Games That Gave Us Nightmares

At some point in every gamer’s life, they go through a spell of wanting a different gaming experience. A game that won’t just challenge them, puzzle them or get them hooked. A game that will make them scared to sleep without a light on.

If you’re going through that or just want a trip down memory lane; we’ve selected some of the best, most nightmarish games to ever be played.

Resident Evil (1996)

The beginning of ‘survival horror’ starts with the classic blood and gore of the first Resident Evil game. Released in 1996, this iconic horror game is many peoples’ first experience of true terrifying gameplay.

The cult classic story revolves around disastrous outbreaks of zombies and mutated monsters, created by the evil Umbrella Corporation. This particular game kicks off the game series within a mansion in Raccoon City. This beautiful mansion is filled with a wide variety of puzzles and curiosities to explore- oh and is also completely infested with zombies.

Each Zombie Has a Story

One thing that is quite striking with this game is that the zombies aren’t just the generic flesh eaters with no past. We come across countless members of the undead in clothing and uniforms which really tells their story. For example, a nightmarish zombie cop. Sat down, munching on the brains of the living. Absolutely grotesque and definitely something to keep you up at night.

A Classic Horror Game

True, gritty suspense and in-your-face shock make this one of the most revered games in pop culture. Grainy graphics and a tense musical score create horror so good and so scary; it deserved a film adaptation in 2002.

To conclude, this survival horror game is being talked about over 20 years after its initial release and is still loved and respected. Resident Evil sparked a great pop culture interest in zombies throughout the 2000’s and even popularised survival horror games. All this makes it one of the best horror games ever made.

Silent Hill 2 (2001)

Whilst we’re on the subject of classic horror gaming experiences, we surely can’t forget the thick fog and frankly terrifying characters of Silent Hill 2.

Published by Konami in 2001, the nightmares from this game aren’t simply from a survival perspective. Although this game is formally branded a ‘survival horror game’, there are so many psychological, creepy aspects adding to the terror. Following from the first game, you get to explore even deeper into this eerie town and discover more horror.

You play as the character of James Sunderland, seeking out his deceased wife who is allegedly waiting for him in the eerie setting of Silent Hill. If you’re brave enough, you can solve puzzles and interpret riddles to help navigate the town. However, along the way, you come across terrifying humanoid monsters and engage in combat to reach your end goal.

Combat which is made increasingly difficult due to the enemies you face being so disturbing and uncomfortable to watch.

Monsters Worthy of Nightmares

The monsters are nothing short of nightmarish. From the twitching, limping nurses and mannequins to one of the most iconic figures in the gaming world- Pyramid Head. Characters such as Pyramid Head have made such an impact to horror gaming, it’s definitely worth giving them a special mention to the nightmare fuel they created.

The overall setting of this game makes it one of the scariest games in existence and deserves all the critical acclaim and reviews it received. So highly praised, there was even a film adaptation in 2012- over 10 years after the game’s original release.

No matter how long this game has been around, it will never get old. With every foggy day, this creepy classic will always be on our minds.

Alien: Isolation (2014)

Once you’re hooked on survival horror, Alien: Isolation is a must-play! Released in 2014, this multi-award-winning game is less focused on direct combat, and is more focussed on the players’ stealth.

You play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of the legendary heroine - Ellen Ripley (the main protagonist of the classic 70’s horror film Alien). Your story begins as you investigate the disappearance of your mother, however, there are complications.

Can You Make it Out Alive?

After an unfortunate turn of events, you are left to enter and search a space station. Within the space station there are many hostile enemies including humans, androids and most disturbingly, an alien lifeform. The aim of Alien: Isolation is to make it off the space station. In order to survive, you must use your equipment wisely, as most of your tools are not always the most helpful. For example, you may use a flashlight to seek out the Xenomorph- however in turn, this will make you easier to detect. Use your tools sparingly.

The beauty of this game is that it is not strictly a ‘horror’, but also a stealthy action game, giving it a greater appeal to a wider audience. Not to mention, a great starter game for those wanting to explore scarier games and a great addition for the experienced horror gamers.

If you’re not yet convinced if this game will be the nightmare - fuel you’re after, ask yourself: What could be more terrifying than being hunted by a Xenomorph?

Resident Evil 2 Remaster

As visuals and technology improve year on year, our old favourites can get quite difficult to play. This is where the influx of remasters come in handy, because we wouldn’t want you to miss out on playing some of the best games ever made.

Resident Evil 2 is one of these games, re-released and remastered in 2019, this game had a very successful release worldwide. Survival horror games will always be a firm favourite for players who love a pulse-racing gaming experience, and this game is no exception.

It’s no wonder this received critical acclaim and high praise. The fantastic gameplay remains faithful to the original masterpiece released in 1998, over 20 years prior. The story all depends on the character you choose, both equally as in depth, gripping and full of jump scares to keep you on your toes. You can even go back and play the other characters’ storyline- allowing you to get even more out of the game.

Escape One of the Many Monsters

You aren’t alone throughout this puzzling game. Zombies, monsters and mutated creatures lurk around every corner- as well as the terrifying character of the Tyrant. Hell bent on hunting down and killing any survivors, this massive hunter is never far behind- hope you don’t mind being chased...

Overall, this game is a brilliant remaster of a fantastically scary game. There is plenty in this game to make it one of the most memorable gaming experiences, and certainly has enough scare factor to make you think twice about walking in the dark.

Think you have what it takes to survive this scary game? Get your copy on PS4 or Xbox One here!

P.T. Demo (2014)

Straight from the minds of Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro came P.T. Demo. Released in 2014, this first- person psychological horror is just as mysterious as it is terrifying.

Unlike many other horror games, the unknown protagonist has no means of defence over the hostile ghost lurking at the end of corridors and every corner. Due to the amount of jump scares and anxiety-inducing gameplay, this demo is extremely difficult to get through in one sitting. Even if you don’t feel brave enough giving this game a go, we highly recommend watching any gameplay you can find!

Is there a full P.T. game?

If you’re wondering why we’re only recommending a demo... Well, the full version of this mysterious horror game has never been made. Even with that in mind, the demo received critical acclaim for its story complexity, direction, visuals, and supernatural tension.

To conclude, this game scares us in a whole new, unique way. Even without being a full game, P.T. Demo is well worth discovering!

Final Words

What are your thoughts on our list, did we miss out your favourite horror game? We'd love to hear your scariest gaming moments over on our Twitter @GAMEDigital!