Summary
Horrorgaming has carved out a major niche for itself, with players loving these immersive experiences where they must explore nightmarish environments and take on horrifying monsters. Whilebig-budget modern horror gamesare effective for obvious reasons,2D horror gamesdeserve their time in the spotlight too.
Some ofthe best 2D horror gamesare a joy to play through, as players are exposed to unique gameplay loops and terrifying moments, all delivered through simple, retro, or stylized visuals. They will either uncover an amazing story in these games, face off against a particularly tough foe, or try to survive at any cost; and sometimes, they’ll do all of the above.
Players who want to enjoya reverse horror game will loveCarrionand its unique take on the Metroidvania genre. Players control a monster who slinks in the shadows and devours its prey one by one as this monstrosity scares mere humans out of their wits.
It helps that the game is challenging and compels players to implement hit-and-run tactics instead of exposing themselves to enemy fire for too long. It makes every encounter feel like a horror movie, and adds to the satisfying feeling players will enjoy when they clear a room and snack on all their enemies before moving on.
World of Horrorboasts one of the most striking and memorable art styles that players will ever encounter, and they’ll likely remember it long after they’re finished with a run or two of this title. It’s impressive that the artwork is so haunting even though it was made entirely in MS Paint.
Fans of Junji Itowill loveWorld of Horrorand its homage to the talented mangaka. The game consists of bite-sized horror investigations delivered in a roguelite style, meaning players will restart from the beginning each time they fail. Every investigation exposes players to a horrifying monster or a cosmic threat that must be taken out either directly in combat or via a ritual.
Players who want to enjoy a 2D horror game that channels the spirit of retro gaming in new and ingenious ways will loveFaith: The Unholy Trinity. It’s impressive how a game with such rudimentary visuals can be infinitely more horrifying than a lazy jumpscare fest that uses shock value to carry a threadbare experience.
Every action players takeadds to the tension inFaith: The Unholy Trinity, with something as simple as a pause screen being used to scare players when the situation fits. It’s a great example of how innovative indie gaming is, implementing new ideas in the horror genre that can only be appreciated within the medium of video games.
One of the scariest and most unique visual novels players can check out,Slay the Princessis a game that slowly envelops players in its embrace before exposing them to its true horrors. Instead of playing as a knight trying to save the princess, the princess here is a horrifying monster, and players must kill this eldritch being before it can be freed and destroy the entire world.
Thehaunting voice acting and excellent narrative ofSlay the Princessmake it worth checking out for fans of offbeat horror games. It can catch players unawares with its plot twists, which is something that only the best horror games have mastered.
For a game that utilizes a 2D top-down perspective, it’s impressive just how scaryDarkwoodis. The limited vision cone makes it easy for enemies to get the drop on players if they aren’t diligent about checking every cornerduring the day, and when night comes, the experience becomes truly harrowing.
After scavenging for resources in the semi-open world, players must prepare for the night and the horrors that ensue, and do their best to survive until sunrise. The incredible audio direction makes these moments stand out even more, with the game’s cosmic horror slowly revealing itself to players as they struggle to survive at the end of every day.
For a game that relies on a lot of text and slow exploration moments, it’s amazing to experience just how immersiveSunless Skiesis. It’s a massive improvement over its predecessor,Sunless Sea,and can keep fans busy for hundreds of hours if they want to complete every end goal at least once.
Thankfully, the variety of areas in the game coupled with some engaging combat ensures that players will have a great time exploring the desolate skies and trying to avoid the many horrors that among the clouds. The game’s permadeath can be quite frustrating, but players can always save prudently to undo any of their mistakes if need be.
The minimalist aesthetic ofLimboensures that players will be focused only on the immersive platforming and puzzle-solving as they explore the game’s hostile world. Searching for the young boy’s sister is easier said than done, especially with players facing many dangers on their journey that can lead to a violent end.
Despite the lack of color and its 2D art style, it’s impressive to see just how effective the horror ofLimbois. Players will naturally want to save the child at all costs, and they’ll wince every single time the boy they control meets a grisly end because of an error they made.
OMORIis one of the most compelling role-playing games players can get their hands on. The charming art style of this game hides something sinister beneath the surface, as players slowly uncover the trauma plaguing a young boy named Sunny.
Eventually, the game’s psychological horror trappings wrap their claws around players, who will be drawn toward the memorable story and won’t see the horror coming their way. Reaching the ending is a harrowing experience, but players are rewarded with an emotional climax that wraps up the compelling story, which deals with themes of guilt, moving on, and trauma.
