Suppose the spine-tingling, otherworldly experience of playing Bloober Team’s The Medium left you hungry for more. In that case, plenty of classic horror games will satisfy your ghastly gaming appetite. Just like The Medium, these games offer an eerie atmospheric setting and nerve-racking suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
From the haunting theme of Clock Tower to the chilling narrative of Silent Hill, these ten fascinating horror games will send shivers down your spine while offering the intriguing gameplay you love. So, prepare to flick the lights off, tune up the sound, and immerse yourself in these games’ horrific yet captivating worlds if you dare.
The Medium
Overview of the game
If you are a fan of horror games, you may have already heard about “The Medium.” This recently released psychological horror game can switch between two worlds, the real world and the spirit realm.
The game is known for its blend of mystery and intrigue and contains a fair share of jump scares. There are enough twists and turns to pique your interest for a possible sequel.
Medium’s Unique Gameplay Features
“The Medium” offers a unique game mechanic rarely seen in other horror games. As the protagonist, you can toggle between the corporeal and spirit realms. The intricate puzzles are often set in both realms, challenging you to switch between them to unravel the clues.
The game combines this inter-dimensional puzzle-solving with a chilling narrative, creating a deeply immersive horror experience.
The Development & Release of The Medium
The Medium was developed by Bloober Team and released in January 2021 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It quickly captured the attention of horror fans and gathered a substantial following.
Its unique blend of psychological horror and interactive gameplay raised the bar for horror games and made it a must-play for genre enthusiasts.
Psychological Horror Themes in The Medium
The game explores deep and sometimes disturbing psychological themes. As the medium, you access the memories and traumas of the deceased to understand their past and help them find peace. The psychological horror extends beyond simple scares, delving into the human psyche and exploring themes of death, trauma, and the afterlife.
Faisal Feedback and Reception of The Medium
Since its release, “The Medium” has received generally positive feedback from players and critics alike. It was praised for its unique gameplay mechanics, immersive storytelling, and impressive sound design. However, some players have also expressed concerns over the game’s pacing and ending, indicating room for improvement in possible sequels.
1. Clock Tower
Release Year and Available Platforms
Clock Tower was first released in 1995. Originally released on the Super Famicom in Japan, the game later became available on PlayStation, Windows, and WonderSwan platforms.
Overview and Gameplay Features
As a point-and-click survival horror game, Clock Tower places you in control of Jennifer, an orphan who finds herself in a nightmarish scenario. The game’s main antagonist, Scissorman, adds a layer of tension as he can attack Jennifer at any point, and she cannot fight back but only run and hide.
How Clock Tower is Similar to The Medium
Like The Medium, Clock Tower focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving, with the threat of a powerful antagonist looming in the background. Both games create intense moments of horror and helplessness due to an antagonist that the player can’t directly confront.
2. Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
Release Year and Available Platforms
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare was released in 2001. It is available for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Windows, and Game Boy.
Overview and Gameplay Features
The game follows investigators Edward Carnby and Aline Cedrac as they uncover the mysteries of Shadow Island. Players can choose between Edward and Aline, each offering different gameplay experiences. The game blends puzzle-solving, combat, and exploration elements to create a high-tension horror atmosphere.
How Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is Similar to The Medium
The Medium and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare blend survival-based gameplay and puzzle-solving. Likewise, they both apply a narrative that plays with supernatural themes and elements.
3. Condemned: Criminal Origins
Release Year and Available Platforms
Condemned: Criminal Origins was released in 2005 and is available for Xbox 360 and Windows.
Overview and Gameplay Features
This game combines first-person combat with crime scene investigation mechanics. The main character, Ethan Thomas, is framed for a crime and must use his investigative skills and combat proficiency to get to the bottom of things.
How Condemned: Criminal Origins is Similar to The Medium
The Medium and Condemned: Criminal Origins share similarities in their investigative aspects. Both games feature a character utilizing unique abilities to uncover mysteries and secrets while navigating a treacherous, hostile environment.
4. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Release Year and Available Platforms
Released in 2002, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem was designed for the GameCube platform.
Overview and Gameplay Features
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is an action-adventure game that incorporates a “sanity meter” into its gameplay mechanics, creating a sense of psychological terror. It’s known for its non-linear storyline and unique gameplay mechanics, which have been widely praised.
How Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is Similar to The Medium
One way Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is similar to The Medium is through its deep exploration of psychological themes. Both games require players to solve puzzles and navigate unsettling realities, providing a stimulating and immersive gaming experience.
5. Siren: Blood Curse
Release Year and Available Platforms
Siren: Blood Curse was released in 2008 exclusively for PlayStation 3.
Overview and Gameplay Features
In this game, you follow an American TV crew as they explore a village plagued by an urban legend. The game is known for its unique Sight-Jack System, which adds suspense and horror.
How Siren: Blood Curse is Similar to The Medium
Like The Medium, Siren: Blood Curse heavily relies on atmosphere and narrative to evoke a sense of horror. Both games also offer mechanics that allow players to view the world from a different perspective, deepening the sense of immersion.
6. F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon
Release Year and Available Platforms
F.E.A.R. was released in 2005 and is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows.
Overview and Gameplay Features
F.E.A.R. blends first-person shooter gameplay with horror elements. It incorporates a reflex time feature, providing a unique gameplay mechanic and adding a twist to the gaming experience.
How F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon is Similar to The Medium
F.E.A.R. and The Medium incorporate elements that disrupt the traditional flow of time within the game. These mechanics provide unique gameplay experiences and contribute to the overall sense of horror and suspense.
7. Parasite Eve
Release Year and Available Platforms
Parasite Eve was released in 1998 only for PlayStation.
Overview and Gameplay Features
This game combines elements of action RPGs with survival horror. It tells the story of Aya Brea, a New York police officer, as she tries to stop a woman named Eve from causing the human race to spontaneously combust.
How Parasite Eve is Similar to The Medium
The Medium and Parasite Eve blend genres to create a unique gaming experience. While The Medium blends psychological horror with puzzle-solving, Parasite Eve combines the action RPG and survival horror genres. Both games also feature strong female protagonists.
8. Dead Space
Release Year and Available Platforms
Dead Space was released in 2008 and is playable on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows.
Overview and Gameplay Features
As an engineer named Isaac Clarke, you must survive in a mining spaceship overrun by monstrous creatures called Necromorphs. The game blends survival horror elements with third-person shooting in a terrifying yet visually stunning space setting.
How Dead Space is Similar to The Medium
Like The Medium, Dead Space combines survival gameplay with a deep, immersive narrative. Both games feature protagonists who must use their skills and resources to survive in hostile and dangerous environments.
9. Silent Hill
Release Year and Available Platforms
Silent Hill was first released for PlayStation in 1999.
Overview and Gameplay Features
In Silent Hill, you follow the story of Harry Mason as he searches for his missing adopted daughter in the spooky town. Despite technological limitations, the game effectively used fog to add to the eerie and creepy environment.
How Silent Hill is Similar to The Medium
Silent Hill and The Medium share an atmospheric horror style. Both games rely on their environments and sound design to evoke feelings of terror and unease. They also employ psychologically complex narratives to deepen the impact of the horror elements.
