Summary
Horror games have always been a popular genre. Whether they are story-driven adventures, interactivemystery games, or action-packed adventure games, they all share a common theme: their goal is to frighten the person playing them. Vampires, zombies, ghosts, and ghouls are common inhabitants of such games. But there are many rich ideas for horror games to be found in urban myths as well.
Urban legends are the kind of stories people like to tell each other on dark nights, when the wind is howling and the power is out. There are hundreds of urban myths, but a few in particular would make an excellent setting for ahorror gameof some kind.
6Kuchisake-Onna
The Slit-Mouthed Woman
The Kuchisake-Onna is the basis of a Japanese urban myth. Also known as the “slit-mouthed woman,” she is badly disfigured and appears to people wearing a surgical mask. She accosts people and asks whether they think she is beautiful. Once they have answered, she removes her mask to reveal her disfigured slit mouth, and asks the same question again. Depending on the answer they give, she may attack the person, disfiguring or killing them.
As a setting for a horror game, the urban myth of Kuchisake-Onna could drivea dark, complex story. The player would attempt to uncover her secrets and learn about the woman’s tragic past, in an effort to escape her attention.
5Bloody Mary
Say Her Name Three Times
The legend of Bloody Mary is known in many countries around the world. The basic premise is that chanting her name three times in front of a mirror will summon her. Once summoned, she may harm the summoner, or drag them into the mirror.
There is real potential for a horror game in the urban myth of Bloody Mary, especially involving the mirror aspect. The player might be dragged into the mirror, into a world made entirely of mirrors. From there, they would have to try andsolve the mazeto find their way out, whilst escaping Bloody Mary herself.
4The Mothman
A Winged Creature With Glowing Red Eyes
Originally reported in Point Pleasant, West Virginia back in the 1960s, the Mothman is described as a red-eyed, winged creature. It has supposedly been sighted prior to well-known disasters, such as Silver Bridge collapsing in 1967.
A horror game based on the urban myth of the Mothman could revolve around uncovering the secrets of the Mothman, and why he appears as a harbinger of disaster. The game could take some twists and turns, with the Mothman itself appearing to warn the player of impending danger, perhaps leading to an unexpected ending.
3The Hookman
A Killer Stalking Young Couples
This classic urban myth involves a killer that uses a hook for a hand. His modus operandi is to stalk young couples who have parked in remote locations to enjoy each other’s company. This deranged killer attacks and murders these couples.
A game based on the urban myth of the Hookman could begin with the player being one of the couple that is being attacked. After the Hookman murders their boyfriend/girlfriend, the player manages to break free, and must escape. This would be perfect for astealth game, with the player needing to creep away from their vehicle and back to civilization, with the Hookman stalking them all the way.
2The Jersey Devil
With A Bloodcurdling Scream
The Jersey Devil is a winged creature that has horns, hooves, and a terrifying scream. It is said to live somewhere in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The earliest sighting was sometime in the 1700s. According to the legends, the creature was the 13th child of a local woman, who had been cursed.
A game based on the Jersey Devil urban legend could revolve around the player out hiking in the Pine Barrens, and catching a glimpse of something strange through the trees. They decide to check this out, even though it is getting dark. As they move the tree branches aside, the Jersey Devil lets out its bloodcurdling scream, and the chase is on, with the player needing to escape.
1La Llorona
The Weeping Woman
La Llorona, also known as the Weeping Woman, is an urban myth from Latin America. According to the stories, she is a woman that drowned her own children, and now haunts the shores of rivers, weeping and trying to find them. It is said that she abducts young boys that look like her drowned sons.
This is a great urban myth to base a horror game on. The game could begin with a young family — father, mother, and young son — heading off on acamping trip. The father/mother awakes in the night to the tent shaking, and the son missing. As they put their head outside the tent, they see a ghostly woman leading his son into the woods. Thus begins a terrifying quest to reclaim their son.
