Xbox Games To Play In The Dark – Happy Halloween

Posted Ocotber 27 2011 by Keadin
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Halloween is just around the corner, so what better time to dim the lights and fire up the Xbox 360 for some truly bone-chilling horror? There's a bevy of games on the system that will make your hair stand on end and make your skin crawl. You can try and mask your terror, even shut the games off, but they'll be waiting for you. You have to come back sometime…

Resident Evil 4 HD
Arguably the best in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil 4 HD is a high-definition re-mastering of the classic. Throwing the player in the middle of a nowhere town surrounded by cult members and infected farmers, this is one vacation that'll be hard to shake from memory. Thankfully you've got a healthy arsenal of weapons at your disposal, but those are only good as long as you have ammo, which begs the question; how good is your aim?

Resident Evil Code: Veronica HD
Because one title isn't enough for gaming's premiere horror franchise, Resident Evil Code: Veronica HD has also been made available as a downloadable on the Xbox Live Marketplace. If you've got the nerve to tackle them both, Resident Evil Code: Veronica will provide more than enough frights. Known for being the first fully 3D Resident Evil title, it is interesting revisiting this one because despite what people say, fear is ageless.

Rise of Nightmares
It's one thing to be facing down a house full of horrors; it's another when you're feeling it with the controller-free magic of Kinect. It's a haunting title that will curdle your blood with its terrifying atmospheres. As you stalk through corridors, you'll be forced to fend off monsters and dodge traps around every corner. Probably the most terrifying part is that you'll have to rely on your own physique to get you through it.

Dark Souls
Dark castles with dark creatures, the things that go bump in the night. Knowing death is around every corner but being compelled to press onwards. Clutching your trusty weapon, your last lifeline against the unspeakable evils, and not knowing if it will be enough to save you; these are the things that Dark Souls is all about. In addition to being one of the most difficult experiences, this is one of the few games that can consistently put me on the edge of my seat in white-knuckled fear. It's so easy to die and the moody atmosphere sets a grim stage for your inevitable demise. This isn't for the faint of heart, but those brave enough to try are in for a treat.

Batman: Arkham City
When some people think of Batman, they think of cheesy costumes and large fonts accentuating dramatic punches. But the Dark Knight earned his name for a reason; Batman can be a pretty scary guy. Thankfully you get to wield his fearsome power, but that doesn't mean that the rogues gallery won't strike a little twinge of terror in your heart. Whether it's the sadistic madness of The Joker, or the gruesome moral disfigurement of Two-Face, there's a villain for you to fear.

Catherine
What's scarier than commitment? In Catherine players take on the role of Vincent as his life is torn apart by the women around him. On one hand his long-time girlfriend Katherine wants to settle down and get married, on the other is newcomer Catherine who spices up his life with the kind of romance he's been looking for. What makes this one truly frightening is that every night when Vincent goes to sleep he's chased by the demons of his infidelity – if they catch him, he dies in his sleep. It's a bloody valentine wrapped in a strange and supernatural mythology. The game is a definite fright for anyone who's ever struggled with the complexities of relationships.

Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone
Zombies have been the collective nightmare of choice for modern pop-culture, but never has there been a game that hits so close to home. Set on a "small Canadian island", Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone features Canadian gaming icons Jeremy (Jarett Cale) and FPS Doug (Joel Gardiner) of Pure Pwnage fame face off against the undead in a whimsical take on the apocalypse genre. With style and attitude, the pair find themselves wielding machine guns and chainsaws and a whole lot of zombies to kill.

Dead Island
Everyone needs a little vacation every now and again, but perhaps the remote infested island of Banoi isn't the best choice. Infested with bikini-clad undead, players have to work with friends to survive the former tropical paradise as the infected march relentlessly on a quest to eat their brains. You'll be able to craft weapons and stockpile skills, but it won't help much because the infected are too many and they're always hungry. This is one you'll want to play with your buddies close at hand, you know for when you get scared and need someone to hide behind.