What are some good games with a creepy/eerie atmosphere but not outright horror?
What are some good games with a creepy/eerie atmosphere but not outright horror?
The epitome of what I’m trying to refer to is the Playdead games (Limbo and Inside). Dark Souls and BioShock both hit on this idea but not quite so directly. The game BADLAND is also a great example of this, too. The mobile game The Silent Age also did this exceptionally well. Never quite knowing what’s going on, and maybe some tension without release, but again not straight up horror. A feeling of uneasiness is what I’m looking for.
When playing through Inside, there’s never any moments where you’re scared, but you’re never sure what’s going on and there’s always a level of unease. What are all the mindless zombie-like people? Why is everyone hunting the player? What happened to this city? What’s the goal of the character the player controls? What exactly is going on here? That’s what I’m looking for. If you know of any other games which do this, I’d greatly appreciate hearing about them. It’s a very specific niche so I’m not sure how many games do this, but the games that I’ve seen do this tend to be some form of post-disaster or dystopia. I’ve seen some great artwork do this too. Zdzisław Beksiński had done some stuff like this. Some great dystopian novels also do this quite well.
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I know this is gonna sound kinda goofy but luigis mansion has some of that unneasynes going for. While it is horror themed, of course its not going to be a horror game outright, you are luigi in a haunted mantion catching ghosts and trying to save mario. Its been a while since i last played it but its a very short and simple game, you catch ghost with a vacum cleaner and its a collectaton. It feels uneasy in a spooky halloween kinda way bit has an uneasyness on with the ghosts and stuff, maybe a even a little mysterius with the ghost not having clear backgroumds. Very recomended, if its not what you are lookinh for then atleast you will have a fun time with it. Im talking abouth the first one, dont really know about the 2 sequels since i havent played them. Also any of the n64 Zelda games, particulary Majoras masks. That one is kinda like being in a nightmare while not straight up turning into one, more like being a little disturbing with its art direction and themes, kinda like the movie nightmare before christmas feel going for it. I recomend it 100% even though i havent really finished it at the moment. Oh and also metroid prime.Really captures the feel of being in a hostile planet, very mysterious and atmospheric. I played the original one on gamecube but they just remastered it on nintendo switch so thats nice. A really good aspect of this one is the scanner visor with lets you scan everything from the scenario to enemies and powerups and gives you a little lore on them. Also really nice otherwordly soundtrac and being a metroidvania (obviusly) you are absolutely gonna love this one.
I loved Luigi’s mansion. Been many years since I’ve played it though. The others have been suggested by others too so I probably should look into them a bit more. Thanks for your time writing that up!