Summary
- Horror game writing elevates quality, making chilling stories and narratives immersive and unforgettable.
- The Cat Lady, Oxenfree, and Sunless Skies showcase the power of exceptional writing in horror games.
- Strong scripts in games like Pathologic 2 and Omori enhance gameplay and create immersive experiences.
Horror games need to make a major impression, especially given the negative reputation of this genre in the eyes of many. It's unfair to label these titles as jumpscare fests, especially when some titles make a valiant effort to scare players with their writing alone.
6 Best Stories In PS1 Horror Games, Ranked
These PlayStation 1 horror games stand out for their memorable plots and characters.
The chilling stories present in these games will make fans uncomfortable as they power their way through the ending without being traumatized in the process. It shows the power of a good script and how it can elevate the quality of a horror game to new heights.
8 The Cat Lady
A Horror Adventure Game With A Chilling Story
The Cat Lady
- Released
- December 1, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
The Cat Lady is one of the most gripping and disturbing horror games fans can experience. The story of Susan Ashworth as she deals with several horrifying people and tries to appease a malevolent deity takes some violent twists and turns.
This game is not for the faint of heart, especially given the disturbing content that fans can witness in this title. Thankfully, The Cat Lady's writing does justice to these heavy themes and ensures they aren't used for mere shock value.
7 Oxenfree
A Fun And Refreshing Take On The Common Trope Of Teenagers Getting Stuck In Horrific Scenarios
Oxenfree
- Released
- January 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Violence, Sexual Themes, Drug Reference, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Night School Studio
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
The trope of teenagers being forced into a situation where their lives are at peril is popular in horror media. What makes Oxenfree so notable in this regard is how it uses quality writing to justify what should've been a cliché trope.
The excellent script and riveting visuals ensure that this paranormal adventure will strike a chord with many players. While not specifically a horror game, Oxenfree does have terrifying elements to it which make it worth consideration. Oxenfree is surprisingly laid-back and lets players slowly immerse themselves in an excellent indie game.
6 Pathologic 2
The Cryptic Writing Is A Huge Part Of What Makes This Game Special
Pathologic 2
- Released
- May 23, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ice-Pick Lodge
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Pathologic 2 is one of the hardest and most surreal horror games ever made. Players may have to restart this game several times before they even know what's going on and how they can prevent their deaths from permanently hampering their run.
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A huge part of this game's allure is a narrative that is told beautifully without seeming overly pretentious. The world of Pathologic 2 comes to life courtesy of its writing and makes for an immersive experience, encouraging fans to become better at playing this game so that they can answer the questions posed by this title's alluring mystery.
5 Slay The Princess
The Cosmic Horror Of This Game Shines Courtesy Of Its Writing And Voice Acting
Slay the Princess
- Released
- October 23, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Slay the Princess is one of the best visual novel horror games fans can check out for themselves. The amazing script, disturbing visuals, and voice acting are in a class of their own, ensuring that fans will be left thoroughly impressed by the time they spend with the game.
The cosmic horror of this game encourages multiple playthroughs as players try to explore various paths and branches in the story before reaching the end of a riveting experience. It's a one-of-a-kind horror game where the writing does the heavy lifting, which clearly works, given how players can't stop raving about this game after they're finished.
4 Sunless Skies
The Writing Is A Huge Part Of What Makes This Unique Horror RPG So Special
Sunless Skies
- Released
- January 31, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Failbetter Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Sunless Skies is a horror RPG where players control a ship exploring the skies and trying to make a fortune. Everything from the captain's background to their goals is dictated by the player, ensuring that role-playing is always a priority in this title.
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The backrooms can be a terrifying concept, and these games certainly use that to their advantage to create memorable horror games.
It helps that the various locations in the game are bolstered by the quality of the writing as players explore various kinds of horrors that boggle the mind. This text-heavy RPG is a massive improvement over its predecessor in every way, with the writing doing all the heavy lifting and compelling players to complete the side stories present in every major port.
3 Silent Hill 2
The Story Is A Huge Part Of What Makes This One Of Gaming's Greatest Sequels
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While the first Silent Hill game took a direct approach when it came to its horror, it's the sequel that leaned heavily towards themes of psychological horror. James Sunderland is a widower torn up over the death of his former wife, only to see a letter written by her asking him to head to the town of Silent Hill.
It's only after players brave the dangers of this town that the true scope of the plot comes to light. It makes for a riveting experience that paints James in a new light, with a twist for the ages that has gone down in video gaming history because of how well it's written.
2 Omori
The Psychological Horror Narrative Is In A Class Of Its Own
OMORI
- Released
- December 25, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- OMOCAT, LLC.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
A huge part of what makes Omori such an excellent title is the writing, lulling players with its charm before shocking them with horrific imagery. Sunny's internal struggles are at the heart of this experience, especially since he's clearly struggling to get over the death of his sister.
As players explore Headspace and help Sunny explore the modern world once again, the ugly truths of the past come to light. It makes for a horrifying realization that ultimately ends with a tearjerker of an ending, showing why Omori's writing is in a class of its own.
1 The Last Of Us
Blew Everyone's Mind With Its Cinematics And Emotional Moments
The Last of Us Part I
- Released
- September 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
There's a reason why The Last of Us attained numerous accolades, is hailed by many as the greatest video game of all time, and spawned a quality video game adaptation that fans love. Joel and Ellie's relationship is at the heart of a video game that deals with human problems despite the zombie apocalypse setting.
The best part about The Last of Us' writing is how conversations seem natural, and no character is portrayed to be truly black and white, barring a few outliers. Joel and Ellie are two of gaming's greatest characters because of how fleshed-out and believable their bond is.
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