10 Best Reverse-Horror Video Games You've Probably Never Heard Of
Because there's more to the genre than just Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
Saving the world is a great thing to do in gaming.
It makes you feel like a real hero and gives the player a strong sense of justice, but sometimes, it's a hell of a lot more fun to play as the villain. This is particularly noticeable in the genre of horror.
When playing a typical spooky video game title, more often than not, you'll find yourself stripped of power and thrust into a frightening situation that sees you constantly put in danger. Doing so creates an experience that keeps players on edge and gives developers the power to control the scares throughout.
However, many players who love the scarier side of gaming seek new and exciting opportunities to explore the medium's macabre side without controlling a completely helpless avatar.
That is where the reverse horror genre comes in, as it gives gamers the freedom to step out of the light for a second and break into the darkness as they switch the perspective from victim to hunter.
No doubt you've heard of great titles in this sub-genre such as Dead by Daylight or Manhunt, but there are plenty more that you might have missed.
10. Sugar And Sinew
Sometimes in gaming, you don't need a compelling story, groundbreaking graphics or tonnes of action to make your title engaging. All you need is a nice simple gameplay loop that can kill a tonne of time and challenge the player.
That is the case with this straightforward game that sees you assume the role of a Lovecraftian beast.
Sugar and Sinew takes place on Halloween night and puts you into the shoes - or tentacles - of an abhorrent mass of flesh. Your job is to seek out and lure innocent trick or treaters to The Rift, to sacrifice them to your unspeakable master. You do so thanks to a set of skills, including speed boosts, luring, cloaking and consuming.
Taking control of an Eldritch abomination and killing children isn't the kind of thing that should be fun, but it undoubtedly is here. The simplicity of the title's design and gameplay makes it an easy-going experience, despite the harrowing concept.
What's even more impressive is that it was created as part of the SCREAMJAM 2020 Game Jam over only ten days. It's available to play for free on Itch.io and is easily worth your time - of which it won't take up too much.