Dark fantasy and horror games are perfect for a spooky experience during the entire year, not just the month of October. While commonly these titles either have players taking part in real-time combat or running away defenseless, some games take a more strategic approach through the use of turn-based combat.
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These titles are spooktacular while also encouraging the player to use their brain in these stressful situations if they hope to beat the nightmares. While there are not all that many horror-leaning projects that seek to incorporate turn-based combat, a few games stand out from the crowd.
While dark fantasy titles will be considered, the ones that incorporate horror elements will be prioritized.
8 Rogue Lords
Metascore: 72
Rogue Lords may not be the scariest horror game on this list, though it still deserves a place for its interesting turn-based combat and dark fantasy story. Players take on the role of the devil in this eerie adventure as they recruit some of the strangest creatures or monsters from both folklore and mythology to get their revenge on the demon hunters that once defeated the devil.
Recruiting these allies – also known as disciples – gives players more than simply a unit on the field, as each one has their own unique story the player will get to uncover while unleashing their own horrors on the world.
7 Mary Skelter: Nightmares
Metascore: 76
Mary Skelter: Nightmares
- Platform(s)
- PS Vita
- Released
- October 13, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Compile Heart
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Even the games that take a deeper dive into the anime side of things can be just as gory or horrifying as the likes of Western titles. Mary Skelter: Nightmares combines folk-like fairy tales with a dark and taunting world to make an intriguing dungeon-crawler strategy horror for players to explore.
Controlling the main character Jack; who is based-off the fairy tale of Jack and the Bean Stalk, must use the aid of the blood maidens – who are also based on fairy tales – to explore these awful dungeons and put an end to it all.
6 Black Book
Metascore: 75
Black Book is another dark RPG with horror themes that uses mythology to create an eerie adventure. The story follows a girl who is expected to become a witch. However, she abandons this destiny in the hope of marrying the man she loves only to find him dead.
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Unable to live with this grief she begins her adventure to find the Black Book, a horrid artifact that can supposedly grant the user's wish if they can unlock its seven seals. Naturally on this journey, she must defeat foes using her magic which is done in turn-based combat. Black Book may not have the typical jump scares of many modern titles, but it does a good job of keeping its players on edge.
5 Stygian: Reign Of The Old Ones
Metascore: 81
Stygian: Reign Of The Old Ones is a Lovecraftian turn-based adventure that sees the player explore the remains of Arkham and the abyss. Besides players making important choices that will seal the fate of themselves and the remaining inhabitants, players are likely to encounter all sorts of other horrors as they uncover this dark tale.
Battles take place on a hexagonal grid, where players will need to use strategic thinking to have enough power to outsmart the foes they are likely to face. This combat is heavily inspired by the old Magic games as well as Heroes of Might, making this title a comfortable horror choice for them.
4 Othercide
Metascore: 78
Othercide is another turn-based horror game that's choices can create great altercations for the story. Players will quickly understand that some sacrifices will be necessary in combat if they hope for the rest of their team to survive. Outsmarting the creatures can lead to some deadly moments that makes Othercide a challenge alongside a horror title.
Besides Othercide's turn-based combat and interesting story, the art style of Othercide only enhances the horror environment this strategy title has created. The simple use of black and white with the vibrancy of the red creates an intense and detailed battlefield.
3 World Of Horror
Metascore: 82
While not as Lovecraftian, World of Horror describes itself as a one-bit love letter to that theme of horror as well as Junji Ito. Forgotten dark gods have found a way to claw their way back into the real world, and it's testing the sanity of the residents of Japan. Horrifying supernatural phenomenon has been spotted in forgotten houses, hospitals, and classrooms as the world begins to spin out of control.
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With the only solution to this chaos being to confront the horrors, it is down to the play through this turn-based combat to send these once forgotten gods back to where they had come from and restore the peace.
2 Darkest Dungeon
Metascore: 84
Darkest Dungeon is another incredible horror game with turn-based combat. While many games follow a group of adventurers through difficult tasks, this game truly focuses on the mental stress these challenges have on the heroes that attempt them.
Each character has their own issues and therefore vices to get over the stress while the player continues to push them into saving townsfolk or defeating an awful lich. The gothic art style only adds to the horrors a player is likely to face as every aspect of Darkest Dungeon feels gritty.
1 Inscryption
Metascore: 85
Out of all the turn-based combat horror games available by far one of the greatest of them all has to be the ominous card game of Inscryption. Starting off in an eerie cabin, the player sits at a dimly lit table with only one other opponent.
While it may only seem like cards at first, things in this cabin aren't what they at first seem as the cards begin to speak to the player about escaping the game they are in. Leshy is only the beginning of Inscryption as the card game gains new mechanics as the player is introduced to newer foes.