5 Scary Indie Horror Games to Try Out this Spooktober
Horror games have been a staple in the gaming industry for a very long time. It is one of the most popular genres of games, especially for streamers and content creators as it’s always fun watching people get scared.
The genre is replete with terrifying titles from both independent and AAA companies. Indie horror games in particular tend to be quite creative, tremendously unique, and truly terrifying and these are the titles that we will be focusing on in this article.
Here are five scary indie horror games to try out this Spooktober.
Outlast Series
Developed by Red Barrel, the Outlast series is a first-person horror survival game and is one of the best horror indie series out there. They released their first game, Outlast, in September 2013, and the second, Outlast 2, in April 2017. The third installment, The Outlast Trials, is expected to be released in 2022.
The series is known for the protagonists being isolated from the outside world, while constantly being chased by fanatics. Players utilize a camcorder to record the events and expand the lore and to light up dark areas with its night vision.
What makes this game terrifying is that you can’t fight back. You will be chased by multiple antagonists several times in the game, and all you can do is run and hide below beds or inside cabinets.
The Outlast series is not for the faint of heart because of its constant chase scenes while you find your way out of the section to continue the narrative. This can definitely get your adrenaline going, especially if you dare to look behind you as you run away (an actual gameplay feature) and see your pursuer catching up to you.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Originally a freeware game, Doki Doki Literature Club! is one of the more unexpected indie horror games you can play. It was released back in September 2017. However, Team Salvato, the developer of the game, recently re-released a sort of “remastered” version of the game with new content and dubbed it Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!. Unfortunately, this version is premium and is meant for consoles only.
What makes it an unexpected horror game? It was supposed to be a dating sim and visual novel with vibrant graphics and anime ladies that you have to court. You talk to multiple girls, pick from a multiple-choice interaction, and eventually improve your relationship with them.
As you progress, the game just gets darker, to the point where it may psychologically scar you for life, so beware.
It is worth playing if the story hasn’t been spoiled for you, but regardless, it is a must-try since visual novels always have multiple different endings for you to uncover.
Detention
Detention was developed by Red Candle Games, a Taiwanese developer, and was released back in January 2017. It is a 2D side-scroller point & click horror game, which is set in 1960s Taiwan, also known as the White Terror period.
The game takes place in a high school and focuses on two trapped high school students. As you explore, the story grows more sinister, as the students begin to be haunted by the “Lingered,” a Chinese folklore creature.
Visually speaking, this game is quite unique and captures the dark times of Martial Law in Taiwan, and the puzzles and story are both captivating enough to get you hooked. It’s heavily tied with Taiwanese culture and mythology, making it rather unique and very atmospheric, akin to Silent Hill or the original Clock Tower.
Visage
Visage by SadSquare Studio is a homage to the cancelled psychological horror game P.T. It was released in October 2020 after having a successful Kickstarter campaign. Simply put, the developers truly delivered on what P.T. could have been if it hadn’t been cancelled.
It is a first-person psychological horror game that takes place in a suburban home. It features rather realistic graphics making it scarier than any other game on this list. Similar to P.T., Visage is all about building up a creepy atmosphere, and it does not rely on cheap tricks and jump-scares.
As you explore the house, you will start to experience paranormal activities. The house starts to gradually change, and staying in dark hallways will make the protagonist lose their sanity. Ghosts haunt the premises as well, so players have to make sure to avoid getting caught.
Like Outlast, you cannot use any weapons in this game, so you have to be careful not to get caught by the ghost while you complete puzzles and uncover the story in Visage.
Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia is an amazing co-op horror game by Kinetic Games, released back in September 2020 when co-op social games became a trend as people around the world were confined to their homes due to the pandemic.
It has a basic premise. You play as a paranormal investigator looking into a haunted location, trying to determine what evil plagues it. You can start an investigation with others or play solo. Buying items to detect paranormal activity is a must and you have to correctly set it up in the location where the ghost may appear.
Phasmophobia features full voice recognition, which technically means that the ghosts can hear you when you speak, and you actually have to call them out so they will carry out some paranormal activities. If you manage to determine the correct ghost, then you will be rewarded. Otherwise, you will get nothing. There is also a chance that you could die if you get taken away by a ghost.
Additionally, the game supports VR, which makes it more immersive and scary. Of course, you can get a good laugh here and there when playing with your friends, but that is until they decide to leave you alone to lure out the ghost.
There you have it! For the best experience, try one of these out on a cold night with the lights off. And oh, if you’re ever looking for a place to get your gaming products, make sure to check out OffGamers‘ site right here.
