Elden Ring Nightreign is the "greatest hits" album of FromSoftware games. With bosses from Dark Souls, builds inspired by Bloodborne and Sekiro, and the world of Elden Ring, it has something for every Soulslike fan. And it's multiplayer. It throws a lot into one pot and ends up as more of a cracked pot. But patches may fix it over time. No, not that Patches.
Atomfall is a small town mystery, monster battle, folk horror, science fiction quadruple feature. A high degree of freedom lets you choose what kind of adventure you want to have. This hands off approach has some small downsides. But it also leads to an incredibly inventive survival game that offers players boundless possibilities.
Mouthwashing offers a top-tier sci-fi horror story with themes and symbols that will likely stay with you long after your journey aboard the Tulpar. The gameplay is passive and repetitive, but those craving well-written characters and story content should appreciate their time in the captain's chair.
Clock Tower: Rewind turns back the clock as it gives players a look at an influential horror game from the 90s than few in the west got to play. Even with updates, it's still a bit cumbersome. And yet it's dripping in dread and atmosphere and has style as sharp as oversized scissors.
With satisfying and story-related puzzle and genuine chills, Fear the Spotlight delivers a top-notch, bite-sized, lo-fi horror experience. Contrary to its title, it steps into the spotlight as the best indie horror game of the year.
Though not as exciting or inventive as the previous Alan Wake 2 DLC, The Lake House does a solid job of connecting Alan Wake and Control together while offering a fairly creepy if somewhat generic survival horror experience.
Crow Country "caws" back to old-school horror games from the PS1-era, preserving what made them suspenseful and engaging while adding some updates. Not all of these work, but enough do, making a trip to Crow Country worth taking for fans of retro survival horror games.
Gorgeous visuals and an ethereal soundtrack invite players into the world of Neva. Yet these welcoming aesthetics are just the floral display surrounding a game with fast-paced combat, inventive platforming, and a touching story of the bond between warrior and wolf.
Bloober Team had a tough challenge, but it once again proves that it knows horror. Silent Hill 2 Remake takes a great game and gives it a number of quality-of-life upgrades. It doesn't make any sweeping changes, but it doesn't really have to here. Silent Hill 2 Remake is a horror remake done right.
Night Springs is the rare DLC that both retains a bit of everything from its base game and improves upon it. Alan Wake 2 already has a lot going for it, but its first DLC has its characteristic cheesiness, creepiness, and cosmic-ness across three chapters. It runs a bit short, but it's a great supernatural sampler of Alan Wake at its best.
Rebirth arrives as one of the best games of the past decade.
Drawing from horror authors and their creations, World of Horror builds its own web of eldritch beings and cosmic occurrences. The roguelike nature of mysteries in the game ensures that no two runs remain the same. Though certain mechanics rise above others, World of Horror keeps things fresh with creepy visuals, multiple plot resolutions, and degrees of customization, even as its coastal town falls into decay.
Alan Wake 2 takes its action-horror predecessor and dregs it out of the water with a fresh survival horror overhaul. Though certain mechanics seem like they're still stuck in 2010, the vast majority of the sequel feels ahead of its time. The story is stylish, suspenseful, and scary, yet isn't afraid to get a little silly. Alan Wake 2 is one of Remedy's best games yet, and certainly its most artistic.
Slay the Princess is a must-play for fans of branching narratives. Choices have consequences, and how much horror you encounter falls to you. Along the way, enjoy the macabre visuals and audio. While the game can't put a bow on every decision, replaying for extra routes proves a royal pleasure. Turn down the lights, cozy up with a nice cup of tea (may I suggest blood orange?), and decide whether or not to commit regicide.
Layers of Fear serves as a kind of director's cut for the horror series. With lavish visuals, new content, and a new framing device, it proves the definite way to experience the series. Those who've already played the games won't find much they haven't seen before, but The Final Note chapter adds a fun, spooky new layer.
Meet Your Maker antes up the adventure of pulling off a heist and the artistry of building an impenetrable base. Some players may get put off by the paltry upgrades, but those who crave other kinds of variety will marvel at the many heists to pull off and bases to design right at their fingertips.
With an engaging story about urban legends bolstered by a branching storyline, Paranormasight hovers over other visual novels with its many interactive elements. It suffers from the curses of certain puzzles that prove arbitrary and a story that gets spread too thin. But the captivating characters and central mystery keep the tale of this mystery-adventure title as one legend worth spreading.
Mysteriousness proves tricky to sustain, but Dredge reels it in and mostly keeps it aboard through its run. Bolstered by beautiful music and visuals, the game features engaging episodic quests that promote exploration. With addicting fishing mechanics and the promise of something new on the horizon, the game sails full steam ahead with fish to catch and secrets to uncover. Dredge may have some dings in its hull, but this boat is more than seaworthy.
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed serves up short, sharp shocks of supernatural asymmetrical play. It may prove a bit too simplistic for some, but the game will likely hand out more of a treat and less of a trick for longtime Ghostbusters fans.
SpiderHeck can absolutely bring out the competitive spirit in people. But its natural charm lies in providing laughs when the chaos lets loose and somebody swings right into a laser sword or accidentally blows up a chunk of the map. It would benefit from a bit more variety in game modes and content, but as it stands it offers a fun and unique spin on the couch brawler genre.