What makes a horror recreation really scary? Jumpscares or chase scenes might be unsettling, however for me, the scariest horror games are those who encourage a creeping sense of dread and make you query the world you’re interacting with. 

If you’ve been trying to find some new skin-crawling titles so as to add to your library, I’ve acquired you coated with this record. One of the games is a cult-classic that I imagine each horror fanatic ought to have of their assortment, whereas the opposite two are underrated gems that deserve extra of a highlight. 

The Escapist recaps

• Flesh, Blood, & Concrete is an atmospheric, unsettling trawl by a seemingly occupied condominium constructing, full of trinkets and chunks of meat.
• Ib is a cult-classic horror that begins in an artwork gallery and leads to an alternate world, filled with fiendish monsters and enemies.
• Soul Void is a mysterious horror-adventure made in a Recreation Boy-esque model, with heavy themes of demise, internal grief, and a reluctance to maneuver on. 
• All three games are must-plays for followers of horror games that depend on slow-burning concern, unsettling imagery, and wealthy narratives to frighten their gamers.

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete is simply as bizarre because it sounds – and I’m so glad I discovered this recreation whereas mindlessly scrolling by the horror tab on Itch.io, because it’s completely engrossing. 

Made by waxwing0, this RPGMaker expertise is brief however impactful. It’s a story-driven horror that begins with a automobile accident, and the mechanics are greatest summarized as exploration with a small sprinkle of puzzles on high. 

After the principle character falls asleep on the wheel and drives her automobile by the courtyard of a block of flats, she’s invited contained in the condominium block by a mysterious however pleasant lady who needs her to take shelter from the vicious snowstorm outdoors. The story unravels from there, getting more and more surreal with each new room uncovered.

Whereas there are some gross-out moments – notably for people who’re upset by mildew or rot – it’s not a jumpscare-heavy recreation. The world design is spectacularly eerie, and the music provides to the atmosphere completely, however the actual horror is baked into the story as a substitute of the visuals.

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete someway manages to be creepy, stunning, and melancholic all on the identical time. It ended up bringing a tear to my eye, and I want I may’ve spent longer studying extra concerning the characters.

You may play this horror recreation for free on Itch.io – before downloading, it’s value noting that it options heavy themes together with a good quantity of gore. 

Ib

Calling Ib an underground horror recreation at this level is a bit of a stretch – it’s a cult-classic, in any case, with a devoted group – however I’ll take any excuse to write down about this unimaginable title. It got here out in 2012, then acquired a remake in 2022.

As a long-time RPGMaker recreation fan, I can say with confidence that that is one of the most effective examples of an RPGMaker horror recreation. It’s attractive but creepy, with an intriguing storyline and many of unsettling enemies to dodge as you discover.

Ib follows the story of a younger lady by the identical title as she visits an artwork gallery together with her mother and father. Before the household can settle into their day journey, one thing modifications drastically inside the gallery, and Ib finally ends up alone, compelled to discover a darkish, ever-changing world inside the work that line the partitions of the gallery.

Exploration is a key half of Ib, with a plethora of dungeons and winding pathways to navigate. The world will get more and more extra surreal and twisted, with loads of elaborate puzzles to unravel because the story unfolds.

One thing that I like about this recreation is that there are a number of endings to uncover. It’s rewarding to play by a number of instances and see how your decisions have an effect on the story, which is commonly the case for story-led horror.

You may try the 2022 model of Ib on Steam and the Nintendo Retailer. The official Nintendo store page for the sport notes that Ib is supported on Nintendo Change 2. 

Soul Void (Redux) 

The very first thing that I seen about Soul Void is how completely spectacular its art work is. Fortunately, it’s additionally acquired a stellar story and gameplay loop to match its high quality aesthetic.

Created by Kadabura on Itch.io, Soul Void is a Recreation Boy-esque horror journey that’ll take you thru a range of bewildering, hellish landscapes, filled with misplaced souls who want your assist to maneuver on to the following life. You get up in one other world, seemingly by mistake, and also you’ll want to search out your means residence. 

The story is left intentionally mysterious in locations – to me, the principle location within the recreation appeared like a illustration of purgatory, however others could interpret it in a different way – but it nonetheless manages to really feel extremely wealthy.

I dipped into this recreation considering I’d test it out for 20 minutes, then transfer on to the following title on my record, however ended up changing into completely engrossed for the following couple of hours. 

With themes of loss, internal turmoil, and life past demise, this can be a horror journey that’ll make you assume – nevertheless it’ll additionally make you squirm with gnarly creature designs and gory landscapes, too. It’s value noting that Soul Void touches on some heavy themes. 

You may try Soul Void on Itch.io – whereas it’s accessible to play in-browser free of charge, I’d strongly encourage you to help the creator with a paid obtain, as this can be a really mesmerizing recreation. 

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