Ted Hentschke’s Best Horror Games of 2018
Ted Hentschke
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So another year has come and gone, and with it another slew of spooky ghosts and terrifying ghouls haunting up the gaming system of your preference. Now here you are, sitting there with all this Christmas money/flat broke from buying Christmas presents, and you’re wondering what games might be worth your time. Well one thing you shouldn’t be scared of is making the wrong decision! So here I am, the Santa of Cyber Slaughter, to deliver you the annual gift of video game knowledge.
Now as I’m sure you are aware, horror gaming is as varied a market as reasons you give for not being able to spend time with your in-laws. So to give a list of 1-10 “Best” would be unfair to the little guy. So instead, I’m going to break my “Best of List” into the qualities I feel these games embody. There is no rhyme or reason to the ordering, so if your favorite title isn’t at the top then just chill. Also, some of these titles (I’m looking at you, Agony) are not to say that the game is fantastic.
Best Game With A Budget Larger Than Most Third World Countries – God of War
Now, I didn’t give God of War the highest honor of a 5-star score, but it’s only because I hold it on the same kind of deicidal standards of God of War 3. But there’s no denying that Kratos’s soft-reboot romp through Norse mythology didn’t deliver on the slaughter in spades. Time may have softened Kratos a bit, but we’re still talking about a man whose primary solution to werewolves is tearing off their jaw. There’s only so down in the dumps I can be about it.
God of War is a tour de force of drama, action, and brutal violence. It brings the series to new storytelling heights and is full of enough unforgettable moments to fill the run-time of several movies. I might be longing for the old Kratos that used heads for flashlights (that is a thing he actually did), but there’s no denying that this bold new take for the franchise works. What’s more, God of War is a solid adventure game that is a joy to explore from start to finish. A truly amazing game that will be talked about for years to come, God of War is the kind of AAA game that deserves to be praised.
Best Game With A Budget Most People Can Reasonably Conceive – Ashen
Flying in just under the wire, Ashenalmost didn’t make the list on account of it coming out a few weeks ago. It’s a game I’ve been excited about for some time, combining the solid mechanics of Dark Souls with a charming indie aesthetic. More than just a budget rehash of old ideas, Ashen manages to set itself apart with a persistently growing home base, consistent co-op, and functional jumping and climbing mechanic.
With it’s easier combat and stripped down mechanics, it could be easy
Best Free Micro-Game – September 1999
So I wanted to include some categories that would fit everyone’s budget, and you can’t go cheaper than free. This is a weird category, so it’s fitting that September 1999 would be a weird game. Hell, I hesitate to even call it a game. Clocking in at EXACTLY 5 minutes and 30 seconds long, it almost takes longer to find and download than actually play.
There’s not much in the way of gameplay, as you basically just walk between two rooms and wait for the timer to run out. That being said, there’s plenty to see and experience in that brief window. September 1999 certainly presents more questions than it answers, but that’s what it was supposed to do. And at the asking price of free, it’s certainly worth your time to check out.
Best DLC – Prey: Mooncrash
What’s best about Mooncrashis that they didn’t leave a stone unturned from a development perspective. The framing device that justifies the whole experience is its own unique story that adds some stakes to the retrospective story. The arcade-style score and objectives play into the emergent unlockable story. The time-trial element adds reasons to leveling up your characters and learning the maps. It’s a tight, comprehensive package, that is well worth the asking price.
Best Use Of Dismemberment – The Forest
I want you to take a moment to think about all of the hapless enemies you’ve dismembered in your gaming career. It’s a long list, I’m sure. But have you ever thought to yourself, “Boy, I sure do love chainsaw decapitations and impromptu
The forest takes the “use every part of the animal” ethic and turns it on your cannibalistic foes. Fell a foe and you can pull their teeth to strengthen your melee weapons. Chop off their head and you can use it to make a menacing new stationary torch. Cut off their limbs and use them for weapons or cook them for a ghastly meal. Or string them together in a warning sign to scare off future cannibals. A fantastic survival game in its own right, The Forest will always have a place in my heart for letting me build a storage container for all my spare cannibal limbs.
Spookiest Haunted House – The Dark Occult
While writing this list, I realized that I didn’t have enough spooky haunted houses to really take it seriously. Some gamers really just can’t get enough of those jump-scare heavy spooky haunted house games. Not really my cup of tea, but the legions of Twitch streamers can attest that there is certainly a market for it. So here you go. If you’re looking for the spookiest haunted house, you can’t go wrong with The Dark Occult.
Originally called “The Conjuring House,” the name had to be changed for what I’m assuming are obvious reasons. This is where I’m glad that this is a qualitative list, as I really didn’t much care for the gameplay. The mechanics are far too clunky, and objectives way too vague to consider it a great game. But it is incredibly spooky, and set in a house. The monsters look great. If you’re just looking to jump at ghosts in specifically a large spooky house, then go ahead and buy The Dark Occult.
Best Murder Mystery That Makes You Feel Smart But Isn’t Actually Very Hard – Return of the Obra Dinn
I have a feeling that Return of the Obra Dinn will be making quite a few GOTY lists this year. Developed by a single guy (Lucas Pope) with practically no budget, Return of the Obra
Now it might seem like a dig to say the game isn’t very hard, but it’s not. The game isn’t designed to be soul-crushingly difficult. It has a story to tell and does it through a unique investigative recreation process. You put the pieces of each individual death together, and as you do the larger pictures comes together. Return of the Obra Dinn is a phenomenal experience.
Best Murder Mystery That Makes You Feel Dumb Because It Is Actually Very Hard – The Council
I’m gonna have to be honest here. I’m too dumb to play The Council. Seriously, this game is just so fucking hard. From memorizing esoteric bible verses to putting together enigmatic clues, this game demands you pay attention to every detail. I honestly had to stop playing the early review edition because I couldn’t figure out a puzzle. I had to wait until a guide came out, and I am not proud of that.
Beyond the crushing difficulty, The Council is the kind of adventure game we’ve been promised for years now. With genuinely very different outcomes and wildly branching paths, I’m shocked there isn’t more buzz about it. Plus, George Washington is one of the main characters. Seriously, check it out.
Most Shocking and Disturbing – Agony
Okay, now I’m REALLY happy that this isn’t exactly, 100%, really a “Best Of” list. As a game, I really do not like Agony. It’s a hide-and-seek style “adventure” game with a shit ton of violence and gore. This game uses sex and torture like salt on McDonald’s fries. They specifically had to wait for Steam to allow adult content to release an “uncensored” version for fans. It’s absolutely the most visceral and brutal vision of hell ever realized in video game form.
There’s not much to talk about gameplay wise. You play a lost soul on a mission to get out of hell. On the way, you will be confronted with so much sex, violence, and sexual violence that you’re more likely to quit out of shock than any actual challenge. If that is your cup of tea, then have at it. I’m certainly not one to judge. The people at Madmind studio set out to make the most graphic version of hell they could imagine, and by Satan if they didn’t do it.
Most Anticipated AAA Game I Got To Play – Resident Evil 2 Remake
I got to check out the upcoming Resident Evil 2 Remake at E3 2018. Check it out if you want my full take. Even more of a remake than the legendary Resident Evil GameCube HD adaptation, Resident Evil 2 changes up just about everything. New third-person action camera, new puzzles, new weapons, new progression… Everything!
You can guarantee that if you remember something about the original, it’s back with a twist. It’s more of an entirely new game than a “remake.”
Most Anticipated Indie Game You Can Try Right Now –HellSign
Have you ever been watching an episode of Supernatural and thought to yourself, “Gosh, this would make an awesome video game.” Of course you have. Rolling into a town, sussing through the clues, figuring out the monster, and fighting back? It’s the perfect formula for an awesome game. Well, you won’t have to wait much longer.
Currently available in Early Access, HellSign is rough around the edges. A lot of the visual assets aren’t there yet. But the core gameplay is strong. You’ll hunt through crime scenes for clues, analyze the data, and put together the perfect action plan to banish whatever spirit is plaguing that particular home. Then you fight it. It’s got action, investigation, monsters, and mystery. What more could you ask for?
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