Funnily enough, my top 10 games of the year list perfectly works here. I even listed five honorable mentions!
I have been busy this year, so haven't had a chance to play even half the horror releases this year yet, especially in the last few months, but it's been a very good year. My list as it is now:
01. IMSCARED ;
I don't know why this particular title has stuck with me so much this year. It's a pixely 3D horror game where you need to get all the achievements to win, and solve cryptic puzzles in a strange world. The antagonist is interesting, and the game has some fun twists and turns. But something about it has made it truly special to me. Maybe I just had an amazing unique experience, or something about it spoke to me personally. It did scare me a few times, yet I find it absolutely charming. I played a lot of clever things this year, but I enjoyed its cleverness the most. And something about its morbid world speaks to me. Anyway, I thought it was the best thing I played this year in what was a great year for horror and creativity in general.
02. OneShot ;
Only non-horror game on my list. I hope this title catches on, it deserves it. It pre-dates Undertale & Pony Island for a metagame, being originally a freeware 2014 game. It got remade and now is over twice as long. With simply one of the most likable protagonists in gaming in a charming, but sad, yet strangely hopeful dying world, you the player must work with protagonist Niko to either save him, or this world. Hard to talk about without spoiling, but quite the experience with some good but challenging puzzles.
03. DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark ;
I loved the original DreadOut, but this I think may be a better game. A spin-off from the original, join Linda in a world of mirrors as she combats unique and interesting ghosts to find her escape. Spkit between eight selectable worlds from within a hub, each with 2-3 ghosts to vanquish, what makes it are the unique ghosts full of creativity and well-done execution that shows a similar but maybe even greater genius that these developers from Indonesia have to bring to the table. Decididly somewhat oldschool, but also something truly new and unique to horror. Some of the ghosts and encounters have stuck with me.
04. INSIDE;
With excellent atmosphere in a haunting and cold world, INSIDE joins a nameless boy who treks frodm farmland to city to underground lakes to get inside... clever puzzle bits, and amazing animation which helps gives a detailed look on a mostly silent world. Ending is fun but didn't blow me away like most.
05. Oxenfree ;
80s horror narrative with some of the best writing and well executed dialogue chains in any game to date. With a dynamic relationship system and actually likable characters, Oxenfree has an interesting world and good atmosphere, but may be best remembered for its writing.
06. Virginia ;
I love Twin Peaks and X-Files, and this obvious love letter managed to craft its own experience despite obvious inspirations. A story with well done symbolism, excellent music, and manages to be engaging and moving without a single line of dialogue (funnily enough in contrast to Oxenfree).
07. Sylvio Remastered ;
I've come to like this game more and more over time. You play as a girl who uses a cassette recorder to communicate with the dead who goes to an abandoned amusement park to learn more about a tragic incident that happened years ago. It's a quiet, slow game that has 80s syth styled music, an interesting color scheme, and a slowburn horror story that has stuck with me. Very unique, and in its own way very haunting.
08. The Count Lucanor ;
The Legend of Zelda as a horror game featured on fairytales. Charming world, twisted characters, fun puzzles, interesting enemies, and multiple endings with a number of secrets helped make this morbid curiosity one of my favorite things I played this year.
09. Pony Island ;
You play an endless runner game which you find out early on was literally made by the Devil. And the fact that's not simplest and earliest twist should say a lot. Interesting and fun experience.
10. Near Death ;
Everyone got so focused on FireWatch, this game which is a bit similar but I think far superior got unfortunately largely overlooked. You star as a guy who is stranded in an arctic base during a nasty storm who must work to return home while in communication with someone at a nearby base. Has some light gameplay in its survival elements from the cold and weather, but its strong suits are its phenomenal atmosphere, art direction, and writing. It has maybe one of the best endings to a game I've experienced all year.
11. Dead Secret ;
Made by a new studio including Chris from the famous horror game sote, Chris' Survival-Horror Quest, it's a unique indie take on the classic point'n'click Clock Tower formula, but taking place in a first-person view (with VR support~). With an interesting rural farm setting, a Japanese masked killer, and an fascinating story (though lots of reading to fully get it), it absolutely charmed me this year.
12. Left Alone ;
It opens up with its weaknesses, but develops into one of the best mood pieces I've seen in a while. This game maybe more than any other unnerved me with sheer atmosphere and implication. Some moderate fun and challenging puzzles, and an interesting abandoned school in the woods setting.
13. Through The Woods ;
Atmospheric 'walking sim' third-person horror with some excellent atmosphere, exploration, and lush Nordic folklore to make an enchanting experience.
14. The Survey
One of the best P.T. clones ai've played, though it does just enough to become its own thing in my opinion. You receive a strange survey on your phone via an app you don't remember downloading when strange things begin to happen in your home. It was an enjoyabke romp, a few trips, but a worthwhile experience.
15. Dead End Road ;
The horror rogue-like driving game you never knew you wanted! With all sorts of weird events, multiple roads, towns to visit, upgrades, and a nowhere USA highway to reach Dead End Road, it can be addicting and charming in its uniqueness and details.
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And there's some I really need to play, like Yomonawi and Last Door Season 2 (season 1 was amazing and underlooked).
