Looking for something scary to do on Halloween? There’s nothing better than a good scary video game, but with games costing around $60 new, Halloween gamers may want to look to some of the classic for their ghoulish gaming needs.
- Alien Vs. Predator 2
Platform: PC. Cost: $20 or less.
An oldie but a goodie, Alien Vs. Predator 2 was the sequel to the almost-spectacular, uh, Alien Vs. Predator 1, and it corrected a lot of the problems in that game.
No matter what part it maybe, alien Vs predator is one game that keeps getting better with each sequel that comes out and gives its predecessor a run for its money which is not even possible for Pokemon go accounts.
You can play as either an alien, a predator, or a marine, and while the alien and predator scenarios lend a feeling of almost unbeatable power, the Marine scenario is scary enough to make you start boarding up your doors. Knowing that you’re the weakest thing on the playing field, that your success is directly tied to how long your ammo will last, and hearing the cruel lonely beep of your motion detector gives the player the feeling that they’re trapped in the second Alien movie–and never goes into the hyperbole of the next three movies or the disastrous Alien Vs. Predator movie, by the way.
The good news is that you should be able to find a copy of this for under $10, and nearly any computer will run it. The bad news is that you’ll most likely have to hit the ‘net to find it, but a little persistence is worth it for this awesome title.
- F.E.A.R.
Platform: PC and Xbox360. Cost: $20-30
This classic first-person-shooter/horror game started out on the PC, although it’s since appeared on the Xbox 360 as well.
You fight your way through numerous levels packed with fantastic AI and some creepy ghosts, including one kid that’s haunted my dreams like nothing since The Shining. The levels do get a bit repetitive, but the jumpy moments will keep you playing until the last bullets and ghosts fly.
- Blair Witch Project 2
Platform: PC. Cost: Under $20
If you can track down a copy of this cult classic, all of your memories of the dismal Blair Witch sequel will be laid to rest.
Normally, movie-to-game franchises aren’t great–in fact, this game may seem a tad dated in light of modern hits like Bioshock. Still, the what-the-hell-is-going-on feeling makes you realize that you can die at any point in the game without knowing what happened. And you do.
The puzzles and chilling environments made this title stand out; sadly, perhaps because of the film franchise’s lackluster nature, Blair Witch 2 wasn’t a big hit at the time of its release and the series ended up dying mysteriously in the woods. For Halloween gaming, though, there’s no weirder and scarier title on the PC.
- Resident Evil 4
Platform: Gamecube, PS2, Wii. Cost: $15-30
This game’s only about $30 now on Wii, and cheaper if you can find it on PS2 or Gamecube. It’s still the best installment in the Resident Evil series, and even the acting’s alright. You’ll come for the Spanish zombies and stay for the brutal violence, through its groundbreaking gameplay that’s so solid that you won’t even mind the random “Press the button or lose!” sections.
The Playstation and Wii versions also have additional levels, and make a good case for Resident Evil IV being one of the scariest games of all time.