Top 10 budget games to play for Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and what better way to prepare than by playing scary videogames? Sadly, the only real horror I have is that I'm broke...again. So I've decided to round up a good ol' top 10 list for gamers on a budget who also want to experience wearing brown trousers. In addition to this, horror games have been lacking in the last few years with only a handful of games worth mentioning. This list is in no particular order and will contain both recent games and old classic games that you may or may not have even heard of.



Please feel free to leave a comment and tell us your personal favorite horror game of all time, I'll be looking forward to the responses!

Dead Space
Platforms - Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
Average price - $15-$20

Dead Space is the amazing clone baby of Alien, Event Horizon, Resident Evil, and a multitude of other sci-fi horror fictions. You play Isaac, engineer on a mission to fix the silent Ishimura, a giant deep space mining vessel. As usual, there is a terrible reason no one is around and blood is everywhere, because people are not what's around anymore. With a shooting system similar to that of Resident Evils 4 and 5, and the atmosphere of an Alien film, and the gore out of a Doom game, Dead Space is one helluva ride to hell and back. With a sequel coming in January, now is a great time to experience this title on Halloween. PS3, 360, and PC. You can pick up a new copy of the original game for $19.99 at GameStop and even less for a used copy. You owe it to yourself.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Platforms - PC, Macintosh, Linux
Average price - $20

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a first person survival horror game, and is one of the best horror games to come along in a long time, for the simple fact that it's scary. Download Steam, try demo, buy for 20 dollars, poo pants, seriously. You wake up in an abandoned castle to realize you know nothing other than your name and where you live. All exits are blocked off, and a note from your past self tells you to kill a man. Floors creak, doors slam open, howls are heard, and moans echo. This Indie game didn't exactly go un-noticed, but after 30 minutes with the game, you'll be happy your supporting a company that's already well on their way to making their next Indie horror title. This game is available for PC, Macintosh and Linux. Support the little guys and grab this awesome game from STEAM or FrictionalGames' main website. Check out Taylor's full review of Amnesia by clicking here.

Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
Platforms - PC, GameBoy Color, Dreamcast, PSX, PS2 (Europe only)
Average price - $5 and under

Alone in the Dark is often regarded as the father of the horror genre. Although it is hilariously outdated and has not aged well whatsoever, it carries traits that are still found in other games such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Since these games were released, the Alone in the Dark series has kinda fallen into mediocrity and obscurity. That being said, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is for want of a better phrase - a Resident Evil clone. It controls like the older Resident Evil games and has a pretty interesting story combined with a good balance of action and puzzle solving. This little underated gem can be yours for around $5 used on Amazon.com. I say check it out if you're looking for an old school horror adventure game. I'd recommend the PSX version as the PC version, which I have, can be awkward to control. It's still a lot better than the abysmal 2008 Alone in the Dark.

F.E.A.R (First Encounter Assault Recon)
Platforms - PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Average price - $10-$15

FEAR is a fast paced action horror title splattered in gore and very, very scary supernatural hauntings. Having the ability to slow down time and blow away badguys in gory slow motion doesn't take away the 'F.E.A.R' when you can't see or hit the enemies, especially when you're being stalked by a mysterious figure that's pulling your strings like a puppet and a tiny girl riding your ass with the ability to snap you in two at any second. PS3, 360, and PC. At only $9.99 on STEAM and maybe even less if you see it instore somewhere, give it a shot. Just don't play it with the lights off.

Resident Evil (Remake)
Platforms - GameCube, Wii
Average price - $10-$20

Resident Evil, the REmake, the definitive mansion horror game, until another can come along and sweep away the title, but that seems like a long ways off, if it comes at all. Trapped in a manor full of zombies, mutants, and traps, the police officers of Raccoon City have to unravel the conspiracy behind the murders of their townsfolk. The remake of the game that kicked the horror genre in its ass and got it truly flying, this game is pure horror, even when things don't make sense, you just don't care. Gamecube and Wii. (On Wii as Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil) This is really in my opinion, the one horror game that has aged beautifully. It still looks good, it still controls good, it sounds fantastic and it still scares the living shit out of me. Bring spare underwear.





Deadly Premonition
Platform - Xbox 360
Average price - $20

Deadly Premonition is the horror game you want to play if you love humorous b-horror type games and/or films, or you and a bunch of drunk friends are clueless as to what to do for the night on Halloween. You play an FBI agent sent to investigate the murder of a young woman in a small country town. Being stalled paranormal mutant humans and a killer sporting a bloody raincoat and giant axe Pyramid Head style, this humor thrill ride will make you laugh your ass off while retaining a creepy horror atmosphere when it wants to. It's also quite long, sporting a minimum of 15 hours in its main storyline; that's not counting the side missions. For 20 bucks brand new (available only the 360), this horror title shouldn't be passed up if you like comedy. You can't go wrong.






Doom 3
Platform - PC, Xbox
Average price - $5-$10

Doom 3, the definitive action horror game. You've got everything: insane humans, demons, monsters, fucking EVERYTHING. And you play a marine (harharhar) with weapons up the ass that Solid Snake would envy. Blow the shit out of everything while pooing your pants. Although it may get predictable after a while, it is still a very entertaining and a blast to play. Even the visuals can still look pretty striking. the PC version offers many third party mods and maps to further enhance your experience Make no mistake, having the ability to obliterate everything considered an enemy does not take away the fear. PC and classic Xbox. Available on STEAM for PC and I'm pretty sure you can find a copy of it on Xbox easy enough for pocket change. Really good game and can still provide the odd jump or twenty.






Silent Hill
Platform - PSX
Average price - $6 (Playstation Network)

Silent Hill. No list is complete without a Silent Hill title, and although Silent Hill 2 usually takes the cake, we're going for the more "in your face" horror game this time around. Harry Mason is just looking for a nice vacation with 7 seven year old daughter when he veers off the road to avoid hitting a girl, and he awakes to find his daughter missing, the streets of Silent Hill flooded with radio static and monsters from nightmares. This classic game is a must have for gamers new and old. At only $5.99 on the Playstation Store, there's NO excuse..unless you're a pussy, in which case, I wouldn't blame you.






Siren: Blood Curse
Platform - PS3
Average Price - $30 (Playstation Network)

Siren Blood Curse has one of the best settings for a horror game; a secluded village infested with pale and dead villagers smattered in blood that kill anything that isn't them. The kicker? They are immortal, period. The sky turns red, rains blood, brings them to life. It's a survival horror game to the roots. Hiding, solving puzzles to hurt the monsters, and some of the most tense gameplay you can get out of a horror title. PS3 only, PSN store, 30 bucks for the whole package. It's the most expensive in this list, but worth it for the survival horror fanbase. An underrated game in my opinion but still worthy of anyone's horror list.






Alien vs. Predator 2
Platform - PC
Average price - $5

For those who have not played the Alien vs. Predator games, you must have at least heard about how scary the Marine missions are (maybe not so much for the newest AvP game) Let me tell you, crouching and working your way through air ventilation ducts and having a low polygon alien screaming and leaping right at you is one of the most horrific things I think I've witnessed in a game. Strangely, I think the outdated graphics actually enhance the scare factor, much like the T-Rex in Tomb Raider. That being said, it's a great game and will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It's cheap enough and doesn't require a beefy system, go buy it. Even if it's just for the marine missions. I find it amazing that after all this time, it is STILL one scary ass game and one that you should not miss out on.

 Honorable mentions: The Suffering, Bioshock, System Shock 2, Haunting Ground, Clock Tower