Horror in video gameshas been there since the good old Nintendo days. Some examples areClock Tower, Nosferatu, Ghoul Patrol,andZombies Ate My Neighbors.However, modern-day games have taken the genre to a whole new level. Hence, horror games nowadays are divided into sub-genres such as survival based, action-oriented, jump scare fest, reverse scare, and most importantly,Giallo horror.
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The term"Giallo" comes from old mystery and crime thriller novels, usually known for their cheap paper & printing. However, the modern-day definition of the word means a horror-theme piece of media that has elements of mystery infused with crime fiction, thriller, slasher, supernatural, and psychological horror elements. Let’s look at the best games from the popular horror genre.
13The Sinking City
The Sinking Cityis an ambitious indie horror game from Frogwares, the developer team known for their amazing Sherlock Holmes titles. Hence, it takes a lot of inspiration from other detective-based games and the horror fiction work of author H. P. Lovecraft.
The game follows the journey of a private investigator Charles Reed, as he explores the sunken city of Oakmont, Massachusetts, in the 1920s. Thegame has survival horror and mystery elements, which makes it a great Giallo horror title.
12Amnesia Series
Amnesia: The Dark Descentwas one of the first few titleswhen horror games became popular on YouTube. Since then, the game has become a series of titles such asAmnesia: A Machine for Pigsand Amnesia: Rebirth.
Most players know the games for their slow-paced gameplay, in addition to puzzle solving, exploration, and dark storylines. The events in theAmnesiagames take place between 1837-1937, making them a great fit for the Giallo horror genre.
11Outlast Series
When the originalOutlastgame came out, it becamean instant hit among horror genre fans. The reason was simple. It had all the great elements of Giallo horror, such as the main character being an investigative journalist, gameplay driven by mystery, and a story full of psychotic enemies.
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Since the first game,Outlasthas become a series and now has multiple games in it. These titles include,Whistleblower, Outlast 2, and The Outlast Trials. According to the developer Red Barrels, the third main game in the series is also in development.
10Bioshock Infinite
While not strictly scary,BioShock Infinitetakes inspiration from the Giallo horror genrein the best way. The game starts as players assume control of Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton National Detective Agency agent. Booker is assigned to figure out a way into the mysterious city of Colombia and retrieve a girl named Elizabeth.
BioShock Infinite’s entire story is full of twists and turns, with great mystery and terrifying moments across the game. It’s a must-play for anyone who wants to enjoy a good game without worrying about jump scares.
9Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonitionis a 2010 Giallo horror game that mixes the elements of survival and mystery solving in an open-world environment. The game takes place in a unique world split between good and evil, as the main protagonist Francis York Morgan investigates a murder.
During the story, players will come across mind-blowing revelations as they dig deeper into the case and research to find more clues. Deadly Premonition is full of great characters that players will remember for a long time after their playthrough.
8BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea
While the originalBioshockis a great sci-fi horror shooter game, the Burial at Sea parts 1 and 2take the cake at being terrific Giallo horror titles.BioShock Infinite: Burial at Seaconsists of everything that made the original game horrifying, from the underwater setting to the eerie environments.
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However, it kicks it up with a better story-driven narrative and lots of mystery solving. The game is a two-part single-player expansion but works more or less like a standalone title.
7Condemned: Criminal Origins
Before games likeResident Evil 7& Resident Evil Villageembraced thefirst-person horror-survival gameplay, there wasCondemned: Criminal Originsthat paved the path for possibilities. The 2006 survival horror game is from the guys who made the popularMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorandMiddle-earth: Shadow of War.
Hence, players can expect an innovative gameplay design, even though the game is almost 15 years old. The game’s main story features Ethan Thomas, a crime scene investigator who has to catch Serial Killer X.
6Until Dawn
Until Dawnis a PlayStation 4 exclusive title that came out in 2015. It is an interactivedrama with horror, mystery, and investigation elements. The game takes place on Blackwood Mountain, as many young adults attempt to survive till dawn. The gameplay involves finding clues and items as the story gets more and more terrifying.
There are over ten chapters with a hundred endings in the game, which makes it an extremely replayable horror title. The only downside to the game is that it isn’t available on other platforms such as Windows, Xbox, or Switch.
5Observer
TheObserveris the definition of Giallo horror done right. It’s a science fiction title that heavily relies on psychological horror and investigative gameplay. The game takes place in 2084 amid a digital plague pandemic, where the main character, detective Daniel Lazarski is trying to find his estranged son Adam.
The gameplay details, claustrophobic environments, and dozens of interesting dialogue makeObservera unique horror game that is a must-play for the fans of the horrorgame genre.
4The Evil Within Series
The Evil Withingames have players divided, as some of them think they’re bad while others believe they are a masterpiece. However, no matter what the reviews say about the game, nothing can change the fact thatThe Evil Withinis a great Giallo horror title.
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The whole game takes place within the mind of the main character Detective Sergeant Sebastian Castellanos, who’s figuring out the case of a mass murder at Beacon Mental Hospital. However, things become extremely complicated when the players fall into the STEM world, where evil persists.
