The top 30+ scariest horror games to play on Halloween (or any night)!

Halloween is the day where you simply HAVE TO bust out your favorite horror game, pop it up, turn the lights down, light some candles and get ready to be SPOOKED! Oh and make sure to turn that frontyard light off so groups of bratty candy-hungry kids don’t ruin your experience!

And now, I present our list for the Top 30 Scariest Games to Play on Halloween, or any night!

Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition#34 Resident Evil 4
Platforms: GameCube, PS2, Wii
Debut: NA January 11, 2005
Synopsis: The fourth installment of Capcom’s pivotal “Survival Horror” series continues in a dramatic new direction. The title takes place in 2004 some six years after the events that transpired in Resident Evil 2. The government has destroyed the Umbrella Corporation, which has been behind just about every plot and disgusting bio-chemical mutation in the survival horror series. Now-US agent Leon Kennedy (of Resident Evil 2 fame) has been dispatched to Europe to save the President’s daughter from “crazed organizations.” RE4 boasts some mighty impressive visuals on both Nintendo’s last and current-gen systems and takes the series into the realm of truly three-dimensional gameplay.
Comments: RE4 had quite the task for itself . . . how to re-invent RE from the ground up . . . remarkably, Capcom and series director Shinji Makami succeeded with flying colors. The controls (outside of movement), menu system, graphics, and shooting style were completely overhauled. You now shot from an over-the-shoulder perspective, for precision aiming, a new-system that would become the De Facto aiming system for any 3rd-person shooter from then on. Not only did it innovate, but the gunplay was flat-out fun, and heads and tails more exciting than the previous slow-pace that the series was known for. RE4 was definitely more action oriented. The game also had not only a context sensitive button that allows you to jump over railings or kick enemies, among other things, but there were also sections where you’d have to jam on the button to avoid ultimate death, such as running away from a bolder, avoiding the stab of a knife, or other such situations. It was all done very cinematicly but also upped the excitement another notch . . . and proved to be another feature other games have lifted from the series (even though it didn’t start it, Shenmue had a similar system). All in all, RE4 was a huge leap and a bona-fide great game, both critically and sales-wise, but in my personal opinion, the game was not as scary as previous Resident Evils, since it was more action packed and had less focus on mood.

Devil May Cry for PS2#33 Devil May Cry
Platforms: PS2 Only
Debut: NA October 17, 2001
Synopsis: A PS2 action game with a dark, gothic look that stars a silver-haired descendent of a long-forgotten hero. Dante has inherited heroism from his ancestors, and along with it, vampiric genes, to boot. These generic attributes enable Dante to perform several important actions that make Devil May Cry unlike any action game Capcom has created before. Dante can shoot with guns and slash with several kinds of swords, but he’s also able to transform into a hovering nightmare that’s even more powerful. As Dante progresses through the game, he unearths numerous weapons (including his dual-pistols and shotguns), and powerful swords, each possessing various elemental powers.
Comments: Devil May Cry took the survival horror mode, and notched it up to a new level of action game. Instead of the slow pace of prior Resident Evil games, Capcom’s DMC was fast-paced and action-packed. It was extremely cool to be able to fight the enemies in such a variety of ways, using various weapons instead of only firearms. And as you play you get to power Dante up and make him even cool and full of better ass-kicking moves than he had at the start. A breakthrough game and still one of the best ‘stylish crazy action” games in the industry.

Splatterhouse for TurboGrafx-16#32 Splatterhouse
Platforms: Arcade, TurboGrafx-16, PC, Wii Virtual Console
Debut: US August 15, 1999 on TurboGrafx-16
Synopsis: An absolutely brutal side-scrolling action title, this coin-op turned console game was the first piece of software in history to earn a parental advisory label; causing quite a stir in the industry. Using a main character that resembled Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th and set in the home of Re-Animator’s Dr. Herbert West, this gory beat ’em up from the dark side was so scary and entertaining that it spawned several 16-bit sequels before eventually being snuffed out in the Politically Correct atmosphere of the early ’90s. It may not have been the greatest game ever made, but it certainly paved the way for the more gritty console games of the 32-bit and higher generations.

Doom II for PC#31 Doom II
Platforms: Multiplatform (PC [DOS, Windows 95, Mac OS], GBA, Tapwave Zodiac)
Debut: NA May 5, 1994
Synopsis: The classic first-person shooting demon-killer can still bring a scare as the demons descend upon the earth and you. A definite title that would be perfect to bust out on Halloween!

Resident Evil 0 for GameCube#30 Resident Evil 0
Platforms: GameCube Only
Debut: NA November 13, 2002
Synopsis: Starring Rebecca Chambers, and a new character Billy Coen in a prequel to Resident Evil 1, explore new areas of Raccoon City, and search to uncover the secrets of the T-Virus. Control both characters simultaneously, switching between back and forth and splitting up to solve new puzzles. Items can now be dropped anywhere in the game, replacing the traditional item boxes in previous games.
Comments: Detailed character models and realistic backgrounds (mixing pre-rendered pictures with animated effects) impress in Capcom’s prequel to the original Resident Evil. The game is as fun as before, and you have a wealth of new environments to explore and plot points to see. The movie scenes are a step up from the previous GameCube remake without hitches (which were annoying in the first one) and controlling two characters at once is both interesting and unique, you’ve had characters tag along before, but never were you able to switch between them. Being able to set items down didn’t change the game all that much, but it was a welcome feature all the same. Not only confined to the train environment, the game turns out to be anything but half-baked, with a long adventure and lots to see. Released soon after remake, the game wasn’t as well received as it should have been. If you haven’t played it before and are a fan of the series, definitely check it out.

System Shock 2 for PC#29 System Shock 2
Platforms: PC
Debut: US August 11, 1999
Synopsis: Choose your path, choose your weapons, choose your skills and then immerse yourself in what is arguably one of the most frightening, eerie and simply amazing titles around. It’s a kind of action-intensive RPG that few can even come close to touching. System Shock 2 set a new approachable precedent for all first-person perspective games. It’s loaded with so many extras that exploration and interaction were necessities. Cybernetic monsters, rogue robots and a bunch of mutants called “The Many” dot an adventure that should not be missed by anyone with a backbone and a brain. Watch out for them psi- monkeys!

Diablo II for PC#28 Diablo II
Platforms: PC, Mac
Debut: US – June 30, 2000
Synopsis: The story unfolds in four Acts, one for each major town. From the ruined town of Tristam, you venture forth to vanquish the evil presence of Andariel in the Monastery of the Sisters of the Sightless Eye, nestled in the frozen steppes. From there you travel across deserts and jungles to defeat the devils Mephisto and Baal until you face Diablo, the ultimate evil. Diablo II is four times larger than the original, includes five character classes, addition of 3D graphics support, day/night cycles, weather effects, hordes of enemies, as well as tons more weapons, armor, spells, items, and more. Did we mention Diablo is back?

Resident Evil 2 for PS1#27 Resident Evil 2
Platforms: PS1, PC, Nintendo 64, game.com, Sega Dreamcast and GameCube
Debut: NA January 21, 1998
Synopsis: Raccoon City has somehow fallen victim to a zombie outbreak and it’s up to you as either police officer Leon Kennedy, or Claire Redfield (sister to Chris Redfield from RE1), to find out what’s going on. The adventure, which takes place in 3D using pre-rendered backgrounds, drags you through spooky crash sites, abandoned buildings, experiments gone wrong and more — all the while battling undead monstrosities, solving puzzles and, most of all, trying to stay alive. Lots of weapons and other gadgetry allow for some truly disgusting mayhem. It’s an incredibly frightening game that delivers a light back-story and lots of slasher movie, jump-out-and-go-boo scares.
Comments: Improving ten-fold on the original game, RE2 was bigger, badder, better and more complex than it’s predecessor, however that didn’t mean it was scarier (sadly). But the game did have a spook of it’s own (particularly once you reached the second scenarios) and the characters and storyline for the game were outstanding, not to mention the voice acting. I still regard Claire as one of my favorite RE characters and the game was infamous for it’s unlockable side-missions Hunk and Tofu, which were insanely difficult to beat (Tofu, being a giant piece of tofu, yes it’s weird, only had a knife). A true video game classic and Capcom showed how to do a sequel right.

Bioshock for PC#26 Bioshock
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
Debut: NA August 21, 2007
Synopsis: BioShock is a unique game that mixes a spine-chilling setting illustrated with art deco art and architecture, sci-fi themes of bio-genetic mutation and self-modification, a deep storyline with open-choice freedom to interact with the world as you choose, and first-person action that requires you to think every time you pull the trigger. After your plane crashes into icy uncharted waters, you discover a rusted bathysphere and descend into Rapture, a city hidden beneath the sea. Constructed as an idealistic society for a hand picked group of scientists, artists and industrialists, the idealism is no more. Now the city is littered with corpses, wildly powerful guardians roam the corridors as little girls loot the dead, and genetically mutated citizens ambush you at every turn.

Phantasmagoria for PC#25 Phantasmagoria
Platforms: PC
Debut: NA – July 31, 1995
Synopsis: It seemed like a dream come true for Adrienne Delaney and her husband Donald Gordon: A beautiful estate, on its own private island and the perfect place to build a life together. But an ominous presence lurks within the halls, the rooms, and every passageway of their mysterious home. The previous owner, a 19th-century master illusionist, left behind a twisted trail of terror and now Adrienne must uncover the clues and gather the objects necessary to save her husband from an evil that holds him in Roberta Williams’ horrific FMV adventure, Phantasmagoria. Gameplay features include seven different chapters that span seven terror-packed discs, a fully orchestrated soundtrack from the 135-voice CSU Fresno Choir, and the distinction of being the first ever video game to include a password system to exclude inappropriate material from minors.

Clive Barker's Undying for PC#24 Clive Barker’s Undying
Platforms: PC, Mac
Debut: NA – February 20, 2001
Synopsis: Enter a World of Arcane Magic, Supernatural Abominations, and Ancient Horror. A curse is unleashed upon the world. As Magnus Wolfram, a master of the occult, you are drawn into the drama of a dying family whose degeneration threatens the fabric of reality. A desperate struggle ensues as Magnus utilizes a deadly combination of forgotten magic and devastating weapons to counter the forces of chaos. Powered by the Unreal game engine, Clive Barker’s Undying delivers a highly unique, thoroughly chilling PC game experience.

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence for Nintendo DS#23 Resident Evil 96′
Platforms: PS1, PC, Sega Saturn, Mobile Phone, Nintendo DS as Deadly Silence
Debut: US – March 30, 1996
Synopsis/Comments: The original Resident Evil (RE) set the bar for horror video games in a time where 3D games were “new” and horror games were almost non-existent (likely due in part to the un-cinematicness of 2D graphics). The title also coined the term ‘survival horror’ due to it’s adventure gameplay that had you searching rooms door by door (complete with the popular door-opening sequences), solving puzzles, looking for clues, solving riddles and reading notes left behind by victims and other mysterious people. It had a pretty good storyline, a classic cast of characters, a cool but cheeky live-action opening, unique controls and great action. A classic horror game if there ever was one. And quite scary to boot!

F.E.A.R. for PC#22 F.E.A.R.
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Debut: NA – October 18, 2005
Synopsis: F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault and Recon) is a first-person close-quarters combat game for the PC. The story begins when a paramilitary force infiltrates a multi-billion dollar aerospace compound, and the government responds by sending in Special Forces. The group loses contact with the government when an eerie signal interrupts radio communications–and when that interference subsides moments later, the team has been destroyed. That’s where you come in. As part of a classified strike team created to deal with threats no one else can handle, your mission is simple: eliminate the intruders at any cost, determine the origin of the signal, and contain the potential crisis before it gets out of control.

Fear Effect for PS1#21 Fear Effect
Platforms: PS1 Only
Debut: US – February 18, 2000
Synopsis: Wee Ming Lam disappears a few days before her 18th birthday under mysterious circumstances. Three ruthless mercenaries conspire to track her down and ransom her off to her father, Mr. Lam, a powerful Triad leader in Hong Kong. An extortion mission to retrieve Wee Ming Lam becomes a lesson in survival against the most unimaginable of enemies . . .
Comments: Fear Effect is an awesome but little known survival horror game that uses FMV backgrounds and is full of mature material, lots of great animated FMV movie scenes and fun boss fights and puzzles. A little known gem that everyone should check out (even though it’s quite dated in 2007), read my Fear Effect review for my personal opinion of the game.

Silent Hill for PS1#20 Silent Hill
Platforms: PS1 Only
Debut: NA – February 24, 1999
Synopsis: Harry Mason and his daughter Cheryl are heading to a small midwestern resort town. Suddenly, Harry sees a dark figure in the street and swerves to avoid it, causing a serious accident. After coming to, Harry realizes that he has smashed the car and Cheryl is missing. Further, it has started to snow in the middle of summer, and the town appears to be deserted. You must guide Harry through the town while he searches for his daughter and tries to discover what happened in this strange community. Along the way, you will explore a hospital, elementary school, and the streets of the town. Since Harry is an ordinary guy, he will have to catch his breath after running and will often miss his target when shooting. The entire game is given a frightening feeling with eerie lighting effects especially since the town is dark and the vast majority of lighting comes from a flashlight. Will Harry be able to save his daughter and escape the town in Silent Hill?

Clive Barker's Jericho for PC#19 Clive Barker’s Jericho
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, GameTap
Debut: NA October 23, 2007
Synopsis: A supernatural horror action game with a story devised by the master mythmaker, novelist and filmmaker Clive Barker. Mingling the darkest elements of Barker’s horror fiction and films, Jericho deals with the mysterious reappearance of a lost city in a remote desert. When a form of evil that goes right back to the dawn of days resurfaces from there, a Special Forces squad, trained in both conventional warfare and the arcane arts, is sent in. Their mission: hunt down and destroy the evil that lurks at the heart of the city before it destroys humanity.

Resident Evil for GameCube#18 Resident Evil (GameCube Remake)
Platforms: GameCube Only
Debut: US May 1, 2002
Synopsis: The Raccoon City Police Department doesn’t know what happened to the Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) Bravo team it sent out to investigate the Arclay Mountain area on the outskirts of the city, where a number of people have recently gone missing. The unit’s helicopter seems to have crashed in the woods, and it hasn’t received any contact from the squad since. The department decides to dispatch another S.T.A.R.S. unit, the Alpha team, to check things out. But something goes terribly wrong.Players once again slip into the roles of Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine in this enhanced remake of the granddaddy of survival games. The game features beautiful, pre-rendered backdrops that animate realistically and mingle with real-time visual effects, a deadly arsenal of weapons, tons of nasty creatures, and 10 different endings.
Comments: The GameCube remake of Resident Evil is one of my favorite games of all time. The game is still strikingly beautiful and the gameplay is spot on. It also has an awesome opening sequence, completely upgraded dialogue (with the cheesy lines removed or altered) and all new gameplay sections that were not in the original. And because of it’s great graphics, it’s much scarier than the original game.

The Suffering for PS2#17 The Suffering
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
Debut: US March 8, 2004
Synopsis: The Suffering captures the disturbing and terrifying nature of the horror genre in a third-person action/adventure game set in the mature and gritty world of a maximum-security prison. The player controls the prisoner Torque, a hardened inmate in his late 20s, sentenced to die for a murder he may or may not have actually committed. Slightly mentally instable, Torque has flashbacks to the events from his past, throbbing images that depict the events that lead up to the crime for which he was imprisoned. The game features nine levels, frightening character morphs, and more than 10 deadly weapons from the shiv to the tommy gun to aid in the survival of this freakish nightmare.

Clocktower 3 for PS2#16 Clock Tower 3
Platforms: PS2 Only
Debut: NA March 18, 2003
Synopsis: An adventure game from Capcom, featuring Alyssa Hamilton — an ordinary girl with ordinary dreams who is about to discover a side of herself that she never knew she possessed. Only she has the power to destroy the evil that threatens to plunge the world into darkness. Her destiny is to end the brutal crusade of the Evil Servants, foul spirits who thrive on the trapped life force of their murdered victim’s souls. To save herself and these tortured innocents, Alyssa must unlock the mysteries surrounding the death of each soul. However, the legions of the dark world won’t succumb easily. Alyssa must summon the sacred weapons necessary to banish these demonic creatures to the nightmare realms that spawned them before the clock tower strikes midnight.

Fatal Frame for PS2#15 Fatal Frame
Platforms: PS2, Xbox
Debut: US February 27, 2002
Synopsis: Based on a true story, Fatal Frame, a horror adventure game, leaves its victims breathless as they become immersed in a world full of supernatural spirits and sheer terror. Guided by her sixth sense and armed only with an antique camera, Miku sets out to solve the mystery of her brother’s sudden disappearance. As the story unfolds, she discovers gruesome details about the Himura mansion’s troubled past. The property and surrounding area have a dark history involving grisly murders, an evil cult, and restless spirits.
Comments: Fatal Frame is definitely the scariest horror game I’ve ever played. The mood and feel of the game is very similar to that of Silent Hill, but something about ghosts and the creepy storyline of rituals and sacrifice make it that much spookier. The game also has a very unique premise gameplay-wise, with you having to use your camera to capture ghosts, and a unique enemy in that you don’t often fight ghosts, and only ghosts, in video games. The game was a little too Japanese for my tastes, I prefer the more Western and modern look of Silent Hill, but if you want a scary game, then you owe it to yourself to try out the Fatal Frame series. Read my Fatal Frame review for my final say on the first installment.

AvP2 for PC#14 Alien VS Predator 2
Platforms: PC, Mac
Debut: US October 30, 2001
Synopsis: The sequel to one of the most frightening games ever made, Aliens vs. Predator 2 takes you to Planet LV1201, where three diverse and bloodthirsty species battle for survival. The story-driven plot weaves together the fates of all three races, while the action is as heart-stopping as the blockbuster films on which it is based. Choose to play as Alien, Predator, or Marine as you use your physical prowess, killer instincts, or superior firepower to stay alive.

Manhunt 2 for PS2#13 Manhunt 2
Platforms: Wii, PS2, PSP
Debut: US October 2007
Synopsis: Within a secret research facility, Daniel Lamb is one of many scientists working on the ‘The Pickman Project’ led by Dr. Laura Whyte and Dr. Pickman. The project deals with various controversial experiments and when the funding is cut, the facility is shut down. Dr. Pickman and his colleagues decide to continue anyway and move the whole project underground. Among some of the scientists still on board, Daniel Lamb agrees to become one of the many guinea pigs. However, an unforeseen defect appears in many of the subjects and they are sent to the Dixmor Asylum for the Criminally Insane. During his time, Daniel becomes confused and brain washed with paranoia questioning what part of his life was real or imaginary. Six years later, a freakish lightning storm knocks out the asylum’s power resulting in the whole security system to shut down. Daniel decides to escape, but isn’t the only inmate coming out of his cell. This is where the gameplay begins.

Call of Cthulhu for PC#12 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
Platforms: Xbox, PC
Debut: NA October 24, 2005
Synopsis: Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is a first-person horror game that allows for dynamic gameplay with a unique mix of investigation, puzzle solving, exploration and combat as gamers are faced with the seemingly impossible task of battling evil incarnate. Set during the 1920s, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is based on the Cthulhu Mythos inspired by the writing of H.P. Lovecraft, American fantasy and horror writer.

Silent Hill 3 for PS2#11 Silent Hill 3
Platforms: PS2, PC
Debut: EUR May 23, 2003 – NA August 6, 2006
Synopsis: Konami’s Silent Hill series has succeeded in delivering some of the most horrifying and psychologically disturbing experiences in video game history. Silent Hill 3 continues that tradition by providing clamoring fans of the series with the same masterful blend of mysterious storyline, nail-biting sound design, challenging puzzles and shocking monsters. New chilling locations in the town of Silent Hill such as the Mall, Amusement Park, and Subway are revealed in the new game, as well as featuring a new arsenal of weapons like the flame-thrower and sub-machine-gun. Heather, a seemingly normal teenage girl must explore the hellish place of Silent Hill in order to understand her forgotten past and escape with her life, if not her sanity.

Fatal Frame III for PS2#10 Fatal Frame III: The Tormented
Platforms: Playstation 2 only
Released: JPN July 28, 2005 – NA November 8, 2005 – EUR February 24, 2006
Synopsis: Assume the role of the cursed young woman Rei Kurosawa, whose overwhelming guilt over the death of her fiancé and persistent nightmares force her to blur the lines between the dream world and reality in Fatal Frame III: The Tormented. Developed by the same team responsible for the previous Fatal Frame titles as well as the Deception series, Fatal Frame III includes three different playable characters with their own unique special abilities and uses, and two different gaming worlds (nightmare and real life) that show off the improved visual effects and additional abilities for the world’s most famous ghost busting photo device, The Camera Obscura.

Condemned: Criminal Origins for Xbox 360#9 Condemned: Criminal Origins
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
Debut: NA November 15, 2005
Synopsis: You are FBI agent Ethan Thomas, whose pursuit of relentless serial killers leads him through detailed urban environments filled with terrifyingly real sociopaths who lurk on the periphery of humanity. Gruesome weapons can be fashioned by clever players from the environment: paper-cutter handles, wooden planks and lead pipes ripped from walls can all be used to attack opponents. But watch your step, as enemies don’t merely run at you; they find an appropriately powerful weapon to attack with and then hide in the shadows, waiting for an open opportunity to strike.

Eternal Darkness for GameCube#8 Eternal Darkness
Platforms: GameCube only
Debut: NA June 24, 2004
Synopsis: Mature, third-person horror adventure from the makers of the original Legacy of Kain. Featuring 12 playable characters throughout history, including a Roman Centurion and a priest during the period of Inquisition, the story follows Alexandra Roivas, a young, beautiful woman whose grandfather’s body has just been found in his dark and moody mansion, bloodied and torn apart, his head missing. When she learns that the local police have been unable to uncover any clues regarding the obvious murder, she decides to take matters into her own hands. It’s when she arrives at her deceased relative’s mansion to investigate that the tale of Eternal Darkness truly begins.
Comments: Eternal Darkness took a somewhat style survival horror mold, and refreshed by taking it in a unique direction, psychological horror. This game plays tricks with you via a Sanity meter that goes down every time you see an enemy or certain other weird things. The crazy ways the game messes with you (“muting” the TV, taking away your inventory items, “killing” you, flipping the room upside down, turning statues alive) really sets it apart. And like Silent Hill, in ED the sound is a huge part of the game, from screams to the knocks on doors to the sound of footsteps around you . . . Eternal Darkness attacks the mind of the player and that is something that is truly innovative. The game also has an excellent story, outstanding voice acting and decent combat, sadly it didn’t see great sales, but it is definitely a modern horror classic that anyone with a Wii or GameCube should check out.

Siren for PS2#7 Siren
Platforms: PS2 only
Debut: EUR March 12, 2004 – NA April 20, 2004
Synopsis: The story of Forbidden Siren (European title), released as Siren in Japan in 2003, centers on a land-locked village in Japan that disappears following the loud blaring of a siren. Later that day, the once inhabitants of the village emerge from blood-red waters that now surround the remnants of the village. They’re no longer human though, having been somehow transformed into zombies. Choose from multiple characters, including a teenage boy leading a blind girl and a teacher and student duo to make your escape from the nightmare town. Forbidden Siren incorporates haunting environments, eerily realistic characters complete with motion-captured facial expressions, and unsettling camera techniques, resulting in one of the most terrifying games to date.

Rule of Rose for PS2#6 Rule of Rose
Platforms: PS2 only
Debut: NA September 12, 2006
Synopsis: This suspenseful adventure game is set in a mysterious world that is under the control of a group of young girls calling themselves the “Red Crayon Family.” Taking control of Jennifer, you’ll have to work with the rules created by the girls as you solve puzzles, fight enemies and attempt to free yourself from dungeons. Mid way through the game, you come into the company of a dog who ends up playing an important role in your quest. An eerie, controversial (due to sexual undertones of the young girls) and super spooky overlooked PS2 title that all horror fans should check out.

Alien Resurrection for PS1#5 Alien Resurrection
Platforms: PS1, PC
Debut: US October 19, 2000 on PS1
Synopsis: Known as one of the hardest games ever made, Alien Resurrection follows the same basic plot as the film. Scientists are able to bring Lt. Ellen Ripley back from the grave. Unfortunately, they also bring back the acid-spewing menaces that follow her around. As a way of getting rid of the aliens, the installation has been rigged to self-destruct. Take control of Ripley as tries to fight her way through the ship and its unwelcome guests. Use handguns, rifles, auto-turrets, ice blasts, and an ultra powerful flame-thrower to journey through 10 levels of face- huggers, chest-bursters, and other alien warriors. Luckily, several members of the crew have survived, and after Ripley saves one of them, he or she will become a playable character. For the best experience, play the game in the dark and become absorbed by the atmosphere. Play Alien Resurrection, and help Ripley live to fight another day.

Manhunt for PS2#4 Manhunt
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
Debut: US November 18, 2003 on PS2, US April 20, 2004 on Xbox & PC
Synopsis: A violent action game from Rockstar, Manhunt is the story of James Earl Cash, a man previously thought dead who wakes up in a town filled with deadly gangs. Guided only by the whispers of a man named “The Director” through his earpiece, Cash must find whatever he can to survive the night. Players must make strategic choices as to which weapons to use, ranging from silent and stealthy to loud and destructive. Everyday items may be the key to your survival, as plastic bags become instruments of strangulation, and shards of glass your defensive weapons. Escape the nightmare that is Carcer City and maybe you’ll learn the identity of the mysterious “Director”.

Silent Hill 2 for PS2#3 Silent Hill 2
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
Debut: NA September 24, 2001
Synopsis: James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife telling him to meet her in the town of Silent Hill. The only problem is that she’s been dead for three years. In hopes of reuniting with her, Sunderland explores the haunted town, where he has many terrifying, unexpected and unexplained encounters with both the undead and his own mental state. The plot then twists and turns and layer upon layer is slowly revealed to the player. Are you prepared to enter the town of Silent Hill, to go to the depths of hell and back for the one you love?
Comments: Silent Hill 2 is easily one of my favorite horror games of all time. The sense of being alone in a large, scary city is both unique and creepy (as well as annoying, since it’s easy to get lost) and the game did unique things as far as the map system and music went. The storyline is also excellent with multiple layers and endings. Read my Silent Hill 2 review for my personal opinion on the game.

Doom 3 for PC#2 Doom 3
Platforms: PC, Mac, Xbox
Debut: NA August 3, 2004 on PC, NA – NA April 3, 2005 on Xbox
Synopsis: Distinguishing itself from previous titles, the third game in the series focuses more on an engrossing single player experience. In addition to its frenzied first-person shooter action, it also scares the wits out of players as they tremble down dark corridors filled with gruesome zombies and monsters ready to attack from the shadows. Players have to switch between their weapons and their flash light to survive the horror that Hell has unleashed on Mars. DOOM 3 features realistic physics, 6-channel surround-sound, and real-time dynamic lighting and shadows that create an environment of ever-changing fear and uncertainty. Compete in vicious multiplayer action where light, shadows, and a totally dynamic world can be used to your advantage or peril.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly for PS2#1 Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Platforms: PS2, director’s cut on Xbox
Released: JPN November, 2003 – NA November 5, 2003 – EUR April 29, 2004
Synopsis: Terror returns with Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly. This time the journey takes you to a whole new setting: an abandoned village, where you play the role of Mio Amakura, a young girl who is gifted with a strong sixth sense and her twin sister Mayu, who notices a crimson butterfly faintly glowing in the sky. New features for the sequel include enhanced visuals, improved sound technology, a more advanced camera upgrade system, and hidden chapters that provide additional backstory for the plots of this game as well as the original.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Illbleed for Sega DreamcastIllbleed
Platforms: Dreamcast Only
Debut: NA April 25, 2001
Synopsis: A famous media mogul has issued a challenge: he’ll award $1 million to anyone who can make it out of his latest horror theme park, ILLBLEED, alive. You are Eiko, the plucky young president of the local high school’s horror club. Your mission is to rescue your three friends in ILLBLEED (and hopefully walk away with a cool $1 million to boot). With the park staffed by slashers, zombies, demons, and other horror movie denizens, you must use all of your senses to escape death whether it be by some horrible creature or by sheer fright. Gauges for your senses such as hearing, sight, and smell are featured to help you avoid trouble, and there’s even a gauge for an otherworldly sixth sense. Try and make your way through the six stages of Horrorland and collect tickets to enter the final stage an area that no one has ever entered before. You’re in for a bloody good time in ILLBLEED.

Nightmare Creatures on PCNightmare Creatures
Platforms: PS1, N64, PC, Saturn
Debut: NA November 17, 1997
Synopsis: Players take control of either Nadia, the young American swordswoman or Ignatius, the staff-wielding monk and traverse 19th century London to defeat the evil Adam Crowley, a fictionalized version fashioned upon Aleister Crowley. Crowley is a member of the Brotherhood of Hecate, whose headquarters are located in London. Obsessed with creating a race of insanely-powerful and impervious humans, Crowley and the Brotherhood concocted a mysterious amalgam of unknown ingredients. The mixture, however, had detrimental effects. Instead of empowering humans, it grossly disfigured them, yielding horrifying results. Crowley became obsessed with ruling the world so he unleashed these “nightmare creatures” into the streets of London. Ultimately, this led to the Great Fire of 1834. Secondary weapons such as pistols, mines, fire bombs, and magic spells can be used in addition to each character’s primary weapon. The game features an adrenaline bar which causes health to be lost if it runs out, and players are forced to continuously seek out and win battles to keep the adrenaline bar full.

Metroid for Game Boy Advance Metroid
Platforms: NES, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Wii Virtual Console
Debut: NA August 15, 1986
Synopsis: Remember the first time you played Metroid? With it’s non-existent, pitch black backgrounds, haunting soundtrack (especially once you get into Kraid’s hideout) and regular enemies that could kill you with a few good strokes if you weren’t careful (though it depended on how many energy tanks you had, of course) . . . not to mention it’s hideously long password system, Metroid was a breakthrough sci-fi platformer for it’s time that not only innovative with it’s open world and progressive power-up system, it also scared the crap out of lots of kids, including myself, with it’s sheer otherworldyness. Even today, the tunes are as haunting as ever. And besides, this my list, and I say, play Metroid on Halloween . . . by yourself . . . in the dark! I dare ya!

Zombies Ate My Neighbors on Sega Genesis Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Platforms: Super NES, Genesis, Wii Virtual Console (eventually)
Debut: US July 19, 1993
Synopsis: Zombies have invaded your neighborhood and are trying to eat your neighbors. Try to save the neighbors, cheerleaders, and babies in 55 levels of action and adventure. Battle zombies, mummies, evil dolls, lizard men, vampires, and giant ants with a wide range of weapons including Uzi squirt guns, exploding soda, bazookas, weed whackers, and ancient artifacts. If you have a hard time getting through one of the levels, have a friend come over and help you out in the Two-Player mode. Save your neighborhood from a terrible fate in Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

Super Ghouls N' Ghosts on Game Boy Advance Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts
Platforms: Multiplatform including Wii Virtual Console
Debut: NA – November 1991
Synopsis: As Arthur, the greatest swordsman in all the land, you are well respected and held in high regard by all who know you. When a nefarious creature kidnaps Princess Guinevere, you take it as a personal challenge and vow to save the fair princess exacting revenge on her captors. In Super Ghouls N’ Ghosts you’ll face an army of vicious creatures and vile beasts as you battle through level after level of sword-swinging action. Along the way you may become hexed and end up as a baby, a duck, or even a skeleton but you’ll always have a weapon, so even then you’ll be able to slash your way through your foes. If you can rescue Princess Guinevere from the Phantom Zone, you’ll solidify your reputation as a hero and be adored by an entire kingdom!

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for Nintendo DSThe Castlevania series
Platforms: Multiple
Debut: US May 1, 1987
Synopsis: Fight lots of unique enemies, gigantic and threatening bosses, all in order to take on the king of terror himself, Dracula. The Castlevania series is still going strong two decades after it’s creation, and no matter what game in the series you play, it’s perfect for Halloween. Monsters, demons, blood-sucking vampires, Castlevania has all the scary stuff you need!

I hope everyone enjoyed the long, exhaustive, and extensive list. Anything I missed? Do you agree or disagree? Tell me what you think and make your own list by commenting! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 😈 :mrgreen: