When you think horror games, you usually think of games like F.E.A.R. or Doom, right? If so, you're probably familiar with traversing unusually dark and claustrophobic corridors peering out the sight of your scope. Perhaps you just enjoy the survival side of things, like having to preserve your holy water so you don't get overrun by zombies. Or maybe you fancy those spontaneous frights or just enjoy fighting off scary beasts. For me, none of that stuff gets the job done.
The scariest games I've ever played are often the ones that are the most low-tech and made by companies far from the reach of the spotlight. It's a shame, really. It should be the other way around. Unfortunately, our fetish with pretty graphics and insane action normally gets in the way. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying that those games aren't enjoyable, because they can be, but I have strict standards for what makes a good horror game. To me, the less you can interact with the horror, the better the scares will be. For this reason, adventure games usually make the best horror games. Here's a list of, what I think, are the most important features/qualities of an adventure horror game that make it a good one. Be sure to leave a comment below telling me why I'm wrong or right, but preferably the latter.
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| An ominous hallway in Penumbra: the Black Plague. |
