Summary
TheSawfranchise is a pioneer in the film industry for escape-the-room survival horror. It’s somewhat divided in opinions due to later films in the series prioritizing gore over crafting a good story. However, the movies still have an incredible following of loyal fans to this day because of the overarching detective narrative, shocking plot twists, fantastic actors, andcreativity of the traps.
Not only has the franchise’s popularity spawned a staggering number of copycat movies, but there areseveral video games like theSawfranchisethat are either inspired by the series or have very similar elements. These could involve gripping detective plots, escape room puzzle mechanics, gory deaths, or all of the above.
For those who prefer the nuances of the surrounding mystery storyline rather than the gore,Murdered: Soul Suspectfollows detective Ronan O’Connor as he tries to solve his own murder after a run in with the Bell Killer. The setting of Salem in Massachussettsprovides a gloomy, gothic backdropthat sets the perfect atmosphere for the story. Whilst controlling Ronan, players can possess NPCs, hear their thoughts, or influence them to share more information about the case. In this title, players must help other spirits solve their own problems and hide from demons before they suck out Ronan’s soul.
TheSawfilms often have either a green or blue overlay, typically to evoke certain feelings in the viewer.Murdered: Soul Suspectalso features a blue hue throughout, signifying the coldness and isolation that Ronan feels, particularly due to supernatural themes often utilizing this color palette. This is to separate the spirit world from the warm and inviting vivid colors of the living world.
Save Fellow Captives And Solve The Mansion’s Mystery
Platforms
PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PC
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure, Horror
Waking up in a strange, unknown room, Alex Young must figure out why she has been captured and who is behind it all whilst also solving intricate puzzles. Not only must she save herself, but the lives of other captives are in her hands, too.The Tartarus Keyperfectly encapsulates a classic mystery setting wrapped up in modern PS1-style graphics and a thrilling narrative.
Throughout the mansion, Alex finds herself going to various rooms filled with clues and secrets to uncover, revealing tidbits of the story. Some areas house others who are stuck waiting in terrifying traps before needing to rely on Alex to help them out of their predicament. There are three endings that await the player,and they depend on the choices Alex makes. She can successfully save the trapped individual, or she can fail and let them die in a gruesome fashion.Saw 3fans may also note that one of the characters in the game wears an explosive collar, similar to the movie’s doctor Lynn Denlon.
Multiplayer fans will be familiar withDead by Daylight,a horror-themed asymmetrical gamewhere players can choose to step into the shoes of either a Survivor or Killer. Survivors can work as a team or abandon each other in their time of need. The Killer’s task is to catch the Survivors at their most vulnerable, utilizing various skill sets depending on the character.
Dead by Daylightfeatures a variety of licensed DLC, including famous horror franchises. One such DLC is ‘The Saw Chapter,’ and gamers can either play as the first movie’s detective David Tapp or become The Pig, replicating a costume that can be seen worn by Jigsaw’s apprentices throughout the series.
Quantic Dream’sHeavy Raincame along in 2010, and it has since produced one of the best memes within the gaming community. Players take on four different characters with their own personalities, stories, motives, and leads inthe case of the Origami Killer, who is nicknamed as such due to them leaving behind pieces of paper folded into different shapes. This is similar to Jigsaw cutting out pieces of his victims' flesh, alluding to his namesake.
The protagonists are tasked with finding clues to unravel the mystery while making tough decisions in the midst of preventing the killer from making their next move. The choice-based gameplay allows the player to control the narrative, even deciding if the protagonists die. The Origami Killer also sets tests for the main characters, giving them more pieces to the puzzle if they succeed.
The first game in one ofthe most popular visual novel thriller series of all time, sees the introduction of main hero Makoto Naegi as he looks forward to starting a new life at Hope’s Peak Academy. That is until he is suddenly trapped in the school with suspicious classmates and no escape. Friendships are soon tested as students get picked off one by one, resulting in a trial to dissect evidence and figure out who the murderer is. If they succeed, the culprit is executed in a stylish but gruesome way. All of this is under the gaze of an evil bear: Monokuma.
The core theme of hope versus despair could loosely relate to Jigsaw’s ideology that his subjects should appreciate what life has to offer, adding to the survival aspect. There is an abundance of plot twists, and most characters are not off-limits; this adds to the suspense that the game does incredibly well. Monokuma also keeps a close eye on his prisoners - much like Jigsaw does - and sometimes even intervenes when he doesn’t quite get what he wants. As a staple in the death game sub-genre, theDanganronpaseries is certainly not one to be missed.
From the creator of theResident Evilseries - Shinji Mikami - comesThe Evil Within, a third-person action survival horror. Players can dive into a gritty and mind-bending world as detective Sebastian Castellanos, who witnesses his fellow officers succumb to slaughter after investigating a crime scene. Sebastian gets knocked out and wakes up in an unknown yet grimy, blood-splattered room, finding himself evading grotesque monsters, lest he face a brutal death.
Players can choose to fight or flee these enemies as the world shape-shifts around the protagonist. They can upgrade Sebastian’s abilities through a skill tree, focusing on prioritizing health and stamina or tuning up weapons for extra power and accuracy. Sebastian can also disarm traps or use them to his advantage against enemies in the locations he traverses. The fear of the unknown is heightened inThe Evil Within.
Zero Escape: The Nonary Gamesis a beloved series and a primary example of the death game sub-genre. Its visual novel style of gameplay, combined with escape room puzzle mechanics, makes for an enthralling game with various twists and turns. Starting with999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, players step into the shoes of protagonist Junpei ashe wakes up on an unfamiliar shipwith eight other people.
All of them have bracelets with specifically assigned numbers, and adding them in various combinations allows them to find the digital root that equals the number on the door in front of them. Not all members can go through; therefore, this leads to arguments, negotiations, and potential backstabbing. If they attempt to brute force their way through the ship, they meet a grisly end.
Supermassive Games arewell-known for their choice-based games, particularly those involving horror themes.The Dark Picturesanthology sees standalone stories based on different sub-genres, including vampires, witches, ghosts, and lastly, a fictional portrayal of infamous serial killer H. H. Holmes in the finale of its first season. Rather than having a supernatural aspect,The Devil in Meinvolves a more realistic approach, taking inspiration from one of the most disturbing cases in history.
The story follows a documentary film crew that is anonymously invited to visit a replica of the ‘Murder Castle,‘a hotel built by the aforementioned serial killer. Throughout the game, players must use their fast-thinking skills to complete quick-time events, make life or death decisions, or risk certain grim fates for the group. The building consists of several unexpected traps, ranging from closing walls - separating the crew - to having two members pit against one another, with only the player’s decision allowing one to live.
Capcom started to lose their way withthe belovedResident Evilfranchise, but they completely renewed themselves withResident Evil 7: Biohazard. This game was unfamiliar territory for many fans, featuring a first-person perspective that hadn’t been utilized before, brand-new protagonist Ethan Winters, and a story that’s generally self-contained. It’s inspired by several well-loved horror franchises, such asThe Evil Dead,TheTexas Chain Saw Massacre, and of course,Saw.
Set in rural Louisiana, Ethan Winters is on a mission to find his wife, who has been missing for three years, but hadn’t planned on finding himself hostage to a family who are hell-bent on torturing him.The gritty and disgusting mold-infested environments, complete with vomit-inducing gore and the first-person perspective, really makes players want a shower every five minutes. However, the game’sBanned FootageDLC is where theSawinspiration really shines. There are several different types of DLC, including but not limited to Nightmare mode, which sees players killing waves of enemies, involving setting traps to dispose of them. Bedroom is an escape room puzzle, where camera operator Clancy Javis must survive the clutches of terrifying mother Marguerite, and 21 sees Clancy play a deadly game of blackjack against other unsuspecting captives, orchestrated by the psychotic son of the Baker family, Lucas.
Survival horror
Perhaps the most obvious choice of game that fans of theSawfranchise will enjoy is the franchise’s very own official adaptation:Saw. Its sequel,Flesh & Blood, is also a solid recommendation. Players will see the world through the eyes of protagonist Detective Tapp, who was a key figure in the firstSawmovie and was played by Danny Glover.
The gameplay consists of several anxiety-inducing factors, whether it’s helping Tappquickly escape his own traps, fending off other people, or deciding what weapons to wield. Players must search the environment (and even corpses) for clues. They will also have to think about which light source to use. Should they pick up a camera and only be able to see via the flashes, or should they use a lighter, gaining better visibility but being left more vulnerable to flammable sources in the environment?
