Horror is a genre that always provides excellent games, has consistently produced some of the most innovative content around, and features some undoubtedly unmissable pieces of media, especially given the indie horror genre too. The games provide rich storytelling, epic worldbuilding, and often thrilling gameplay experiences - plus, they get the heart racing. In the lead-up to Halloween, many of us turn to horror to find what we seek: exhilaration. But for many of us, there's just one little teensy problem. What if it's just too exciting?
Without going into my medical history too much, I've always been the kind of person who has very strong emotional reactions to things, including the scary. I've been laughed at by my more emotionally stable friends when I jump at a scare in a horror film we're watching together, or refuse to watch Dan and Phil play Poppy Playtime with them. If you're someone who finds horror easy to deal with, then try to be more tolerant of people who struggle with it. Not everyone has the same brain as you.
So on a serious level, it's okay if you also have anxiety like I do. Nobody should tell you how to feel about things, and it's valid if you want to join in the spooky fun at this time of year without feeling like you're going to end up like the woman in the first five minutes of any horror film. I'm here to help you through the Halloween season, all while keeping it spooky. This is a three-step plan, and I'll walk you through what you're going to want to do to stay safe and cozy in your gaming sessions.
Firstly, it's important to pick the right games. Don't assume that because it's Halloween you need to head right into the scariest Silent Hill games, or torture yourself with jump scares in Five Nights at Freddy's. No, instead, I'm going to be offering a few examples of games that, while providing some spook, won't give you any nightmares.
Hopefully you already have the likes of Luigi's Mansion in mind, since this series is pretty much spooky in its theme only. A family-friendly game, you won't face anything too severe outside of the horrors of Luigi being separated from Mario, albeit temporarily. I can understand that this seems like a softer option, though, as maybe your more hardcore gamer friends might still make fun of you for this selection. In a similar vein, you could opt for dating simulator Monster Prom, as trying to court a werewolf seems on-theme, but again, the horror is in getting rejected by your monster of choice, rather than a real scare.
My first hardcore recommendation is the I'm on Observation Duty series. These games involve checking cameras throughout rooms in a house in order to spot anomalies. Objects moving, lights flickering, the usual stuff. Occasionally, you'll see a cryptid. But all is well, because after you report the anomaly, the problem is removed, and you can carry on. There aren't really jump scares in these games, because you control the CCTV switches, and even if you find a guy chilling in your sauna, he's not going to suddenly jump up in your face. The games provide a good level of creepiness without being upsettingly scary - the only fear I have while playing them is a fear of failure.
Secondly, Resident Evil: Village makes the list. You may be wondering why, and that's fair, but when I played it, Resident Evil 8 did not actually feel that scary. Due to its slight shift towards being more of an action RPG than a hugely scary and intense game, Village was really playable for someone like me. Of course, I understand if you don't believe me, but maybe try checking out Let's Play on YouTube for a taste. Capcom itself said in an interview that Village was a different type of scariness, not based on jumpscares, but on the uncertainty of what lies beyond. It focuses more on body and psychological horror, so while it may get really weird, it can also be a break from those heart-attack-inducing moments you're used to in the genre.
Finally, I want to point your attention to House of Ashes, a game which is part of the Dark Pictures Anthology alongside Man of Medan. The anthology itself contains some pretty creepy titles, but House of Ashes itself is a fantastic entry to me because it really doesn't feel like a horror game. You play as a number of archaeologists who uncover an ancient curse and must work together to break it. One of those archaeologists is played by Ashley Tisdale, who, not to discredit her fantastic job as Rachel, can provide a hit of familiarity as Sharpay in High School Musical, in case you get too sucked in. The game is a narrative journey and feels much less like a terrorizing thrill than a slightly sinister love-triangle soap. Love it.
Okay, so now that you have a couple of less-scary games to get going with, the next stage to surviving Halloween gaming is about immersion. Don't be fooled by the idea that you have to turn all the lights off, put a blanket over yourself, and hunker down with your handheld completely alone. In fact, I'd suggest the opposite for those with anxiety. Play in broad daylight if you can, or if it's dark, play with lights turned right up. Play with your friends, your partner, whoever. People who push 'immersion' do it because they like being scared, but if it makes you unhappy, why should you listen to peer pressure to create a scary atmosphere? It just adds unnecessary pain.
Additionally, I want you to know that it's okay to take breaks. You can pause most games in the middle of tense scenes just to remind yourself that it is, in fact, fiction, and that a ghostly home invasion isn't imminent. Even in playthroughs I watch on YouTube, sometimes I just opt to watch the face cam of the person playing, to create some emotional distance between me and the game. Playthrough-watching only is a viable option to participate in Halloween, too.
The final step on the survival guide is pretty simple: snacks. It's hard to feel stressed out and miserable when you're munching on some Oreos, or maybe you've opted for a chip and dip setup. Either way, it's nearly Halloween, after all, and you deserve a treat after all the horror media your friends have egged you on to consume.
I hope this guide helps you feel like part of the fun without it being too much for your heart. If you want more Halloween gaming fun, check out our guide to Roblox's Halloween event, and see if you agree that Dark Souls is a horror game or not.