If you’re still heartbroken over the cancellation of the widely beloved P.T., we’ve got your back. Designed as a captivating playable trailer for the now-scrapped Silent Hills game, P.T. won fans worldwide with its creepily inventive gameplay and meticulous attention to detail. But don’t let that disappointment get the better of you.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of games that share P.T.’s chilling charm and horror genre, each promising an exhilarating gaming experience worthy of the P.T. legacy. From the nerve-fraying psychological horror of Silent Hill 2 and Alien: Isolation to the indie delights of Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Darkwood, there’s something here to lure every adventurous horror gaming fan.
About PT
PT, short for Playable Teaser, was an interactive horror game teaser developed by Kojima Productions under the pseudonym “7780s Studio”. Released by Konami 2014 exclusively on PlayStation 4, PT was an exciting introduction to the now-canceled Silent Hills game.
The historical context of PT
PT was the brainchild of Hideo Kojima, the celebrated developer behind the Metal Gear series, and acclaimed film director Guillermo del Toro. The teaser featured an atmospheric, looping corridor environment filled with cryptic and eerie elements.
Though it was short and mysterious, PT achieved a cult status among gamers due to its engaging and frightening gameplay.
Gameplay mechanics of PT
The gameplay of PT represented a departure from traditional horror game mechanics. You played in a first-person perspective, stuck in an unnerving, constantly repeating L-shaped corridor. The ultimate aim was to unravel a series of cryptic puzzles, leading to disturbing revelations surrounding a family tragedy.
Cancellation and impact of PT
In 2015, Konami canceled Silent Hills and subsequently removed PT from the PlayStation Store. Despite the cancellation and removal, PT’s mesmerizing horror experience had already impacted the gaming industry.
Several independent game developers drew inspiration from PT, and various similar titles surfaced, offering various forms of psychological horror for fans to explore.
1. Silent Hill 2
Release date and developer
Silent Hill 2, a part of the series PT was set to continue, was released on September 24, 2001. This psychological horror video game, developed by Team Silent and published by Konami, holds a great historical context in the horror gaming realm.
Genre and gameplay elements
As a survival horror game, Silent Hill 2 incorporates suspense, exploration, and puzzle-solving aspects. It takes you through a foggy, otherworldly town where you face disturbing manifestations of the protagonist’s inner fears and guilt.
Platforms
Silent Hill 2 was initially made for PlayStation 2, but was later ported to Xbox and Microsoft Windows. Also, it was re-released as a remastered version for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Similarities with PT
Silent Hill 2 generously utilizes psychological themes and abundant unsettling symbolism, much like PT. Both share a similar nerve-wracking atmosphere and focus on psychological horror over combative gameplay.
2. Alien: Isolation
Release date and developer
Alien: Isolation, developed by Creative Assembly and released by Sega, appeared startlingly on October 7, 2014.
Genre and gameplay elements
This survival horror game places you aboard a space station infested by a single, relentless alien creature. Stealth and cunning are your only friends in a game focused on evasion and survival, rather than direct confrontation.
Platforms
Alien: Isolation is available to play on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
Similarities with PT
Like PT, Alien: Isolation achieves its horror atmosphere through anticipation and uncertainty. Its focus on psychological terror and its high-fidelity visuals mirrors PT’s commitment to an immersive and tense environment.
3. Dead Space
Release date and developer
Dead Space, developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts, was released on October 13, 2008.
Genre and gameplay elements
This science fiction survival horror game presents a chilling experience where you, as an engineer, must navigate and survive inside a spaceship infected by grotesque alien parasites.
Platforms
Dead Space is playable on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows.
Similarities with PT
While Dead Space incorporates more action-oriented gameplay, it shares common elements with PT, such as an intensive atmosphere, terrifying imagery, and a sense of dreadful isolation.
4. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Release date and developer
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is an indie horror game from Frictional Games, which first frightened players on September 8, 2010.
Genre and gameplay elements
This survival horror game engages you with an immersive, first-person perspective. Unlike conventional horror games, Amnesia lacks any combat scenarios, forcing you to rely solely on hiding and stealth for survival.
Platforms
The game is available on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Similarities with PT
Amnesia produces a similar psychological dread, emphasizing atmospheric and environmental horror significantly, congruent with PT’s eerie, looping corridor design.
5. Darkwood
Release date and developer
Darkwood, an indie survival horror from Acid Wizard Studio, debuted on August 17, 2017.
Genre and gameplay elements
Darkwood presents a top-down perspective with a unique mix of survival and roguelike elements. The game’s eerie environment teems with grotesque creatures and obscure mysteries.
Platforms
The game is playable on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Similarities with PT
Darkwood adopts PT’s concept of an oppressive atmosphere and psychological horror. The horror relies on mood and setting rather than jumpscares, which demonstrates PT’s influence.
6. Resident Evil 2: Remake
Release date and developer
Resident Evil 2: Remake, redeveloped and released by Capcom, hit the market on January 25, 2019.
Genre and gameplay elements
As a survival horror game, Resident Evil 2: Remake revitalizes the original with modern graphics and new gameplay mechanics. It tasks you with surviving in a city overrun with zombies, using limited resources.
Platforms
The Remake was released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
Similarities with PT
While Resident Evil 2: Remake is more action-oriented, it incorporates well-crafted horror set-pieces and a tense atmosphere populated with horrifying creatures. These elements were key components of PT’s success.
7. Pathologic 2
Release date and developer
Pathologic 2, developed by Ice-Pick Lodge, was released on May 23, 2019.
Genre and gameplay elements
In this narrative-driven horror game, you play as a healer in a grim and mysterious town. The struggle against the strange plague is instantaneous and overwhelming, forcing you to make tough moral choices.
Platforms
The game is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Mac OS.
Similarities with PT
Like PT, Pathologic 2 delivers a deeply unsettling psychological experience, prompting players to ponder their survival choices. The narrative-driven fear and sense of impending doom make it an interesting parallel to PT.
8. SOMA
Release date and developer
Developed by Frictional Games, the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, SOMA was released on September 22, 2015.
Genre and gameplay elements
This science-fiction horror game drenches you in an unsettling storyline that sprawls across an underwater research facility. The harrowing narrative and existential themes give the gameplay a deeply unsettling tone.
Platforms
SOMA is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Linux.
Similarities with PT
Like PT, SOMA invests heavily in psychological horror, eschewing combat for stealth, and exploration into a deeply atmospheric narrative. The focus on psychological dread, story, and intense immersion tie it closely with PT.
9. Alan Wake
Release date and developer
Alan Wake, developed by Remedy Entertainment, was initially released on May 14, 2010.
Genre and gameplay elements
In this action-adventure game, you play as a bestselling author plagued by his nightmares coming to life. The game layers psychological horror elements with a cinematic story and fast-paced combat.
Platforms
Alan Wake is accessible on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.
Similarities with PT
While it has more traditional action gameplay, Alan Wake’s emphasis on psychological thriller aspects and its commitment to a dark, atmospheric environment echo the strengths of PT.
