Over the years, decision-based games have become more and more popular, with this new subgenre of interactive fiction producing some of the most memorable video games with great storytelling and iconic characters still loved to this day. However, some of the choice-based games are the ones that lean into horror.
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PostsWhether it's emulating a B-movie or trying to tell a more gritty and serious branching narrative, these stories can be pretty hard hitting. Still, with an increasing number of such games, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine which one is truly the best. That's where we've got you covered with the best choice-based horror games for you to try.
7 The Quarry
The Quarry
Survival Horror Drama Thriller Released June 10, 2022 Developer(s) Supermassive Games Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand CollapseFrom Supermassive Games, the studio behind The Dark Pictures Anthology and Until Dawn, comes its next big project, known as The Quarry. With a star-studded cast, including Brenda Song and David Arquette, comes a fun horror game set on a campground where every decision matters.
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PostsThe game is mostly impressive for its branching narrative, where the choices you make truly feel like they matter and impact the rest of the game. As well as this, the reveal in the game is fantastic and though we won't spoil it, it will leave you howling with excitement.
6 The Dark Pictures Anthology
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan
Survival Horror Released August 30, 2019 Developer(s) Supermassive Games Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand CollapseFrom a creepy untouched ghost ship from World War 2 to a small town with a haunted past, this anthology of horror games are great for tough choices, sharp writing and terrifying moments.
Perhaps the best of the anthology, The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes features some of the scariest foes in any horror game. A squad of soldiers in Iraq including an Iraqi soldier suddenly find themselves falling into a sinkhole that leads to an ancient temple of the Akkadian Empire. From the incredibly beautiful graphics to the multitude of choices branching out and altering the story and fates of the interesting characters, every moment in this is pure cinema
5 The Walking Dead: Season Two
The Walking Dead The Game
Adventure Horror Released April 24, 2012 Developer(s) Telltale Games Platform(s) Android, iOS, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox 360 Powered by Expand CollapseThough first season of The Walking Dead game is by far the most acclaimed, there is something about The Walking Dead: Season Two that is so dark and cold that it is undeniably the more horror leaning of the seasons. In this sequel to the first, Clementine is now eleven years old and is still very much a young and vulnerable child in the apocalypse, only now without the group from the first season to protect her.
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PostsFrom perhaps the most menacing villain yet to some truly dark and grotesque moments, this is perhaps the most harrowing entry in The Walking Dead series and one that will have you feeling like no matter the choice, there's always something to lose.
4 Vampyr
From the Gothic streets of post-WW1 London comes Vampyr. A bit more action-oriented than the other games, Vampyr lets you stalk through levels at your own pace as you step into the shoes of Johnathan Reid, a military surgeon turned vampire.
Having to balance his bloodthirst with his desire to treat his patients, Johnathan discovers a supernatural underworld in the streets of London as the city is gripped by the Spanish Flu. Throughout the game, you can make certain choices that can alter Johnathan's view on vampirism and how his story ends.
3 Call Of Cthulhu
Based on the Lovecraftian short story, Call Of Cthulhu follows detective Edward Pierce as he is plagued by nightmares and investigates the case of a family who all died in a house fire. As he delves further into the mystery, he gets embroiled with more nightmares, hallucinations and a cult. The game has a system in which your dialogue, choices and exploration can affect the sanity of Edward.
Depending on such choices, it can alter the ending of the entire mystery and the fate of Edward Pierce after the traumatizing events of the story. It's certainly one of the more interesting ways to portray choice and consequence in such a game and can help you feel like your choices actually matter throughout the story.
2 Sons Of The Forest
Sons of the Forest
Survival Open-World Survival Horror Released February 22, 2024 Developer(s) Endnight Games Platform(s) PC Powered by Expand CollapseIn the popular sequel to the survival-horror game The Forest, Sons of the Forest has you play as plucky journalist Jack Holt who gets stranded on an island when his helicopter is shot down. Similiar to the first game, you must explore the island, work with a fellow survivor Kelvin and try to fight off a mysterious group of inhabitants.
The game features three different endings, all dependent on if you have your fellow survivors live till the end, if you leave the island, or if you end up staying. The story is a lot deeper than the first game, so it only makes sense the narrative is bigger and more branching too.
1 Until Dawn
Until Dawn
Horror Released August 25, 2015 Developer(s) Supermassive Games Platform(s) PS4 Powered by Expand CollapseThe pioneer of choice-based horror games, Until Dawn still holds up years later as a fun horror movie turned into interactive fiction. From its fun cast of characters to its wild plot that has more twists and turns for you to handle, Until Dawn is so much fun to play and watch others react to.
It's best to go into the game blind. The story seems disjointed at first, but it all fits together in the end and will leave you trying to make the right choices to keep as many characters as you can alive in a terrifying yet fun misadventure.
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