Layers of Fear (2016)
© Bloober Team
Layers of Fear is a creative indie game with twists, turns, and surprises. Described as a “first-person psychedelic horror” the game centers around a man grappling with his sanity. Psychological games aren’t always scary, Layers of Fear manages to be deeply unsettling.
It shows a different side to the horror genre thanks to its “unreliable narrator” style of gameplay and appreciation for visual presentation. In a way, it almost reminds us of reading through the works of Junji Ito. The visuals and concepts linger in your mind and you build horror around them, versus a more direct form of horror.
Another thing we appreciate about Layers of Fear is how it builds its horror. The beginning is relatively calm, but by the end, it’s pure chaos. We’d love to see more games like Layers of Fear in the horror genre, especially ones as tuned to what you see versus what you hear or do.
Outlast (2013)
© Red Barrels
Outlast combines survival horror and exploration with a festival of jump scares to create one twisted, but fantastic final product. What makes the game stand out is how you’re unable to fight back against the enemies you encounter. The only way to survive is to sneak, run, and hide.
The helplessness of your character adds to the tension of moments like when you’re trapped in a dark sewer and hear your foe splashing around in the water nearby. All you have is your video camera to illuminate the way, though it’s a resource you don’t want to overuse. The game can be somewhat cruel at times, presenting you with situations it knows you’ll likely fail the first time around.
To get to the end, you’ll need to remember previous mistakes and use that experience to overcome obstacles. In a nutshell, Outlast defines the decade as a horror game capable of shaking even the most seasoned horror fans to their core.
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)
© Scott Cawthon
Five Nights at Freddy’s may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s infamous for its creative incorporation of jump scares and time management. It’s also spawned an incredibly successful franchise of games and merchandise that horror fans can’t seem to get enough of.
Five Nights at Freddy’s serves as a shining example of how jump scares can be a core part of how a game is played, while still remaining enjoyable. Well, “enjoyable” as you scream and vow to never play the game again… only to break that vow in a seemingly endless cycle.
Good times.
We’re looking forward to the next set of FNAF games in the next decade, and wonder where Scott Cawthon could possibly go that he hasn’t gone before. No matter what he has planned, we’re certain they’ll be as difficult to complete as FNAF if not more so.
