As we near the end of Horror Month, we at Game Sandwich are looking to have a little fun with the terribly terrific horror video game franchises that made us the horror fans we are today. So, in that spirit of fun, we’re going to play around with a psychological fright of a question: What does your favorite horror video game franchise say about you?
Disclaimer: We are only discussing horror franchises with at least 3 entries. Yes, this means discluding popular franchises such as Alan Wake and Left 4 Dead. We apologize to all supernatural, SCP, and zombie fans for our crimes.
Alone in The Dark
You’re a retro gamer, aren’t you?
There’s nothing quite like nostalgia and Alone in the Dark is one of the oldest and best known horror franchises in the video game world. With every new entry added to the series, the Alone in The Dark games revel in paranormal investigation, haunted houses, ghost towns, and claustrophobic survival horror. However, some entries are more traditional than others (looking at you Alone in the Dark 2008). Speaking of, you probably have been known to utter the phrase “they don’t make games like they used to” once or twice.
To give you credit, Alone in The Dark nostalgia is peak and we understand your love for it. But until Alone in The Dark 2023 comes out, try out some newer horror titles, will you? You might be surprised at how much you enjoy those, too.
Amnesia
You’re the kind of person who is always late to movie night with your friends, but refuses to let them start the movie over. You just sit down in the middle of it and have to snap your brain in half to try to reverse-engineer what’s going on. This eventually leads to you having tricked yourself into feeling like you enjoy movies this way, with half the context deliberately MIA.
That’s what Amnesia’s like — a game that uniquely hinges on the fact you have no memory or understanding of a situation. In many horror video games, you/your character at least get some setup. A missing wife. A paranormal investigation. A weird cult. Amnesia starts you in dark terrible places with no motivation except “well, guess I’m here” and you have no choice but to dive deeper. It’s an intoxicating concept as a video game.
But IRL? Please just start getting to movie night on time. This is no way to live.
The Dark Pictures Anthology
You’re here for the experience, not the gaming. As much as we all love the excitement and frights of the Dark Picture games with their surprisingly star-studded casts, we’re also here for the goofy, buggy shit.
The Dark Pictures Anthology is the epitome of vibes over substance. It’s the thrills of horror without the stress of a long-winded RPG. Horror on cozy mode, if you will. And considering how much we all love to kick back and watch a bad horror movie with friends, we can’t blame you.
Dead Space
You grew up on Alien and on the terrifying philosophical questions about space and science fiction. You’ve laid awake at night haunted by how, even in these bright futures, the horrors of death, bad experiments, and cosmic parasites can still get us. You are a realist devoted to morbid logic, with science leading humanity to its inevitable demise… Even though the logic of space zombies only goes so far. Same with the logic of using guns in space stations. But hey, we love the fantasy of scientific realism and logic here.
Don’t worry, we await many comments arguing the definitely legitimate science of zombies and guns in space. Poetically, this joke about Dead Space fans will try to science us to death.
(Don’t worry chill Dead Space fans who just like pew pew and space, we love you all the same).
Looking for indie horror titles? Try out: Slay the Princess First Impressions: A Gripping Horror Story
Doom
Some people might argue that this isn’t a horror franchise. But if you prefer your horror with the same amount of blood and guts but switch out fright for fight, Doom is for you. And if you’re a Doom fan, it means you just like big action. The game has zero brain cells, and when you play Doom, you also have zero brain cells, but sometimes that’s all you need after a long day is a beautiful, demon-filled shot of mindless carnage. Himbo horror is just as valid as any other.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
You’re either young or you have always thought Chuck E Cheese was sinister, so the horror here is rooted in your childhood. But we embrace that. Young horror fans are the future of the genre. However, please rein it in a little on your FnaF cosplays and fanfiction of this franchise. It’s getting a little unsettling how creative and dedicated, but also a little unhinged y’all are — especially because we’re concerned you don’t sleep. Have any of you had water recently?
If you can’t pause the animatronic hyperfixation, at least turn on Willy’s Wonderland and try to take a break, please. Your realistic, life-sized Chica mask can wait until tomorrow.
Outlast
You like violation and pain, don’t you? There’s always just been something viscerally prodding and nonconsensual about Outlast, and that does understandably line up with the horror genre. But if you love that, it’s kinda like when someone says that they don’t just like Fight Club, it’s their favorite movie. It goes from intriguing to red flag real fast. Your tolerance to disgusting noises in your ear and the horror of a man trying to cut your dick off is higher than most. You are an impressive human being, and also terrifying. Please check in with your therapist.
Want to learn more about the making of Outlast? Read: 5 Horror games inspired by real life locations
Resident Evil
If you love Resident Evil, you are either one of two things: you are a lover of classics or you have been infected by mold and you now have complicated feelings about tall women. We understand, you’re all for creepy atmospheres. If you’re an old fan, you love fantastically cheesy one-liners and the innate attractive appeal of action heroes — looking at you Leon Kennedy stans.
Newer fans, though, you’re not sure if you’re scared of the monsters under your bed or if you want the monsters in your bed. And we wish you the best of luck with that. It must be very frustrating to live in the real world with no Leon, tall vampire moms, or skeevy glasses dads. We still hope that one day you manage to find love.
Silent Hill
Silent Hill fans, you are lovers of fine art. But that love comes with a price. Especially because not all of this franchise is fine art, but you’re attached enough to the artful parts that you’re tempted to defend the less masterful entries to your death.
Express your devotion in think pieces and video essays. Don’t spring it on your friends or family during the next holiday party. We want to love you for your good taste as long as you’re not pretentious about it.
