# Looking for SCARY computer games **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930 "2004-10-29T21:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/1 "2004-10-29T21:58:34Z")
I’m looking for very atmospheric, spooky games that don’t have a lot of bloodshed. I want to play it on Halloween, and I want it to be so spooky I will have to play with the lights on and won’t be able to sleep that night! So far I’ve thought of: Silent Hill 3, Dark Fall and System Shock. I once played a game that I forget the name of but it was REALLY COOL. You got this device that you took from room to room and it would go off when there was ghostly activity. Then you got to watch some seriously spooky stuff! It made my hair stand on end but I don’t remember what it’s called. If someone could help me with that I’d be grateful. I think the horror/atmospheric genre is really nifty when applied to puzzle and adventure gaming. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/2 "2004-10-29T22:11:33Z")
It’s not as snazzy as Silent Hill, but I fucking **loved** [Sanitarium](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00001X5CG/qid=1099088144/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-1756051-7806334?v=glance&s=software&n=507846) when it first came out. From the Gamespot review: > [@](#): > > Struggling with inner demons, wrestling with soul-wrenching torment, battling to regain even a slippery grip on reality - doesn’t exactly sound like the makings of a good time, does it? All the more reason to marvel at Sanitarium, Dreamforge Intertainment’s wholly original and gripping adventure game, for these are the very keystones upon which this game is built. Simultaneously breathing hearty lungfuls of life into the tired adventure genre as well as the wheezy “you are an amnesia victim” premise, Sanitarium is the best non-comic adventure I’ve played since Realms of the Haunting. Man, I think I’m going to find my copy and fire it up for Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/3 "2004-10-29T23:32:25Z")
System Shock 2 is, has always been, and will always be the scariest computer game ever. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/4 "2004-10-30T00:08:51Z")
resident evil is pretty creepazoid ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/5 "2004-10-30T00:10:42Z")
[Phantasmagoria](http://sierraplanet.com/phantas/) scared the crap out of me. And I only _watched_ it being played. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/6 "2004-10-30T00:32:49Z")
System Shock 2 Either of the AVP Computer games(The first one is very scary, but the 2nd one isn’t exactly walk through candyland). Certain levels of Thief are pretty damn creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/7 "2004-10-30T00:44:35Z")
Polybius! It’s so scary, you don’t even remember playing it–and you get nightmares afterwards, and the men in black come to take you away! [Yeah, yeah, I know.](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/roundup.asp) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Severian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/8 "2004-10-30T00:51:15Z")
[GameSpy](http://www.gamespy.com) just did a top 10 on this. It’s [here](http://www.gamespy.com/articles/561/561382p1.html?fromint=1). ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/9 "2004-10-30T00:55:34Z")
The only game that actually scared me was _Alone in the Dark_ way back in the day. It was based on the HP Lovecraft stories and had an excellent, creepy feel to it as you wandered around in this deserted mansion. Probably horribly dated by now, though ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/10 "2004-10-30T03:05:22Z")
I’m a big fan of horror gaming- to me, games are maybe the best medium for horror. Here are a few picks: **Shivers 1 and 2** - adventure games released by Sierra in the mid 90’s. The enemies are a bit cartoony, but the atmosphere and soundtrack can really start to get to you. Just be sure play for extended sessions so that you’re able to get immersed- otherwise it probably won’t be particularly scary. **Sanitarium** was mentioned earlier- and while it’s definitely a fun game, don’t expect to be scared. The game cracks alot of jokes. But still, it’s a great game. **Dark Eye** - this one’s abannonware, so don’t expect to find it in stores, but it can be found fairly easily elsewhere. The gameplay is rather subpar- but the atmosphere is wonderful. Very distinctive style The **Silent Hill** and **Fatal Frame** games are fantastic and very creepy, but for the most part they’re console only. **Nocturne** - good atmosphere with a nice use of shadows. Should creep you out a little. You may find the gameplay frustrating though. **Shadow of Destiny** - kinda like Silent Hill but more “Twilight Zone-ish” than scary per-se ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/11 "2004-10-30T03:48:57Z")
> [@Israfel](#): > > **Dark Eye** - this one’s abannonware, so don’t expect to find it in stores, but it can be found fairly easily elsewhere. The gameplay is rather subpar- but the atmosphere is wonderful. Very distinctive style I had forgotten this, and I played it a couple months back. The whole tooth episode creeped me out when I played it from the brother’s POV. Good thing I didn’t read the story first, which makes it lose some of it’s impact because Poe explains what is happening. The First Gaberial Knight game is quite creepy, particulary that guy who keeps a watch on the shop. He actually gave me nightmares after playing the game for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/12 "2004-10-30T03:52:29Z")
Are any of these available for online purchase and download, or do I actually have to leave the house to get them? ---
**Author:** ![Skott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/13 "2004-10-30T04:08:58Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > The only game that actually scared me was _Alone in the Dark_ way back in the day. It was based on the HP Lovecraft stories and had an excellent, creepy feel to it as you wandered around in this deserted mansion. > > Probably horribly dated by now, though ☹ Horribly dated doesn’t necessarily mean “not good” though. I thought it was an excellent scary game. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/14 "2004-10-30T04:09:38Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Are any of these available for online purchase and download, or do I actually have to leave the house to get them? Well, you can buy many of these online and have them shipped to you. And the Dark Eye is downloadable…but it’s also a CD-RIP so I hope you have broadband. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/15 "2004-10-30T04:19:57Z")
Does anyone know where I could find Alone in the Dark? I’ve heard so much about this game but it doesn’t seem to be for sale or available for download. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/16 "2004-10-30T04:32:28Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > And the Dark Eye is downloadable…but it’s also a CD-RIP so I hope you have broadband. I do, I do, I do! Where should I start looking? ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/17 "2004-10-30T04:48:06Z")
I’m not exactly sure if talking about downloading abandonware is allowed on the site, but googling “dark eye” will give you what you want on the last item on the first page of search results. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/18 "2004-10-30T04:49:48Z")
Another vote for System Shock 2. Besides being the scariest game I’ve ever played, it’s also one of the best gameplay-wise. It blows games like Resident Evil out of the water in both respects. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/19 "2004-10-30T04:55:36Z")
SS2 really pissed me off. I came close to beating it, and then my computer ran out of disk space and my save file became corrupted! AAARGH! ---
**Author:** ![lukaspriest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5a626/32.png) [@lukaspriest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lukaspriest)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930/20 "2004-10-30T05:27:41Z")
You simply must get Clive Barker’s Undying. it is absolutely chilling. The first part of the game has you wandering around this huge forboding mansion, dark and eerie as hell. You’ll walk into a room and use a special ability and end up seeing and hearing deranged shit (like bloodstained beds and children crying), ghostly appearances happen all over the place, and the sound effects are just unreal. This game blew me away, it has tight controls, cool weapons and spells, satisfying length, and enough scares to give you a complex. Go buy this game and wet yourself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-scary-computer-games/271930.md?page=2)