Frictional Games started out as a small and independent studio. Titles such as Penumbra and Amnesia soon entered the consciousness of gamers far and wide, earning them acclaim and allowing them to increase the production quality of later titles. Responsible for scaring countless gamers witless, there is no doubt that Frictional has made some of the scariest horror games of all time.
While all their titles are great in their own way, some stand out from the rest with their monster design, gameplay and storylines. These are all the games in their library so far, ranked.
12 Energetic
Energetic won't be the game Frictional will be known for, buried under a slew of the more successful games. If gamers do play it, it will likely be at the behest of teachers in a school computer lab.
This edutainment game aims to teach children about the production and consumption of energy sources in a way that is more fun than simply staring at a slide show. It incorporates platforming mechanics to make it more interactive, but outside educational purposes, this game won't reach many fans.
11 Unbirth
Unbirth was a game that was never quite born, made in 2004. It remains more of a ghost on the internet, haunting websites with its name and screenshots, and a small alpha demo of what could have been. Featuring frightening monsters and a story that dives deep into the human consciousness, Unbirth had a lot of promise.
The game's spirit lives on in Penumbra, which followed up on Frictional's years of work spent with Unbirth. The ideas and creatures were definitely sources of inspiration, so players owe this game a thanks for being responsible for the greatest part of Frictional's first horror game series.
10 Fiend
While Frictional Games has bigger titles that come to mind, there are other small titles they have worked on previously. Fiend was released in 2001. Unlike later titles, it is purely 2D, and burdened by technological limitations. But as a first game, Frictional's efforts have to be lauded.
Inspired by the work of cosmic horror writer HP Lovecraft, Frictional managed to create an interesting story, revolving around Nick Cane and a mine in the unsettling town of Lauder. The intrigue and slow lifting of the veil of horror is sure to chill players, if they can wrangle with the controls.
9 Penumbra: Requiem
Following the success of the two previous Penumbra games, fans might expect further frights and terror to pursue them through the rusted, tetanus riddled halls of Requiem. However, they might have been disappointed. Unlike Overture and Black Plague, the world of Requiem is a lonely one with no living threats.
When players navigate the world and interact with their surroundings, they must be cautious, as they don't know what dangers hide behind the corrugated metal. The gameplay is more involved, with puzzles that the player must master. Its story threads do make up for the gameplay, which may not be to the tastes of Penumbra fans.
8 Amnesia: Justine
Amnesia: Justine was a short expansion to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, providing players more scares set in the Amnesia universe. With two endings, intriguing puzzles, and surprisingly good voice acting, Amnesia: Justine is not the cream of the crop, it still is a good game worth the time of an Amnesia fan.
Players take on the role of Justine, who wakes in a cell after drinking an amnesia tonic. Justine finds phonographs she recorded herself that explain the mysteries she finds herself submerged in, and the experiments she conducted on her. She is not the only one imprisoned, and after escaping her cell, she must choose to let the others live or die.
7 Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
Following up on the success and renown of Dark Descent was A Machine for Pigs. Frictional handed the creative reigns to The Chinese Room, leading to the game's originality. It features the same survival horror gameplay in which players must hide from threats. Machine for Pigs pulls punches with its scares, though the atmosphere and story are certain to captivate fans of the original.
The plot centers around Oswald Mandus, a businessman and butcher that enjoys a wealthy lifestyle, and is implied to be a descendant of Dark Descent protagonist Daniel. When Oswald's sons lives are endangered by his butchering machines, the Engineer summons Oswald to save them, where he encounters humanoid pig creatures. Ultimately, the Engineer betrays him, unleashing the creatures upon the streets of London.
6 Penumbra: Overture
Kicking off the Penumbra franchise, Overture treated players to a uniquely frightening game, blending puzzles, survival horror, and basic combat. While it may not be the scariest title in Frictional's cabinet of horrors, it still managed to get hearts racing with its suffocating atmosphere, and the flesh-hungry dogs the players share the mine with.
Players control Philip, following the footsteps of his deceased father to the wilderness of Greenland. Philip must take shelter in an abandoned mine to escape the cold, but he quickly realizes he is not the only one there. The game devolves into a terrifying fight for survival. Penumbra: Overture provides a unique experience, and with a sequel that continues Philip's horrifying story.
5 Penumbra: Black Plague
Black Plague raises the stakes and th terror. It de-emphasizes combat to place emphasis on stealth and survival. With terrifying enemies stalking the dark and gloomy halls, more interacting with computer and the bases' security, and a storyline that deals with heavy themes, Black Plague is a step above Overture.
Picking up where Overature left, Philip awakens after being knocked out, still in remote Greenland. Attacked by zombie-like creatures, Philip realizes he has been infected by the same virus that turned them, but manages to stave off the hive-mind mentality. He shares his mind with a sadistic individual named Clarence. While he sometimes offers some hints, Clarence also taunts the Philip and tries to convince him to shed his morality.
4 Amnesia: Rebirth
After the mixed feelings regarding A Machine for Pigs, Frictional jumped back into the developer seat to handle Rebirth. It brings back the much-loved creeping horror as players cling to their light source like a lifeline, and it was well received by fans. The soundtrack and atmosphere elevate the horror to new heights, and make it a test of courage to play.
Anastasie (or Tasi), a French drafter en-route to an expedition in Africa, suffers a plane crash, leaving her stranded with little memory of what happened, and no sign of her companions. Pregnant and alone, Tasi comes into possession of an alien amulet that allows her to travel to another world. It is one of the most ambitious stories in the Amnesia franchise.
3 Amnesia: The Bunker
The titular bunker acts as the main setting for this entry. It brings claustrophobia as gamers traverse dark corridors. The Bunker masters this sense of foreboding dread, aided by effective sound design and lighting. The generator can be used to light the bunker, but with limited fuel, players must always move forward and overcome the urge to hide in a dark corner.
Set during World War I, players are dropped into the trenches with an explosive opening, which goes against the combat-free series. An artillery shell renders Henri unconscious, and he awakens in an abandoned bunker with little recollection as to how he got there. As Henri explores his new surroundings, he realizes it is not completely abandoned after all.
2 Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: the Dark Descent took the internet by storm. Every horror gamer was playing it, or trembling behind a pillow as they watched another play it. Not only was it responsible for kicking off the Amnesia franchise, it popularized independent horror games, and the trend of watching YouTube playthroughs. With the sanity system mechanic, Dark Descent was cutting edge for its time.
Main character Daniel awakens in a castle with hardly any memories intact, but as he explores Brennenburg Castle, he finds scattered clues he wrote to himself. These hint at the reasons behind his amnesia, warn of a shadow pursuing him, and state that he must kill the Castle's Baron Alexander. The Dark Descent will both captivate and terrify any brave enough to hit start.
1 Soma
Soma proves Frictional are capable of more than grimy and gothic horrors. It's a unique sci-fi horror title with a dystopian, thought-provoking story. It's a more personal and slow burning type of horror, rather than the stomach-churning shock events of Frictional's other titles. The pacing is more suspenseful and the horrors more impactful.
Protagonist Simon Jarrett incurs traumatic brain injuries during a car crash, and agrees to an experimental brain scan. During the scan, he loses consciousness and wakes up in an underwater geothermal power plant. He makes contact with a woman named Catherine Chun, who shocks Simon and the player with the news that it's 2104, a comet has wiped out all other locations and lifeforms. The story delves into what it truly means to be human, posing the questions regarding AI and humanity. It's best enjoyed first-hand, as there are twists and turns players will never see coming.