Most people wouldn't expect the horror and strategy genres to mix well on paper, but if one really thinks about it, then this combination is a great match in many ways. After all, a huge part of most strategy games is making smart and calculated decisions, but the oppressive and scary atmosphere of horror games can addle a player's decision-making quite a bit.
This is why so many people have started coveting strategy games with horror elements added to the mix. These games are pretty rare, which is why players seeking this combination of genres will try out pretty much anything that falls within this umbrella. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the best strategy horror games that are worth checking out.
6 Koudelka
Most people know of Shadow Hearts, the gothic JRPG that is truly one of a kind. However, these fans aren't aware of the game that started it all — namely, a little-known title called Koudelka on the PS1. Unlike most other JRPGs at the time, players move their characters on a grid while also unleashing attacks, adding to the strategic depth of its gameplay.
However, while Koudelka is a pretty great game when it comes to the atmosphere, the slow combat and unfair difficulty curve are a bit too oppressive for their own good. Regardless, given the wave of tough scary games that have cropped up in recent times, Koudelka should feel right at home with fans looking for a challenging and engaging turn-based game.
5 Sea Salt
Games like Carrion have made it pretty clear that playing as the bad dude can be a pretty interesting experience if pulled off correctly. As a result, it's easy to see why Sea Salt can be such an exciting prospect. The game utilizes the concept of reverse horror efficiently as players control the Lovecraftian entity Dagon's minions, building up an army of nightmarish creatures who ravage the land with their presence.
While the game may be too simplistic for many people's tastes, the combination of horror, action, and strategy makes for a great time as players annihilate forces with a demonic army that slowly grows over time.
4 Othercide
The first thing that players will notice in Othercide is that the game's art style is gorgeous and sucks players into the experience. The second realization that slaps players in the face is that this game is brutally hard, and death is inevitable early on as players learn the ropes.
Othercide is easily one of the most underrated roguelites on Steam, with the permanent upgrades that players get access to being downright critical to making more progress in every run. It's a shame that more people don't talk about his unique hybrid of horror and turn-based strategy, especially with the narrative of this game also being quite riveting in its own right.
3 They Are Billions
Most zombie-themed media focus on what happens right after the zombie apocalypse, with the time gap being a few years at best. However, They Are Billions adds a fresh spin to this setting by placing people in the middle of a world that has been so horribly ravaged by this epidemic that only a few thousand humans are still alive.
This is why the title of the game makes so much sense, adding to the morbid and hopeless nature of the experience. Players have to form well-fortified colonies and form a ton of units to deal with the constant threat of the zombies that can destroy their hard work in no time flat if a settlement's defenses aren't up to par.
2 Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a game that needs no introduction, with this hard-as-nails gothic horror RPG forcing players to strategize and prepare before heading into one of the many labyrinths that can be explored in the game. The game's dark and gloomy atmosphere is quite effective, and players have to be extra careful about maintaining their character's sanity.
After all, a single misstep can lead to a vital member of the party losing their life, which is pretty much a death sentence in a game where a full party is critical to deal with the many nefarious forces that lay within these depths. While initial runs can be so punishing that players would want to quit, it's when players manage exploration wisely and try not to bite off more than they can chew that the addictive nature of this game really grabs a hold of them.
1 World Of Horror
It takes something really special for a game still stuck in Early Access to garner such positive appeal, but such is the allure of World of Horror that most people would agree that it deserves its spot as one of the best horror-strategy hybrids on offer. The game is clearly inspired by the work of Junji Ito, and it's genuinely incredible that the majority of this game's art assets have been made in MS Paint!
The result is a nightmarish roguelike game where players investigate one of many mysteries plaguing the small town of Shiokawa. Players need to navigate events and defeat enemies in a hard-yet-satisfying combat system that forces them to strategize every step of the way. For an Early Access game, it's genuinely incredible just how much content there already is in World of Horror, and fans can't wait to see what a fully-fledged release of this game will bring to the table.