Summary
- Some open-world games focus on atmosphere over combat, offering immersive and tense experiences.
- Sons of the Forest and Darkwood are examples of horror games where survival is the main focus, not combat.
- Players must navigate terrifying situations in games like Project Zomboid and Pathologic 2 to survive.
Open-world games usually rely on a combat loop more often than not, but this isn't the case for every title in the genre. While giving players a means of defending themselves is important, there are also gamers who simply prefer to be immersed in a chilling atmosphere instead of having to fight for their lives every step of the way.
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These open-world games offer players immense amounts of fun, paired with an immense amount of challenge.
These particular open-world games definitely got the memo, letting players explore impressive and horrific settings where every step can prove to be incredibly tense. Even if combat may not be the biggest focus, the emphasis on horror elevates these open-world titles to new heights.
6 Sons Of The Forest
Surviving In The Hostile Wilderness While Being Hounded By Cannibals Is Unnerving
Sons of the Forest
- Released
- February 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World, Survival Horror
Sons of the Forest is one of the best sequels to a survival horror game that countless fans adore. Exploring a forest teeming with cannibals is far from relaxing, especially when these bloodthirsty enemies mob the player.
While players are encouraged to find any way to defend themselves, they will always be on the back foot in combat against multiple opponents. This enhances the game's horror, forcing players to figure out ways to incapacitate enemies and fortify bases so that they aren't put in vulnerable positions.
5 Project Zomboid
A Hardcore Survival Game Where Every Step Is A Terrifying One For Players Who Don't Want To Die
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
One of the hardest survival horror games out there, Project Zomboid is not for impatient players. A single mistake can cause a domino effect that ends the player's run early, and it doesn't help that zombies can just bite the player character once in order to cause a game over.
This forces players to be diligent while exploring the world and to avoid any forms of direct combat. Sneaking around and gathering supplies can be pretty tense, but this is the only way players can hope to survive for many days in a hostile world that will cause them to die over and over again.
4 Pathologic 2
The Surreal Horror Of This Game Is Overbearing
Pathologic 2
- Released
- May 23, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
One of the most surreal and interesting video games that gamers can get their hands on, Pathologic 2 is a must-play for fans of the original title. Even if players aren't familiar with the series, they shouldn't shy away from giving this game a shot to see if it strikes their fancy.
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The game is brutal, with failures leading to permanent penalties. To survive, players must avoid situations where enemies can deplete their precious health and keep their protagonist as healthy as possible. However, doing so in a town rife with mysteries and dangers that will send chills down anyone's spine is easier said than done.
3 Dredge
The Horror Of This Game Is Muted In The Day And Bone-Chilling At Night
Dredge
- Released
- March 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Dredge is a surprisingly relaxing fishing game, provided that players don't head out at night. If they decide to push the panic system to its very limits, then players will be treated to a genuinely horrifying experience that pulls no punches.
With massive tentacles attacking the ship and bats nipping at the hull, the fisherman must reach a dock as soon as possible before their boat is permanently destroyed. Aside from Banish, there's no other way to fend off the game's horrors, making every excursion at night a race against the clock to see if players will either reach the safety of a dock or die trying.
2 Outer Wilds: Echoes Of The Eye
The Horror Is Ramped Up So Much That The Developer Added An Option To Reduce The Scares
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Outer Wilds featured its fair share of scary moments, but the exploration and knowledge-gathering gameplay loop ensured that players would be able to brave these horrors. The same can't be said for Echoes of the Eye, which is a brilliant DLC that is way more horrifying than fans expected.
The fact that the game provides an option to disable the volume of scares in Echoes of the Eye is a testament to how much the horror is ramped up here. Players shouldn't push themselves here; they can and should take breathers if the scary moments in this DLC prove to be a bit too much for them to handle.
1 Darkwood
The Horror Of This Game Will Leave Players Quaking In Their Boots
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Darkwood is technically a semi-open world, but the horror in this game is so fresh and effective that it would be hard not to give this title a mention. The horror elements make combat frenetic and tense as players struggle to survive every single day as they hunt for resources.
The limited view cone turns every encounter into a potential jump scare as players are ambushed from behind by the game's maddened threats. As tough as the title may be, the horror setting is so captivating that it will hypnotize players, encouraging them to reach the end of the amazing experience.
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