Creepiest Non-Horror Games (Possible Spoilers)

[Gorilla Gunk]

If I were to make a list of my top ten scariest games, I'd probably put the old 90's adventure game Titanic: Adventure Through Time somewhere on there. I know some of the game was probably meant to be a bit creepy, being a mystery game and all, but it was pulled off so well that at parts I had to step away from the game because it unnerved me so much. The music (My favorite bit here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK4vF43a8AQ), the near-lifeless sections of the ship (Especially the lower decks), and knowing the eventual fate of the ship and everybody on it creates this wonderful sense of dread that I've rarely if ever felt in another game. Closest I've gotten is wondering around some empty buildings in Fallout 3/NV.

 

[MercurySteam]

Bioshock was pretty creepy on my first play and the atmosphere is something I'd kill to recreate. People who havne't played it don't know what they're missing out on.

 

[The Night Shade]

Thief 3 seriously in some parts is freaking scary

 

[Itsthefuzz]

Half-Life 2. We DON'T GO TO RAVENHOLME

 

[Zhukov]

I'm going to ninja about a dozen people by saying Shalebridge Cradle from Thief: Deadly Shadows. I didn't find it to be the nightmare fuel that it's often described as, but it was pretty creepy. I liked how the lights would start flickering whenever an enemy approached. (EDIT: And of course someone else ninja's me. That'll teach me to open my fat mouth.)

Also, those plaster-covered spider splicers in Bioshock's Fort Frolic level. I bring them up every time this thread rolls around. They scared the crap out of me.

 

[fallouthirteen]

Look up the old point and click adventure game Sanitarium. One of my favorite PC games ever.

 

[Itsthefuzz]

Thief 3 seriously in some parts is freaking scary

I'm going to ninja about a dozen people by saying Shalebridge Cradle from Thief: Deadly Shadows

Who ninja'd whom?

I loved thief, but I don't think I ever played the third installment.

 

[Seishisha]

Mario, thats some scary stuff! in all seriousness though eternal darkness, its not realy horror but it does have some great mindscrewing moments.

 

[Zhukov]

Thief 3 seriously in some parts is freaking scary

I'm going to ninja about a dozen people by saying Shalebridge Cradle from Thief: Deadly Shadows

Who ninja'd whom?

I ninja'd you with the power of edit.

So there.

 

[fallouthirteen]

Mario, thats some scary stuff! in all seriousness though eternal darkness, its not realy horror but it does have some great mindscrewing moments.

I don't know, I think that game is horror enough to not be considered non-horror. Heck, it's heavily inspired by Lovecraft.

 

[TheKruzdawg]

Half-Life 2. We DON'T GO TO RAVENHOLME

I made a status on FB about this the first time i went there something to the tune of "Ravenholm is probably the worst place for a vacation in the history of everything." it was not a fun trip

 

[Zhukov]

Mario, thats some scary stuff! in all seriousness though eternal darkness, its not realy horror but it does have some great mindscrewing moments.

I don't know, I think that game is horror enough to not be considered non-horror. Heck, it's heavily inspired by Lovecraft.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when I realised you weren't referring to Mario there.

 

[Seishisha]

I don't know, I think that game is horror enough to not be considered non-horror. Heck, it's heavily inspired by Lovecraft.

I guess in theme alone its probably horror but i was speaking from a personal standpoint in that i didnt feel the game was particularly scarey. That'll teach me to post in a minimalistic fashion and elaborate more in the future.

 

[Buffoon]

Ecco the Dolphin. They were all pretty scary in parts, the music was incredibly atmospheric in the Mega Drive versions, and there's something about submerged caverns that I find particularly scary... deep under water, the pressure builds, no air, no way out... and then there were some levels that were played largely in darkness too. Those ones freaked me out.

 

[Korten12]

Half-Life 2. We DON'T GO TO RAVENHOLME

Ravenholme was known to be scary..?

 

[fallouthirteen]

I guess in theme alone its probably horror but i was speaking from a personal standpoint in that i didnt feel the game was particularly scarey. That'll teach me to post in a minimalistic fashion and elaborate more in the future.

Even then, plenty of people found the game overall to be scary, or at the very least very unsettling. I mean search "scariest gamecube scene" on youtube (I'll admit that scene didn't bother me at all the first time I saw it, mostly because I had no idea what I was looking at in that quick flash). Even then, the basic concept of the bonethieves and such had me rather unnerved when I played the game.

Edit: In short, just because you didn't find it to be particularly scary doesn't mean it isn't. I mean, I don't find say Dead Space to be scary (which many people would disagree with), just because that game is startling, not scary. I actually find Eternal Darkness to be one of the best made "scary" games out there.

 

[FilipJPhry]

Majora's Mask is my pick. Some of the stuff I seen from that game freaked me out a couple times.

 

[fallouthirteen]

Majora's Mask is my pick. Some of the stuff I seen from that game freaked me out a couple times.

Yeah that's a good one. From theme alone (the end of the world in three days, and it will happen over and over before you can stop it) to specific areas (Ikana Canyon) and characters (the cursed guy who gives you the Gibdo mask).

 

[The Madman]

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet but Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. Most people will reference the haunted mansion, but for me the most disturbing bit was the, erm, the 'meat house'. Eug, the constant sound of buzzing flies was enough I could almost smell the rotting meat.

The STALKER series isn't strictly horror either and yet it's probably the most intense experience I've played in recent years. Just recently played Call of Pripyat and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a few moments of silent intensity and chair-jumping surprise. Damned Snorks & Bloodsuckers.