These Games Feel Like A Genuine Horror Experience When You're Underleveled
There are a lot of horror games out there. Proportionately far fewer than comparative gaming genres, but still a nice, good amount. Horror never really goes out of fashion, to the point that non-horror games will sometimes incorporate a little bit of horror to spice up the experience. Everyone can relate to horror in some regard.
However, some games eschew intentional horror entirely. Instead, the horror comes about organically, almost a result of the player's own weakness. What might have been intended to be a deterrent to the underleveled suddenly suddenly becomes a terrifying experience, and these games will put you in those scenarios much more than you might think.
No Man's Sky
Space Is Filled With Innumerable Horrors
No Man's Sky
4.0/5 10 8.9/10 Released August 9, 2016WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONNo Man's Sky is a lot of things, and a lot more things than it was back at release. You can be a pirate, a trader, a ship full of a crew of your own friends, the mayor of a village, a farmer, or a plain ol' explorer. What hasn't ever changed in No Man's Sky is the procedural generation of its many planets, and the creatures on them.
That procedural generation can lead to, well, anything happening though. Sometimes you might step down on a new planet only to realise it lacks colour, or it is roaming with fearsome beasts. And if you've suddenly run out of fuel and oxygen, and your weapons aren't quite up to snuff, then landing on this planet suddenly becomes the biggest mistake of your life.
Destiny
At least Back When It Was All A Mystery
Destiny
First-Person Shooter Systems Released September 9, 2014 ESRB T for Teen -Animated Blood -Violence Developer(s) Bungie Publisher(s) Bungie Engine Tiger Engine Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play yes Cross Save yes Expansions Destiny: The Dark Below, Destiny: The Taken King, Destiny: Rise of Iron Franchise Destiny Steam Deck Compatibility no Platform(s) Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 OpenCritic Rating Fair X|S Optimized yes WikiFextralife Wiki
Powered by Expand CollapseDestiny has been around a good, long while, and many of the central mysteries of the game have been answered, or at least thoroughly poked at by now. But before, back in the early days of the original Destiny, it felt like there were secrets around every corner. It felt like roaming the zones had genuine secrets to discover.
And in doing those little excursions, you would often come across areas that missions never quite led you to, and enemies that seemed impossible to defeat. It's a feeling long since passed now, but when you originally came upon those discoveries, the sense of fear in avoiding these enemies that were impossible to defeat was terrifying.
The Elder Scrolls
Oh, That's Not The Usual Draugr
Skyrim
9.0/10 Released November 11, 2011WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALThis applies not just to Skyrim, but to all of the Elder Scrolls games. In fact, the further back you go, the more it applies in all honesty. With the freedom to explore the world at your own pace, that also means you can end up in places you aren't quite expected to reach early on. And that means you can walk upon horrors you don't quite expect.
Sometimes though, you can return to an earlier area only to find the enemies suddenly more powerful, or changed around. Or the first time you step in Blackreach and suddenly you don't know where you're going. Or you step into Oblivion and every enemy has their sights set squarely on you.
Vampyr
Who's The Real Monster?
https://assets1.ignimgs.com/thumbs/userUploaded/2018/5/3/vampyrthumb-1525355806435_1280w.jpgVampyr
2.5/5 8.0/10 Released June 5, 2018WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONFextralife Wiki
Powered by Expand CollapseSo much of Vampyr centres around you, as Jonathan Reid, being a doctor turned vampire that is also an expert in blood transfusion. As a doctor, you have an oath to help those around you, but as a vampire, you need blood if you want to survive to keep helping the people who remain in this disease-infested London.
However, the more you help the people, the more their blood is worth. Yet should you still choose to forgo that, you'll find yourself weakened in combat. You'll have to narrowly avoid enemies, taking the stealthier route around them to avoid facing their crosses and stakes. And you'll find yourself most scared when you're forced to face an enemy that has no qualms sucking the blood of others.
The Witcher 3
There's A Reason You Need To Prep So Much For A Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
5.0/5 12 9.0/10 Released May 19, 2015WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALFextralife Wiki
Metascore 94 Powered by Expand CollapseThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is often heralded as one of the greatest games ever made. That is, of course, a subjective opinion, but there is no denying the game has moments of notable excellence. Much of that comes through in the storytelling, though the fantasy of living the life of a Witcher is oftentimes just as potent.
As a witcher, you must prepare yourself to fight any manner of beast, and to have all the tools of the trade ready for such an occasion. But if you don't prepare, or if Geralt is taken by surprise, you'll suddenly start to understand why the common folk fear monsters quite as much as they do.
Halo 3: ODST
No Spartan Strength To Save You
via: readersgambit.comHalo 3 ODST
First-Person Shooter Systems Released September 22, 2009WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALThroughout just about every other entry in the Halo series, you're playing as a Spartan, a superhuman soldier who never really has much to fear. Master Chief is iconic for his fearlessness, but what does he have to fear? He's more than just a man. And that's what makes Halo 3: ODST so scary. You're just an ordinary soldier.
Prowling through the streets of New Mombasa, you feel the need to hide around corners, sneak up on enemies to take them out before they see you, or avoid whole areas of the map entirely to conserve your ammo. Master Chief could take down a Brute in just two hits. You'd be lucky to beat a Grunt this time around.
Dragon's Dogma
The Night Really Is Dark Here
Dragon's Dogma 2
4.5/5 10.0/10 Released March 22, 2024WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALFextralife Wiki
Metascore 88 Powered by Expand CollapseMany games have a day-night cycle, though few of them dare to actually make the night, well, dark. Take away all that nasty light pollution and street lights, and the starry sky would be your own light source at night. Dragon's Dogma, though the original and its sequel, are not afraid to show that the night is dark, and it ca be very scary.
While most threats dissipate as you increase in strength, the early days feel exceptionally terrifying. You'll want to avoid the night, fearful of using up your Wakestones. No one wants to encounter a Lich or Dullahan when they've barely reached the capital.
Dark Souls
Or Maybe You'd Call It A Challenge Run
Dark Souls
9.0/10 Released September 22, 2011WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALFextralife Wiki
Powered by Expand CollapseAt the point in time we are now, it's difficult to view Dark Souls as its own work. It has become a cultural phenomenon, and that attitude around it has absorbed subconsciously into those who play it, viewing the game in an entirely new lenses. But if you take a step back and detatch yourself from the general perception of the game, you'll realise it's really quite unsettling.
Dark Souls can already at times be a spooky experience, but being literally underleveled can make it all the more horrifying. Exploring New Londo without the right gear have you batting off literal ghosts. Or the darkness that befalls Anor Londo if you remove the illusion of Gwynevere. Sometimes, even the right level isn't enough to remove that layer of horror entirely.
