Horror games are designed around instilling fear and dread in their players, and downright providing nightmare fuels for months to come. Eerie locations succumbing to dilapidation,terrifying monstersthat break every rule of human anatomy, and perfect audio design that knows when to hang players in suspense, and when to plunge them into blood-chilling terror.
Such games sound like they should only ever reach the hands of adults, or at the very most older teenagers, but that isn’t always the case. There are games that lessen some of the heavier loads that come with horror, creating less traumatizing monsters and reducing the complexity of gameplay to make games that are safe, scary fun for all ages.
Encounter Monsters from the Famed Book Series
Goosebumps: The Game
The walk home from school today is going to be a lot spookier than usual… Your sleepy neighborhood’s been overrun by monsters! Werewolves prowl the woods, Gnomes roam underfoot, and scarecrows walk at midnight. But these aren’t ordinary monsters—they’re R.L. Stine’s famous Goosebumps monsters, released from their books and looking to wreak havoc!You’ll need to use your wits to investigate the surroundings, puzzle out clues, and outsmart the monsters before it’s too late! Survive a trek through your neighborhood, unravel the mysteries of the Dead House, and sneak through the mall after hours; only then can you confront Slappy and stop his plans for revenge!
Goosebumpswas a huge hit among children in the 90s and early 2000s, the popular and sprawling series ofbooks spawning a television series, and even a few games later down the line, such as the very simply titledGoosebumps: The Game.
In this game, players choose to play a boy or a girl as they fight their way through a slew of monsters that have escaped the pages of the books, but by completing puzzles and outsmarting them. It has just the right level of scares and spooks for fans of the series without being too terrifying for the young children who might play this game.
Creatures disguising themselvesis a theme explored in other games and even movies, such as the famed horror flickThe Thing, and it is the main aim of the game inAmong Us.There are two sides to this multiplayer game, crewmates and imposters. Crewmates must perform menial tasks around the ship while avoiding dying and keeping an eye on other players, while imposters must kill as many as they can without being detected.
If it sounds like a tall order, it is definitely tough, and can be downright frightening when a crewmate they buddied up with suddenly reveals they were a monster in crewmates clothing all along. But, it won’t be too scary for younger players, as its certificate reflects.
Moving into a new place is always an adventure fraught with excitement and nervousness. The latter is especially true inHello Neighbor, when the player character moves into a new neighborhood across from a very suspicious man with a very peculiar house, and the player finds themselves caught in the mystery surrounding him and his home.
Puzzles and exploration make up a large part of the gameplay, making it perfect for younger players. Casting themain threat as a personrather than a monster was a genius move as it prevents it from being too frightening for younger players while still creating enough fear to land it squarely in the horror genre, and even provide spooky fun for some older players too.
1Costume Quest 1 + 2
Turn-Based RPGs Dripping In Halloween Imagery
Costume Questand its sequel are delightful, telling tales that blend child-like wonder with horror imagery, even if being scary is never the point. Lasting roughly 10 hours each, both titles take place in cul-de-sacs and during Halloween, and they are filled with great character designs, humor, and writing. The turn-based combat has a fun twist since it revolves around costumes, with characters embodying their outfits during battle. While not especially deep, the gameplay is more than enjoyable enough to remain interesting for the relatively short campaigns.
Despite being family-friendly and not focusing on scares,Costume Questfeels like a throwback to ’80s suburban horror, similar to something likeStranger Things. The games are charming and must-plays for any fans craving a Halloween-themed experience.
