Screw and numerous console shops are awash with low-cost horror video games so, in the event you’re strapped for money however fancy getting scared, you’ll not often need to fork out greater than a fiver. Nonetheless, this function ups the funds to a most of $20 and, in doing so, turns into a listing of who’s who in semi-modern horror video games; seminal titles most of which you’ve probably heard of already however would possibly’ve prevented taking part in for one cause or one other. To be clear, the 15 highlighted right here isn’t exhaustive, there’re tons of superior, timeless single participant horror video games on the market going for lower than you’d count on.
Clock Tower: Rewind
Expertise the prodigious 1995 survival horror Clock Tower in English exterior of Japan for the primary time. The unique is undamaged, outdated gameplay like comfortable locked progress and overly obtuse puzzles included, however alongside is the quality-of-life-enhanced Rewind model offering capacity to backtrack save states quite than forcibly beginning over. Included too are animated introductions, movement comics, creator interviews, art work, and a devoted music participant to benefit from the recreation’s phenomenal soundtrack. Nonetheless, a phrase of warning: don’t count on a contemporary expertise. Clock Tower: Rewind, regardless of the additional content material, could be very a lot a relic of its time. Out there on PlayStation Retailer for $19.99.
Choo-Choo Charles
These of us who grew up watching British children TV present Thomas & Pals can look again at its solid of oddly human confronted sentient locomotives and realise simply how creepy that present might be. Taking inspiration from this, plus Stephen King novella Charlie the Choo-Choo, is Choo-Choo Charles, a decidedly weird survival recreation whereby your weapon-equipped prepare is tracked by the titular bloodthirsty spider-locomotive hybrid. One other one that may be yours for $19.99 through PlayStation Retailer.
What Stays of Edith Finch
The unease in taking part in by way of What Stays of Edith Finch is available in reliving the life-ending tragedies which befell the Finch household. Exploring the ramshackle Finch household residence as final surviving member of the family Edith, you’ll be transported again to every of her ancestors’ demises, however the expertise’s magical realism aesthetic makes piecing collectively the precise circumstances cumbersome. In the end, What Stays of Edith Finch is a well-realised story about familial custom, accountability, and paranoia, and also you completely should play it in the event you haven’t. It’s at present priced at $19.99 on PlayStation Retailer.
Tormented Souls
Drenched in classic Alone within the Darkish and Resident Evil ambiance, Tormented Souls follows investigator Caroline Walker as she creeps by candlelight by way of the hallways of a petrifying mansion-turned-asylum, her sleuthing towards the torment of shadowy evil and twisted monsters an try to find the happenstance surrounding the disappearance of two younger women. Modernised with up to date controls and dynamically shifting digicam views, the horror Tormented Souls uncovers is fiendish. On the time of this function’s creation Tormented Souls is on sale at $4.99 on the PlayStation Retailer. It’s normally priced at $19.99.
Layers of Concern 2
Divisive is Layers of Concern 2 with quite a few detractors lamenting a scarcity of focus in favour of grander scale for this sequel. Positive, the sport’s story rambles at occasions however inarguable is Bloober Group’s capacity to craft ambiance. Layers of Concern 2 toyed with haunted home tropes extra efficiently than its predecessor, thriving on the expertise of a participant character exploring a world which by no means actually is smart. One other one that may be yours for $19.99 through PlayStation Retailer.
The Forest
Nights are darkish in The Forest. Daytimes are spent gathering assets, fortifying defences, and consuming sustenance to maintain these all-important vitality ranges up as a result of this survival-tinged horror ramps up the concern when darkness falls. These not-always murderous cannibals turn out to be downright hostile underneath the evening sky, and the unease at recognizing lights by way of timber or listening to distant bloodcurdling screams elevates The Forest to one of the vital memorable horror video games in latest reminiscence. Steam customers can snag The Forest for $19.99.
Lifeless Island Definitive Version
Together with the genre-smashing authentic and story extension Lifeless Island: Riptide, Lifeless Island Definitive Version brings all of the enjoyable soaked, cranium cracking viscera bang updated with a hi-resolution remaster, delivering crisp HD graphics alongside improved mild and shading. Regardless of adjustments elsewhere being few and much between, the sport’s ever-excellent melee fight along with the hi-res contact ups means this package deal earns it’s ‘Definitive Version’ moniker. Often priced at $19.99 on PlayStation Retailer, though Lifeless Island Definitive Assortment is at present on sale for $4.99.
Dying Gentle
Merging freewheeling parkour with flesh ripping melee, Dying Gentle is in some ways Techland’s magnum opus, taking all that was nice about Lifeless Island and adorning right into a zombie horror all-timer. A surprisingly heartfelt story underpins the rampant killing, nevertheless it’s the sport’s post-apocalyptic open world that steals the present, a metropolis with effectively laid out paths without spending a dime operating guarantee sprinting from A to B is an train in maximising circulate state. Dying Gentle is ten years outdated now however because of years of post-launch assist the expertise nonetheless feels recent, thrilling, and works effectively on fashionable {hardware} – a cut price for $19.99 through PlayStation Retailer. Like others on this checklist although, Dying Gentle is at present on sale – $5.99 on PlayStation.
Outlast
Distant Mount Large Asylum is the goal of investigative journalist Miles Upshur’s suicidal infiltration and analysis mission in Outlast, as regardless of a whistle blower tipping off that the psychiatric hospital’s sufferers are being subjected to inhumane experiments nothing can put together Miles for the evil that’s lurking inside. A horrific demonstration in present don’t inform, the sickly inexperienced glow of Miles’ camcorder evening imaginative and prescient is a genius mechanic by which to view the grisly goings on. One of many scariest video games on this rundown, for positive. Xbox gamers can seize Outlast for $19.99.
The Evil Inside
Releasing again in 2017, The Evil Inside is well probably the greatest horror video games on the market. The assorted boss encounters and tense fight assist it usher in a brand new breed of survival horror: intricate tales and sophisticated characters exist in a brutally darkish world that includes exceptionally crafted, nervousness inducing environments. Such is The Evil Inside’s pedigree that it arguably impressed Resident Evil’s fashionable renaissance originating with Resident Evil 7. Often $19.99 through Xbox, though Sport Go subscribers can at present seize it for $4.00 much less.
Alan Wake
The long-awaited sequel to 2010’s Alan Wake shifted focus nearer to an out-and-out survival horror, however while Alan Wake II’s predecessor wasn’t inherently scary it harboured sufficient horror components to put the muse for 2023’s follow-up. An ominous presence stalks Brilliant Falls because the titular author searches for his lacking spouse while enacting the pages of a thriller novel he doesn’t bear in mind writing. The remastered model is arguably inessential as the unique holds up effectively, plus it’s lower than $20 as per this function’s requirement at $19.99 on Xbox.
Resident Evil
The sport which outlined survival horror returned in 2015 with a remastered HD model of its 2002 GameCube remake, and the sharpened face carry hasn’t dulled the shuffling terror in anyway. In reality, while graphics aren’t at all times the be-all-and-end-all, Resident Evil features way more successfully with denser shadow element, the Spencer Mansion’s claustrophobic dread excruciatingly dialled up, made much more tangible by the sport’s basic tank controls and wayward aiming. Recurrently popping up in gross sales, Resident Evil is normally $19.99 on Xbox.
Amnesia: The Darkish Descent
A recreation to be prevented in the event you’re faint of coronary heart, Amnesia: The Darkish Descent begins stereotypically sufficient with player-character experiencing, yep, amnesia, however the expertise evolves past Daniel rediscovering his reminiscences towards the backdrop of a foreboding fort. As you progress, you’ll turn out to be trapped throughout the macabre recesses of Daniel’s thoughts, experiencing psychological torment first-hand through his sanity meter, itself a concern of the darkish mechanic which was novel on the time. One other recreation that’s ordinarily on sale, Amnesia: The Darkish Descent’s regular value is $19.99 as per its itemizing on Steam.
Little Nightmares
Hardly ever does a horror recreation make the participant really feel as helpless as Little Nightmares. In charge of yellow-coated character named Six, a little bit woman with no fight capacity in anyway, gamers should tiptoe by way of the darkest corners of a grim world to keep away from the gaze of nightmarish monsters. Viewing terror by way of the character’s eyes is disturbing sufficient, nevertheless it’s the sport’s grounded actuality making all this horror appear as if it might be actual – like an embodiment of somebody’s creativeness, maybe – is how Little Nightmares sticks with you. At present $19.99 through Xbox.
Limbo
A contemporary basic, darkish ambient side-scroller Limbo plunges you right into a twisted world of haunted forests, harmful foundries, and stagnant swamps as a small boy searching for your sister who, relying in your interpretation, might be lifeless or alive. Mechanically shallow positive, however in conjuring thriller by way of a mix of grainy black and white with excellent sound design Limbo is a vital play, plus its accessible on virtually any platform for like $9.99 on Xbox.
