Log In

Open-World Games That Are Scarier Than Most Horror Games

Published 1 day ago5 minute read

has become so prominent that developers must do something different to stand out. Ubisoft's mistakes have made it abundantly clear that trying to churn out more games with less effort won't entice fans to give such sandboxes a shot anymore.

Related

Best Indie Open-World RPGs, Ranked

Open-world games are often the domain of big-budget studios, but there are some indie gems out there too.

Most developers understand this and make it a point to develop open-world games that boast something new to keep fans engaged. Instilling a sense of tension and unease in players, almost as if they were playing a horror game, keeps players immersed and hooked. These open-world games do just that, working to arouse fear in their players that can even go beyond what pure horror gaming can achieve.

Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare Pack Tag Page Cover Art

is an excellent piece of DLC for that forces players to deal with the threat of zombies in the game's open world. Seeing hordes of shambling undead is bound to be unnerving for players who don't like witnessing decomposing corpses moving around.

Players can gun down zombie hordes as long as they're vigilant. However, if they let their guard down, a zombie horde can easily hunt them down and make them panic as they try to flee by any means necessary.

Gothic Tag Page Cover Art
Gothic

November 23, 2001

is one of the best and most challenging video games ever made. The Nameless Hero will be unceremoniously dumped into an elaborate prison, where they're forced to learn how the game works and slowly but surely get stronger.

Collage of Best Open World Games With The Best Art Direction ( Ghost of Tsushima, Death Stranding, Disco Elysium and Red Dead redemption 2)

Related

10 Open-World Games With The Best Art Design, Ranked

They say 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'; however, there's simply no denying that these open-world games have amazing art design.

Even a group of the game's weakest enemies will obliterate careless adventurers, which is why even the sight of a bee or a wolf is enough to send players scampering for their lives. It's not until they invest their experience points that they get stronger, and even then, there are powerful enemies like orcs who can flatten the Nameless Hero with a single hit if players aren't prepared.

ARK: Survival Evolved Tag Page Cover Art

T for Teen: Blood, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence

A survival game with dinosaurs that has become a major hit, is one of the best multiplayer games for players who want to explore a hostile world with their friends.

This title boasts ravenous dinosaurs that will chase down players if they even catch a whiff of their scent. There's nothing more terrifying than running away from an advancing T-rex, which spells instant doom for players unless a miracle saves them in the nick of time.

Batman: Arkham Knight Tag Page Cover Art

M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

The atmosphere of the Arkham series is a huge reason why players love Rocksteady's Batman games. had a bit of a mixed reception to certain aspects of the story and the Batmobile, which is why it took way too long for players to appreciate just how incredible the game's atmosphere is.

Jumpscares are used multiple times but rarely feel cheap, with the side quest featuring the Man-Bat being a glowing example of the same. Even when players are just soaring through Gotham City or experiencing the main story, a scare can always come out of nowhere and bamboozle them.

Subnautica Tag Page Cover Art
Subnautica

January 23, 2018

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

is not a game that thalassophobic people should play. The amazing survival gameplay and a vast open world make it a great exploration game, but there are moments when this title will scare the pants off players.

Satisfactory, Spiritfarer, Dyson Sphere Program

Related

8 Best Open-World Management Games, Ranked

These excellent open-world management games offer diverse opportunities to explore, build, and create.

Even people who aren't too afraid of the great unknown will get chills down their spine when they venture too far and see a massive underwater behemoth that will cause them to freeze. The last thing they want is to attract the attention of a giant fish that will swallow them in one fell swoop.

Elden Ring Tag Page Cover Art
Elden Ring
Game Rant logo

10/10

February 25, 2022

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

FromSoftware games are known for having an immaculate atmosphere, and is no exception. The open world is full of nightmarish monsters that will flatten unprepared players.

That's to say nothing of the bosses, who are so ferocious that players will find their heart beating at the mere prospect of tackling such a foe. Handcrafted dungeons will also surprise players with ambushes that may cause them to panic and die as they fail to anticipate the horrors that this game is willing to throw at them.

Outer Wilds Tag Page Cover Art

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference

Even the base game of has some scares that will take players by surprise, namely the foggy depths of Dark Bramble. However, nothing comes close to the horrors that await players in

The first-person viewpoint is used to scare the wits out of players so many times that the developer decided to add an option to reduce the scare factor of this DLC. It's just one of the many reasons why Outer Wilds is such a masterpiece with a downright rabid fanbase that loves watching other players experience this game's magic for the first time.

open-world games set in japan

More

8 Best Open World Games Set In Japan, Ranked

Explore Japan like never before with these must-play open-world games, ranging from feudal samurai sagas to supernatural Tokyo streets.

Origin:
publisher logo
Game Rant

Recommended Articles

Loading...

You may also like...