PlayStation Plus horror games to scare you for spooky season
Spooky season is here! October has arrived and that means the month-long celebration of Halloween can start. What better way to spend the month than by playing some horror gems that will keep you on your toes and have you either yelping in shock or hiding behind a cushion?
PlayStation Plus has a bunch of brilliant games to play that will make your skin crawl or gross you out, sometimes both. Whether you want to play on your own in the dark, or with friends, there’s something on this list for you. So, turn out the lights, put on your headphones, and get ready to be spooked.
Dead Space
Sci-fi brilliance comes from the Dead Space remake. Brought up to modern standards to make the aliens even more gruesome, this one will have you on the edge of your seat as you creep down darkened corridors. You’ll know that you’re forever two steps away from being swarmed while the lights flicker, your eyes roaming the screen for a hint of movement. In turns gross and tense, you’ll need extra pants for this one.
Resident Evil 2
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Whether you put Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 4 at the top of the franchise, there’s no doubt that the second game still contains sheer brilliance. It had the scares, the bonkers story, great characters, and plenty of gnarly beasts to battle. The remake just raised the bar even higher and that’s exactly why you should play this game. It took everything great about the franchise and injected it with more thrills than the first time around.
The Evil Within
I have such a soft spot for The Evil Within. I’ve never felt so anxious playing a game. Made by a superb studio, overseen by Bethesda, it is the epitome of survival horror because every minute feels like you’re hanging on for dear life. Think of the creepiness on display in Silent Hill mixed with the gore and grotesque of the Saw franchise and you’re on the right path. While it’s not filled with blockbuster action, it does leave an indelible mark on you after torturous hours of dread.
Dead By Daylight
Okay, we’ve had a few creepy games, how about one that is a little lighter on the heart palpitations? Although that really depends on how well you do under pressure. Dead by Daylight is a multiplayer must-play for Halloween. Grab some friends and try to escape deranged killers controlled by other players all while they hunt you down. The little minigames you have to complete seem so easy until there’s a chainsaw-wielding maniac plodding towards you and your mates are screaming for you to leg it.
The Last of Us Part 1
Even if you’ve watched the phenomenal HBO adaptation, The Last of Us is well worth your time as the nights draw in. Filled with buckets of undead gore and heartbreaking drama, this is one of the definitive horror adventures on PlayStation. Telling a very human story among the disastrous events of a world-ending plague, this Naughty Dog game contains so much love, but that doesn’t take away from the terrifying moments of trying to survive and escape when everything is falling apart and Clickers are looking for you.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Haunting is the word that comes to mind for What Remains of Edith Finch. It’s a delicate yet creepy exploration of grief, loss, and familial secrets. You could easily play this gem in one evening, that’s if you can move past the emotional beats that will sucker punch you when you aren’t prepared. It’s not an outlandish horror experience, but it does enough to keep you unsettled as you explore a huge quiet mansion uncovering heavy stories and secrets with darkness at their heart.
Bloodborne
You might not instantly categorise Bloodborne as a horror but when you combine Lovecraft, Eldritch Gods, Gothic landscapes, and enemies that will kill you in one hit, I’d say it’s pretty horrific. It’s got all the hallmarks of a good horror - wandering around a decrepit town filled with slavering monsters while you have no clue what’s going on. The sheer number of creatures trying to gobble you down or massacre you in the street is bonkers and plenty of the stories winding through the game are unsettling and eerie. It’s also one of the best games ever made, so play it for that reason too.
FEAR
Say what you like, but we all know that creepy little girls with long hair draped over their faces will put the fear up anyone. Which is exactly what FEAR does. While this is a retro gem that perhaps doesn’t hold up to modern scrutiny, the game still carries a wonderful sense of terror. It’s rare to have a first-person shooter that manages to get under your skin, but FEAR certainly nails that premise. The story is off-the-wall, but the action is still pretty tight, and coming against the scary moments will have you playing with a constant sense of dread.
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Playstation Plus, Dead by Daylight, The Last Of Us, Dead Space, Resident Evil 2, Bloodborne