Summary
While somehorror gameswill give players ways to defend themselves and then put them up against the monsters that have been stalking them in anepic boss fight, this isn’t the typical way that horror games are experienced.
While AAA horror titles have started to include boss fights, there are still many games that see players defenseless as they explore ominous locations filled with all sorts of jump scares and gut-wrenching imagery.These next horror games are some of the best for players who are looking for something that doesn’t include boss fights, allowing them to focus solely on the spooks.
Starting off strong,Scarlet Hollowis a horror visual novel set in an ominous town where something strange always seems to be happening. Since the game relies on being a visual novel first and a horror experience second, the slow yet disturbing horror elements of the game makeScarlet Hollowan engaging story where the frights appear at their own pace, rather than being front and center.
The game is still only in its early stages, but it has the potential tocreate a visual novelthat can scare the socks off of players, without needing to rely on multiple intense boss fights to cause an increase in heart rates.
Some horror games don’t need to be action-packed and loaded with scenes where the player is constantly running away from a monster. Some titles, likeFran Bow,instead usepsychological horror elementsninstead. The game follows a girl, the titular Fran, who is struggling with a mental disorder.
The game has players attempting to escape the mental asylum that Fran has been placed in while looking for her cat, Mr. Midnight. As the days pass, horrifying things are shown to be stalking not only Fran,but also the other children in the asylum, as the hospital’s corrupt nature is revealed.
The Mortuary Assistantalready takes place in an unsettling environment with the demons that appear to be stalking the player while they work. As the only mortician available at night, players are left alone to deal with the bodies of the departed. which is already a dark experience.
However, one of the bodies is likely possessed, and it’s up to the player to figure out which one it is to dispel that demon, all while an abundance of strange and frightening things occur around them. Knocks at the window are one threat, but when the body disappears, that’s when things get really interesting.The Mortuary Assistantis considered by many to be one of the scariest games ever made, and it never needs a boss fight to earn that acclaim.
Besides the visual novel psychological horror games that allow players to make narrative decisions instead of fight boss battles,Still Wakes the Deepis a narrative experience that also has no boss battles, but will still have the player feeling as if they are being hunted by a dangerous monster.
In the six hours of gameplay that player will need to experienceStill Wakes the Deep, they’ll encounter a threat that constantly eludes them as the rooms that make upthe oil rig become disorientingto them and their fellow rig workers.
The 2023 releaseLayers of Fearbrought all the various narratives from theLayers of Fearfranchise and put them all together into one horror experience. This memorable title lets players explore a deep narrative while still encountering all the frights expected of any horror title; minus, of course, the boss battles.
Playing as three different characters from different creative fields — a painter, musician, actor, and writer — fits nicely withthe total experience ofLayers of Fear.Players will find themselves at the mercy of peculiar and terrifying events, accompanied by a chilling soundtrack and the feeling that they have no chance of defending themselves.
As seen previously, visual novels are an ideal medium for creating horror games with no boss battles.Doki Doki Literature Clubnot only has no boss fights, but also lulls the player into a false sense of security, as the game starts out as if it is aninnocent dating sim, where the player must write adorable poems for their crush.
However, progressing further will lead to the adorable facade of this title being violently stripped away, as terrible things start to happen to the girls. Players will be left feeling as if they can’t stop playing until they get to the bottom of what’s happening in this incredibly intense story, especially when the characters in the game start talking directly to the player.
Made by the developers behindAmnesia: The Dark Descent,SOMAis another impressive psychological horror experience that will have players on the edge of their seat while playing.
WhileSOMAmay have the occasional sci-fi themed enemy attacking the player during their exploration of the underwater base, players are unable to fight back against these robotic creatures, and must instead try to stay out of sight if they hope to survive. In between these enemies is an atmospheric horror experience that will make players question the nature of their own sense of self. This is a game that proves boss battles aren’t needed to make a great, thought-provoking horror experience.
Slay the Princessis a horror visual novel unlike any other. It was released in 2023, and has since received plenty more content in the way of additional endings to make this horror experience even better.
As a visual novel, players shouldn’t expect boss fights, as each action completed in the game is decided throughmaking specific narrative decisions. Although the name of the game suggests that the goal is to slay the princess, players are encouraged to try different things and explore different avenues that will see them rewarded with some of the most eerie visuals in the genre.
