Horror video games are an ideal niche if you are into jumpscares and hanging with virtual pals. Instead of observing from the safety of a movie theater chair, these games plop horror fans right into the frightening thick of things. Here are five games to play in the spirit of celebrating Halloween.
'Cult of the Lamb' (2022)
Do you like the vibes of Halloween but not necessarily the screams? "Cult of the Lamb" might be more your speed. Available across most platforms, the game puts a cutesy spin on running a cult. The adorable animal characters take some of the edge off a game that entails indoctrinating cult members, battling spirits and cannibalism. The main character, the Lamb, is "arguably the scariest part of the game," and their "gruesome (if cartoony) acts may inspire discomfort at the demands of operating the cult," said Polygon. Despite the game's dark themes, "Cult of the Lamb" is a pretty light-hearted endeavor that is also relatively easy to play.
'Dead by Daylight' (2016)
In this asymmetrical multiplayer horror game, players are divided into a group of survivors who team up against a single killer. Over the years, many popular horror franchises have been added to the gameplay as skins, including killers like Michael Myers, Dracula and the Demogorgon from "Stanger Things." Survivors can cosplay as legendary film and video game figures, from Ellen Ripley of "Aliens" to Leon S. Kennedy from "Resident Evil." Gamers are in for a "real scream" with the "fun and chaotic multiplayer game," said Game Rant. There are often special events for the Halloween season, too, with "scarily good prizes up for grabs."
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'Silent Hill 2' (2024)
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'The Outlast Trials' (2024)
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