Summary
Settings are an important factor game developers need to consider when working on a title, as this can have a huge impact on the tone that is conveyed. A bright, colorful world will inject whimsy and wonder, while dingy, dark buildings instill dread and terror. That’s why it is vital that studios working on horror games nail the location, as it is a key ingredient for the atmosphere.
Dilapidated buildings such as medical institutes, science laboratories, or even outdoor locations all serve as great settings for horror experiences, as they can deliver terror with the ambiance and lack of light. Even more unsuspected buildings, however, can also be used to deliver an effective horror experience if used well, including mansions. The large layout and expansive rooms can hold all sorts of untold terror and have players dreading opening the next door.
7Withering Rooms
Each Playthrough Provides Unique Exploration
Released in April 2024, this game might have flown under the radar of horror fans, who should definitely right this wrong and give this game a chance. Combining elements ofhorror and action roguelikegameplay in 2.5D graphics, players explore an abandoned, gothic Victorian mansion riddled with ghosts, undead, and all manner of other terrifying abominations.
What setsWithering Roomsapart from other mansion-based horror games is it makes this setting more unique by having it procedurally generated, completely refreshing the layout and locations of objects players might need. This adds a new challenging edge that can cause edge-of-the-seat anxiety, making each encounter with monsters all the more tense. Those brave enough should step inside the Mostyn House, and see if they have what it takes to overcome the horror.
The minds of artists are hard to comprehend, as they can pull images from their minds and apply them straight to their chosen medium. When they create disturbing or eerie pieces, it does cause people to wonder what exactly they have experienced in their lives to allow them to conjure such images.The unnamedpainter inLayers of Fearhas endured his fair share of trauma, and this has only spurred him to finish his magnum opus.
Returning to his old and abandoned mansion, the painter explores the old ruined rooms of what must have once been a beautiful home, and the more he explores and comes closer to finishing his work, the more the mansion changes in a truly horrifying fashion, plaguing the painter with terrifying hallucinations.
There has been a slew of games over the past years that trace their inspiration back to famed horror titles such asResident Evil,Silent Hill, orAlone in the Dark, butTormented Soulsis the most recent one that has left a lasting impression on the horror community. The fixed camera angles, the need to backtrack to complete puzzles, inventory management, and an implemented tank control scheme, even if it is optional, all harken back to the old-school days of survival horror.
Set in a labyrinthian mansion, the main character Caroline Walker explores the twisting hallways and numerous rooms to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of two twin sisters. In true survival horror game fashion, the main character mustcontend with dangerous creaturesand are confronted with a shocking twist.
The firstAlone in the Darktitle kick-started a series that would have some troubled follow-ups that never quite captured what made the first game in the series so captivating. In this classic title, players choose to explore the mansion either as Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood, solving puzzles and banishing the ghosts or other supernatural threats that haunt this Louisiana residence.
Inspired by the works of HP Lovecraftand Dario Argento, the game and the mansion are both dripping in supernatural mystery and intrigue. Though the game is aged, those who can look past the retro graphics can expect to enjoy a thrilling, haunted ride.
The ghost-busting video game seriesFatal Framesees a different protagonist, usually a young woman, fighting off vengeful, restless spirits with the Camera Obscura, an old-school camera with the supernatural ability to exorcise ghosts or derive clues for the less hostile undead.
In the first game, Miku Hinasaki travels to the Himuro mansion in search of her brother Mafuyu, who disappeared in search of his mentor Junsei Takamine. This mansion will serve as the setting for the entire game, and exploring this labyrinthian building is no small feat. The confusing layout andterrifying ghostsstill stalking the hallways can stall players exploration. If they are not careful, Miku and Mafuyu could be the two next victims to fall in Himuro Mansion.
Escaping the Barrows Mansion is No Small Feat with the Scissorman at Large
Clock Tower
Experience Scissorman’s deadly shears at their raw, unedited best in this terrifying horror adventure. Feel the fear as you search for the most horrific serial killer known to man.
Clock Toweris one of the earliest and greatest survival horror games that had ahuge influence on the genre. And withClock Tower Rewindbringing the title to modern hardware, now avid fans of the genre can experience one of its defining titles.
The debut of the iconic Scissorman pits him against Jennifer, who is adopted by the Barrows family and taken to their mansion. With a dangerous and deranged villain on the loose, the player needs to guide her safely through the mansion via a point-and-click interface. Whenever the Scissorman makes his dreaded return, Jennifer enters into a panic, which can cause her to trip when fleeing to safety if her health is too low. Caution and care are a must when navigating the Barrow’s mansion if the player has any hope of making it out alive.
The Sprawling Spencer Mansion Hides Its Fair Share of Secrets
Resident Evil
A series of gory attacks in the area surrounding a remote biotech lab brings in S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Squad) to investigate. On arrival, Bravo Team communications are abruptly cut off. Now it’s up to your team.You arrive at the isolated mansion under-powered and on the run. Arm yourself with anything you can find: knives, pistols, shotguns, flame-throwers - search for hidden rounds to stay alive!There are puzzles to solve, traps to disarm and mysteries to uncover while trying to avoid a blood-bath with the freaks of nature that populate the mansion. Each lurking horror you survive will bring you closer to the source of the Resident Evil.
The firstResident Evilgame kicked off thelong-lasting survival horrorfranchise by continually bringing new and exciting releases, or re-releasing older titles with a fresh coat of paint and streamlined controls. But no matter how much the series has progressed and changed, fans fondly remember when they first entered the survival horror.
While investigating a string of murders that occurred on the outskirts of Raccoon City, Alpha Team is forced to seek refuge in a seemingly abandoned mansion from a pack of rabid zombie-like wolves. The Spencer mansion is anything but abandoned, as it houses an entire army’s worth of zombies as well as other creatures, such as giant spiders, snakes, and Lisa Trevor. The mansion serves as an excellent location, with a confusing maze of rooms with as many puzzles as there are creatures to fight. It strikes the perfect balance between luxury and terror.
