Horror games to play for Halloween-

   So,  tomorrow is Halloween.  You may be taking kids out for candy, going to a party, or just hanging around being weird (something I do everyday).  If your like me,  you like to freak yourself the hell out (sometimes on a daily basis).  There is never a more proper time to do so then on Halloween.  So today I'm going to make some recommendations for some games that will scare you and generally freak you out.  This list is not in order,  so they are just listed off as I please.  

DayZ

  Gotta start it off with the classic monster.   DayZ is the pinnacle of what zombie games are going to become, not just raising the bar.  But picking it up and throwing it in the air.  Whether played alone or as a team,  this game will having you doing any and everything you can to survive.  There is no direction other than survive,  as long as you can.  You start out alone on the beach,  with no weapons.  From there you have to scavenge,  avoiding zombies and bandits.  Your not even sure if you can trust another player that you find,  they might just kill you or use you as bait for another attack.  Everything in the environment is hostile,  so you must be careful when venturing out into the unknown.

   DayZ is a free mod for Arma II,  which is available in places like Steam or GoG.com for around $30.  While it's a great military game,  your real reason for picking it up is for this mod.  So if you decide to take the plunge,  get ready because it's a tough one.  Recommended for zombie fans or anyone looking for a different horror experience.

Dead Space

  Nothing like going to investigate a ship that you lost contact with,  only to find everyone was brutally massacred and crazy murderous monsters occupy it.  Survival Horror, up to this point,  was all about facing demons or zombies in more familiar settings.  This game changed everything,  isolating you in deep space on a ghost ship.  The Necromorphs aboard were around every corner,  ready to mutilate you in the worst way possible.  The game marries the perfect creepy atmosphere with horrible monsters.  

   Your cast as engineer Isaac Clark,  set out not only on a rescue mission.  But also to find your girlfriend, who was one of the crew.  You are guided through this madness with messages from her,  coming to a conclusion that makes the tone even darker for the next game.  This game will see you fighting for your life in fear of Isaac getting ripped to shreds.  It features some of the most graphic video game deaths I've ever seen.  This is truly the stuff of nightmares.  If you don't believe me,  just watch the trailer. 

   As of this writing, you can pick up Dead Space 1 and 2 for $5 each on Steam during their Halloween sale.  Worth at least checking out part 1,  Dead Space 2 ramps everything up so is even more intense.  

The Walking Dead Game

   I know,  another zombie game on the list.  But while DayZ is more about surviving.  This game tells the story of Lee and Clementine,  how they survive in a world overrun by flesh eaters.  The Walking Dead game plays out more like an interactive graphic novel, however every choice you make.  From the answers you give to who you save, affects every facet of how the game plays out over the course of 5 episodes (as of this writing only episodes 1 - 4 are available).  This game does an excellent job of making you care about each and every character,  making every moment that much more shocking.   Each episode so far has had it's fair share of jaw dropping moments, and it ups the ante each time.   It never lets up on the intensity.

   If you are a big fan of the show or comic books,  this is a must buy.  The Walking Dead game is an extension of the comics,  telling a different story but it shows other perspectives of some of the characters within that universe. 

   This game has some of the best storytelling I've ever seen in a video game.  It sets a new bar for the industry.  At this moment,  you can purchase the entire season (episodes 1 - 5) for $15 (reg is $25).  You can also buy each individual episode for $5 a piece on most formats (Xbox 360, Ps3, iOs, and Pc).  The deal is currently available through Steam for the Pc.  Totally worth it for one of the best games this year.

Alan Wake

  While all the previous games have been more about monsters, Alan Wake is a bit different.  Playing out more like a psychological thriller than a straight up horror movie.  It casts you as Alan Wake,  a writer of a famous series looking to take a break with his wife in Bright Falls.  What starts out as a vacation, quickly degrades into a nightmare as Alan's wife is kidnapped and taken by some sort of darkness.  As Alan searches for her,  his journey takes him around the town and on a very strange journey.

   The game goes further into madness as townspeople are possessed.  It makes you begin to question what is real and what isn't.  The game plays like a shooter and uses light as a weapon.  It's very easy for anyone used to modern shooter games to pick up.  This game truly sets itself apart with its weird enemies and the strange things they say (Omega 3 fatty acids are good for your heart!).   It's story and Dlc are left open for Alan Wake's American Nightmare, which introduces the awesome villain Mr Scratch (although I DO NOT recommend playing AM first,  as the story might be quite confusing at that point).  

   A great psychological thriller,  especially for any old Stephen King fans.   It's truly worth experiencing,  especially to see the Old Gods of Asgard.  Alan Wake is currently 50% off, as part of the sale on Steam.  It's $15 dollars at the moment.  Check it out.  

Slender: The Eight Pages

   Now if you still want to be scared,  but have budget issues.  Slender The Eight Pages is a totally free game.  It's based off the Slender mythology (check youtube for a whole series of videos).  

   The game puts you in a park that's fenced off.  Armed with just a flashlight (that has limited battery power),  you have to search the park for 8 pages.  Of course you are wandering around a forest that is easy to become disoriented in.  You can run but your flashlight points downward (or you can turn it off, but that makes things easier for Slender to get you!).  So during all of this,  you are being stalked by Slender.  Slender is a weird looking thing,  kinda looks like he's wearing a suit and has no face.  If you stare at him for too long,  you will go insane and die.  The only way you know he's near you is by the music getting more tense and static filling the screen.   If this happens,  just run.  While you should try to pay attention,  where you are going.  It's easy to get lost while fleeing.  

   This game is very minimalistic, but does a great job of scaring people.  It's, again,  totally free.  You can download it here: Slender Game.  Enjoy!

Amnesia The Dark Descent

  So I've been raving about this game alot lately,  whether here, on my facebook, or on my podcast.  I consider myself well versed in Horror and Survival Horror games.  Always checking out what's new and knowing some of the best out there.  Well, I must say that what I thought was a scary game,  is nothing compared to this gem.

  You wake up inside of a mansion,  not really knowing where or who you are.  The game itself takes place in first person,  which is good considering how the visual effects are set up very well.  As you search the mansion,  doors fling open,  rooms seem to pulsate,  the whole building shakes.  It's as if your surroundings are out to get you.  Shadows, later on,  chase you and try to kill you.  The only thing you can do is run and hide,  as you have no way of defending yourself.  This gives you a sense of hopelessness and dread as you trudge on.  The atmosphere in this game is top notch,  really putting yourself into the nightmare that is this game.  Your only key to surviving is light,  which you get a lantern to carry around (which has a finite amount of fuel) and tinderboxes to light any nearby candles or lanterns.  Another thing you have to monitor is your sanity,  if anything happens or if you are in the dark too much,  your breathing gets more erratic and your heart rate increases.  This in turn makes your vision distort and you start to hear weird noises.  If your sanity is lost,  you go insane and die.  Now there are also "things" that wander the house.  One in particular you must hide from, and if you see it you must not stare.  You will go more insane and it will see you,  even if your hiding in a cupboard peering out of a crack.  This increases the intensity of the game,  knowing there's such a thing stalking you and that you cannot see where it goes.  

   Everything about this game is perfect.  It will truly scare you (I'm not afraid to admit the game freaks me out).  For Halloween,  the game is on sale for $5 (reg going for $20) on Steam.  My best advice, if you decide to take this journey,  is to play the game how they recommend.  Lights off and headphones on, also you do not play Amnesia to win.  You play it to experience it.  Good luck!

  So thanks for reading,  I know everyone is looking for new ways to be scared on Halloween. You can't go wrong with any of these choices.  While there are many other horror games out there,  I chose to stick with ones that were considered some of the best or more affordable.  Have fun boys and girls, Happy Halloween!!!