Mandatory Fear – The Dreadful Whipping of Castlevania
The delayed strike of Castlevania's whip may seem aggravating, but it turns out to be vital in creating fear in this early horror title.
Mandatory Fear – The Devilish Mechanics of Sweet Home
Through several ingenious mechanics working together, Sweet Home makes for a tense RPG experience and a vital early entry in horror gaming.
Nightmare On Elm Street – The Joy of Punching Your Fears
A Nightmare on Elm St shows us that, sometimes, the best way to face down our fears is to just punch them right in the mouth.
Tones of Dread – How Metroid’s Music Inspires Fear & Loneliness
Metroid may not seem like a horror game, but its eerie, unsettling music creates an atmosphere of fear like few games of its time.
Bloody Gems – How The Uninvited Sows Uncertainty in Adventure Fans
Collecting items is the lifeblood of adventure games, but The Uninvited finds a clever way to use this against players to spread uncertainty and fear.
Frightening Chaos – The Terrifying Unpredictability of Clock Tower
Predictability is the enemy of fear, but Clock Tower shows how a little randomization and chaos can keep players unsettled every time they play.
LJN’s Friday the 13th & The Powerful Tension of Permanent Death
Need a Friday the 13th fix while the legal battles wage on? The NES entry offers some varied, incredible tension that's impressive for a game of its time.
Monster Party – An NES Vision of the Finale of Cabin in the Woods
Monster Party is nonstop lineup of bloody, sickening, and ridiculous bosses, making for endless horror surprises as you fight your way through it.
Contra 4 Creates Terror Through Two Clever Mechanics
A pair of special mechanics, when combined with the relentless challenge of Contra 4, turn the run n' gun experience into something terrifying.
Shadow Hearts Brings a Horror Vibe to Turn-Based Combat
Shadow Hearts adds a little fear to its battles through some clever systems, using risk to make every encounter feel tense.