Horror does not limit itself to just books and movies; in the age of console wars and virtual storytelling, the genre has flooded into the virtual plane, as well. But, as with all entries into the field, some titles get a bit too out-of-hand for most casual consumers to enjoy
While most fans can't deal with the likes of Dead Space and Five Nights at Freddy's, there are still those entry-level thrill-seekers that faint at the sight of blood. Have no fear; for every stomach-turning horror show for genre aficionados, there's a game with mild but satisfying scares for the rest of us.
Bioshock
There are those players out there who think that first-person shooters are nothing more but violence for the sake of violence and gore for the sake of gore. Those players have not played BioShock. This thought-provoking horror title puts players up against horrific, mutated monsters, but it essentially gives the player superpowers to fight back.
Those first few encounters might be scary for some, but, once the player has enough bullets and plasmids, those splicers and Big Daddies start dropping like flies, and, if we're honest, the second half of the game comes across as particularly tame for the series.
Dead Island
Dead Island is not a polished game—not by a long shot—but that doesn't mean it isn't a lot of fun. Zombies aren't exactly the scariest monster anymore, but that doesn't mean players don't still enjoy finding new ways to dismember them.
With its mix of horror and RPG, players will have more than a good time finding new and creative ways to put these infected pests in their place, and that's especially if they have an electrified buzzsaw on the end of a baseball bat.
Dante’s Inferno
It's been said before, but there's no other way to put it. Dante's Inferno isn't just a God of War clone, it's one of the best God of War clones.
Rather than leaving the player feeling powerless, as is the case in so many run-of-the-mill horror games, Dante's Inferno acts as something of a power trip. As Dante, here reimagined as a knight of the Crusades, players will take up Death's scythe and plunge themselves into the nine circles of Hell to save their beloved from the clutches of Lucifer. As far as scares go, the designs alone are nightmare-inducing.
Mortal Kombat Series
Prepare to test your might! This one might be up for debate, but, considering most of the gameplay is finding just how many times the human body can be ripped to shreds in various means, Mortal Kombat definitely sounds like a horror game.
What else can be expected from a title that features four-armed monsters, undead ninjas, and evil sorcerers who reanimate corpses? That's not even mentioning the horror movie guest characters such as Jason Voorhees.
Devil May Cry Series
Dante is tohe Evil Dead; whether it's the original series or the underappreciated remake, players will go toe-to-toe with an army of demons while testing out their skills with dual pistols and an awesome sword. What's great about the series is its tongue-in-cheek humor and its phenomenal combo system. Honestly, it's hard to be afraid of the monsters if they're too busy getting sliced, diced, and served on rice.
Lollipop Chainsaw
If ever there was an epitome of the horror-comedy genre in video game form, it's Lollipop Chainsaw. A blonde, giggly, busty cheerleader with a chainsaw doesn't exactly sound like the typical horror protagonist, but Juliet can definitely hold her own.
With all seriousness thrown out the window, this game offers a less abrasive horror experience. By focusing more on action and humor, the zombies and demonic entities tend to lose their edge and become chainsaw fodder.
Darksiders Series
Hack-and-slash games are a great way to introduce players to the horror genre,Darksiders. As the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, players will rip and tear their way through the legions of hell to restore balance to the universe.
One of the most notable features of the series is how versatile it is, offering different takes on the hack-and-slash formula. Whether it's the original or any of the sequels, there's a good and gory time to be had.
Lords of the Fallen
While it would have been so easy to put Dark Souls here, Lords of the Fallen is 100% more fair and approachable. There's still no shortage of hideous monsters and crunchy combat, but the "prepare to die" motif has been scrapped in favor of fun, arcade-style action.
That all being said the combat does get incredibly intense, and many of the monsters will jump out and try to tear into the player. That's not even mentioning the behemoth boss fights.
Doom
If players want a traditional horror experience but want to feel like a complete and total tank while they mow down hordes of zombies and demons, Doom is just what the doctor ordered. Whether it's the remake or the original, blasting one's way through monsters never gets old.
It has jump-scares, it has gore, and it has unholy legions of terrors to fight in dark corridors, but how many horror games leave the player feeling like a true slayer? An old favorite never goes out of style.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
When it comes to classic horror games, one can never go wrong with the Castlevania series. Out of all of them, Symphony of the Night is at the top of many players' lists. Simply put, it checks the boxes for all the classic monster media.
The main character is a vampire who must battle zombies, ghosts, demons, and classic horror monsters such as the mummy, Frankenstein's monster, and even Dracula himself to save the world from a horrific onslaught.