Horror games need a combination of factors, such as dark-world designs, a feeling of powerlessness, great monster designs, and a good story to have a chance at being successful, as the line between scary and accidentally funny can be very thin. Over the last few years, players have been pampered with noteworthy horror titles to give them nightmares.
Occasionally, developers hit the nail on the head and deliver a masterpiece that is not only scary to play, but also interesting to learn about, as understanding the lore behind the grim world players are exploring can answer several important questions—some of whichare key to survival. Here are5 horror games with the most complicated lore.
Years after the events of the first game, set inside the walls of theBeacon Mental Hospital, leading manSebastian Castellanosfinds himself still haunted bythe horrifying experiencehe went through. Upon being approached by his former partner,Juli Kidman, a series of events will unravel, leading to the plot ofThe Evil Within 2.
From the mysterious origins of MOBIUS and its not-so-mysterious evil objective of taking control of humanity through STEM to the backstories of many of the game’s characters, villains, and creatures, such as Laura, a deformed, twisted reincarnation ofLaura Victorianofrom the original age, it’s undeniable thatThe Evil Within 2is lore-rich.
The PS2 had some of the most terrifying horror games veteran players ever encountered. While the graphics weren’t the best and game mechanics were a little limited at the time, horror developers somehow still managed to deliver spine-chilling moments.Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterflyfollows the story of twinsMioandMayu Akamurain the fictional Japanese region ofMinakami.
While wandering in their childhood playground, they encounter a mysterious crimson butterfly and follow it into the woods. There, they find a lost village full of ancient ghosts, trapped forever due to an ancient evil curse. This game is more than a ghost story, as it incorporates elements ofJapanese lore around ghosts and other creatures. With the involvement of the tragic Crimson Sacrifice Ritual, there are many pieces of complex lore that players will have to learn and uncover.
Set in 1839,Amnesia: The Dark Descentwill put players in the shoes of the leading character, Daniel. After waking up in a Prussian castle in the middle of nowhere, the young Englishman has no memory of what happened, or how he got there.
Taking place between the events of the short storiesRemember,andWaiting for the Rain,Amnesia: The Dark Descentinvolves a complex storyline that includes the main man Daniel finding a note he wrote for himself to explain how he purposely forced himself to forget his past. Urging him to delve into the castle’s Inner Sanctum, a series of horrific events will start to unravel, leading up to discovering more answers behind Daniel’s past, and his desperate need to erase it.
Set in the famous town that shares the game’s name,Silent Hill 2follows the story ofJames Sunderlanda man who returns to the forsaken place in search of his wife,Mary. One of the greatest aspects of this game is that it gives players a feeling of powerlessness and a lack of sense of direction, as they can only see their maps when in a properly lit area, or with a flashlight they carry.
As opposed to the events of the first game, where the creatures were real,Silent Hill 2plays with a more psychologically related concept, as the town now exploits its residents' weaknesses and inner demons, twisting their minds, and torturing them relentlessly until they’re driven to madness.
It’s no secret that the people atFromSoftwareknow how to make incredible games with rich combat, anda great variety of weapons, spells, and creatures. However, all that pales in comparison to how masterfully they can craft the lore behind the world they’re presenting to players with each title they release. Whether it’sElden Ring,theDark Soulsuniverse, or in this case,Bloodborne,there are always hours of lore awaiting anyone who’s interested.
Bloodborneis set in the fictional town ofYharnamwhich, for many years, has been accursed with a terrible bloodborne illness that turns the infected into vicious beasts. The game is set in a Victorian-like era and has spine-chilling creatures at every corner. As the game progresses, players will encounter several bosses, each with an often tragic backstory that makes them feel human, even when their physical appearance isn’t anymore.
