One of the best mediums we have available for raising our adrenaline and providing unforgettable perceptions of perceived threat – in essence, fear – is video games. The big difference between the playable medium and, for example, movies, is the interactivity, putting yourself in the shoes of the sometimes helpless protagonist struggling against an unknown or creeping danger. For now, there simply aren't any other ways of simulating realistic feelings of dread, and video games definitely one-up books and movies in this case. Gather in your dorm room (or isolate yourself), turn off the lights and immerse yourself in a horrific experience.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
One of the most successful horror games in the recent years and recipient of numerous awards, Amensia: The Dark Descent has the player navigating a gothic castle in search of clues about his own fate. Haunted by a strange demonic force and perpetuating darkness, Daniel, the protagonist, has only a lantern and tinderboxes to light candles. Without light sources, his sanity goes down, creating psychedelic-like distortions in his vision. This first-person perspective game mainly involves puzzle-solving and searching, interrupted by patrolling monsters, against which Daniel is helpless, wandering the castle. With an unparalleled atmosphere and an omnipresent feeling of helplessness, Amnesia easily tops the list of games that most people are too scared to play and is a must-play for horror enthusiasts.
Slenderman: The Game
The legend of Slenderman spawned as a meme from a Photoshop contest on Something Awful Forums, which required contestants to transform a regular-looking photo into something creepy. Thus the notably tall, cloaked “person” with a completely white head and protruding tentacles started appearing in many fake documentaries. He’s most known for stalking children, appearing standing in the distance. But even if Slenderman’s metaphysical origins are from the unpredictable forges of Internet minds, the video game has been making a notable splash, conveying a horror-game experience like few have had before. Slenderman accurately portrays an acute sensation of solitude in a dark forest in which the player’s goal is to find eight notes before the creature finds her. All the player can do is shine her flashlight and sprint, exploring the stark and desolate environment. As more notes are found, the music becomes more intense and Slenderman becomes faster. He will start to pop up randomly, just standing in the distance – it’s not possible to see him move until the player starts expecting him at every corner. The game is available as a free download from the unofficial fan site. If you’re not the gaming type, there are also numerous streams to check out, which make the experience presumably only slightly less terrifying.
Hotel 626
The player is a visitor to Hotel 626, where he suddenly awakes to disturbing noises, prompting him to leave the room. The game, entirely made in flash, involves minigames such as making as little noise as possible while walking and solving quick puzzles and simple dexterity tests. It’s the horrific and life-like footage that delivers the scares, starring numerous zombified people, madmen and ghosts straight out of your worst nightmares. It’s definitely a great alternative to watching a movie. Note that the hotel is only open between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and if you live to tell the tale, you can share it with others.