Summary
Allowing players to step into roles outside the ordinary is what video games do best. Whether navigating the city’s vibrant nightlife with newfound vampiric abilities or just finally being able to turn into that coffee mug and squeeze through those narrow holes, there is no shortage of games that let players embrace themore mystical aspects of life.
Supernatural Folklore has been prevalent in video games for a long time. From direct adaptations of TheWorld of DarknesstoStar Wars- even when something isn’t directly supernatural in the genre, chances are -there’s still some level of inspiration there in worldbuilding. Here are a few that go the extra mile and let players live out all their dark supernatural fantasies and whose protagonists wear their mystical hearts on their leather sleeves.
This release went relatively unnoticed, but it’s one of the few that really excels at letting playersengross themselves in a Werewolf-centric story. Based on theWorld of DarknessTabletop RPG, the lore and abilities associated with this game’s werewolves aren’t entirely common throughout supernatural adaptations.
In the game, players take on the role of Cahal, a powerful Garou (Werewolf) who can freely switch between three different forms. The Homid form is used for infiltration and conversation, while the Lupus form is ideal for stealth and exploration. The final form, Crinos, is a towering Lycan that allows Cahal to rampage through hordes of the evil Endron corporation. It’s a must-play for gamers who want an experience dedicated solely to Werewolf lore,but it does have its shortcomings as an overall experience.
DeveloperDon’t Nod’siconic interactive story sees the player use the protagonist’s inexplicable ability to rewind time to make decisions, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover the dark secrets of Arcadia Bay.
Players can freely use this ability at any time, for whatever purpose they wish. Though the game’s nature as an interactive story can naturally make its results somewhat restricted, it still has various opportunities where Max Caulfield’s powers can be a force for good, bad - or somewhere in the middle. Those wishing to get the best outcome possible are going to need to make plenty of use of this power.
Players take on the role of Jesse Faden as she navigates her way through the Federal Bureau of Control, which has been overtaken by paranormal phenomena. By overcoming the overwhelming forces of the Hiss, Jesse gradually unlocks telekinetic abilities, which unlock all kinds of exciting and creative gameplay possibilities.
From being able to fly to telekinetically throwing just about anything nearby, this is theX-Menpower fantasy that most games are sorely missing. Jesse is also armed with a Service Weapon, that can take on the form of whatever type of gun the player requires at the time.
Jackie Estacado, a mob boss cursed with demonic powers, is the protagonist of thisforgotten360-eragem. Gamers harness the dark and powerfulforces of The Darknessto tear their enemies apart, summon black holes, and fling car doors at groups of mobsters.
The fantastic leverage of dark comedy brilliantly compliments the over-the-top gory nature of the brutal combat, and its beautifully addictive rip-and-tear style of gameplay perfectly shows just how the average joe really would feel fighting against a leather-clad mob boss withancient demonic tentacles spouting from his back. Just avoid going into any direct light.
6Devil May Cry
Dante The Half-Demon Pizza Lover
Renowned for its in-depth and super smokin' cool combat, theDevil May Cryseries revolves around protagonist Dante, the son of Sparda. Being half demon doesn’t stop the platinum-haired protagonist fromdishing out as many one-liners and stylish combo’sas possible, though. He’s mostly here for a good time.
Dante’s demonic nature manifests itself in a number of ways, from his enhanced physical traits - to the ability to transform into his immensely potent demon form, which greatly amplifies his natural abilities, all while providing new ones for gamers to play around with. Arguably one of themost iconic characters in gaming, Dante’s supernatural nature makes him the only one capable of bringing a couple of tears to the devil’s eyes.
Those journeying through a post-WWI London as a doctor-turned-fledging vampire opens up some complex moral quandries. DeveloperDon’t Nodputs a focus on the conflicting nature of the protagonist’s role as a healer, and his newfound vampirism.
The game’s difficulty levels adapt to how the player chooses to tackle their blood-sucking impulses. They’ll level up naturally as they progress through the story, but every single NPC in the game world has their own roles, routines and relationships - and drinking from them provides far more experience. With visceral combat and an incredibly compelling core gameplay cycle, being a vampire has never felt this conflicting.
Dishonoredsees Gamers taking on the role of a vengeful assassin, wielding sinister magic to take down their targets. Using the Mark of The Outsider, Corvo can do anything from teleport to outright freezing time.Arkane Studios' specialization in sandbox-style maps puts these Supernatural powers on full display.
Players can acquire various new abilities and upgrade them to suit their playstyle by collecting Runes. Plenty of the protagonist’s abilities are rooted firmly in Supernatural Folklore, and there are no limits to player creativity in Dishonored. Emily can link all enemies together before transforming into a living shadow and taking them down with just one attack. This sleek blend of FPS action and immersive-sim-like worldbuilding makes Dishonored a must-play for any fans of Supernatural Folklore.
One of the more underrated games to release in recent memory,Prey’snot afraid of showing just how weak the protagonist, Morgan Yu, really is when compared to theincredibly unpredictable and extremely hostile Typhon threat. These shadowy beings from another world have taken over the Talos 1 space station, and it’s the player’s job to take them down. Filled with twists, turns - and a genuinely captivating story, Morgan will need all the help they can get if they want to escape this one.
Whether it’s transforming into a turret or harnessing telekinetic abilities- Morgan can wield and upgrade their own Typhon powers that let them use theseLovecraftianabilities to turn the tide against the growing Typhon enemy.Prey’senvironmental puzzles and problem-solving put player freedom first. There’s rarely ever one way to get around those pesky roadblocks. So, whether the solution is turning into a cup and jumping through a gap in the wall or using Morgan’s supernatural strength to lift that box - each gamer’s playthrough is their own.
Navigating the gothic city of Yharnam, in a world fraught with nightmarish creatures and eldritch horrors is no simple task.FromSoftware’sunapologetic difficulty levels are still prevalent throughoutBloodborne, of course, and newfound Hunters will need to use every tool at their disposal.
Certain cursed weapons can transform players into mindless monsters, slashing their way through hordes of unknowable horrors.Bloodborneis no doubt an unforgettable experience, and issorely missing any kind of sequel or remaster. It’s an experience that should be on every gamer’s bucketlist - the thick atmosphere and storytelling that’s to be expected in aFromSoftwaregame sinks its lengthy and grotesque pincers deep into gamers' brains.
There are few cult classics out there that have captivated fans of supernatural stories as thisWorld of Darkness-basedImmersive Sim has. Players assume the role of a newly turned vampire - and choose one of seven playable Clans that determine their abilities, playstyle - and even dialogue.
Whether players are the monstrous Nosferatu, whose transformations leave them hideously disfigured and incapable of blending into human society, or the Ventrues, high-society vampires who excel at dominating the minds of their adversaries to get their way, there’s a reason this game is still being talked about. Its ability to fully immerse the player in the seedy underbelly of LA’s vampiric dominion is unforgettably captivating.
