As Halloween fast approaches, gamers will no doubt want to find an experience that captures the essence of the holiday. There are tons of great games to choose from all throughout the history the genre, but it’s tough to narrow it down to what should be played. Below is a list, in no particular order, of ten great games perfect for this time of year.
Costume Quest 1 & 2
Double Fine Productions has one of the most atmospheric Halloween titles of the bunch. Gamers take control of a group of kids that are trick-or-treating throughout their neighborhood. It isn’t until a disguised monster kidnaps one of the child’s siblings that the adventure begins. This turn-based RPG uses a party system to determine how each battle plays out. Attack patterns depend on the costume that the user is wearing. It’s an incredibly underrated title that is sure to make players of all ages hooked. Costume Quest is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, with its direct sequel for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Alan Wake
From the creators of Max Payne and Quantum Break comes Alan Wake. Dubbed as a “psychological thriller,” Remedy Entertainment throws players into the mind of fictional writer, Alan Wake. Wake is a best-selling novelist who has gone on vacation to Bright Falls with his wife. As the couple settles into their cabin, his wife mysteriously disappears. Many of the events that occur in the game take place from his most recent work, but he can’t remember even writing this book. The game takes the format of a television show with self-contained scenarios, cliff-hangers, and plot twists. This Xbox 360 (Backwards Compatible on Xbox One) exclusive spawned two pieces of DLC and an Xbox Live Arcade title, Alan Wake’s American Nightmare. Unfortunately, the sequel was canceled but a television show is currently in the works.
Outlast Trinity
The hit horror series, Outlast, has been packaged into an all-in-one version featuring the original game, its Whistleblower DLC, and the sequel Outlast 2. In each title, gamers play as different investigative journalists as they examine questionable areas. These first-person experiences can be seen as found footage style with no weapons able to be found, making stealth essential to survival and the only means of escape. Each title has been very well received by critics and gamers alike. The Outlast Trinity is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Observer
Last year, Bloober Games created a cyberpunk horror game which is heavily influenced by the Blade Runner series. Rutger Hauer of the Blade Runner films dons the voice of the titular character, Daniel Lazarski, a detective in the Observers Police Unit. The Observers are a task force that can hack into people’s brain implants for interrogation scenarios. Lazarski receives a strange call from his son causing him to investigate. This game is quite lengthy and will take players on a psychological trip through multiple minds and sequences. It’s a very unique title which also contains deep world building. Bloober Games is also responsible for Layers of Fear, another horror game but with an emphasis on painting. Both are worth a playthrough and will keep gamers engaged throughout. Observer is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, with a Nintendo Switch version in development.
Alien: Isolation
Fans of the horror film franchise, Alien, are sure to enjoy Alien: Isolation. Set 15 years after the events of the first movie, players assume the role of Amanda Ripley as she investigates her mother’s (Ellen Ripley) disappearance. The game utilizes an incredibly unique AI in its Alien, which can sense a player’s every move. Simply hiding in one spot until the enemy passes is not possible, because this AI is much smarter than one may think. If a Kinect is used, the AI can hear anything going on in a gamer’s home to detect where they may be. Sega’s horror title garnered multiple end of the year awards and is cited as one of the best horror game of all time. Alien: Isolation is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Friday the 13th: The Game
Originally a Kickstarter funded game, Friday the 13th: The Game is a multiplayer-focused title with a semi-open world aspect. Gamers can either take control of a Crystal Lake camp counselor or slasher, Jason Voorhees. Eight people are able to join in on the madness and each has different objectives. Counselors must complete objectives in order to escape the map alive, with Jason having to kill as many players as possible. It is possible to kill Jason but it requires heavy teamwork and careful planning to execute this. A single-player mode is also available in addition to the online portion. Illfonic’s Friday the 13th: The Game can be purchased on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Slender: The Arrival
Originally starting as an internet myth, Slender Man has quickly turned into a cultural icon, even spawning a 2018 horror film. Back in 2012, gamers got their first taste of the lanky, blank-faced monster in the form of Slender: The Eight Pages, a freemium indie horror game. In that version, players would have to explore a dense forest searching for eight pages before Slender Man sneaks up and captures them. This commercialized sequel spans multiple areas and has a fully fledged story. It’s also much longer and offers more than just looking for paper. Although this is not a party game, playing with others in the room can make it loads more fun. Blue Isle Studios’ Slender: The Arrival is available to own on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC/Mac.
Luigi’s Mansion
It’s not often that Nintendo lets Luigi star in his own game rather than his brother but 2001’s Luigi’s Mansion puts him front and center as he explores a haunted mansion. After entering a contest, a mansion was given as a prize to Luigi, even though he had never entered it. He goes on to tell Mario about this prize and tells him to meet up in front of the mansion in order to explore it. Mario is nowhere to be found once the time arrives which prompts Luigi to go inside looking for him. Once there, he soon discovers that this mansion is packed with ghosts and Mario is in serious trouble. It’s a fun, family-friendly experience that shows off the quirks of Luigi. The game has been remastered for the Nintendo 3DS with a sequel, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon available on the same system, and a third in development for the Nintendo Switch.
Murdered: Soul Suspect
Anyone looking for a title with a heavy emphasis on ghost stories should look no further than Murdered: Soul Suspect. After being killed by an unknown shooter, Detective Ronan O’Connor becomes a ghost who can’t cross over to the afterlife until he cracks the case. This mystery stealth game doesn’t have much in terms of combat, but its collectibles tell another story. Each one can unveil a chilling ghost tale that begs to be discovered. The game’s story is also pretty entertaining and offers a few twists. It’s a fairly short title but is memorable after it’s completed. Airtight Games’ Murdered: Soul Suspect can be picked up for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
What would Halloween be without the appearance of the lovable Ghostbusters? Fans of the franchise will be pleased to know that the entire original cast (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson) all reprised their roles in this title. The plot takes place two years after the events of the second film which caused Aykroyd to state that this is “essentially the third movie.” Players take control of a new recruit for the Ghostbusters team, who is given the name “Rookie” because the team doesn’t want to get too attached. There is fun gameplay and a great story that demands to be uncovered and is perfect for this time of the year. Ghostbusters: The Video Game can be experienced on the Xbox 360 (Backwards Compatible on Xbox One), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, and PC.
Halloween can be experienced in a variety of ways throughout the medium. Many titles offer timed events while others have elements that fit in with the Fall season. The above-mentioned games can range from family-friendly to intensifying horror titles making for a wide range of options. There’s so much to play and experience this month, gamers are bound to find something that fits their tastes.