As one of the few celebratory moments of the year, Easter is a far stretch from all things spooky, although some games can fit both bills. Many horror sub-genres like Lovecraftian, Folk Horror, and Paranormal are consistently explored in gaming, with lesser-known genres such as Giallo, Cosmic, and Splatterpunk seeing very little coverage.
Easter-themed horror is something tricky to pin down. It's a genre that has potential with the nihilistic settings it can explore, which unfortunately never see the light of day because not enough titles are being made. These horror games are ones to look out for as they’re here to put you into the Easter mood.
5 Murder House
Murder House follows a long line of successful Puppet Combo games like Nightripper and Babysitter Bloodbath. Like the aforementioned games, Murder House uses the same uncanny valley style of graphics, taking heavy inspiration from how old horror VHS' would look. In this title, you play a woman named Emma, who works for a film crew investigating an abandoned house. Once inside, things turn sour fast (as is the case with most horror outings), with Emma and the crew learning that there's a killer known as the Easter Ripper hunting them down.
Strangely there are very few horror games with a big fluffy bunny as the antagonist and even fewer with Easter-themed stories. So Murder House should be your first stop for a game of this caliber. Even with the striking sound scares — of which there are many —, it's the odd tasks you’re given that solidify Murder House as a classic 80s showpiece.
4 Mr. Hopp's Playhouse 2
Side-scrolling platformer Mr. Hopp’s Playhouse 2, which plays as a prequel to the first game, is just as nerve-racking as ever. Characters Mr. Hopp, Mr. Stripes, and Miss Bo will chase you around an Orphanage. This game is another pixelated adventure presented in a similar fashion to the visual look of the original Clocktower titles and it's all about hiding away from looming fluffy monsters.
Mr. Hopp’s Playhouse 2 takes place in the 50s with no sure-fire way to defend yourself; you have to time your movements and avoid catching the attention of Mr. Hopp and his friends. As the name will tell you, Mr. Hopp is a giant bunny, though, unfortunately, one that is out for your blood. Walking out in the open and making loud noises by standing on items will get old really fast as they're the main thing standing in the way of the finish line.
3 Tattletail
Tattletail is a reimagination of all the nightmares you had as a child after unwrapping presents to see a Furby in front of you. There's no reason for those little toys to be so creepy, but it did make way for a horror game that perfectly captures the fear of having one of these toys. Tattletail takes place in the days leading up to Christmas, but the design of this toy and the notion of having to collect Gift Eggs throughout the story gives it a partly Easter theme, too.
Most of the game's missions revolve around collecting these Gift Eggs, escaping Mama (the mother of the Tattletail your character got for Christmas), and recharging your flashlight, all while keeping on top of the well-being of your Tattletail. It's almost like looking after a Tamagotchi all the while being hunted by supernatural threats. The game's likeness to the 'kid-friendly' style of others like Five Nights At Freddy's and Bendy And The Ink Machine continues here — although Tattletail hasn't reached those levels of popularity yet.
2 Alice: Madness Returns
The tale of Alice in Wonderland has always had an association with Easter, with many companies doing Easter events that incorporate this world into their products. You can see why it's so rightly associated with this celebration after your first visit to Wonderland in Alice Madness Returns. All the memorable characters are in the game, but with a darkened twist to their backgrounds and motives. The overarching story focuses on Alice's psyche rather than a superficial lens.
You can even mess about with peculiar weapons like the Teapot Cannon, which shoots scorching Tea Grenades, and the Pepper Grinder, best used against Snouts, which will reward you with hidden locations and profitable goodies.
1 Silent Hill 4: The Room
Perhaps the strangest entry in the Silent Hill series, Silent Hill 4: The Room, is an amalgamation of genres and influences. Every place you visit in the game is vastly different from the rest, with the so-called 'worlds' containing enemies that relate to your location. As a result, this game isn't entirely Easter inspired. However, one moment won't let you think about anything other than Easter, except now you'll be envisioning the mascot of the holiday as a bloodthirsty creature who wants the worst for you.
By looking through the keyhole in the apartment, there's a chance you'll catch Robbie the Rabbit pointing at you, making it known he's aware of your presence. So while the entire game may not be full-on Easter entertainment, this moment alone earns it a spot on this list.