Spooky Games for the Faint of Heart
By Delaney McCallum
Happy October everyone! It’s a month of warm meals, movie marathons, and you guessed it: spooooOOOoooOOoky scary video games. But, if you’re like me, you are a soft little wimp who threw up watching The Conjuring 2. You might be wondering, are there any fun games of the season that can give me a little chill without scaring my eyeballs out? You betcha! Here are some suggestions of spooky games that might just be okay for us that are faint of heart. All of these are available on Steam.
Ann (2021)
In this nostalgic feeling RPG, you play as Ann, an art student trapped inside her school. While you try to navigate your way out of your scholarly prison, you uncover the secrets of the school and encounter some formidable enemies. I really enjoyed playing this game, and was honestly shocked that it was free considering how high quality it is. There are no cheap jump scares, and the storyline is interesting and complex! The one downside to this game is that it can be really frustrating to die during running sequences with no auto-save. It took a lot of practice for me to climb the learning curve. However, this makes it even more satisfying when you make it through!
Somewhere in the Shadow (2021)
This is a 3D modeled multiplayer horror game that you can enjoy by yourself or with up to 3 friends. While on its face it appears to be a simple puzzle game, it is thematically more complex. I wouldn’t describe the feelings of this game as horror, but more like dread? The puzzles are difficult and can be mathematically challenging, so I recommend playing with friends. It builds to an emotional ending that takes you by surprise. Another pro is that the soundtrack is AMAZING. This game is worth its price of $2.99.
Fallow (2021)
I LOVE this game. I’ll be upfront, it is $19.99 so it’s the most expensive on our list. However, I wouldn’t include it if I didn’t think it was worth it. The art style is absolutely gorgeous - hand drawn pixel art backgrounds with limited color palettes bring you into an alternate universe spooky Stardew Valley. This is a puzzle game that allows you to explore dreamlike environments. You follow Isabelline Falllow, who lives alone in an isolated world that has begun to forget itself and its residents. Isabelline walks in her sleep and explores this world as it slowly morphs and vanishes within itself. This game is incredibly atmospheric, and honestly hard to describe because it is so unique. If you love to explore, this one's for you!
When the Night Comes (2021)
You were kidding yourself if you thought I would make it through this list without including something LGBTQ+. This is a narrative-focused visual novel from Lunaris Games. You play as Hunter, a famous monster-slayer who is invited to the small town of Lunaris to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. You uncover a dark mystery that is buried in the roots of the town. While this narrative is interesting enough, what really puts this game over the edge is the relationships you can build with townspeople along the way. Did someone say forbidden queer love?! This is a dating sim within a fascinating mystery, and I loved it. The writing is strong, and the voice acting is especially superb. It is available now on Steam for $12.99.
I hope all my fellow softies can find something on this list that they enjoy! Happy spooky season everyone!