It’s October, and you want to be festive. You’ve hung some Halloween decorations: black cats, ghosts that flutter in the tree branches, and carved pumpkins. You may have already listed to Michael Jackson’s Thriller or the Ghostbuster‘s theme song a few times already while picking out candy for trick-or-treaters (or for yourself). Even more so, people like to gather the courage to watch spooky movies, read terrifying tales, or play horror video games because…tis the season!

But what if you’re a big chicken like me? I love Halloween, but I’m very easily scared. Maybe it’s because I watched Chucky, Alien, and Killer Clowns from Outer Space a little too young, or maybe I’m truly just a scaredy-cat. If you’re like me, have no fear! There are some “scary” video games that keep in theme with the month but are a lot more digestible for those who are faint of heart like myself. Here is a LIST of great games that deliver some form of horror experience that are much less likely to leave you with crippling nightmares. (Note: The list is in no particular order)

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1. Whisper Mountain Outbreak

• Platforms: Steam
• Key words: co-op, isometric, pixel-art, zombies, curses

If you don’t want to play alone, Whisper Mountain Outbreak is a wonderful option to get into “spooky month”. Available as Early Access on Steam, only one person needs to own the game, while friends can leverage the free Friend’s Pass. You can play solo, but it’s recommended as a co-op with a total of 4 players. You plan and play through several levels to retrieve vital information, collect resources, survive, and eventually escape. There are mild puzzle solving required too, so it’s almost like a Resident Evil-lite. Moreover, there’s lots of interesting lore to be had. Whisper Mountain Outbreak is creepy and can get your heart rate going. If I survived and returned for seconds, I know you may too. Check out my review if you want to know more about the experience.

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2. Choo-Choo Charles

• Platforms:  Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5
• Key words: first person, open-world, action,

Coming up with key words was challenging as I didn’t think “Spider Clown Train” really counts as a key word. Everything about the premise seems absolutely terrifying yet so…ridiculous, and it is. You ride in your own little train on an island where Charles, a sentient train with spider legs and clown face will occasionally chase after you and try to eat you. Its face is horrifying, but that’s where it stops. The story gets quite silly, and I got a kick out of how silly Choo-Choo Charles was. It is that silliness, that ridiculousness that allows me to play this horror title and still rest easy. Oh, and make sure you find the pickle lady! Check out my thoughts in detail in my review!

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3. Sorry We’re Closed

• Platforms:   Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5
• Key words: single-player, nostalgic, stylized

Sorry We’re Closed brings you horror through its level and game design, and yet, it also has so much else going for it that makes the scares easier to swallow. You play as Michelle (a badass with blue hair and a hot pink coat), who recently went through a devastating breakup with her partner. If things weren’t tough enough, a demon has gravitated toward her loneliness and makes her an offer in the form of a curse. The game is part socializing and exploring, and the other part is delving into some decrepit area to find ways to rid yourself of the curse. So, while it gives off old school Silent Hill or Resident Evil vibes, you also have fresh and snappy writing and memorable characters. Check out my review if you want to know more about the experience.

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4. Amanda the Adventurer / Amanda the Adventurer 2

• Platforms: Steam
• Key words: first-person, puzzle, VHS

If you grew up in the 90s, there’s just something off about bringing VHS tapes into the gaming experience. This series (with a 3rd installment due soon), focuses on viewing and interacting with VHS tapes of a children’s show called Amanda the Adventurer. However, as you watch and play along, you start feeling that something is just not quite right. Is the being within the tape sentient? What is Amanda’s sidekick, Wooly, trying to warn us against? It’s an interesting means to immerse you, and while the scares are not in-your-face, it delivers it by giving you that uneasy feeling at the put of your stomach.

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5. SOMA

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4
• Key words: first-person, “walking sim”, stealth, existential crisis

If you are a huge scaredy cat like myself, I recommend SOMA…on Safe Mode. SOMA’s themes are impressive and intriguing that it is worth traversing the terrors that populate PATHOS-II, and on Safe Mode, the monsters can’t kill you, so you can focus on the story, which you can glean from both the environment as well as the audio logs. While still plenty scary, it’s much more palatable for wary gamers than the developer’s other games such as, oh, you know, the Amnesia series.

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6. Slay the Princess

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5
• Key words: visual novel, point-and-click, hand-drawn, choices matter

If you want a less intense experience, but you still wanna be a tad spooked, Slay the Princess may be your jam. It’s a visual novel made of hand-drawn artwork, and you, the protagonist must…slay a Princess? Or else it’ll be the end of the world. The premise itself goes against any fairy tale we’ve grown up hearing, and you can choose from a variety of options to see what path you’ll take. Don’t let the Princess’ demure look fool you…If this title interests you, you’re welcome to check out a deeper dive in my review.

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7. Resident Evil 4 (2023)

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 4 & 5, PSVR 2, iOS
• Key words: action, third-person, camp, cinematic

Out of all the Resident Evil games in the franchise, I attest to the fact that the fourth mainline installment is the most digestible for weenies like me. However, by no means is it a sub-par experience. You play as an incredibly skilled agent, Leon Kennedy, that scoffs in the face of danger and makes cheesy one-liners. He even has a mean roundhouse kick. Playing as a character of that attitude can greatly lighten an otherwise frightening scenario. Even then, the obstacles put forth in the game are generally less scary than Resident Evil 2, 3, and 7, for example. Well, except for the Iron Maidens. Watch out for them. I personally recommend the remake at this point from both an availability and cinematic standpoint, although I hear the original is still outstanding.

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8. Gori: Cuddly Carnage

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5
• Key words: cat, hack and slash, gory

This is another title that technically does not live in the horror genre, but again, if you’re looking for something to get you into the spooky spirit, Gori: Cuddly Carnage can still get you there. In Gori, you play as a synthetic and sentient toy cat that, with a talkative hoverboard, you must fight back against the Adorable Army, one that has destroyed all of humanity. It has so more gore, that it was initially banned in Japan until the developer created a mode that changed blood into “purple toy juice”. The post-apocalyptic setting and gore is sufficient enough to count as “horror-adjacent”, especially when you check out the enemy designs… Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a chaotic, fast-paced, level-based game that is a lot of fun and will get you into the Halloween spirit in no time!

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9. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice / Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5 (Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II only available on PC, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5)
• Key words: third-person, action-adventure, cinematic, psychological horror

If you’re more interested in a psychological horror type experience but not ready for any Silent Hill games, why don’t you try Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice? It’s not classified as a horror game per say like Gori: Cuddly Carnage, but there are dark fantasy and terrifying elements that I think could pass for Spoopy Games Month. You play a female protagonist named Senua in this Celtic and Norse-inspired land. She must fight her way to and past the goddess Hela to bring back her deceased lover. However, the trials are challenging, and Senua constantly hears voices in her head. Boss Rush Network did a spoilercast on Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Give it a listen after you beat the game!

The sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is an excellent sequel, too.

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10. Alan Wake / Alan Wake 2

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5 (Alan Wake: II only available on PC, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5)
• Key words: Third person, action, thriller

Alan Wake is an action-adventure game with horror elements, while its sequel Alan Wake 2 falls more in-line with the survival horror experience. Both involve—in some form—the titular writer, Alan Wake. Despite his fame, he is sucked into a world of darkness, and the light is his only salvation. I personally felt Alan Wake 2 is the better of the two, and I don’t think you need to play the first game to enjoy the sequel.

Alan Wake 2 has mild jump scares, but they are minimal, and the horror is primarily in the atmosphere and tone. The game breaks it up with great cinematics and even a musical number.

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Honorable Mention: CARIMARA: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs

• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Key words: First person, eerie, puzzle, story rich

Frankly, it sits in honorable mention only because I completed the game after this list was made. This quick jaunt through an eerie tale where you use cards to uncover a morbid mystery because you can’t talk! There are lots of details and witty dialogue to keep your interest long after credits roll. Oh, and it’s only $5 USD! Support this developer!

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I hope you enjoyed this list and found something to play. If there are any other horror “lite” games you want to recommend, please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

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Featured Image Source: GameSpot