The gaming world will always have room for horror, as horror games tend to have cult-like followings. They walk a difficult line, though. Horror games that are too difficult tend to scare people off from playing them. On the other hand, if they're too easy, they just aren't as horrific!
In great literary horror, protagonists are weak. On these lines, it could be argued that all horror games should be difficult. There's a lot of groaning about "hand-holding" these days, and deservedly so, the difficulty isn't so bad. It builds character, as they say. With that in mind, we've come up with games that (mostly) use difficulty effectively, to compliment horror. Those who can stomach a challenge will certainly enjoy them.
10 10/10 Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a gripping game focusing on fear and player weakness. In most games, the player character has some way to physically defend themselves. In Amnesia, running and hiding is the only tool for survival. Power is stripped from the player. As a result, the experience is both difficult and absolutely terrifying.
Amnesia: Rebirth builds on the series' roots with a dark, gripping story, nicer graphics, and refined gameplay mechanics. Rebirth also introduces new gameplay elements such as matches, and it's slightly easier overall. Both games are highly recommended.
9 9/10 I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, or just "No Mouth", is a point-and-click adventure game based on a short story of the same name. In the game, a sentient machine that caused the apocalypse torments five survivors — apparently, the last five people on Earth. Cyberdreams developed the game but didn't write it. The game's script and all of its puzzles were written by Harlan Ellison, the author of the short story.
Ellison may have been a talented novelist, but he wasn't a game designer. Not even a bit. As a result, No Mouth has a gripping story but obscure gameplay mechanics. "Moon logic" is an apt term to describe most puzzles in the game. Completing it without a guide is maddening. Completing it with a guide? Highly entertaining.
8 8/10 Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Eternal Darkness was an ambitious game that remains memorable to this day. Players take on the role of Alexandra Roivas as she searches for the truth behind her grandfather's death. As the game progresses, she becomes entangled in the lives of her ancestors.
The game's flashbacks sometimes make it feel like a history lesson (in a good way). Its insanity mechanics are amazing and unmatched by other games. However, it's difficult thanks to its puzzles, its obtuse control scheme, and (if the true ending is sought) its daunting length. All of these things can be more frustrating than satisfying. Also, part of the difficulty of Eternal Darkness is just finding a way to play it. The game is rare, and its developer is now defunct. And that's a real shame, because there's potential here.
7 7/10 Outlast
In Outlast, players explore Mount Massive Asylum, an old and dimly-lit psychiatric hospital. Their only weapon against the darkness is a night-vision camera with limited battery life. Conserving batteries as you attempt to dodge murderous mental patients is both difficult and extremely nerve-wracking.
There are noticeable similarities between Outlast and Amnesia. In both games, combat is completely sacrificed in favor of horror and stealth. Both games use this concept to awesome effect to instill fear. In fact, the developers of Outlast have pointed to Amnesia as one of their biggest sources of inspiration. It should come as no surprise that both games are excellent.
6 6/10 Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a legendary RPG with a focus on stress and character death. The player takes on the role of manager and advisor to a group of adventurers. Each run of the game pits the adventurers up against a randomized selection of Lovecraftian horrors. As the game progresses, heroes are very likely to die, meaning they'll need to be replaced. They will often teeter on the brink of death, being saved only by brilliant strategies or strokes of luck.
Darkest Dungeon is a very difficult game, especially for an RPG of its type, making it a unique experience. Players can utilize deep strategy mechanics, and will eventually learn how to stack the deck in their favor. Therefore, the difficulty feels fair. Beating the game feels like a true accomplishment.
5 5/10 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a slightly aging horror FPS. In it, the player struggles to survive and learn about an irradiated zone surrounding the Chernobyl disaster. Mutants and other militant groups pose a significant threat, as a single headshot can spell death.
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is unlike most modern shooters in that it requires patience and careful planning. Tactics and cover are needed to outsmart enemies, who are decently smart in their own right. The game doesn't hold your hand. It can be especially difficult right at the beginning. Thankfully, once better weapons and artifacts are found, it becomes a good deal easier.
4 4/10 System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is a deep game that paved the way for its spiritual successor, Bioshock. It pits players against the terrifying AI, SHODAN, onboard a derelict spaceship. An older game from the immersive sim genre, it can seem almost incomprehensible to modern gamers.
The things that make System Shock 2 great for some can ruin it for others. It has deep skill and tech trees, but misallocating points can produce weak character builds. Combat is tense and interesting, but poor ammo management can put players in very tough positions. However, despite its difficulty, System Shock 2 is worth revisiting thanks to its fascinating story and top-notch sound design.
3 3/10 Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 is easily one of the most beloved survival horror games of all time. In this surreal story, James Sunderland visits the eponymous town in search of his dead wife. While the game can be awkward to play on normal difficulty, it becomes insane on hard mode.
On hard mode, enemies tank hits to a ridiculous extent. Even basic enemies take dozens of hits, often thirty to forty or even more. It gets worse during boss fights, which can get extremely tedious. For some, the brutal difficulty adds to a sense of hopelessness. For some, it ends up just being frustrating.
2 2/10 Bloodborne
Most From Software games have horror elements, but Bloodborne is special. Cosmic horror is the game's clear inspiration. Its enemies and environments were designed to be terrifying.
Skill and perseverance are hard requirements in Bloodborne. Players have thrown themselves against its ridiculously difficult bosses for hours on end. Thankfully, dubious tactics such as summons can be used to make most fights easier. It's worth noting that Bloodborne is far more difficult for some thanks to its parry mechanic. Winners and losers in Bloodborne are separated by their ability to parry. It requires precise timing which some just don't have.
1 1/10 Pathologic
Pathologic is a brutal experience not unlike a fever dream. The game is a race against the clock to cure a plague while being dogged by hunger, men with knives, and the plague itself. It is a deeply stressful experience, and it's supposed to be. "Tough survival mechanics are the force that ties the game together," the developers have said. Given the game's themes of death and inevitability, the difficulty feels earned.
Pathologic Classic HD and Pathologic 2 are both more than worth checking out. They both refuse to hold the player's hand, and they're both oddly beautiful thanks to their difficulty. They couldn't be the games they are without their harsh atmosphere. Pathologic isn't really a game you play. It's more like a game you fight against.