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Fear. It is a device used in many games. Fear of losing. Fear of dying. Fear of being caught. It drives us in games. It propels us forward. But what about the other side? What happens when you play a game and enemies are scared of you? As advancements are made on the development side of things, enemy AI has become increasingly more intelligent.
This allows for enemies who will cower in fear of a powerful player. Some may flee and cry out if you’re near or if they think you’re in their territory. Some games have enemies vow revenge and remember players from previous encounters. Games where the enemies are actually scared of you allow for some really fantastic gameplay, and these are some of the best.
8 Batman: Arkham
The Batman: Arkham series has always been a pinnacle of great superhero games. What really levels it up is the enemy reactions as you play through the game. As you use Batman to make enemy numbers dwindle, they will begin to react erratically.
They will stay clustered in pairs with their backs together, sometimes run away, and even shoot into the darkness. Their fear is palpable, and it is epic getting to sit in the shadows as Batman watches them slowly succumb to their fear.
7 Shadow Of the Tomb Raider
The Tomb Raider reboot series explores the origins of Lara Croft, and she became the woman seen in the earlier games. While she starts off hesitant to take down enemies, eventually it is just something she realizes she must do.
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, enemies become fearful when their numbers begin to drop, or they see someone die. They’ll also run away if you use Lara’s Fear Arrows. These can even cause enemies to attack their comrades.
6 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor
Shadow of Mordor utilizes a really fantastic gameplay element called the Nemesis system. The game’s main character doesn’t die in-game when struck down thanks to his soul being linked to a wraith, but when enemy Orcs kill you, they can become promoted in their army.
If you harm them in a certain way, say with fire, but you don’t finish them off, they can come back later scared of you and of being burned again. This can happen in a number of ways, and every time things will be a little different.
5 Sleeping Dogs
A lot of games have reputation systems, but they’re all pulled off to varying degrees. The ones that are successful use enemy AI in ways that elevate atmosphere and gameplay. Sleeping Dogs is one of those games.
Its reputation system has characters who recognize you the more famous you are. Enemies also react in real-time when another enemy is harmed. Some will wince in pain and fear as bones break, fearing they are next. Combat can also be very brutal and enemies will react to especially gory kills.
4 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
If you’re a fan of Star Wars, Fallen Order lets you live a full-on Jedi fantasy. While it doesn’t embrace enemy AI quite the way other games do, it still is somewhat varied. It is especially enthralling because of how enemies react to you within the game.
Some will start off overconfident and even cocky. Shouting things like, “I’ve been trained for this.” Sometimes they even taunt you. If they see their friends die, however, their mood can change. They might beg for their life, and if that happens, just put them out of their misery.
3 The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 is a brutal game in every sense of the word. With it being the follow-up to one of the best-selling PlayStation games of all time, it had a lot to live up to. The air in the game sits heavy with the fear of everyone in it. Its enemy AI design ensures that players might second guess taking down their foes.
Enemies will cry out in fear if a friend they were speaking with stops talking. They might sob if they find a buddy dead. Or maybe worse, if they find their dog companion dead. The game also gives names to the AI, so an enemy might yell out that you killed a certain person by name. Enemies can even submit before you, begging to be let go. It makes for a very engrossing and cinematic experience.
2 Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful and graphically demanding RPGs. The world is beautiful to slink around and take enemies out in. Stealth games often utilize scenarios where enemies become scared of you. While a lot of stealth games allow for other ways to play, stealth often allows for more observation of enemies.
In Ghosts of Tsushima, enemies will sometimes fall in fear and cower as you move closer to them. If you have killed a lot of them, enemies might start walking in groups. The further into the game you get, the more people will respect and fear you for the legend that you are becoming - you can even unlock a true terror mode, where enemies will flee for their lives.
1 The Forest
No one wants to be in a plane crash. And no one ones to be in a plane that crashes on an island full of mutant cannibals. The Forest puts you in that very situation. As the lone survivor, you must battle these creatures.
Fortunately, you can strike fear into the souls of these creatures by wearing armor made of the bones of their kin and using their body parts in weird and unexpected, ways like making Effigies you catch on fire. By doing these things, enemies will avoid you. If you’re starting to make an island of mutant cannibals scared, does that mean you’ve become the monster?