Before we get going with this list of 8 top scary PC games, let us put forward this genuine question. Don’t you just love it when a game makes you sit tight in anticipation for something scary to pop out of nowhere and then all you do is just keep waiting for that to happen? But just as you let your guard down, a heart pounding sequence materializes, petrifying each and every nerve in your body. Now if you’re answer is a devilish yes, then we’ve come up with our very own choice of really scary PC games for you to experience those unpleasantly priceless moments of almost taking a leak in your pants.
1 – BioShock 2:
An obvious entry into this list, the first person shooter lived up to each and every bit of expectation that surrounded it, owing to the immense yardsticks set by its precursor. It shoots up some spectacular survival horror elements that just deserve to be experienced rather than described. BioShock 2 takes place eight years after the events in BioShock which occur in the brilliantly re-imagined underwater city of Rapture. It is quite hard to believe that the game’s peculiar locations can so effortlessly manage to draw out that extra horror appeal which sets it apart from other titles.
2 – Left 4 Dead 2:
One after the other, Valve has churned out some of the most memorable titles that have always managed to stand the test of time. Be it Counter Strike, the Half-Life series, the Team Fortress games or the incredibly popular Portal titles. And among them, the Left for Dead franchise stands strong with its zombie-filled madness. Left 4 Dead 2 comprises classic survival horror elements that are given a whole new angle by the game’s focus on co-op play.
3 – Limbo:
A simple narrative, grainy black-and-white graphics, nominal sounds and minimalistic controls are pretty much all that there is to this game. But it’s the chimera created by all these elements that makes Limbo a scary treat for any PC gamer. The silhouette of a boy needs to be controlled as he makes his way through environments haunted by strange creatures, dead bodies, destroyed milieus and a plethora of puzzles. Created by indie developer Playdead, this game has been garnering universal acclaim for its innovative visuals and gameplay, ever since its Xbox 360 release in 2009.
4 – Dead Island:
The Palms Resort Hotel on the picturesque island of Banoi, off the coast of Papua New Guinea used to be pleasurable vacation spot for high-profile people from all over the world. But that was before a mysterious plague hit the island, leaving it swarmed with waves after waves of zombies. Some excellently crafted sequences besides some brilliant melee combat make their way into this title which is sure to startle you every once in a while with its absolute zombie mayhem.
5 – Dead Space 2:
Number five on our list of the best scary PC games is according to us, one of the most marvelous titles ever to have been created. It’s this game’s dark and grim ambiance as well as its impeccable gameplay that create a creepy air around it. And of course, who can forget the vividly terrifying sounds that endow this offering with the added horror appeal. Released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in January this year, Dead Space 2 even holds a multiplayer mode for online play.
6 – F.E.A.R. 3:
Riding on the extremely high expectations set by its predecessors, this title arrived on the scene with even more daunting experiences than the previous games. This first person shooter is also described as a psychological horror game and has apparently received excess acclaim for its gameplay and co-op mode. Filmmaker John Carpenter and comic book writer Steve Niles are said to have been part of the development process of this title whose visuals and intense atmosphere perform splendidly to weave together a daunting experience that sometimes seems nothing short of a nightmare.
7 – Dead Rising 2:
Now Capcom is one developer who doesn’t need even one bit of coaching when it comes to creating survival horror games. The Resident Evil series has proved time and again that the company has simply mastered the art of sweeping gamers off their feet with some extremely scary experiences. So Dead Rising 2 featuring on this list of scary PC games should not come as much of a shocker. An extremely well-crafted story, impressive melee combat and some brutal boss fights, all sum up to render this monster of a title.
8 – Amnesia: The Darkness Descent:
Released in September last year, this title transpires in 1839 and involves Daniel, a young man from London who wakes up in a dark castle with an almost wiped off memory. The incidents that follow are absolutely mind-boggling, to say the least. Proclaiming that this game as scary would actually be an understatement as it boasts of having much more elements tagged to its name. Released for PC, Mac and Linux, Amnesia: The Darkness Descent definitely deserves a peek by any survival horror fan.
With this we conclude our take on the eight top scary PC games, and only wish that more such titles keep coming our way and continue bestowing us with wicked nightmares.