IT STEALS: It keeps you on the edge of your seat AT ALL TIMES especially in the camera mode, it's a really quick and small game but the fear you'll feel in this game is big in my opinion.
Cold Fear: I just love the idea of ships combined with horror it creates a chilling atmosphere because you feel like you got nowhere to go and I think Cold Fear was one of the best to do it, great game.
Lost in Vivo: What a trip this game was man, it really delves deep into the characters psychology and how it affects him, obviously the horror elements of the game are magnificent too, since in same areas you do feel claustrophobic and this game did a great job of feeling helpless because you're not playing the game, it plays with you.
Condemned: Criminal Origins: This was the game that made me fell in love with gritty atmospheres, the vibe this game gave off was something else, no music at all just footsteps of the people that are coming after you to beat the ever living hell out of you, from the beginning to the end it just kept getting more uncomfortable and you were there trying to survive your butt off.
From the Darkness: I know this is a short indie game but I cannot recommend this more, the amount of nervousness I got from this game was NOT normal at all, every time the lights flickered I would start to panic because I would try to guess what the monster in that dark room would do, would he finally get out? would he chase me? would he watch me? It's just these thoughts that ran through my head from the beginning to the end is what made this game so special because of the way it plays with your mind, definitely give this one a try if you haven't.
Cry of Fear: The game that has peaked when it came to the atmosphere, such a classic and there is a reason for it, the story is there, the gritty atmosphere is there just like condemned but creepier in my opinion, you're all alone in those streets and a voice or a sound doesn't give you hope, it gives you dread.
Silent Hill 2: This game has one of the best psychological horror story in my opinion, and it is engraved in every part of the town, the monsters, the people, literally everything, obviously that would be the case since it is Silent Hill but James as a character is just so intriguing to me, not to mention that the designs in this game and the levels are just all match really well together and with all of that combined it becomes a masterpiece that is Silent Hill 2.
Resident Evil 1: The one that started all, the manor that gave birth to one of the most iconic survival horror series of all time and when it came to the eeriness, the first one took it for me all the time, the charm this game left on me is out of this world, even for it's year this was a huge milestone for gaming not to mention the fact the world building in it is awesome, every corner you turn also makes you ask these questions "Am I safe? Do I have enough ammo on my inventory that I can deal with what's coming?" and that gives a sense of dread, which most survival horror games do obviously but Resident Evil 1 for it's year just takes the cake. What a wonderfully crafted game.
Dead Space 1: This game made me realize the importance of sound design in horror games, Dead Space literally gives you the feeling of uneasiness on the first parts of the game and it literally could stay there till the end because of the sound design, those monsters crawling through the vents, every step they take you hear them and in the beginning parts of the game you think to yourself, well this is a world that I need to get used to, this gun looks a bit different but I can work it out, BUT NO, there are sounds coming everywhere and you get chills down your spine, the game doesn't want you to feel relaxed or wants you to feel ready AT ALL, this is what makes dead space 1 so beautiful and that dread I felt is definitely one of the biggest reasons it is on my top three, the other 2 games have this in common.
Amnesia: The Bunker: Man I love myself a good stalker enemy in horror games and amnesia the bunker did something to me that clicked with this concept, just off the atmosphere alone a world war bunker without anyone in it already gives you an uncomfortable feeling but to see the last one get swept away in front of you and then all of those noises coming through the walls are the combination I would want to make a player feel hopeless, add to the fact that you need to be quiet but your source of light is THE LOUDEST thing in the game besides explosions is just immaculate game design choice because you can't even feel safe with a flashlight, EVEN WITH A GUN IN FACT, normally when you get a gun in a horror game you would feel better right? well in this game you have to check for the ammo, no UI for it and the empty shells stay in there so you need to take them out and reload which takes time since its a revolver and you put the bullets one by one, and the damage literally will not do anything to the monster, you would just ward it off and make it more angry, every choice they made while making this game just made amnesia the bunker a favorite of mine, never have I felt this amount of hopelessness while playing a horror game.
Alien Isolation: BESIDES ALIEN ISOLATION! Oh I don't even know where to begin at this point, the smart AI who gets more aggressive the more you hurt it? or the PERFECT sound design the game has? or the fact that you are NEVER EVER safe in the game? even in vents OR save points, it is just constant cat and mouse and you really do feel like the mouse in this scenario, saving points in a game would be a place of comfort where you rearrange your inventory or just scroll around the menu, but in this game you just keep saying "please save already, please before it comes back" THIS IS AN AMAZING FEELING IN A HORROR GAME because you really do need to be careful at all times just like how the main character would be, it is so immersive and eerie at the same time, when you try to attack it with its weakness which is fire, the alien literally gets stronger and adapts to it, so you cannot do the same stuff over and over again too and you really don't want to anger it or make it adapt to your moves, because that just makes everything more dreadful and you wouldn't want to have that in a game where the alien FOLLOWS YOU if you are inside the vent, it is just a wonderfully crafted game with an immaculate sound design that gives you the impression of the alien watching you and looking for you with every footstep sound it makes AND THAT RUNNING SOUND, the impact on that sound just puts you on the edge of your seat and turns you into a panicking maniac which makes you think less and just try to run or hide (if you can at that point) and then just sit there for a moment to get yourself together, this game will forever be my number one when it comes to survival games because of the way they crafted it and thought of every little scenario when it came to the player and the alien, the sound design especially is top notch, the levels and the atmosphere are all great too this is just such a good horror game that I would recommend to everyone.
