these strategic instances that the genre can thrive in ways it might not with the more standard, obvious formula people are used to.
Ever since the originalAlienmovie came out in 1979, theXenomorphs have captured people’s imaginationthe world over, and developer Tindalos Interactive decided to use them as a way for players to survive against them in its turn-based strategyAliens: Dark Descent.
It captures the atmospheric terror felt throughout the series of movies, but instead of jump scares, it requires the player to make use of each member of their team’s abilities to survive, and the more noise players make, the more aliens they have to kill, intensifying the horror only Stan Winston’s creations could instill.
Heavily inspired by renowned manga artist Junji Ito,World of Horrorticks all the boxes when it comes to horror. It delves into traditional Japanese folklore with shades of H.P. Lovecraft, providing an unnerving and creepy story where nothing is ever as it seems.
Turn-based combat and stat management are two key elements of its gameplay, and while players solve the different cases, it is the interesting choose-your-own adventure story that keeps things flowing, battling creepy enemies like the Obsessed Man and Headless Mannequin along the way.
Building on what made the original so unsettling,Darkest Dungeon 2manages to choke the player with its misery and claustrophobic environment, throwing some brutal turn-based combat in for good measure. Stoppingthe impending apocalypseis tough, but it can also be rewarding.
The strategy comes from discovering the synergy between party members and using abilities in smart ways, learning what does and doesn’t work, and making sure the next run is easier than the last. From standard enemy soldiers to abominations of the undead, it is always unsettling in its inception.
WhileXCOM: Enemy Unknownmight not appear to be particularly horrifying from the outside, the turn-based strategy leaves you feeling vulnerable all the time while fighting against a threat that the player doesn’t understand. It isn’t always the aliens that are scary, but the fear of the unknown.
Abandoned streets where aliens could be lurking leaves a feeling of uncertainty and eeriness, and when the fight does begin, it is seeing those members of your team soon die from an alien bursting out of them if players don’t stop it from happening.
Supported by an excellent soundtrack and some exciting tactical combat,Othercideis about fighting dark entities in an effort to stop the end of the world.Suffering is all part of the gamewhile players control The Daughters, humanity’s last hope in a world slowly succumbing to the darkness.
Combat plays out in a turn-based style, where the heroes face off against a range of creatures, from fast attacking Scavengers to hulking bosses that will do everything in their power to see you killed. It’s frantic yet satisfying, and has a simple art style that helps to elevate the horror.
Dungeons & Dragonsis known for its many horrific bosses, andBaldur’s Gate 3features a few encounters with the underworld and hell itself. There are plenty of horrifying moments, specifically in Act 2 where the party end up in the creepy Shadow-Cursed Lands.
One of the most scary and downright unsettling encounters in the entire game comes when the party encounters Doctor Malus Thorm, an undead surgeon in the House of Healing. His penchant for mutilation and pain unfolds in some unsettling dialogue, but it is his nurses that leave the players feeling the most uncomfortable.
There’s nothing thatshares an association with horror quite like hell itself, and attempting to become the next lord of darkness inSolium Infernumthrough brains over brawn is an intriguing concept. Command armies, betray other leaders, and do what needs to be done in order to rule hell.
What makes it so enjoyable is the way betrayal is a mechanic of sorts, wielding the power of words to sew doubt into the minds of others. It features typical tropes of the RTS genre, but where it makes its mark is how intelligence is the best weapon, despite being in the most horrific place imaginable.
Zombies are one of the staples of the horror genre, and when humanity is on the brink of collapse inThey Are Billions, theundead come in their massesto wipe out civilization without letting the player breathe. It features intense combat and survival, where every step of progress can be undone in seconds.
For every improvement made to the colony, an encounter with the zombies can make everything come crashing down. Featuring an engaging story and old school visuals, this horror strategy pushes players to the limit every step of the way.
Marvel has always struggled to release good video games, and despite them getting it right withMarvel’s Spider-Manon PlayStation,Marvel’s Midnight Sunsis one of the few to get the feel of the comics right while delivering some excellent tactical roleplaying gameplay.
Not normally associated with horror in the mainstream, this sees you battling everything from the supernatural to Mephisto and Lilith, two of hell’s most dangerous inhabitants. The turn-based battles are intense, and the story is filled with creepy and demonic goodness for even the biggest horror aficionados.
