Halloween is drawing closer and closer, and people are becoming increasingly involved with the classic festivities that are often associated with it. One of the best parts of Halloween is how the connotations of horror and spookiness that accompany it can translate to such a wide variety of mediums, and video games are no exception.
Horror video games have proven to be a massive staple of the gaming industry over time, with different horror games pushing the limits of video game experience across a variety of genres. One of the most popular sub-genres within this vein is survival horror, and there are many extremely well received survival horror titles that are worth playing for those who wish to get fully immersed in the spirit of Halloween.
Alien: Isolation
Fans of survival horror have an immediately obvious contender for Halloween thrills in Alien: Isolation, a 2014 title set within the grippingly sinister Alien universe. Widely regarded as one of the best video game adaptations of the iconic franchise, Isolation sees players take control of fan-favorite character Amanda Ripley aboard an expansive space station, daughter of Sigourney Weaver's famous Ellen Ripley, encountering a litany of hostile survivors and creatures that can be approached in a variety of ways.
As a true survival horror title, a majority of Alien: Isolation's core gameplay formula relies on the freedom of choice for the player in approaching combat, with stealth being the much more nuanced but effective approach to most situations that the game presents. Aside from enemies like rogue survivors and hostile androids, the star antagonist of Isolation is undoubtedly the Xenomorph alien that stalks the player for the vast majority of the title.
The Xenomorph in Alien: Isolation is regarded by some as one of the best antagonists in survival horror history; the title uses a blend of rigorous "director AI" to ensure that the Xenomorph acts with an intimidating level of intelligence and combat IQ. To further add to the imposing nature of this constantly-looming antagonist, the Xenomorph cannot be killed, and must be instead avoided throughout the game as it is alerted by noises and certain actions of the player. Receiving highly positive reviews due to the consistently tense nature of its gameplay, Alien: Isolation is a must-play for survival horror fans this Halloween.
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Outlast
Outlast is another survival horror title that has become synonymous with the sub-genre, and is perfect for tense Halloween gameplay. The title originally released in 2013 and to many marked a shift in what could be expected from survival horror videogames, possessing a first-person perspective that is often portrayed through the lens of a night vision camera.
Developed and published by Red Barrels, Outlast sees the player take control of an investigative journalist exploring a derelict and remote psychiatric hospital, making for a textbook Halloween gaming experience. As may be expected, the game received high praise for its intense atmosphere and ambiance, with the hostile patients of the hospital populating the dimly lit corridors and chambers of the facility.
Like Alien: Isolation, Outlast is also heavily reliant on a sense of power and threat behind the enemies within the game, with stealth mechanics often taking precedence over a more direct approach when encountering the many disturbing figures that lurk the passages of the hospital. Due to the near-total darkness that surrounds the game's protagonist, the night vision camera that acts as the players vision is a key survival tool, meaning that the player must always be on the lookout for additional batteries or be plunged into darkness. Despite its age, Outlast remains as a classic more contemporary title within the survival horror genre, and is perfect for a first-time playthrough or even a revisit this Halloween.
Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village is a much more recent addition to the survival horror genre, originally releasing in 2021, and received a remarkable amount of positive attention from fans and critics alike, making another success for Capcom. The most recent mainline installment to the longstanding and illustrious Resident Evil franchise, Village has the prestige and core groundwork of one of the most defining survival horror franchises to pull from in its gameplay.
Village sees players once again take control of Ethan Winters, who was the protagonist of Resident Evil Biohazard which released in 2017. Set entirely in a decrepit Eastern European village, the player must negotiate a series of antagonists inspired by European folklore, with supernatural elements at the crux of the game's narrative and core gameplay.
Set from a first-person perspective, Resident Evil Village harks back to the framework of previous Resident Evil games by making resource management and scavenging an absolute top priority. The player can easily become overwhelmed by the huge array of enemies within the title should they fall behind on ammunition or healing supplies.
Since puzzles and collectibles take just as much precedence as scares in this game, Resident Evil Village can provide a truly comprehensive and captivating gameplay experience this Halloween. As well as fitting the tone of upcoming festivities, now is a fantastic time to explore Village for the first time. The upcoming Winters' Expansion for the game will come soon and bring gripping new story DLC, fresh playable characters, and even an ambitious third-person mode that likens the title to older Resident Evil installments.
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