Weird Space

Top 10 Scariest Video Games

1.F.E.A.R.. The game's title says it all. Monolith's F.E.A.R is considered by many as the very definition of a modern-day horror FPS. Why? Well, you'll certainly know why if you've played it. Players are thrown into a fast-paced, but carefully directed FPS experience, as they rush through darkened, claustrophobic corridors, witnessing excessively violent scenes almost every step of the way. Some of these scenes will have you scared stiff. As 2lions said: "you can use your flashlight AND your gun, and the game will STILL scare you!" The developers cleverly implemented scenes of dread and horror to keep you on your toes through the entire game. Besides the superb atmosphere, there are certain aspects of this game that made it stand out. For one thing, we'll never forget Alma, the eerie little girl whose presence creates a disturbing, yet very effective, ambience worthy of first-rate horror movies. Her role is significant, but further details on her backdrop and purpose are expected to emerge with release one of Monolith's next endeavors - Project Origin. Another exceptional aspect of F.E.A.R. was the intelligent behavior of enemies; an opponent sees you, he knocks a table over and immediately ducks behind it. This is but a mere example, but such AI behavior greatly contributed to some intense combat situations. An unforgettable experience to say the least
2. Silent Hill
One of the most influential survival horror titles, Konami's Silent Hill is easily the scariest game of all time. If you want to know what it feels like to be in the center of an honest-to-God horror narrative, Silent Hill is your cup of tea. Players are thrown into literarily terrifying situations. For starters, when playing, you'll get a perfect idea of how it feels to be the sole survivor and frequently the only living thing for miles around. Isolated and uneasy, you walk through the mist-enshrouded surroundings, regularly inhabited by sinister bloodthirsty life forms, and all you have to keep you company is a trusty handgun and, of course, sparse ammo, to raise the stakes in typical horror fashion. Certain scenes are likely to creep out even the greatest skeptics. While most hardcore gamers feel Resident Evil is the mother of all horror games, Silent Hill objectively came out as the top choice in our list for one simple reason - the game is damn scary. Resident Evil may have provided the cornerstone, but Silent Hill manages to encompass all the essentials any top-quality horror game should have. The success of the video games eventually brought about a big-screen version and a series of Silent Hill comic books
3. BioShock
Often referred to as the spiritual successor of System Shock 2, BioShock practically embodies all the elements of suspense, drama and horror, neatly enwrapping it all in a fulfilling plot and adding contemporary visuals and superb art direction. The fictional underwater setting, portrayed effectively through locations of Rapture city, creates a moody and unique in-game ambiance. The trouble with BioShock though, was that by the time it got out, many experienced gamers did not find it all too scary. The game uses somewhat obvious tactics to induce fear and anxiety. Actually, it's nothing we haven't seen before. On the other hand, that doesn't mean you'll play the game without so much as flinching. Generally, most gamers are bound to be afraid at some point - as soon as the main character arrives to Rapture and the first tormented human-like opponents rush at him. The shock-effect reaches its climax, when you catch a glimpse of "Little Sisters," as they feast upon nearby corpses, innocently calling out to their guardians; the robust and ill-tempered "Big Daddies." Next-generation horror finally has a name - BioShock. Just so you know others have declared BioShock one of the scariest titles ever released and publications like wired acknowledged that BioShock tops most modern-day movies when it comes to intimidating audiences.
4. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
You simply can't talk about top-notch horror and omit a name like Resident Evil, known throughout Japan as Biohazard. After two successful iterations, RE promptly gained fame and was released on the PlayStation, GameCube, N64, Sega Saturn Dreamcast and PC. The first two games have undoubtedly set precedents, but you could easily say that the horror franchise culminated with Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Paying the game alone (preferably at night with the old headset) can cause some serious fear and panic attacks, especially if you're new to the genre. RE3 features classic monsters-jumping-from-closets style moments, stylishly thrown into play. More than that, Capcom, the creators of the series, are known for producing some of the most hideous unearthly monster designs ever seen in a game (or in a movie, for that matter). Bizarre abominations will leap at you left and right. One of the best survival horror licenses, reached its fourth installment and is going to continue with Resident Evil 5. Not to mention, the game lived to see three blockbuster movie adaptations.
5.Half-Life
Although it doesn't necessarily fit into the long list of conventional horror games, the original Half-Life had some genuinely frightening moments. Now, there are many reasons why Half-Life became one of the most popular shooters of all time and any true-hearted gamer should know them all by heart. Its memorable ambiance, original setting and exciting gameplay turned it into an instantaneous classic. The scary bits and the game's overall creepiness are partially rooted in the works of prominent horror and fantasy author Stephen King. Some time before the game's launch (1998), Gabe Newell, Half-Life creator and co-founder of Valve Software, uncovered that initial inspiration for their game was found in Stephen King's novella The Mist. You'll find that both stories involve top-secret government experiments that lead to alien presence on Earth. Fundamentally, of course, experiencing each story is different. With Stephen King's tale the fate of the central characters are predetermined, whereas in Valve's shooter Half-Life gamers are more in control of what will happen to the protagonist; in this case, the crowbar-wielding scientist Dr. Gordon Freeman. (We are?! - 2Lions) In short, this genre-defining shooter will always be among the scariest games ever created. Much of its coolness and atmosphere was perpetuated in the insanely popular sequel, which successfully took every aspect of the game to the next level.
6. System Shock 2
Looking Glass Studios and Irrational Games have literarily struck a chord with System Shock 2 (1999). The game was hailed as a unique mix of RPG elements, survival horror and first-person action. In terms of technology, the game relied on the so-called Dark Engine, also used to power Looking Glass Studios' Thief game. Avoiding horror-movie-style tackiness, SS2 appealed to players in a different manner, using psychological terror and top audio design. SS2 utilized the famous audio logs and diaries of characters who were usually met with a gruesome death (a feature later used in Doom 3, BioShock and other games). Assisted by Looking Glass, this was Irrational's first endeavor and a highly successful one at that. However, as far as commercial success goes, System Shock 2 was overshadowed by the dominant shooter Half-Life, which hit the market the preceding year (a similar thing happened with the original System Shock, which had been eclipsed by Doom II).
7. Clive Barker's Undying
By the year 2001, the gaming scene was already packed with shooters. That same year, gamers were treated to Clive Barker's Undying, a co-project between Electronic Arts and Dreamworks Interactive. At any rate, you could say we're looking at another horror themed classic. But aside from these well-incorporated horror elements, the game had also been recognized for character design and animation. Character models looked very believable and quite frightening, which, along with the game's excellent audio, helped maintain a horror-like ambiance. Although the game was heavily influenced by Clive's writings, it was later confirmed that he had very little to do with the game's development process. He joined the team to provide details on the plot and backstory and to donate his voice to Ambrose, one of the characters in the game. In early stages of development, Clive insisted on changing the main character, whose name up to that point, was Count Magnus Wolfram. Claiming that the average gamer might have a hard time identifying with such a character, he convinced the developers to make a more down-to-earth type of chap - which eventually brought them to Patrick Galloway.
8. Doom 3
Waiting for Doom 3 to come out seemed like an eternity. When id's sci-fi/horror action game finally arrived (2004), after being in development for almost four years, it swiftly became a commercial and critical success. However, gamers are still divided as to whether Doom 3 lived up to its massive hype. The game had plenty of back-tracking, so it didn't offer much innovation in level design. Also, to a lot of people it just wasn't scary enough. Although visually quite impressive in its day, the game had been widely criticized for relying too heavily on horror-movie clichés (pitch-black areas, limited use of flashlight, ect.), but then again, so has every other horror game on the market. In any event, horrific monster design, creatures jumping out of the darkness when least expected, dead silence broken by ruptured vent pipes, may all be regarded as cheesy ingredients, but the fact is they work overall. Plus, everything had been encased into a powerful and addictive cinematic atmosphere. Who can forget the game's starting sequence?

After all, stats don't lie. Activision and id sold millions of copies worldwide, both in PC and Xbox variants.
9. The Thing
Inhomage to John Carpenter's movie The Thing (1982), Vivendi and UK based developer Computer Artworks created a multiplatform squad-based shooter and continued the story (which begins several hours after the film). Although it wasn't exactly groundbreaking in terms of gameplay, it was acknowledged for its effective horror-like ambience. Sometimes it's easy to get scared when a mutant or any type of foe leaps out of the shadows and starts clawing at you. That's more or less common in video games. The Thing, however, had a few original twists, stressing the importance of your team. For example, hearing your AI-controlled teammates scream out in agony can be more than enough to send shivers down your spine. Also, each of your squad members is prone to panic attacks if they allow themselves to be contaminated by the alien species. They become anxious and paranoid, at which time fear should kick in and overwhelm the player. All in all, The Thing is a fun ride through creepy settings, most of which stays true to its source material.
10. Sanitarium

Entering the world of a madman... Actually, I remember this one quite well and to this day it remains one of the weirdest and eeriest games I've ever played. Sanitarium, created by ASC Games and DreamForge Entertainment, hit the market in 1998 when the once exceptionally popular P&C (Point & Click) adventure genre was on thin ground. Largely praised for its originality, this adventure, arguably, had all the elements of a good psychological thriller. I'll never forget the beginning of this game. You start off the journey locked away in a peculiar insane asylum. The nearby inmate smashing his head against a brick-wall, leaving bloodstains all over it, is the first gruesome scene that awaits players. Coupled with its traditional P&C gameplay, Sanitarium also featured numerous puzzles, most of which were rather challenging. With Sanitarium, it's not so much about classic horror setups, but rather coping with the inner struggles of the main character and helping him overcome insanity. Half the time you'll just be bewildered at the mere sight of some of the environments and completely bizarre characters you interact with throughout the game's nine chapters.

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