GAMERS DECIDE - BIOSHOCK

[Top 15] Games That Are Based On Books

Alina Lazarte — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 22:27:26 +0000

15. Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game - 2018 (PC / PS4 / XBOX / Nintendo Switch)

Call of Chtulhu is a horror survival RPG. The game mixes stealth and investigation elements. This game was inspired by Lovecraft's cosmic horror. Specifically by the book "The Call of Cthulhu". His most recognized story.

Edward Pierce, a private investigator, and our protagonist is assigned a task. He must investigate the devastating death of the Hawkins family. He's sent to Darkwater Island, Massachusetts. A place where the darkest things are happening. Immerse yourself in a realm of encroaching insanity and cosmic dread. Obscure hints, enigmatic individuals, and terror obstruct your path as you struggle to preserve your sanity. Are you prepared to unravel an unearthly enigma?

Choose this game if you like...

Great atmospheres. This game has an immersive atmosphere accurate to Lovecraft's universe.
Fantastic character design. Every single character you encounter in this game was carefully designed.
Short games with a captivating story.

Fun factor score: 80/100

The atmosphere, strange characters, and elements that make up this scene are perfectly matching Lovecraft's energy.

14. Dante's Inferno - 2010 (PSP / PS3 / PS VITA / XBOX)

A third-person action game with hack-and-slash elements. Dante's Inferno is based on the first part of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Get ready to put yourself in the shoes of Dante. A knight who has returned from a bloody crusade to find out his wife has died. He decides to travel to hell only to save his beloved Beatriz. Travel through the nine circles of Hell. Face your fears and all the demonic forces standing between you and your loved one.

Choose this game if you like...

Infernal atmosphere. The game is a walk-through hell.
Dark fantasy.
Gameplay similar to God of War. Not only because of the mechanics but also some scenarios.

Fun factor score: 100/100

This scenario is highly similar to God of War. You can control the giant after you defeat the creatures riding its spine.

13. S.T.A.L.K.E.R Shadow of Chernobyl - 2007 (PC)

Stalker is an FPS horror survival game. This title was inspired by the Chornobyl nuclear accident and by "Roadside Picnic". A philosophical sci-fi novel was written by Boris Strugatsky and Arkady. The game also mixes elements of action and RPG. Stalker is located in the real Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and includes the city of Pripyat. The story will take place in "the zone", resembling the real exclusion zone. The player will have to survive anomalies, mutant creatures, radiation, and other Stalkers.

This game has aged very well. It offers a non-linear story and smart AI enemies and NPCs. It presents dynamic changes during the day-night cycle that affect the gameplay as well as the weather. Stalker also has multiplayer modes for you to enjoy with friends.

Choose this game if you like...

Post-apocalyptic dark atmospheres. There’s a lot of fog on the way.
Highly atmospheric gameplay. As with most horror games you’ll have to use your sense of vision and hearing. Focus!
Non-linear stories with different possible endings.

Fun factor score: 80/100

A Dantesque scenario. Not only the creature is a human mutant but it's also crawling toward you. It looks as if it was asking for help.

12. Assassin's Creed Saga - 2007 (PC / PS3 / PS4 / XBOX)

Assassin’s Creed is probably the most famous on this list. Highly inspired by “Alamut”. A novel written by Vladimir Bartol. The popular phrase “nothing is true everything is permitted” was taken from the book and it represents the creed. This title has more than 40 games available to play. The developers exploded the story of one book into a lot of content (books, comics, short stories). Assassin’s Creed is a stealth game that brings us the story of two factions: templars and assassins. The objective of the templars is to find the Apple of Eden, an ancient artifact. The Assassins exist to preserve peace in their society. The templars are threatening to destroy it. Now is your goal to save the world. But remember, never compromise the brotherhood.

Choose this game if you like.

Stealth games.
Sci-fi and historical fiction. Assassin’s Creed games are a mixture of the past, present, and future.
History. This game will have you going through important events of the past. Events that happened in real life. Of course with slight fictional changes.

Fun factor score: 90/100

A view of Assassin’s Creed “Mirage”, the upcoming game by Ubisoft. Mirage will be the thirteenth installment in the Assassin's Creed series and the successor of Valhalla.

11. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West - 2010 (PC / PS3 / XBOX)

Embark on a captivating and unpredictable expedition based on the "Journey to the West" novel by Alex Garland. Two contrasting individuals ally to endure the perils of a post-apocalyptic America. Set 150 years ahead in a ruined world. Ravaged by war and devastation. Only a handful of survivors and nature have reclaimed its dominion. Take the place of Trip and Monkey. Two strong and smart prisoners who will have a difficult relationship.

Choose this game if you like...

Natural environments. If you’re a fan of nature you’ll love this game. It represents a post-apocalyptic world where nature is rising again.
The battle mechanics are similar to God of War and Devil May Cry.
Great character personality and growth. Both Monkey and Trip have personal growth throughout the game.

Fun factor score: 100/100

I present to you Monkey and Trip. He looks a little bit like Draven from League of Legends. But he represents what Wukong is in LoL. The monkey king or Sun Wukong.

10. Dune: Spice Wars - 2022 (PC)

Based on Frank Herbert's 1965 novel "Dune". This is a 4X real-time strategy game set in the Dune universe. Dune: Spice Wars puts you into the challenging terrain of Arrakis. A hostile desert planet, where you'll assume the role of a faction leader. Engage in fierce battles for ultimate control and supremacy. Spice is like water to us. It's a highly wanted resource and it's only found in Arrakis. Choose your faction and dive into these dangerous lands where sandworms are lurking.

Choose this game if you like...

Sand desertic atmospheres.
Tactical strategy games.
Futuristic dystopian worlds.

Fun factor score: 80/100

This magnificent view was taken during nighttime. We can see many interesting futuristic elements here.

9. Spec Ops: The Line - 2009 (PC / PS3 / XBOX)

Inspired by the masterpiece "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad and “Apocalypse Now” (the movie) by F.F. Coppola. Spec Ops is a third-person shooter set in a decadent Dubai after a cataclysmic sandstorm buried the city. An unknown radio signal coming from Dubai has been picked-up. You and your military team are sent to uncover the mystery and see if there are any survivors. The problem is the city is in the middle of war and madness. Now, your mission is to save Dubai. Spec Ops is a game designed to experience war as crudely as it is. The player will face moral choices and situations where there is no good choice, only bad or worse. Will you make it through the sandstorms and the stress? Can you handle a cruel war where death is its main protagonist?

Choose this game if you like...

Military forces. But don’t expect a fairytale!
Mental health topics. This game dives deep into situations that will trigger your sensitivity.

Fun factor score: 100/100

A bloody scene where the men gestures gives a little feel of what is like to be in war.

8. Hogwarts Legacy - 2023 (PC / PS4 / PS5 / XBOX / Nintendo Switch)

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Hogwarts Legacy. An action-packed RPG game set in the enchanting universe originally brought to life in the Harry Potter books. Step back in time to the 1800s and explore Hogwarts like never before. Assume the role of a student entrusted with a deep secret that has the potential to destroy the wizard's realm. Take command of your destiny as you become the focal point of a thrilling adventure in the magical world. Ride a Hippogriff. Fight against trolls and dark wizards. Explore a living world full of magic!

But be careful. Your actions will shape the course of history, defining the legacy you leave behind.

Choose this game if you like...

Fantasy magical worlds. This game has one of the most captivating magic worlds I’ve seen. Just like in the Harry Potter books!
If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, you are going to love this game as it brings beloved characters and places to life.
Mages, magic, spells, and all wizarding stuff in the style of Harry Potter. Meaning mages with wands instead of staffs.

Fun factor score: 90/100

One of the wizard students battling a giant troll. Encounters like this are highly exciting in the game!

7. Alice: Madness Returns - 2011 (PC / PS3 / XBOX)

Inspired by the acclaimed "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" novels by Lewis Carroll. Alice: Madness Returns brings us a third-person action-adventure platformer. The player takes the place of a dark version of Alice. A girl who lost her family and her mind. Locked in an Asylum, Alice will have to earn her way out. She decides to go back to her fantasy world of Wonderland but evil has taken what once was a beautiful and comforting place. Sink into this grim version of the classic Alice and help her find the solution to all the madness.

Choose this game if you like…

Mental health topics. Alice Madness deals with mental health issues like trauma. Just like the original but in a darker version.
Dark fantasy.
Linear stories.

Fun factor score: 100/100

A spectacular view of a little portion of Alice’s world. She seems like a gothic doll in those clothes.

6. The Sinking City - 2019 (PC / XBOX / PS4 / PS5 / Nintendo Switch)

The Sinking City is an open-world game with mystery, investigation, and sandbox elements. Inspired by the horror novel "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" by H.P. Lovecraft. It also takes inspiration from the Lovecraftian universe in general. Put yourself in the shoes of a private investigator and travel to Oakmont. A city suffering from flooding and attacks from unknown entities. Your goal is to find out what is causing all the distress in Oakmont and its inhabitants.

The game presents a sanity bar to make it challenging. It's highly replayable due to the investigation system which allows you to solve each case in different ways that unlock different endings. The best part of this game is that you'll have to carefully observe your surroundings to do your research. Which leads to a great immersive experience.

Choose this game if you like...

Cosmic horror. As you already know Lovecraft’s genre was cosmic horror.
Water. The city is flooded and it rains constantly.
Immersive and dark atmospheres.

Fun factor score: 90/100

Look at this… reptilian NPC creature. It perfectly matches the city concept.

5. World War Z - 2019 (PC / PS4 / PS5 / XBOX / Nintendo Switch)

Based on the popular book "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War" by Max Brooks. This game is a third-person zombie shooter. WW Z is a cooperative game designed for up to four players, similar to L4D gameplay. It can be played alone but it's much more fun with friends. Set 5 cities around the world the goal of WWZ is to survive a zombie apocalypse. Different challenging quests will be given to the player. Quests where you'll have to use your brain. And not to feed the zombies.

Choose this game if you like...

Zombies and gore. The Swarm Engine offers an advanced gore system and swarms of zombies.
Intense frenzy action similar to Left 4 Dead. WW Z offers more gameplay mechanics and not just killing zombies. But the main focus is that of facing hordes of zombies.
World War Z, the movie. The game also considers the movie as a source of inspiration.

Fun factor score: 90/100

We can see one of the selectable characters being invaded by a horde of zombies. Can you feel the desperation?

4. Bioshock - 2007 (PC / PS3 / PS4 / XBOX / Nintendo Switch / iOS)

This is one of the bests games and my personal favorite on the list. BioShock took inspiration from "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It brought several philosophies from Rand to the game. Rapture and Columbia are the two dystopic cities that resemble the opposite of the utopia proposed by Rand. Cities where individualism has gone too far. BioShock is a unique shooter. A game that will lead you to question yourself about society and the world we live in. The trilogy is a masterpiece. And it has aged very well. It also has been remastered. You have no excuses not to play it if you haven't yet.

Choose this game if you like...

Profound sociopolitical approaches.
Shooter with complex mechanics. You can turn everything into a weapon. Each enemy has its response and mechanic. You can biologically modify your body, craft new ammo, and more.
Art decó.

Fun factor score: 100/100

The plasmids are a very important part of BioShock’s universe. We can see it three times in this scene.

3. Okami - 2006 (PC / WII / PS2 / PS3 / PS4 / XBOX / Nintendo Switch)

Okami is a tribute to Japanese mythology. Inspired by the book Kojiki. The oldest historical book preserved about Japan's history. Immerse yourself in this highly praised masterpiece. Featuring its famous Sumi-e ink art style presented in stunning high definition. Embark on an epic journey as Amaterasu: the legendary white wolf embodying the Japanese sun goddess. Strive to defeat Orochi, a tyrannical eight-headed demon. Orochi is responsible for transforming the once vibrant world of Nippon into a desolate wasteland. And is your mission to save this world.

Choose this game if you like...

Japanese mythology.
Zelda type of games. Okami is similar in many aspects but it represents them in its way.
Ink-art. The art design is gorgeous. It looks like a dream.

Fun factor score: 90/100

This is a magnificent scene taken from the game. The line art and colors are marvelous.

2. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - 2014 (PC / PS4 / PS5 / PS VITA / XBOX / Wii U / Nintendo Switch)

This one was inspired by the biblical story of Isaac, son of Abraham. The Binding of Isaac is an action-packed RPG shooter. It combines randomized elements with strong rogue-like influences. The player will take the place of Isaac. This time he will escape his fate of being sacrificed. Join Isaac on his perilous adventure as he encounters peculiar artifacts that alter his appearance. These artifacts grant him extraordinary powers to fend off hordes of enigmatic creatures. Unearth secrets, overcome challenges and fight your way to survival.

Choose this game if you like...

Highly addictive games. Maybe it won't taste so good on the first try. But after the second you won't be able to stop playing it.
Poop! Lots of poop everywhere.
Great soundtracks and infinite content to discover and play. This game can be endless if you want to.

Fun factor score: 100/100

Isaac facing one of the bosses. The Widow is a giant spider added in Wrath of the Lamb and the Rebirth remake.

1. Conarium - 2017 ( PC / PS4 / XBOX / Nintendo Switch)

Drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's novella 'At the Mountains of Madness,' the game primarily takes place after the events of the original story. Conarium is a captivating Lovecraftian game that delves into a haunting narrative. The story is centered around four scientists. They embark on a daring quest to push the boundaries of what we perceive as the unalterable laws of nature. Take the place of Frank Gilman, a man who finds himself alone in the middle of the Antarctic. This game has quite an immersive atmosphere. Is one of the bests games I’ve seen so far.

Choose this game if you like...

Impressive Unreal Engine 4 graphics. You know what it’s like. Simply magnificent.
Lovecraft's greatest side. This game is one of the closest visual representations of what Lovecraft wrote. Conarium is all about the atmosphere.
Short but great stories.

Fun factor score: 100/100

This is a monolith with strange symbolism found in the game. Puzzles like this one are common and it matches the Lovecraft atmosphere so very well.

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More on this topic:

Games based on books |
games inspired by books |
Conarium |
lovecraft |
the binding of isaac |
Ōkami |
BIOSHOCK |
Atlas Shrugged |
Ayn Rand |
World War Z |
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War |
Max Brooks

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Bioshock Story Explained (Quick Version)

KieranF00 — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 10:01:04 +0000

The story of Bioshock - a horror-based FPS with elements of RPG - is one of the things that makes it an unforgettable game. Through neverending twists and turns, you storm your way through the game, and you’re always left thrilled at every moment by the storyline.

1. The event that kicks it all off

The lighthouse looms above us...

Bioshock begins when the playable main character Jack, is involved in a plane crash.

The year is 1960, and Jack finds himself lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest landmark is a lighthouse, which Jack swims over to, and once in the lighthouse, he is lowered down into a completely different world.

He now finds himself in Rapture, a neglected underwater city.

Jack then finds a radio, which he tunes into and he meets Atlas, a stranger who begins to guide him through the city to find his way out, and our journey begins.

2. All About Rapture

The city of Rapture in all its glory.

As Jack explores Rapture, he meets the monstrous mutants of known as Splicers, who he has to fight with regular guns and plasmids (serums which he can inject and upgrade to give him powers). They are lost, sadsouls, wronged and wandering the halls of Rapture seeking their revenge.

Rapture was planned and created by Andrew Ryan, one of the game’s main antagonists. When constructing Rapture, ADAM - a gene-changing liquid created by sea slugs on the ocean floor - was discovered. Then, ADAM was used to create Plasmids (serums which can be injected to give users special powers).

ADAM is almost like a character in the world of Rapture, as an important part of the gameplay and storyline.

3. The Little Sisters

The Little Sisters - terrifying yet adorable!

Another interesting character - or group of characters - in Bioshock, who are very much part of the storyline, are the Little Sisters.

When making his way through Rapture, Jack encounters a group of orphans, also known as the Little Sisters, who were used by Fontaine (one of Rapture’s powerful inhabitants) to produce ADAM on a mass scale. Fontaine put the ADAM-producing sea slugs into the Little Sisters’ stomachs, as we learn in the course of the game.

Throughout Bioshock, we're always made to choose between saving or harvesting the Little Sisters - and these decisions will be important later…

The introduction of the Little Sisters also comes hand in hand with another set of characters which are iconic in the Bioshock games, particularly the first; the Big Daddies. Created by Ryan to protect the Little Sisters, the Big Daddies are genetically-modified humans who are grafted into gigantic diving suits. They protect the Little Sisters as they scavenge for ADAM from the dead.

4. Finding Andrew Ryan - and Jack’s true identity is revealed

Andrew Ryan with his golf ball and club.

As Jack travels through Rapture, meeting these new characters and exploring the new settings along the way, Atlas eventually guides him to Andrew Ryan’s lair.

Ryan is still in his office, casually playing golf, when Jack enters, and he eventually explains Jack’s true identity.

Jack is Ryan’s bastard son, who Ryan’s mistress sold to Fontaine at embryo stage. Fontaine in turn had two of Rapture’s Doctors age Jack into adulthood.

From this point, Jack was used as an assassin. When he was no longer useful, Jack was smuggled to the surface and out of Rapture with memories of a normal life. Finally, he was called back to Rapture.

5. Would you kindly?

The gruesome death of Andrew Ryan.

One of the most quoted bits of dialogue in Bioshock is “would you kindly?” As soon as Ryan utters this word, Jack realises it's a hypnotic trigger that has been used against him in the past. He begins to remember that he caused the plane crash that left him stranded in Rapture.

Ryan then hands his golf club to Jack, telling him, “a man chooses; a slave obeys,” and Jack kills him with the golf club.

6. Who is Atlas?

No, really - who is he?!

The more eagle-eyed gamer may have seen a few “Who is Atlas?” posters hanging around throughout Rapture. Not only does this foreshadow what’s about to happen, it’s also a great nod to Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged, which included the line “Who is John Galt?” Rand’s writing very much inspired the philosophy of Rapture.

Well, really, Atlas is Fontaine, the con-man and criminal of Rapture who apparently died years ago - and he reveals it to us right when we think everything is over.

Fontaine then takes over Ryan’s security systems and leaves Jack alone with potentially dangerous drones.

7. The Little Sisters To the Rescue & The Death of Fontaine

The Little Sisters with less glowing eyes this time...

Jack is saved by one of the friendly Doctors in Rapture - Dr Tenenbaum - and the Little Sisters.

They accompany him deep into Fontaine’s lair, where Fontaine injects himself with a ridiculous amount of ADAM, turning himself into a superhuman creature. Aided by the Little Sisters in an incredible boss battle, Jack finally kills Fontaine.

8. Ending Option 1

The Little Sisters gather around an elderly Jack's bed.

Now this is where it gets fun. This is the ideal ending, for some.

If you’ve decided to rescue all or all but one of the Little Sisters, playing as Jack, you get to take them back to the surface and adopt several of them as your daughters. Fondly narrated by Dr Tenenbaum, they live happy lives under your care.

9. Ending Option 2

The less ideal ending...

This is the more interesting ending option. If you harvest more than one Little Sister, you turn on the Little Sisters in the end, harvesting their ADAM.

Dr Tenenbaum then narrates what happened; a Navy submarine investigating the plane crash becomes surrounded by Splicers who take control of the submarine. It is revealed that the submarine is carrying nuclear weapons.

The amount of Little Sisters you harvest affects the game, too; the worse you are, the angrier and more brutal Dr Tenenbaum’s narration becomes.

Bioshock is a cautionary tale when it comes to philosophy and the idea of utopia.

It’s clear that, when it comes to Bioshock, it’s the game’s captivating, immersive storyline that makes it even more of a joy to play.

More on this topic:

BIOSHOCK

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Why Bioshock is Good

KieranF00 — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 13:15:32 +0000

Bioshock is a bit of a modern classic when it comes to first-person shooter games. With RPG elements and a semi-open-world setting, there are many things that make Bioshock a good - and, to many, unforgettable - game.

1. Story

Would you kindly explain?

In Bioshock, we pick up and play the whole way through as Jack, who survives a plane crash and finds himself in Rapture, a dystopian underwater city. We must navigate through Rapture to find a way out, fighting mutated monsters along the way, guided by a man named Atlas via a radio.

Through Jack’s eyes, we see the strange world of Rapture unravel, and we are introduced to the Little Sisters and Big Daddy, who are all part of the warped experiment of Rapture.

The story of Bioshock is what attracts many to the game; it is haunting and often questions your morals. As you travel through the world of Rapture at your own pace, Bioshock allows you to use all the rich background information and exploration to assemble the pieces of the story - a trait of all good games with RPG elements.

In short - the storyline of Bioshock and the rich, complex world it is set in is a big part of what makes the game so good, causing you to question your own values and ideas as you drink it all in.

2. Graphics

Welcome to Rapture! The gate welcomes us...

Another thing that adds to the storyline of Bioshock - as all elements of a game have to work together well without a weak link - is the graphics.

Bioshock’s graphics are still impressive to this day - and would have been even more so when it first came out. There is now a remastered version available with even more spectacular graphics.

Every part of Rapture is equally well-detailed and, just like your favourite painting in a gallery, every time you play, you see something new - but we’ll talk about replayability in more detail soon.

The graphics are crisp and clear, and they give Rapture a dark, eerie glow. It is clear that everything in this world was once shiny and golden, but is now abandoned and silent - and the graphics show this perfectly.

Are the graphics alone good enough to make Bioshock a good game, and worth playing? Perhaps not on their own, but with the storyline and other elements of Bioshock - like cogs in a wheel - graphics make up part of the great game Bioshock is.

3. RPG Elements

The hallways of Rapture are calling...

Just like some of the other best games out there, Bioshock blurs the lines between game genres. While it is mostly a First Person Shooter game - or FPS - Bioshock includes RPG elements like scavenging for ammo and collecting interesting items like alcohol and cigarettes, which affect Jack in different ways.

In Bioshock, you are always interacting with the world around you, exploring every part of Rapture, which makes the whole experience much more fun and rewarding. Whatever you put in, you get out!

It makes the gameplay challenging at times, but never frustrating, because you can always go back to another area to pick up some ammo or upgrades you missed out on before. That way, you can always be prepared for whatever scary mutated character you’re about to fight.

The level of interaction that comes with the RPG elements really helps you feel immersed in the world of Rapture, which helps you understand the storyline, and is aided by the great graphics.

Again, we can see that the different parts of Bioshock as a game are good individually - but together, they make Bioshock one of the best FPS - and potentially one of the best games altogether.

4. An open world - for an FPS

The Little Sister and Big Daddy wandering the halls of Rapture.

For a First Person Shooter game, Bioshock - as we’ve discussed above - shares a lot of similarities with a lot of RPG games.

One of the things which make Bioshock feel like an RPG game is how open-world the setting of Rapture is. There are so many different options when you’re exploring Rapture; you can just look around and listen to the atmospheric jazz, or you can pick up objects with different stories and meanings to learn all about the history and creation of Rapture. Or, you could choose to explore a new room behind an unopened door or find ammo between some dark shelves.

Whatever your style of play is, chances are, Bioshock will find a way to win you over; whether you’re there for the high-intensity, graphic combat or the sleek, impressive graphics, you’re bound to find something to enjoy.

Bioshock is bursting with opportunities to do something new or different, and that’s what makes it such an enjoyable game. The gameplay is varied and differs based on who you’re fighting and how high or low your ammo and plasmids are. There’s always something to do on Bioshock, and that’s part of what makes it a really good game!

5. Replayability

The U-Invent Machine.

So, we’re back to one of our previous points - I told you I’d circle back! Bioshock is so replayable.

There’s always a new area of Rapture to explore, more ammo and XP to gain, more stories to learn. There are even a few different outcomes - no spoilers - so feel free to play around with your decisions every time you play.

With Bioshock, the options seem to be endless. You can walk down the same corridors hundreds of times and spot something new with every single step. There are always different ability configurations to explore and more mutants and Splicers to fight your way through.

6. Fun factor

The Big Daddies can be pretty tricky to fight!

Now, we all know the most important part of gaming - the fun factor. The main point of gaming, the part that unites geeks from across the world, spanning genres, is that they all want to have fun. So, how is Bioshock fun?

Of course, what someone finds fun depends on the person. For some, Bioshock might look a little too dull or eerie, but this is very much balanced with lighter moments. The game may also seem too horror-based or scary, but moments of peril never last too long, and are always more exhilarating instead of terrifying.

Bioshock is fun in a number of ways. The difficulty levels are appropriate, and nothing is ever too hard or impossible, and when you win, it’s so rewarding.

The fun factor is made up of a lot of different elements - combat, characters, levels, all of which we’ll take a look at soon - and overall, Bioshock is a great game to play. It’s thrilling, and it makes your heart race with adrenaline, but the good kind, as you fight your way through the beautiful, haunting hallways of Rapture.

7. Plasmids

One of the more... electrifying plasmids.

Without spoiling too much: Bioshock has some crazy combat options! But we’ll discuss combat as a whole in a bit…

In Bioshock, part of the combat relies on plasmids, which are serums you can inject to give you special powers to help you fight the mutants. These plasmids can be upgraded in stations and vending machines in every corner of Rapture.

The plasmids make Jack a much more exciting character to play; they give him superhero-like powers, which he can use on objects and characters alike. With one of the plasmids, you can set flammable items on fire, distract your attacker or freeze a mutant to make your way closer to the point of escape.

This element of the game is so much fun - but only if you make your way to the stations and machines in time! Sometimes, running out of powers and ammo - whilst having to fight your way through Rapture’s horrific mutants - on your way to the upgrade station can be frustrating, but Bioshock is well-equipped with checkpoints should you be overpowered by the snarling Splicers.

Plasmids are a fun part of Bioshock’s gameplay, but they can only really be used briefly, which means ammo-based weapons are also core to surviving Rapture.

8. Combat

A tete a tete with the splicers.

A big part of gameplay in Bioshock - as it is primarily a FPS - is combat. As you move through Rapture as Jack, you are exposed to the creatures the city houses, and none of them mean well.

Part of the gameplay includes puzzles, but this is mostly to open gates and doors - the rest is all about combat and decision-making.

In Bioshock, you can choose your combat modes depending on what or who you are fighting. There are the more “standard” - at least, for Rapture - options like Molotov cocktails and a wide range of guns, for which you can gather ammo. Then there’s the plasmids, and that’s where you can get creative.

No matter what mode you use - even if it’s a combo of both - the combat in Bioshock is always enjoyable. The shooting is intuitive and never clunky, and the plasmids always feel super powerful and useful.

As a Pegi 18 game, Bioshock is graphic but never in a gratuitous way; the damage is satisfying, and the violence is suitable for the game’s tone.

Overall, Bioshock is a satisfying and fun game to play and a lot of that is down to combat, which definitely makes it worth playing!

9. The Characters

Seeing our first Big Daddy.

A key part of every storyline is the characters. This is even more so the case when it comes to gaming; to play as a character, and to help them escape somewhere like Rapture, we have to care about them, and we certainly care about Jack.

To give us that motivation to escape, there also has to be bad guys - like the Splice, the deformed mutants who roam the corridors of Rapture, usually with bad intentions. They are strange and tragic creatures, though, clearly experiments of a much bigger baddie; the creator of Rapture.

He is almost seen as some great God or leader, and the mystery behind him and Rapture in general is what makes the storyline of Bioshock so intriguing, making us want to play on and discover more about how Rapture was founded.

Without great characters, there would be no great storyline; and without no great storyline, there would be no great game, and that’s why the characters of Bioshock definitely make it a good game, and one that is worth playing, because it is easy to become invested in Jack and the world around him.

10. Philosophy

Rapture's philosophy in one banner.

Now, bare with me on this one, because it may seem pretentious, but it’s an interesting point. Of course, Bioshock can be enjoyed without a deeper understanding of the philosophy behind it and the morals and values of the characters and Rapture in general.

But, for those who really like to get to know the games they’re playing on a more intellectual level, Bioshock, like the best of onions, has a great many layers of depth and philosophy to peel back, which can definitely enhance your enjoyment.

Rapture is basically built on the idea of objectivism - the idea that society is served by people focussing on their own interests without the state caring all that much. There’s even a famous banner found in Rapture which promises us, “No Gods or Kings. Only Man.”

Bioshock is an interesting look into what an objectivist society could look like, and what its issues would be, and how it would eventually fail.

There’s a lot more philosophy to dig down into around Bioshock, but that’s for the real philosophy nerds out there.

The game can definitely be played and enjoyed without understanding the philosophy and intellectual questions behind it.

So, what really makes Bioshock a good game?

Well, all of these things, really! As we’ve said, for a game to truly work and be enjoyed, all the cogs that make up the greater whole should be good in their own right, and they should work together to create a good game - which is definitely the case with Bioshock.

An FPS with a sprinkling of RPG here and there, It challenges you and makes you question yourself at the end, and your morals and values. It holds a mirror up to all of us and our ideas.

It’s a game that truly makes you think, in all the good ways.

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[Top 15] Horror RPG Games

albertomrn15 — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 17:49:56 +0000

Horror in video games has so many sub-genres. From survival horror to horror first person shooters. There’s so much to love about the genre in video games and nothing better exemplifies this than horror RPGs. As a matter of fact, some of the games featured on this list have won multiple GOTY awards and have moved the gaming industry forward with their addictive gameplay loops and unforgettable storylines. Today, we’ll go through fifteen horror RPG video games that have stood the test of time.

15. Fallout 3 - 2008 (PS3/Xbox 360 and One/PC)

Let's Play Fallout 3 Part 1 - The 100% Playthrough!

Released in 2008, Fallout 3 has since become an instant classic. Many action RPGs have modeled their open-world design after Fallout 3, from its branching storylines to its in-depth skill trees that keep players returning to their game. Still, Fallout 3 is a prime example of how to do an open-world video game right. You take control of your own created character, exploring a post-apocalyptic world and its inhabitants. Your primary objective is to find your father after all these decades, uncover his whereabouts, and finish the important work he started.

Why Fallout 3 Is A Fantastic Horror RPG

Now hear me out. On the surface, Fallout 3 doesn’t look like it’d be a horror RPG, and you’d be right to make that assessment. But upon further inspection and having gone through my most recent playthrough, I can’t help but see the game as a solid horror RPG. Most enemies you fight are mutated monsters—some of which are downright terrifying—and you are having to either fight a horde of ghouls one moment or run away from some of the super mutants that will give chase if you aren’t prepared. There are even references to H.P. Lovecraft, such as the Dunwich building, which has its own disturbing backstory that I won’t spoil here. And that’s just scratching the surface.

Fun Factor:95/100

If that isn’t a frightening image, I don’t know what is.

14. Vampyr - 2018 (PS4/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/PC)

VAMPYR FULL GAME Walkthrough NO Commentary GAMEPLAY "Vampyr Longplay Marathon Edition"

In Vampyr, you play as Johnathan Reid, a doctor turned vampire who struggles with his newfound abilities as a creature of the night and the consequences that come with upholding his oath as a healer, all set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the Great War in 1918.

Why You Should Play Vampyr

Vampyr is a rather decent horror RPG that sees you play in a semi-open world through four boroughs that are interconnected with each other. Throughout the game, you must decide to either give in to your vampiristic nature and feed on innocents, which in turn allows you to level up and become a powerful vampire, making endgame encounters rather easy to go through, or you can choose to avoid most combat situations and better cover your tracks as a vampire, but as a result, you are pretty vulnerable to more powerful enemies. Dontnod has struck a sweet balance between action and dialog between the sixty NPC characters you can choose to develop relationships with.

Of course, this wouldn’t be an RPG without multiple endings, and Vampyr has four—one of which you can get by not having killed virtually anyone in the game—encouraging players to revisit its Victorian-era world with some spooky atmosphere for good measure.

Fun Factor: 75/100

Vampyr has a good blend of action, using weapons in tandem with your vampire abilities.

13. Control - 2019 (PS4 and PS5/Xbox One and Series X and S/Nintendo Switch/PC)

Control - PS5 Combat Gameplay | 4K 60FPS

When Control was released in 2019, people didn’t think much of it. It was developed by Remedy, which has a pretty good track record of releasing solid titles, but other than its mysterious plot, there wasn’t much to go off of. To try to explain the story of Control without sounding like a madman is a tough task, but here goes. You play as Jesse Faden, the Bureau’s new director, tasked with defeating the Hiss, an otherworldly entity that has corrupted the FBC’s (Federal Bureau of Control) oldest house and headquarters. Yeah, did you get all that?

Why Control Makes For A Good Horror RPG

There’s so much that makes Control an underrated classic, like its Metroidvania-style level design and its Doom-like combat of dispatching hordes of enemies with various weapons and abilities in tandem with one another, creating some pretty rad combat scenarios. Using basically the force to throw most any ordinary object at enemies, followed up by a good shotgun blast to keep them at bay. But Control has an eerie atmosphere behind it as well.

When not in combat, you’ll be exploring the labyrinth-sized headquarters, collecting notes about disturbing paranormal phenomena, and finding other members of the FBC seemingly suspended in the air until they are triggered and you are forced to fight for your life. Remedy did an excellent job at playing mind games with players, too, shifting the complex at will and disorienting you in the process. Throughout the game’s runtime, you aren’t at peace. You’ll always be ready for a mini-boss fight or fighting off hordes of enemies at once.

Fun Factor: 90/100

A common occurrence in Control. Finding eerie sights like this.

12. Dying Light - 2016 (PS4/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/PC)

DYING LIGHT Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 FULL GAME [4K 60FPS PC ULTRA] - No Commentary

Quite possibly one of the best open-world zombie games, Dying Light is about Kyle Crane, a secret agent tasked with infiltrating a town and finding a supposed file that could contain a cure to a zombie virus that has ravaged the Middle Eastern city of Harran. Things are made worse when Kyle is infected himself, putting a time limit on his already complicated mission.

What Makes Dying Light A Terrifyingly Good Time

Developed by Techland, the same developers responsible for Dead Island, there was some hesitation surrounding Dying Light after the disappointment of both Dead Island games. To this day, Dying Light is one of the best survival horror RPGs to have come out in recent memory. With a dynamic day/night cycle, parkour combat, and weapon crafting, there’s a lot to love about Dying Light, but it isn’t just a great horror action game.

Dying Light is as harsh as the world it’s set in. Traversing Harran is a lot of fun, but be ready to have your heart rate jump when you are forced to retreat back to a safe outpost as dusk arrives, when running infected go after you relentlessly. It’s a risk/reward system made all the more addictive when you go into the world in search of the best weapons. It also has a cool John Carpenter-esque score that plays as you play.

Fun Factor: 85/100

Kyle fighting off some pretty nightmarish looking infected.

11. Castlevania: SOTN - 1997 (PS1 and PS4/Sega Saturn/PSP/Xbox 360/Android and IOS)

PSX Longplay [369] Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Ah, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. What’s there to say about this title that hasn’t already been talked about extensively? You play as Alucard, who explores Dracula’s castle, which has reappeared mysteriously after the events of the previous series’s title. This particular Castlevania game is infamous for straying away from its traditional game design and introducing a gameplay model that would become the series’s main staple for years to come.

Castlevania: SOTN Is Still Goated And You Should Be Playing It

Symphony of the Night is influential, much like Resident Evil 4 was when it launched. This title introduced a non-linear level design, allowing the player to explore much more freely than in previous titles. Though not necessarily scary, Symphony of the Night still holds up to this day and is a blast to play through. There are various weapons to use and abilities to upgrade here, which made traversing through Dracula’s castle engaging and rewarding to explore. Symphony of the Night laid the foundation for other RPG games in the future and is still highly regarded as one of the best video games of all time to this day.

Fun Factor: 95/100

Alucard in the midst of battle.

10. Blasphemous - 2019 (PS4/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/PC)

Blasphemous - Full Game & True Ending (Longplay) (No Commentary)

Blasphemous is such a good game. Talking about games Symphony of the Night paved the way for, Blasphemous proudly and deservingly continues to carry the torch for both Soulsborne and Metroidvania-style games. You are the Penitent One, tasked with journeying through harsh lands to seek a sacred relic. Yes, you will die. A lot. Be prepared.

Why Blasphemous Is Worth Your Time

Admittedly, Blasphemous won’t be for everyone. It’s an inherently difficult game with a combat system that is easy to pick up but hard to master. If you’ve ever played a Dark Souls game, then you know the kind of experience you’re getting into. But trust me—you’re going to want to play this game. If you’re patient enough to learn its combat and adjust to its difficulty, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best horror RPGs of all time, in my opinion.

And yes, I did say horror. Blasphemous has an art style that both amazes and disturbs me. Some boss fights have stayed with me simply because of how haunting they look. Even the Penitent One looks frightening, with his barbed-wire helmet that looks like something out of a Slipknot music video. Play this game! It’s so damn good!

Fun Factor: 98/100

Blasphemous’ bosses are some of the most memorable in gaming.

9. Darkest Dungeon - 2016 (PS4 and Vita/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/IOS/PC)

Darkest Dungeon Gameplay (PC UHD) [4K60FPS]

There’s a reason why Darkest Dungeon is on a lot of horror RPG lists. It’s unmatched. You control a team of characters as you delve deep into dungeons and fight off creatures. Its story is simple. You, as the protagonist, have inherited a manor in which powerful beings have been unleashed by its previous owner. Now it’s up to you to recruit a team of powerful characters to eradicate the enemy.

Why You Should Play Darkest Dungeon

Darkest Dungeon is one of the most stressful turn-based RPG games I’ve played. It takes patience and a lot of preparation to go through the game’s dungeons. If even one of your heroes is killed in battle, they are gone for good. And the enemies you fight range from your typical grunts to cosmic-looking beings that will surely test your mettle. Perhaps the scariest thing about Darkest Dungeon is how cruel it can be. It may leave some players hating it—and I can understand if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea—but for those who are willing to push past its initial learning curve, you’re sure to have a good time with Darkest Dungeon. You might have played games like this before. But Darkest Dungeon’s pen-and-ink art style and satisfying combat put it in a league of its own.

Fun Factor: 85/100

Darkest Dungeon oozes with style.

8. System Shock 2 - 1999 (PC)

System Shock 2 (Windows 10) - Full Game 1080p60 HD Walkthrough Part One - No Commentary

Revered as one of the best survival horror RPGs of all time, System Shock 2 sees you playing as a soldier onboard a ship where a genetic infection has occurred. Tasked with putting a stop to the outbreak, you’ll have to gather resources and obtain upgrades that will be crucial to your survival.

Why System Shock 2 Is Still An Amazing Game

System Shock 2 is responsible for another game we will cover on this list, but it is also one of the greatest first person shooters to be released. It’s also pretty terrifying to play. Sure, in comparison to outright horror games like Visage, where it’s all scares every second of the game, System Shock 2 lets you traverse the ship while enemies search for you and robotically moan for you to join them. The atmosphere created here is unparalleled. You won’t ever feel completely safe in the game, and while there is fun combat to be had, you’re still going to want to wipe your sweaty palms after every session.

Fun Factor: 100/100

Sir, can you not come towards me ominously?

7. Bioshock - 2007 (PS3 and PS4/Xbox 360 and Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/PC/IOS)

BIOSHOCK REMASTERED Full Game Walkthrough - No Commentary (#Bioshock Full Game) 2016

Set in the 1960s, you are Jack, who’s enjoying a smoke and taking it easy on a flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Things are pretty peachy. That is, until your plane crashes into the sea and you are forced to take shelter inside a lighthouse that turns out to be an entrance to the city of Rapture. An underwater dystopian city where no one man governs the rest. It’s up to you to try to escape Rapture. Preferably intact.

Welcome to Rapture…

Speaking of Irrational Games, it seemed as though nothing could outdo the success of System Shock 2, but then Bioshock was released and everything changed. Put simply, Bishock is one of the greatest video games ever made. From its engaging story and M. Night Shyamalan twist to its superb gunplay, everything here was made with painstaking detail. Not an inch of this world was wasted. The moment you step into Rapture, you are sure to be entrenched in its hauntingly beautiful ruins. Whether it’s your first playthrough or your twelfth, Bioshock is an experience that deserves your time.

The reason why a game from 2007 still holds up and plays better than most other first-person shooters these days is partly due to its development team and their understanding of what makes a survival horror RPG great, but also because of Rapture’s design. Rapture feels like an antagonist in and of itself. The crazed people who overrun it and their sole desire to see you dead, make for an uncomfortable and stressful experience. The little sisters that hum with their possessed-sounding voices, accompanied by their big daddies, while you explore for ammo or money. It’s all quite horrifying, as it is intriguing to explore.

If video games were to cease to exist and were to start from scratch, Bioshock would make an excellent blueprint to work from. It’s that good.

Fun Factor: 100/100

Sir… Would you kindly back up?

6. Evil Dead The Game - 2022 (PS5 and PS4/Xbox One and Series X and S/Nintendo Switch/PC)

Evil Dead The Game 4K/60fps Longplay Walkthrough Gameplay No Commentary

There’s something to be said about game developers attempting to make the same game with varying degrees of failure or success, depending on how you look at it. The Evil Dead is one such franchise that has seen multiple iterations of video games released to middling scores and has been forgotten largely by the gaming community. The most recent Evil Dead game released last year seems to have nailed the formula, creating a multiplayer-focused experience that will leave you impressed. The idea is simple: you and three other buddies band together as your favorite characters from the Evil Dead franchise as you attempt to banish the Necronomicon from existence.

The Evil Dead Game Is Actually Good

I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve sunk a lot of hours into this one. With a rather strong fan base still championing the game to this day, here are a few reasons why you’d want to play this horror RPG title.

For one, there are four versions of Ash Williams in this game. That means all four of your teammates, including yourself, can play the franchise’s most recognizable protagonist, each from different films and the TV show. Saber Interactive has also shown how massive fans they are of the films, having recreated the film’s cabin down to a tee, including the backwoods that serve as the backdrop of the horror movies. One moment you can be exploring for loot to defend yourself against deadites, the next you’ll be jump-scared by a possessed demon tree. And it’s not just for fun either if you’re not careful, your character can be susceptible to possession if you don’t tend to his or her fear meter.

The combat in the game consists of using everyday tools like sledgehammers, axes, nail guns, double-barreled boomsticks, and the oh-so-precious chainsaw. Each character comes with their own ability tree that you can upgrade and prioritize over others. Maybe you want to be a leader who rallies their team together or a lone wolf who can carry more health items and ammo. The choices are nearly endless. Saber Interactive has actively added more characters and maps to the game post-launch, so don’t think you’re going to be playing a game that is on its last legs.

Though the game is short on story content—if that’s what you were hoping to pick up this game for—there are some single-player missions that are worth going through to unlock certain characters. Playing through the single-player missions gives you a chance to familiarize yourself with the maps, and for hardcore fans, you can earn tapes that give you some flavor text of the world of Evil Dead.

Fun Factor: 86/100

Groovy… Well, the terrifying old ones you have to banish… not so much.

5. Metro 2033 - 2010 (PS4/Xbox 360 and One/Nintendo Switch/PC)

METRO 2033 FULL Gameplay Walkthrough (METRO 2033 REDUX Walkthrough)

The world of Metro 2033 is harsh, terrifying, and oppressive. Based on the novels of the same name, Metro 2033 sees you playing as Artyom, a survivor of a nuclear apocalypse who must venture outside the safe confines of the metro tunnels of Moscow in order to save his people. This first-person survival horror RPG might ring a few bells for those who have played S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and you wouldn’t be wrong to make that assumption as it was developed by some of the people who worked on the game.

Metro 2033 Is An Underrated Horror Gem

Metro 2033 surprised players and critics alike when it was released in 2010. With little to no publicity behind the game’s launch, Metro 2033 was a refined first person shooter with survival horror elements that fans of the genre have come to love. Resource management, from conserving ammunition to monitoring your gas mask’s air filter which is essential to exploring in irradiated areas.

4A Games truly made players feel like they are surviving in a post-apocalyptic world—probably more so than Fallout in my opinion—with a heavy emphasis on stealth in order to evade stronger enemies and making tough decisions like selling ammo (the game’s currency) or using it for yourself to create stronger bullets against the mutated creatures that are featured in the game.

Metro 2033’s success managed to spawn two sequels that expanded in scope, with nonlinear gameplay and moral choices that affect the game’s ending. Metro 2033 is where it all started and is by far my personal favorite of the series.

Fun Factor:90/100

Metro 2033 drips with atmosphere as showcased here.

4. Deadrising - 2006 (Xbox 360 and One/PS3 and PS4/PC)

Dead Rising Full Gameplay Walkthrough (All Survivors, Psychopaths, Overtime)

Frank West is a seasoned photojournalist looking for a big scoop, and he gets it when he is dropped into a zombie-infested mall in Willamette, Colorado. You, as the player, have 72 hours to find out the source of the mysterious zombie virus before your rescue chopper arrives.

Why You Should Play Deadrising

You’re given an entire mall to play in in Deadrising. You, as the player, get to decide how you want to spend your 72 hours. You can choose to play through the game’s story and be treated to plot twists and some corny B-movie dialog that can only be found in B-horror movies. Or you can say, “Screw that'', and skate around on a skateboard and chug orange juice while wearing a toddler’s outfit and dropkick zombies. Either way, you’re bound to have a fun time with this title. Nearly every action contributes to your leveling system: gaining new abilities, upgrading your health and stamina, etc.

Though the game has aged a bit, its controls feeling clunky in comparison to its sequels, and the 72-hour limit being a controversial feature that some players see more as a hindrance than a motivation, Deadrising is still a classic that deserves your time.

Fun Factor: 75/100

He’s covered wars you know.

3. Prey - 2017 (PS4/Xbox One/PC)

Prey 2017｜Full Game Playthrough｜4K HDR

Developed by Arkane Studios, the same developers responsible for the great Dishonored series, Prey sets you loose on the space station Talos I as you play as Morgan Yu, a researcher of scientific experiments revolving around an alien organism called Typhon. Now that the Typhon has been released among the station, you must find a way to destroy Talos I before things get worse. Trust me, there’s more to the plot that I can explain here, but the less I say, the better your experience will be.

What Makes Prey Such A Good Game

Though the plot may not be as interesting as other games on this list, Prey’s rather barebones plot serves merely as a reason to experience a fantastic first-person shooter. Taking inspiration from games like System Shock 2 and Bioshock, Prey carves out its own personality by letting the player decide how he or she will navigate Talos I. It’s entirely possible to avoid most enemy encounters or even use some of the less lethal weapons in the Prey to complete the game, and that’s what makes Prey such an inviting experience.

Prey may feature enemies that seem copy and paste, but the inclusion of creatures like mimics, which quite literally take the form of everyday objects, makes for some pretty memorable and terrifying moments. Oftentimes, you’ll find yourself entering a room and cautiously exploring while paranoia sets in, and then you’ll be hitting everything in the room, from chairs to cups, just in case a mimic doesn’t pop out in front of you. Talos I is also riddled with environmental storytelling, where perhaps you can piece together what went wrong in the foyer of a subsection of the space station. All of this adds to the rather eerie atmosphere of Prey.

The combat in Prey is highly replayable, too. There are a variety of weapons that you can use at your disposal, like a GLOO gun that freezes enemies, which in turn gives you an opportunity to use your handgun or wrench to neutralize them. Or use that same GLOO gun to create a pathway towards a vent that can skip the entire combat sequence all together. Regardless of how you play, Prey will reward your creativity.

Fun Factor: 95/100

This is fine. Everything’s fine.

2. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem - 2002 (Nintendo Gamecube)

Eternal Darkness Sanity's Requiem [GameCube] 4K 60FPS Walkthrough/Longplay 2020 No Commentary

Good luck trying to find a copy of this highly sought-after and underrated survival horror RPG. You take control of various characters in wildly different time periods as you take on otherworldly—near cosmic horror—creatures.

What Makes Eternal Darkness Unique

Simply put, Eternal Darkness was popular among horror fans for being the first psychological horror game that added a sanity meter that would make for unique gameplay mechanics, like the infamous delete save moment that will terrify first-time players. Additionally, the game distinguishes itself from other horror titles by having a non-chronological story told in chapters that take place in different time periods. Beyond that, Eternal Darkness isn’t far removed from other survival horror titles like Resident Evil, especially in combat, where you must dispatch monsters to progress forward, complete puzzles by combining certain items, etc.

To this day, Eternal Darkness stands in a league of its own. Most people will not have a chance to play it due to the exclusivity on the GameCube. That, and it’s tough to track down a copy for a fair price. But if you’re willing to seek out a copy of this game, I guarantee you’ll have a fun and spooky time.

Fun Factor: 80/100

Open the book. I dare you.

1. Bloodborne - 2015 (PS4)

Bloodborne - Walkthrough Part 1: Central Yharnam

Bloodborne is quite possibly the best horror RPG there is. Developed by FromSoftware, Bloodborne is an H.P. Lovecraft fan’s wet dream. Taking place in the fictional town of Yharnam, you play as a nameless hunter tasked with the same mission as the hunters that have come before you. Hunt beasts and maybe find the source of this ancient plague.

Bloodborne Is The Best Horror RPG Of All Time

To this day, I still struggle to decide which is FromSoft’s magnum opus. Elden Ring or Bloodborne. Strong cases can be made for both. But as of late, I still say that that crown deserves to be bestowed on this colossal title. Mixing a perfect blend of horror and action, Bloodborne is the definitive horror RPG experience. Not only will you hesitate to go through those foggy boss gates, afraid of what cosmic atrocity will try to murder you, but the city of Yharnam is always trying to kill you. From rabid dogs to citizens who are deranged enough to think you are the beast, when in fact it is they who are turning into mindless creatures, every corner you turn and every gothic building you enter, you’re bound to find something that is trying to send you back into the hunter’s dream.

To counter this, you are armed with weapons purposefully designed to cut down your enemies, from a visceral hacksaw to holy blades. You, as the player, get to decide what kind of hunter you want to be. Bloodborne was also the first game to omit shields with guns in their place, adding a sense of dread as you realize you must fight and successfully parry enemies if you wish to have a chance at survival.

To further encourage an offensive playstyle, FromSoftware added a risk/reward system in which a player can regain lost health if he or she forces themselves to keep hacking away, seeing their health return to them if they are successful. And you don’t have to go at it alone. You can summon other hunters (players) to help you with boss fights and areas that are heavily congested with enemies. But beware; it’s not always a guarantee that you will succeed with co-op companions. The world of Bloodborne is cruel and unrelenting; regardless of how much you level up or summon help, it seems like you’re always fighting to stay alive rather than become a killing machine.

There’s a reason why Bloodborne is adored by fans who are clamoring for a sequel. Bloodborne is one of a kind, and it remains that way. For now.

Fun Factor:100/100

Oh yeah, you will die. A lot. Isn’t that fun?

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[Top 10] Best Sci-Fi Horror Games (Ranked Fun to Most Fun)

Mr. Dewitt — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:02:47 +0000

#10 Half-Life: Alyx - 2020 (Microsoft Windows)

Revisit the universe of Half-Life as Alyx Vance.

The most recent entry in the long-standing beloved series, Half-Life: Alyx allows players to play as the fan-favorite character, Alyx Vance. Players must journey through the dangerous Quarantine Zone in a bid to discover the Combine’s secret weapon. Players must solve numerous puzzles while evading Combine troops and fighting off a host of bizarre yet deadly alien creatures.