8 Horror Video Games That Took Things Too Far

8. Graphic Executions - Manhunt

It must be a dubious honor for Rockstar to hold the "most violent video game ever" tag for Manhunt 2, as not only is this a rightly deserved plaudit, but it's one that has marred the developer as a workforce that chased controversy over everything else.

Luckily, we've seen the studio tone down somewhat since these edgelord days, but for a while, the Manhunt franchise was the go-to place for gamers to explore a bit of the old uber-violence. However even returning to the more "tame" (and I use that word lightly) original title, Manhunt is still full of content that would make even the hardiest of us wince.

The concept of unwillingly starring in a snuff film is horrible to begin with, but the level of detail that went into the execution animations really pushed the blood-soaked boat out. From smashing people's faces in while they gasp for breath trapped within a plastic bag to being garrotted so hard their neck is sliced into, players could "unlock" even more brutal finishers by stalking their prey for longer.

Manhunt soon became known as a title that used "violence as gratification" and while Rockstar were keen to hold a mirror up and say "this is how society fetishizes violence in the media", the presentation here was stomach turning to say the least.