Underrated Horror Games

by Evelyn Walters

October 2022

With Halloween around the corner, why not get into the spirit of fear with some video games?

Yeah, movies do their job, but really interacting with something terrifying on the screen is a whole other experience. Horror is a massive and diverse genre in gaming. If you’re scared of it, there’s a game about it. So, naturally, there’s tons of games that fall between the cracks. But luckily for you, I’ve been able to fish up a few good ones! So here’s a list of them -- sorted only in alphabetical order. It’s mostly PC games, but you don’t need a fancy computer to run them. My drawing tablet runs them fine, and a few of them are browser-based (so even a Chromebook will do).

A quick note! Some of these games are M-rated and/or contain potentially triggering topics. Content warnings will be listed as I see fit, but do check official listings & player reviews if this is a concern for you. Just because “video game you” isn't safe, that doesn’t mean “real life you” shouldn’t be!

Clay-scape (2021) Windows/PC (browser)

Clay-scape is a point and click, escape-room horror-puzzle game, released on itch.io as a part of Scare Jam 2021.

It has very little plot, though this doesn’t lessen the experience for me. The little explicit plot is stated at the beginning of the game, and isn’t otherwise elaborated on in any clear ways.

The game’s ambiance is one of the most well-crafted I’ve ever seen in a game.

The environment appears to be sculpted out of clay, and is so realistic that I initially mistook the graphics as photographs. The art style is very reminiscent of the TV show Crashbox (if anyone else watched that as a kid). The sound design is subtle and eerie, lacking music and opting for frighteningly quiet environmental ambience. Like most puzzle/escape-room games, difficulty is very situational to the player. Personally, I found that to figure out the puzzles, you should have a piece of paper to take notes on.

(!) Content warnings: Slight gore (all characters are clay, so it is visually minimal), animal & character death, flashing lights (“rotoscope room” area”), liminal spaces.

Dispatch (2021) Windows/PC

Dispatch is a story-driven horror game developed by Louis Edbrooke and released on Itch.io, with the unique gameplay focus of voice controls.

You play as a 911 dispatcher, mentally recovering from an incident in which several people died. As the game progresses, calls become increasingly more major in incident, and you are haunted by an apparition of your guilt (similar to Silent Hill).

The game’s voice acting and requirement to speak yourself adds a layer of immersion to the experience that genuinely had my heart pounding. Your responses all have consequences. The atmosphere of the game is genuinely dreadful (a positive for a game trying to scare you!). I will note, the game is meant to be played through multiple times, as it has multiple endings. It’s a relatively short &“sweet” title I mainly enjoy for its unique gameplay.

(!) Content warnings: Replicated 911 calls, realistic crime, auditory depictions of violence & death, jumpscares, blood.

Flies In A Jar (2021) Windows/PC

Flies In A Jar is a camera/desktop based puzzle & analog horror game, released on Itch.io as a part of Game Off 2021 by Jet Simon.

I highly recommend it for people just getting into the genre of horror/puzzle games, as well as people new to “anomaly”/SCP-style horror. You play as a security guard working at a paranormal research facility, when horror ensues. The plot is simple and straightforward, but still retains an element of mystery to the subjects you watch over and the organization you work for.

The puzzles aren’t too hard, however occasionally use meta information and at a few points requires the player to search the internet for a specific clue (though, I won’t spoil it too much). It’s a very short, but enjoyable entry that isn’t overly scary, though I still wouldn’t play it with the lights off. It’s also mildly funny- nothing that made me laugh out loud, but a few chuckles.

(!) Content warnings: Loud insect buzzing throughout gameplay, realistic human weeping sounds, uncanny valley, eye contact/scopophobia

Out Of Hands (2022 - Demo) Windows/PC

Out of Hands is a card-based thriller/psychological horror, currently being developed by Game River under the XD publishers.

The plot is all in the title; one night “you” awake to find yourself made entirely out of hands, and with three mysterious voices guiding you. Throughout the game, you must fight your inner demons, protect your heart (which, yes, is also now a hand) , and piece together your own past.

The gameplay functions similarly to most card-games, and is very easy to learn. The game itself has some of the most unique art styles I’ve ever seen, primarily being made up of “video collages” and stop motion made by the developer. It makes the game seem eerily realistic, and dream-like at the game time (if you’re like me and have mostly cryptic, kind of horrific dreams most of the time).

While still only 15% of the completed game is available to the public, I’d highly suggest playing the demo, and keeping a tab on the title.

(!) Content warnings: General surrealism, unreality, uncanny valley, depictions of blood, body horror.

Tealerland (2021) Windows/PC

Tealerland is a survival-based, point and click horror game released on GameJolt by the NeeTroo development team.

The plot is relatively simple, mainly being told throughout the game via collectables.

You play as David Artel, a man returning to an amusement park he and his missing brother founded & owned together, after receiving a mysterious phone call. However, once there, David finds himself being hunted through the park’s bunkers by animatronic mascots. I will say that the randomly spawning lore documents you can collect throughout the levels are overly hard to find- and, there’s no shame in just finding them online.

The game has a harsh learning curve, though once understood, its difficulty levels out. This doesn’t mean it becomes easy, though. Playing the game, your audio has to be up high to pick up the auditory cues- which does mean that the jumpscares really get you. The multitasking in the gameplay is stressful, and how forgiving the game is can vary. Unlike similar games of its genre, being attacked by the animatronics isn’t an instant game-over, instead having a health bar damaged differently by each enemy. The designs of the enemies are very well-done and unique as well ; I’d even call them realistic to real animatronics (as a bit of an enthusiast myself).

(!) Content warnings: Loud jumpscares, loud & overlapping environmental sound effects, blood, broken animatronics.

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