The Halloween season is in full swing, which means the perfect way to celebrate as gamers is to play something scary. The Save Files is here to bring you five spooky recommendations to play this October, from indie classics to multiplayer madness.
Phasmophobia
Ghost hunting has been a staple in the horror sphere, whether it be the lighthearted “Ghostbusters” franchise or the more serious investigations done on television programs like “Ghost Adventures.” Phasmophobia places you right at the center of a paranormal investigation, trying to identify the spirit haunting various different properties.
The game does a great job of building a tense environment, having no noise but the sound of your footsteps and equipment. The investigative aspect is also a fun gameplay loop, as new ghosts mean you have to try new methods of collecting evidence. Even when I play with friends, our banter isn’t enough to scare away the terrifying spirits that try to make sure this ghost hunt is your last.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 4
It’s no secret that the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise is one of indie horror’s biggest success stories, but it has gained an unsavory reputation among fans in later years. The worst fate for a horror series is to be labeled as “not scary” anymore, and while that argument might have some truth to it, it is certainly not true about “Five Nights at Freddy’s 4.”
A game that scared me as a kid still gets to me today, as it does a great job building dread in its simple loop. By relying entirely on audio, unlike the cameras of earlier games, it has made managing the animatronic threats much more difficult. And setting it in a bedroom doesn’t help keep the nightmares away long after you’ve closed the game.
Bigfoot
Another multiplayer game focused on a spectacle from wider pop culture, “Bigfoot” takes the horror out to the wild. Bouncing between national parks and big forests, your job is to capture evidence of the cryptid and then take him out. That’s not all you can do in the game either, you can also play as the monster and hunt down your friends as they try to catch in traps or on camera.
This is another fun game to gather the squad and play, as you get time to prepare with day and night cycles to collect all the loot that each campsite and radio tower holds. It strikes a nice balance of a calm, resource gathering quest and a spooky survival game. But you better find shelter before the sun goes down, or you leave yourself vulnerable to the forest and Bigfoot’s wrath.
Resident Evil 2
Is there a better way to wrap up a list of scary video games to play than without mentioning “Resident Evil”? The godfather of survival horror remains scary decades later, and the remake of “Resident Evil 2” keeps that reputation intact.
The game follows Leon Kennedy, new addition to the Raccoon City Police Department, and sister of one the first game’s protagonist Claire Redfield as they navigate the police station three months after the events of the original. The two try to survive the outbreak while also locating the G-virus from the Umbrella Corporation to prevent the virus from spiraling into further chaos.
I think the change in atmosphere and location suits this entry very well, as the barren station is ridden with the undead and a mutated zombie by the name of Mr. X trying to stop you from making it out alive. It sets itself apart from the first game while keeping the DNA of “Resident Evil” alive and, well, ensuring that you will be sufficiently spooked throughout your playthrough.