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Halloween is the perfect time to dive back into titles that have left their mark on the genre with their chilling atmosphere and captivating narrative. From independent games to bigger budget games, there is something for everyone. From the twisting corridors of an artist's mind to the misty forests of Bright Falls, these six works promise dozens of hours of tension and anxiety punctuated by jumps for thrill seekers.
Layers of Fear: the demons of creation
Polish studio Bloober Team invites us into the tormented mind of a painter in search of his masterpiece and obsessed with perfection. Very hard to live with psychologically, this title released in 2016 on PC (available on Steam), PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, blurs the limits of reality in a Victorian mansion whose architecture deforms to the rhythm of the growing madness of the protagonist. The corridors stretch out infinitely, the doors multiply, the paintings come to life and we wonder anxiously what will be hidden behind each new door.
The game shines with its very heavy atmosphere tending towards horrific psychedelia, its gloomy ambiance and its visions of horror which will keep you in suspense until the last touch of paint.
Namely, the game benefited from a new version in 2023, rather original since it is not even a remaster or a simple remake. The developers have taken the work a step further by offering a total reinterpretation of the original game, its DLC and its sequel Layers of Fear 2, all running under the sublime Unreal Engine 5.
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Silent Hill 2 : Hell of the Fog
Konami made video game history in 2001, releasing Silent Hill 2, a dizzying dive into the depths of guilt. James Sunderland, a tormented widower, receives a letter from his deceased wife inviting him to join her in Silent Hill. What follows is a descent into psychological hell where each monster, each environment reflects the inner torments of the protagonist.
The game revolutionized the genre with its mature storytelling and deep symbolism, carried by Akira Yamaoka's masterful soundtrack. The remastered version of 2024, also developed by Bloober Team and available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, has managed to sublimate this timeless work with breathtaking graphics. The town of Silent Hill, shrouded in a thick, ever-present fog, will likely haunt you for years after you've visited it.
SOMA: The Horror of Being
Frictional Games, creator of the legendary series Amnesia, once again made a big splash in 2015 with this dystopian underwater adventure. In the PATHOS-II station, the player embodies Simon Jarrett, an ordinary man thrown into a post-apocalyptic future.
Between the rusty metal corridors and the unfathomable abysses into which you will be plunged, SOMA brilliantly questions the nature of consciousness and human identity. Are we really ourselves if our memories can be altered or erased ? Does consciousness exist thanks to our body, our mind, or something more intangible ?
The game stands out for its concealment system that avoids traditional combat in favor of permanent tension, reinforced by an exceptional sound atmosphere. In SOMA, you will be the prey and will have no means of defense, except to run away and hide as quickly as possible. Available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, SOMAis one of the few games that has managed to marry visceral horror with deep philosophical questions.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The Quarry: homage to the slashers
~6 0~p>Supermassive Games has delivered to us in 2022, the spiritual heir of’Until Dawn. This ambitious production follows nine summer camp counselors trapped in a bloody night at Hackett’s Quarry. We are rather close here to the interactive film rtaking the codes of classic horror films from the 1980s, notably slashers like Halloween, Friday the 13th or The Nightmare on Elm Street.
However, the game is a real success, particularly thanks to its choice system which will make the scenario evolve in your favor… or not. Each decision will have an impact on the course of the story and could lead to the survival or the brutal death of the characters.
The production is top-notch, served by a cast including David Arquette and Brenda Song, a brilliant soundtrack and a terribly oppressive atmosphere. The title is available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series and Xbox One.
Blair Witch: the sylvan terror
In 2019, Bloober Team (again!) seizes the cult license to deliver an exceptional experience in the woods of Black Hills. Ellis, a former police officer accompanied by his faithful dog Bullet, searches for a missing child in a cursed forest. Blair Witchexcels in its depiction of disorientation and growing paranoia, enhanced by an oppressive sound design that transforms every cracking branch into a potential threat.
Armed with a simple camcorder, you will be able to manipulate reality, reveal hidden clues and create links with the past. You will be very happy to be accompanied by your doggie, a real character in his own right who will bring you the necessary comfort in the heart of this claustrophobic forest.
Available on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch, if you like games that invite you to explore slowly, Blair Witch will keep you company during the cold autumn evenings ahead.
Alan Wake 2: the triumphant return
Remedy Entertainment has hit hard in 2023 with this sequel long awaited by fans of the series (13 years of waiting Alan Wake, still a prisoner in the Dark Place, now shares the bill with Saga Anderson, an FBI agent investigating ritual murders in Bright Falls.
The game revolutionizes the original formula by fully embracing survivalist horror, while retaining its light-based combat mechanics. Indeed, one of your main weapons is… a flashlight that will serve to illuminate the environment, but above all to repel your enemies. The powerful Northlight engine allows for striking lighting effects and realistic character modeling.
Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series, Alan Wake 2 did not disappoint: a complex and metafictional narrative inspired by David Lynch, a very neat artistic direction and a gameplay with little touches. We have here a title that borders on perfection in many aspects.
From pure psychological horror to more cinematic narrative experiences, each of these titles has brilliantly brought its stone in the edifice of the survival-horror genre. These six works prove that video games are now a more than fertile ground for exploring our deepest fears. Most of these titles are also being offered at a bargain price on Steam until November 4th (except for Alan Wake 2) for the Steam's Hallowe'en event.
- Some games explore madness, consciousness, and deep fears to deliver a gripping psychological and horrific experience.
- Cultural works have been revisited to offer fans even more gripping adventures.
- The stories in some titles propel the player in atmospheres worthy of the best horror films.
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