As another Halloween comes around, we often find ourselves wondering what we should do. Many of us are too old to go trick-or-treating, and parties happen on the weekend before or after. As gamers, we end up asking ourselves which games we should turn to in order to fit the mood and give us the most scares possible.
As such, here are the five best games that will help get you in the mood this Halloween.
Resident Evil 2 (2019)
When it comes to horror, Resident Evil 2 executed the genre in a way unparalleled in 2019. Updating the 1998 experience for 2019 with amazing graphics and modern third-person shooting mechanics, Capcom managed to make something that will appeal to both fans of the original and those looking for a truly horrifying experience.
When it comes to scares, Resident Evil 2's zombies are some of gaming's most well-designed, and the imagery on-screen when they attack the player character is striking. Combined with some intimidating bosses, the jumpscare-prone Licker enemy type, and the Terminator-like Mr. X, Resident Evil 2 will truly give you the scares you're seeking come Halloween night.
Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)
Left 4 Dead 2 may have released about a decade ago, but it is still great fun to slay hordes of zombies with a variety of weapons. Taking place across five levels (and optional DLC), Left 4 Dead 2 is very light on story but makes up for it with loads of entertainment that will be had in seeing to it that randomized zombie hordes get blown apart.
With up to three other players, you can traverse a variety of eerie of settings, including a zombie-infested carnival, the now overused shopping mall, and a city similar to New Orleans. The characters available to play as, including a pumped-up coach and greedy gambler, add some much-needed humor to the game when considering the consistent level of tension felt when trying to avoid attracting dozens of zombies.
The Evil Within (2014)
One of the early horror hits of this generation, The Evil Within uses psychological horror as its primary method for scaring the player. While jumpscares aren't completely gone, The Evil Within constantly forces players to wonder about the mental stability of main character Sebastian Castellanos and question the game's reality, as many scenarios show that Castellanos may be witnessing hallucinations.
The Evil Within has a very creepy atmosphere, having the player traverse their way through asylum wards, claustrophobic hallways, and otherwise unsettling locations. If you aren't going out on Halloween, The Evil Within might be exactly what you need to bring Halloween to you.
Friday the 13th: The Game (2017)
Although not the most well-received horror title, Friday the 13th: The Game will nonetheless appeal to horror movie buffs and fans of asymmetrical multiplayer games on Halloween. The game contains many references to the Friday the 13th series and provides tons of fun, now that the game has been as patched as it likely will be.
In Friday the 13th: The Game, one player controls hockey mask-donning series villain Jason Voorhees as he tracks down several other players fulfilling the role of camp counselors, whose goal is to escape the wrath of Jason. The game isn't without flaws, but hiding from Jason is a very intense experience and will provide the fear you want on Halloween.
Bloodborne (2015)
While it isn't a horror game in a strict sense, Bloodborne is nonetheless a very scary game that has players traversing atmospheric environments that threaten death at every turn. As one of FromSoftware's more celebrated works, Bloodborne works as a Souls game while also operating within the horror genre.
Bloodborne's atmosphere stands tall among even the best there are in gaming with Victorian cities and eerie forests. Furthermore, players will find themselves encountering horrific bosses and creatures, like werewolves, that one would think of on Halloween. Like the best of horror movies, Bloodborne manages to successfully isolate the player on their tension-filled journey that will involve death. Lots of death.
Those are just a few of the best games you can play on Halloween, but what are your favorite games to play on Halloween? Let us know in the comments.