Best Halloween-Themed Games to Buy on Steam
The holiday season may have a lot of people wanting to play something cheery and festive, but that doesn’t mean the spooky games should be neglected. In particular, there are a bunch of Halloween-themed games that players can buy on Steam to scratch the itch that demands a good scare.
From games that make you survive entire zombie apocalypses to those with identifiable monsters or scary figures, all of the games mentioned here are associated with Halloween one way or another.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
The fan-favorite Resident Evil franchise may be a powerhouse now, but Resident Evil 4 was arguably the game that got most long-time fans into it. The remake takes everything to the next level, giving players better visuals and controls, but retaining the same sassy protagonist and overall feel.
Leon Kennedy lands in rural Spain to rescue the president’s daughter. Within minutes, the villagers turn on him, and what ensues is over 15 hours of non-stop combat featuring explosions, infected people, and more one-liners than you can count on one hand. It’s more action than fear, but the fights feel great, and a few set pieces stick with you.
Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight takes the asymmetrical horror experience of games like Identity V and Friday the 13th and takes it to the next level. One killer hunts down four survivors, while the survivors must repair five generators so they can reach the exit gate before getting caught.
The game has a bunch of killers and known characters from licensed IPs, including Michael Myers, Ghostface, and Pyramid Head. Every killer has abilities that change how the match plays out, with different maps also taking things to the next level. While Dead by Daylight is definitely one of the more competitive entries on this list, it still has its fair share of scares.
Lethal Company
In Lethal Company, you and your friends loot abandoned moons to hit a quota for a company that clearly doesn’t care if you survive. While you collect scrap, you also have to run from creatures out to kill you. Every planet has different dangers that you must navigate, whether that’s in the form of natural disasters or scary creatures that totally don’t want to eat your brains.
Proximity voice chat is the star, since you only hear teammates when they’re close. Sticking together may sound like the best plan on paper, but those who split up can potentially cover more ground and gather more loot. It’s a great pick if you have three friends and a free evening this Halloween.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Frictional Games’ 2010 Amnesia: The Dark Descent casts the player as Daniel. He wakes in the halls of Brennenburg Castle with fragmented memories, but he doesn’t need any memories to know that he’s far from safe.
There is no combat in this game, but you still have to do everything you can to survive. Players must hide while the dark works against them. Staying in the dark drains Daniel’s sanity and warps the screen. But lantern oil is limited, which means players must smartly decide when they want to escape the eerie darkness. It isn’t a stretch to say that this is the scariest game on this list. At least when it comes to feeling helpless.
The Outlast Trials
Halloween is all about spending time with friends while having a scare. Those wanting a nice Halloween-themed game may want to check out The Outlast Trials on Steam. Unlike earlier Outlast games, this one is completely co-op, which means you can play alongside your friends and family.
Players fill the shoes of a test subject in Murkoff’s Cold War experiments. Each trial gives you a job to finish while twisted staff hunts you. The game doesn’t bother being subtle as it goes straight for the grotesque. You can play it alone, but it’s far better with friends, and is sure to be a good time.
Alan Wake
You can’t talk about Halloween-themed games on Steam without mentioning Alan Wake. Remedy’s psychological thriller follows a novelist in Bright Falls who just wants to escape from all of the noise of the city. Instead, shadows kidnap his wife. Of course, it doesn’t help that he learns that all of his stories are becoming a reality.
Light is your weapon against the possessed, which gives combat a nice rhythm. The game definitely has a lot of combat. But there’s a constant sense of dread when you’re playing, because you never know what lurks in the shadows.
