Good horror game for beginners?

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Steam Community > Topic Details

Skelly Man May 30, 2014 @ 9:33pm

Hi, I'm thinking of playing horror games, however I have absolutely no experience in the genre. I was thinking about getting Outlast or Amnesia a while back, but my friends IRL say that I definitely shouldn't get either if this is my first time playing the horror genre. So...what do you recommend? What should I start out with, and when could I start playing the more major stuff like Amnesia? Your opinions and suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks.

Last edited by Skelly Man; May 30, 2014 @ 9:34pm

< >

Showing 1-15 of 40 comments

Gus the Crocodile May 30, 2014 @ 9:47pm

The point of a horror game is to scare you. So I don't really see the point of worrying about some "beginner->expert" progression. If the idea is to "get better" at not being scared, then what you're actually doing is making the games less effective. May as well play a different genre if your goal is to end up not getting scared.

So I say go ahead and play Amnesia. When I first played it I got about half an hour in and gave up for a year or so. Came back, got a few more hours in and gave up again. I didn't get to any of the really horrible end bits, and I still got my money's worth, it was a wonderful experience. Regardless of whether you wimp out like I did, my point is: if at any point you feel like you don't want to continue, don't look at that as a failure, because it's not. It's a success, in the sense of being really invested into the game world.

HLCinSC May 30, 2014 @ 11:04pm

It doesn'y matter where you start. Horror games typically use a lot of jump scares and the more you play horro games the less likely to scare you so start with whatever one you think you might like the best.

Donitsi May 30, 2014 @ 11:46pm

Start with Outlast like I did. I haven't been myself after that.

Ineffable Anathema May 31, 2014 @ 1:14am

If you're not dead determined to do PC only games, then do this:

>Get a PS2.
>Get a copy of Silent Hill
>Get a copy of the original Resident Evil.

If you find you like those two, then get Silent Hill 2 and Fatal Frame 1, then Fatal Frame 2 and Siren. PS2 has some of the absolute best horror games on it.

If you're determined to stick with PC only, then do this:

>Buy Darkfall: The Journal. This is a relatively mild point and click adventure that has great atmosphere but probably won't make you mess your pants the way Amnesia will. It's a good first horror title IMHO.

>Scratches: Director's cut is another really creepy adventure game.

>If you don't dig point and clicks, try Dead Space or System Shock 2.

>If you'd like to try them without spending money, there are loads of free horror games on the internet, such as any number of Slender/Slenderman titles, Which, Ascension, One Late Night, I'm Scared, etc. There are also a number of demos for various horror titles both on and off of Steam, such as Among The Sleep, Dreadout, Corrosion and Lone Survivor.

StickyPawz May 31, 2014 @ 5:41am

As mentioned, Scratches: Director's Cut is very engaging for a point-&-click adventure game.

I suggest you try and grab the Penumbra series (Overture and Black Plague) during the steam summer sales event!

Last edited by StickyPawz; May 31, 2014 @ 5:43am

Ineffable Anathema Jun 1, 2014 @ 4:11am

Penumbra series is amazing, but it's scary as hell. I wouldn't recommend it for someone who's unfamilair with creepy games as it might scare them away from them permanently. ;)

Awesome plot, though. I do love Frictional.

Palec_V_Pope_2016 Jun 1, 2014 @ 4:13am

Just get Amnesia, it's pretty damn scary. Outlast is just an annoying and forgetable experience at best.

StickyPawz Jun 1, 2014 @ 4:20am

… I have faith that ma573r_sw0rd will keep up with the rest of us when fleeing in terror.

(My first horror game was Silent Hill 2)

Papabuh Jun 1, 2014 @ 4:20am

just start with Slender, its simple, free and the first time very scary, until you know, how it works

Ineffable Anathema Jun 1, 2014 @ 4:55am

Originally posted by Mittenz:
… I have faith that ma573r_sw0rd will keep up with the rest of us when fleeing in terror.

(My first horror game was Silent Hill 2)

Hahahha what a game to start with. Still one of the best.

Originally posted by Papabuh:
just start with Slender, its simple, free and the first time very scary, until you know, how it works

Slender (the original Slender) is about as scary as one of those Slim Jim commercials.

Last edited by Ineffable Anathema; Jun 1, 2014 @ 4:55am

#10

Hoe Magnet Jun 1, 2014 @ 6:14am

Silent Hill 2

#11

HLCinSC Jun 1, 2014 @ 8:41am

One I am keeping my eye on is The Forest. It's in early access now so I'll wait but the videos for it seem awesome. Also, a fair number of users are stating really positive remarks even though it is really early in the development process.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/242760/

#12

Joker Jun 1, 2014 @ 12:28pm

I would say get Outlast first. It's not that difficult to play and a good game. Other games like Amnesia, Penumbra and Silent Hill are more difficult.

#13

Skelly Man Jun 1, 2014 @ 7:02pm

All your suggestions are great, and I will look into all of these. @I AM SHODAN!, I do have a PS2, with an old copy of Manhunt (I have played that, don't think of it as a horror game), so i will hunt around for something. @HLCinSC, I've also heard of 'The Forest' and watched the gameplay trailer for it when the developers first released it. Perhaps that's an option too. Again, thank you all for your opinions, you can continue to post to this thread if you like and if you want to add to the list. Thanks