Gamer beware, you’re in for a scare. Or at least some lightly spooky vibes.
It’s Halloween season, and while the month of October is generally known as a good time for scary movies, scary video games deserve attention, too. Because face it: No matter how much you yell at the characters in a movie theater, they are going to foolishly open that door and get murdered. In a video game, though, things are more likely to be under your control.
The games below, for the most part, are either recent releases or recently came to new platforms. While most of them try to genuinely scare you, some of them just want you to have a good time — with ghosts.
Resident Evil 2
The original release of Resident Evil 2 is regarded as one of the best entries in one of the most well-known zombie-related franchises of all time. The game was remade this year and, impressively, it’s better than ever. Sporting a great graphical overhaul and a much-improved (and much more modern) control scheme, Resident Evil 2 is a must-play game if you want to shoot some zombies this year. If you hear loud, foreboding footsteps headed your way, though, run.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
If you’re looking for a Ghostbusters vibe in video game form, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is an excellent choice. Like most games in the Super Mario universe, there is a lot about Luigi’s Mansion that is actually colorful and incredibly charming, even when its ghostly antagonists are trying to spook you out. Easily the most family-friendly game on this list, Luigi’s Mansion is all about sucking up ghosts and engaging in some light puzzle-solving as you explore a surprisingly large (and diverse) hotel that somehow includes locales like retail shops and a sizable theater.
Borderlands 3: Bloody Harvest event
Developed here in Dallas-Fort Worth by Gearbox Software, Borderlands 3 has attracted millions of players to run, shoot and loot with their friends. From Oct. 29 through Nov. 4, the game will feature a free event called “Bloody Harvest,” during which players can explore a new area named Heck (really) and encounter spooky enemy variants like Rakk-O’Lanterns and the sinister Captain Haunt. There is, of course, some unique loot to earn, too, including new skins for the game’s four characters.
Man of Medan
This horror game strives to be, essentially, an interactive horror movie — for better and worse. The story is driven by the choices you make, and characters in the story will live or die based on your actions. Admirably, the developers commit to the premise, often forcing the game into cinematic camera angles that look far better than they play. Still, even with its flaws, Man of Medan is a pretty tight four-to-six-hour experience that could make for a perfect Halloween night either alone or with friends.
Blair Witch
Set two years after the events of The Blair Witch Project, this new Blair Witch video game tells an original story in which you play the role of a former police officer who joins the search for a missing nine-year-old boy. The search will take you (and your trusty dog, Bullet) deep into the unsettling Black Hills forest, where you will sometimes have to use found footage (in the form of VHS tapes you pick up) to solve puzzles in the environment.
Bloodstained
This side-scrolling action game will not scare you, but it’s full of creepy monsters and bosses. Fight your way through ghosts, werewolves, hellhounds and more as you discover the secrets of a giant, elaborate castle. If you’re a fan of the classic Castlevania series, Bloodstained is essentially a Symphony of the Night sequel in all but name.
Spirit Hunter: NG
You will read Spirit Hunter: NG more than you “play” it, but that doesn’t make it any less unsettling. A horror story told in the “visual novel” genre of games, NG focuses on the protagonist’s desperate attempt to save his sister, Ami, from the spirit that has taken her. While it’s got plenty of unnerving imagery and some truly scary concepts, the game doesn’t rely on blood or gore to freak you out. Instead, the horror here is psychological. If you’re a fan of Asian horror stories like Ju-on and Ringu, this could be the Halloween game for you.
Jackbox Party Pack 6: Trivia Murder Party 2
If you’re having a party this Halloween, you’ll want party games. The Jackbox Party Pack series has long been an excellent source of fun and laughter for groups of friends (and strangers) gathered around a TV, and its games are extremely easy to play — all you need is your phone. Of particular note in this newest Party Pack release is Trivia Murder Party 2, which takes an otherwise standard trivia game and twists it with (very lighthearted) murder and spooky mini-games.
Stranger Things 3: The Game
OK, look, this Super Nintendo-style adaptation of the third season of Stranger Things won’t come close to freaking you out. Still, Halloween might put you in the mood to revisit Hawkins and/or the Upside Down, and since the TV episodes just hit Netflix a few months ago, you might not be quite ready for a Stranger Things re-watch yet. If that’s the case, the game, developed in Dallas-Fort Worth by BonusXP, might be up your alley.
Overwatch: Halloween Terror 2019
Fans of Overwatch are no strangers to seasonal events; they’re often anticipated. Unfortunately, if you were hoping for brand new gameplay, you’ll be disappointed to learn that this year marks yet another repeat of the Junkenstein’s Revenge brawl. But hey, there are some new, spooky skins to unlock.
Deadly Premonition: Origins
Deadly Premonition was a surprise hit when it launched in 2010. It was buggy, the writing and voice acting was often awkward and it was an overall weird game. Although some of that weirdness was intentional (Deadly Premonition wears its Twin Peaks inspiration proudly on its sleeve), many aspects of the story and gameplay still had folks scratching their heads. It was recently announced that this surprise cult hit is getting a surprise sequel on the Nintendo Switch in 2020. To mark the occasion, the original game, now sporting the “Origins” subtitle, has arrived on the Switch and is worth experiencing if you haven’t done so before.
Amnesia Collection
For years, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was heralded as one of the greatest (and scariest) horror games around. In it, your character is literally afraid of the dark, forcing you to manage not only your health but also your sanity. The Amnesia Collection groups three scary experiences — The Dark Descent, Justine and A Machine for Pigs — all in one package. While the collection isn’t brand new, this year marks the first time you can play it on the go via the Nintendo Switch.
Corpse Party: Blood Drive
This one is slightly harder to recommend as it is a direct sequel to two other games, Corpse Party and Corpse Party: Book of Shadows. While you can read up on those games to familiarize yourself with the plot, Blood Drive won’t do any hand-holding for you. It simply drops you into its scenario with little explanation. Once you get past that, however, don’t let the almost-cute chibi art style fool you. Corpse Party: Blood Drive is a disturbing story about a haunted school, and it doesn’t pull many punches when it comes to blood and violence.
