The best horror games to get you in the spirit to slay
Whether or not Halloween is right around the corner, it can be a challenge getting into the spooky holiday spirit. But maybe some terrifying video games could be the fix?
As we all inevitably get older, truly enjoying Halloween and horror movies can get more and more difficult.
You can't really enjoy trick-or-treating quite like you used to, and if you tried, your neighbors would probably give you dirty looks before slamming the door in your candyless face.
You could bribe some random kid to gather candy for you, but those stale Tootsie Rolls your neighbor kept from last year to give out now probably isn't worth a kidnapping charge.
And, sure, adult Halloween festivities can be a riot, but seeing the same sexy nurse and cat outfits over and over can get pretty old.
As fun as it may be to get lost in a good scary movie, even by yourself, there is a medium that does that and so much more.
Video games not only give you stories, characters, and evil to run from, it also places you directly in the action.
There's nothing quite like a good horror game to help get you in the Halloween spirit. If you have no idea where to start, here are a handful of titles that will present you with your worst fears and challenge you to overcome them ... or you can die trying.
Zombie video games give a lesson in surviving the end of the world
We love us some zombie games, but just like with films, there are a ton of great zombie games out there ... and also a handful of bad ones. Here's a few definitely worth a run through.
Nothing quite says horror like smashing undead skulls with a plethora of weapons, and the Dead Rising series offers just that. There are also tons of costumes and outfits to find around the game, making it the perfect Halloween treat. If you want to start with the best, and darkest, in the series, definitely go with Dead Rising 3.
State of Decay 2 is a bit of a hidden gem that many gamers have missed out on. It focuses on settlement building and supply runs, pretty much like a real zombie apocalypse. You can play as multiple survivors, but if they die, that's all folks!
If you dig survival horror, then Day-Z may be right up your alley. It's one of those games that gives you very little introduction in the beginning, and expects you to just figure out how to survive the end of days on your own.
If these games teach us anything, it's that it's lonely as hell at the end of the world.
Mystery video games help you find out who killed your lost love – or have you dying in the details
There aren't too many horror mystery games, but when they come around, they are always worth it. While they may not have super in-depth game mechanics, they usually pay more attention to jump scares and terrifying storytelling.
The biggest game series that come to mind, and have pioneered the genre, are Silent Hill and some of the earlier Resident Evil games. Both have become iconic, garnering movies and tons of other media.
They are incredibly dark and twisted, and have a slew of memorable monsters that will surely keep you up late at night.
The Evil Within is another gaming series that sends you down a spiraling story of gruesome proportions, with enough horror and supernatural elements to make you want to play with the lights on.
The Quarry is another game worth checking out. From the creators of Until Dawn, this mystery horror title is another that will have you on the edge of your seat, The Quarry has gamers play as camp counselors trying to find a ravenous slasher. Think Friday the 13th, except if you play well enough, everyone might just live to see tomorrow.
And last, but definitely not least, is Alien: Isolation. Players take on the role of Ripley's daughter as she tries to figure out how an entire crew aboard a ship were ripped to pieces. It's heavily reminiscent of Dead Space, which has a remaster coming out soon.
Again, you should probably play these with the lights on. Don't say we didn't warn you!
Multiplayer video games will have you screaming, "All my friends are dead!"
Sometimes being chased by sadistic serial killers, hoards of the undead, or ghosts that haunt you while you sleep can get a bit boring. So why not throw some friends into the mix to survive (or not) with you?
The ultimate horror game to play this season has to be Dead By Daylight. The premise is fairly simple: four survivors try to fix generators placed around a map that will open an exit door allowing them to escape.
The most exciting piece? A fifth player enters as the killer, who must find and slay everyone to feed a supernatural force called "the entity."
It sounds simple, but is the most fun you could possibly have while being able to virtually hack your friends to bits. And new killers are still being added to the game, including slashers from classic horror movies like Freddy Kruger, Jigsaw, Ghostface, and Hellraiser.
Despite its flaws, Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, can be a blast to play with friends, too. The premise is pretty basic: pick up a weapon and blast your way through hordes of the undead, and be sure NOT to die.
It gets incredibly intense at times, but you and a buddy will feel like gangsters after taking on an army of hundreds.
Who needs trick-or-treating when there are tons of horror games to play? Just be ready to have plenty of nightmares afterwards.
Cover photo: Capcom