10 Great Games to Play on Halloween

Don’t feel like trick or treating this year?  Costume party just too much effort? Just want to turn off the lights and eat all the candy while you game a while? Well, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled our 10 favorite games to play for Halloween. We’re not saying these are the 10 best games ever, just 10 games we have really enjoyed playing, especially around this time of the year. Some are newer, some are old favorites.

 

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly (PS2, Xbox)

This Japanese import is not one of the most popular horror games, but it is a great one.  Twin sisters Mio and Mayu start out innocently enough following butterflies and exploring an abandoned village (cause that always ends well, right?!?). The spirits that inhabit the not-so-abandoned village begin attacking the sisters, attempting to possess and sacrifice them.  The only way to fight off the spirits is with a special camera with exorcism-like powers. Without giving too much away, let’s just say choices made near the end of the game can result in different endings, allowing for a different game experience each time.

 

Doom 2016 (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch)

In case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere in the desert and have never heard of Doom 2016, let’s tell you about it. Doom 2016 takes place on Mars in the not so distant future.  The player plays a marine fighting demonic forces on the Red Planet.  The single player and multi-player modes allow for different gaming experiences within the game. If you do get bored, you can also utilize the level creation tool to make your own portion of the game.  We love the fast-paced action of the game, little time to get bored.

 

Stasis (PC)

This game is different from most, which is a good thing. The main character, John, awakens on a spaceship (stick with me, it gets better) that is about to crash land on Neptune (told you so). Oh, and he’s by himself trying to save his own neck while also find his missing family.  This game ties in horror, sci-fi, puzzles, and more to make a very interesting experience.

 

Anchorhead (PC)

This is one of the oldie but goodie games.  First released in 1998, Anchorhead is a horror text adventure game.  You play a woman who moves to a new town with her husband and uncovers a dastardly plan to destroy the world. It’s up to you fight the town and save the world. You’re probably thinking a text adventure game can’t be scary, but give it a try, you just might be surprised (and a little scared). The game is actually available free online here: http://pr-if.org/play/anchorhead/

So if you spent all your money on candy, there’s still a game option.

 

Amnesia: The Dark Descent (PC, PS4)

This is another survival horror game, but with an interesting twist. Not only do you have to maintain the main character’s health, you also have to guard his sanity. Too much darkness and the sanity decreases, meaning you have to get the character to light to improve his sanity. This game is more realistic in that you have no weapons to fight the monsters, only stealth and hiding abilities. The game is a balancing act of hiding from monsters, but maintaining sanity long enough to escape. This is one of the harder, but more interesting, games on the list.

 

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Playstation)

One of the older games on our list, released in 1997, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night can feel like a RPG more than other Castlevania games.  More weapons, more relics and abilities give the game more depth than previous installments. You must explore Dracula’s castle and defeat not only the Lord of the Castle but also his many monsters.   This game is great if you’re feeling a little nostalgic for Halloweens of your childhood. Don’t be fooled, though, this game still has enough difficulty to keep even seasoned gamers entertained.

 

Killing Floor 2 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

This first person shooter picks up where the first Killing Floor leaves off, so if you’ve never played the first game you may be quite lost. Basically, the UK has been taken over by clones and it’s up to you to fight them. The game can be played single player or multiplayer to allow for different game experiences. You can also play PVP and take up the role of one of the clones. The attention to detail in the game is pretty impressive, with a lot of effort put into realistic animations. The game is not heavy on plot, making it a fun party, kill-everything-in-sight kind of game. Perfect for a Halloween party.

 

Silent Hill 2 (PC, PS2, Xbox)

No Halloween list is complete without Silent Hill 2, which many argue is the best of the franchise. The game follows a character, named James, who is brought to Silent Hill by a letter apparently from his dead wife.  The game is more psychological than shoot-em-up with games and riddles instead of mainly combat.  The game is dark, literally and figuratively, which give a lot of spookiness to the Halloween air.

 

Observer (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

This “cyberpunk” horror game takes place in a near future society filled with war and drug use. The main character is a cop who uses a device to hack the memories of civilians, alter them and exert control, all in the name of the government. The minds you hack into are far from sane, however. You are sent into a downward spiral of addiction, insanity and gore. This game is not for the faint of heart. It’s not your typical jump scare, gore kind of horror game. It really goes deep on the psychological side of terror.  Best not to play in a dark room all by yourself.

 

Dead By Daylight (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

This is another obvious choice, but a good one regardless. In this game, you get to choose whether you are the killer or the survivor. Killers can choose from several characters including Michael Myers and Leatherface, each one with it’s own distinctive abilities and disadvantages. Survivors must do things like repair generators, hide, and avoid making noise in order to escape the killers. It can get pretty gore-fest at times, but if that’s what you’re into, this game is sure to please.

 

So what are your favorite spooky, scary or just plain Halloweeny games? Let us know in the comments below.