Summary
ThePSVR 2has seen its fair share of horror games since its release in March 2023. The releases come in a wide range, from the sublime to far less solid entries. Capcom’s Resident Evil games, for example, remain at the top of the pack.
At thisspookiest time of year, it’s only fitting to decide on the best horror games on thePSVR 2platform. There are many contenders, but these virtual worlds are the ones that can send chills down anyone’s spine.
A VR B-Movie
Very Bad Dreamswas originally released asBad Dreamson the original PSVR headset. This revamped version for PSVR2 surpasses the original with more scenes, better visuals, and far more general polish than the first bug-ridden release.
These changes elevate the game from easy to avoid to one that horror fans should definitely check out. Despite some awkward mechanics, the variety and creativity between the games' various chapters are well worth experiencing.
Working through each of protagonist Dean’s dreams as his sanity slowly unravels presents plenty ofsurreal visual momentsand some scares that will keep players on their toes. The game flits between scenes, touching on many fears from spiders to ghouls, and ties it all together with a well-realized apartment hub where you can read through collected lore.
11Organ Quarter
Old School Survival Horror
Organ Quarteris not for everyone, with its old-school visuals and even older-school game design. The game is essentially an homage to PS1-era survival horror, borrowing heavily fromthe unsettling weirdness ofSilent Hill, rather than going for outright scares.
That said, that makesOrgan Quarterquite unique among PSVR 2 horror games. In survival horror mode, players will find themselves running from fights to save ammo, and backtracking to find secrets and open new paths. This is only enhanced by theSilentHill-stylemap that players can write on themselves dynamically.
10Ovrdark
Indie VR Scares
Ovrdarkis another attempt at recreating a classic horror feel in VR, this time adopting aResident Evil-style puzzle mansion setting. The mansion looks great visually, with some nice, detailed environments. There’s some great, creepy sound design as well that helps with immersion.
The gameplay is far more focused on puzzle solving than horror, though the game’s major antagonist will keep players on their toes with scenes where players have to stay totally still, and some tense chase sequences.
Five Nights at Freddy’slooks great on PSVR 2, with sharp visuals and inky blacks that help sell the horror. The originalHelp Wantedis a classic for many horror fans, and this version packs the whole game into what may as well be an HD remaster, in VR terms.
Even though the sequel has been out on the platform for a while,Help Wantedlooks undeniably better in the visual department, somehow achieving better clarity and sharpness in the headset. Some would argueHelp Wanted’s collection of mini-games is more fun, too.
8The 7th Guest
A Spooky Mystery
The 7th Guestisn’t the scariest game on the list, but it’s a great puzzle game with a haunting premise. Players are spirits, as are all the other characters, and they’ll make use of a spirit lantern to reveal clues and details about the other side throughout the game.
The original7th Guestwas released 30 years ago, a PC-based point-and-click adventure using FMV video to portray characters. These scenes have been re-recorded and re-imagined with volumetric video, meaning the spirits appear in the environments in real 3D depth.
Puzzles retain some point and click obtuseness, but they never get too demanding. This game is a total rebuild in every way, so those who’ve never played the original will simply find an enjoyable VR puzzle game with a spooky twist.
7Happy Funland
Enter The Haunted Themepark
Happy Funlandis a little divisive among horror fans, but those who can push through some mediocre combat will find a lot to love in this part horror-part parody game. The premise is a horror trope that has gone woefully underutilized in VR; the haunted theme park.
Players are dumped in the middle of an abandoned theme park, with a creepy AI guide and a horde of angry animatronics. The game is light on the horror, leaning into more of a dark-humor vibe. There’s plenty of referential parody, from Disneyland rides toSimpsonsreferences.
The game is well-paced, apart from the recurring mini-golf game that occasionally bars progress. The ending sequence of the game really ramps up and provides a great conclusion to the game that is wellworth experiencing for any horror fans.
6Propagation: Paradise Hotel
Residence Of Evil
Propagation: Paradise Hotelis a stand-out indie gem on PSVR 2. In its relatively short runtime, it manages to perfectly capture the feeling of a90s survival horrorgame. It uses ammo scarcity, threatening enemies, and risky backtracking to create a dense and foreboding atmosphere.
That said, despite its small development team, the game certainly isn’t retro in its looks. The Paradise Hotel is a great-looking and detailed environment, packed with vibrant, if gory, visuals. There are a few boss fights and environments that are highly memorable.
The gunplay could be described as average, with just a simple pistol and, later, a shotgun. Yet, there’s more than enough gameplay variety, and this never stands out as a flaw. The environmental puzzles are intuitive and use VR-focused mechanics. It’s a great, immersive survival horror adventure.
5The Exorcist: Legion VR
Demonic Possession
For players who want some real scares in their horror game,The Exorcist: Legion VRis a good choice. This episodic horror classic runs with its core theme of demonic possession to a terrifying degree, leaning into some unique and immersive exorcism mechanics.
Players will find themselves in several extremely haunted scenarios where the tension and sound design do as much sell the horror as the obligatory jump scares.The Exorcistreally does a unique job of letting players “fight” demons, putting them right in the shoes of an exorcist at work,
4The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
Don’t Blink
After several updates to both the content and visuals,Switchback VRhas become a must-own title for PSVR 2 players. Despite not being quite as terrifying as its spiritual predecessor,Until Dawn: Rush of Blood,Switchbackmakes good use of PSVR 2 features like eye tracking and haptics to give players a real thrill ride.
For those unfamiliar,Switchbackis an FPS game where players are seated in a roller-coaster car. The tracks are based on Supermassive’sDark Picturesfranchise, taking players through various haunted and horrifying scenes.
Compared toRush of Blood,Switchbackis more focused on the shooting mechanics than scaring the pants off the player. Yet, each track presents unique threats and hazards, and there are some genuinely scary moments.
3Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice
Be The Horror
For those who’d rather be the monster than the victim, there’sVampire The Masquerade: Justice. Seeking out vengeance for your slain sire, players travel to Venice, uncovering a conspiracy among the Cotteries there along the way.
Levels play out like free-form stealth puzzles, similar to games likeDishonored. Players are free to strike from the shadows or unleash their vampire powers and get loud, but there are consequences for being loud and bloody.
Embodying a vampire is well realized, with players able to scale high places, leap on foes, and even the ability to lean in and drain the blood from an opponent’s neck. There’s also a decent narrative for fans of theWorld of Darknessto dig into.
