5 Best Horror Games of 2017 (So Far)

Step away from the bowels of Steam for a second and you will notice that there are more quality horror games coming out than ever before. Asset flips and absolute shovelware aside, it’s a genre that seems to be trying to do things differently, to reinvent what some might see as safe and predictable.

As well as being an exemplary year for games so far, 2017 has also brought with it quite a few horror games that are worth your time. There are still plenty to come with The Evil Within 2, Observer, and Vampyr being high on the agenda for horror gamers.

Before we look ahead to the next big things, however, let’s briefly look back on some of the horror highlights of 2017 so far.

 

5. Perception

Perhaps a disappointment in the sense that it doesn’t make the most of its premise, Perception is an effective horror nonetheless. It doesn’t always shock or even create that much tension when it should, but its intriguing storyline and unique visuals mean it’s one to look out for still.

Playing as a blind girl who can use echolocation to “see” her surroundings, Perception is mainly driven by its narrative while falling back on some well-worn horror tropes (random bird flying out of nowhere, anyone). It’s not going to blow your mind or even have you intensely gripping your thighs, but its novel brand of horror is ideal for anyone looking to while away the time until the next big release. Per my review:

“Perception doesn’t make full use of its premise and ultimately struggles to do much new at its core, but it’s a promising debut from a team with big aspirations nonetheless.”

 

4. Friday the 13th: The Game

Curiously one of the most underrated games of the year and also one of the most polarising, Friday the 13th: The Game is something that critics and gamers just can’t agree on. Its reviewers decry its many bugs (which they have every right to) whereas its fans appreciate it for what it is: a deeply-flawed but enjoyable murderthon.

Team up with or against your friends as you work to survive or finally get revenge on one of them for being a bastard by gouging their eyes out with your thumbs. If that doesn’t sell you enough on wanting to give Friday the 13th a try, bear in mind that it’s regularly being updated with bug fixes and new content. Just don’t go into the game expecting a masterpiece and you will find something to enjoy.

 

3. Little Nightmares

If you thought the likes of Inside and Limbo were a touch on the dark side, just wait until you play Little Nightmares. Tarsier’s horror platformer may owe a debt of inspiration to the guys at Playdead, but it certainly isn’t a pale imitation, owing a lot to its haunting art style.

Looking like something that would wake Tim Burton up in a cold sweat, Little Nightmares follows Six as she attempts to make it off The Maw: a gargantuan ship with evil lurking in its bowels. The only obvious negative with the game is that it’s over too soon – just as it’s really beginning to get going, it’s all over. Still, it’s an unsettling joy while it lasts, something I mentioned in my review:

“Even if it is going to grab you by the throat for just a few hours, Little Nightmares is one game you won’t want to shake free from.”

 

2. Outlast II

Red Barrels made us wait for the longest time for the follow-up to their cult favourite. Some may not say that it was worth the wait, but for my money it’s one of the best horror games out there right now. There’s just something terrifying in fleeing from southern psychopaths, even if it does end in trial and error gameplay too often.

Whereas some games give the player the option of fight or flight, Outlast II only ever gives you the latter – you’re a defenseless journalist scrambling through cornfields with only a camcorder for company. It may lose some of the claustrophobia of a mental asylum, but it’s still a gripping, heart-pumping descent into religious madness all the same:

“Its trial and error gameplay is going to irritate plenty of players, but once Outlast 2 has you, it’s a nightmare that you won’t be able or want to wake up from.”

 

1. Resident Evil 7

The debate rages on whether the grand experiment was a successful one or not, but the opinion largely seems to be that Resident Evil 7 brought in the changes that the series needed to freshen things up. There’s only so many times you can fight Wesker in increasingly ridiculous circumstances.

Switching the perspective to first-person and slowing the action right down, Resident Evil 7 doesn’t exactly bring the franchise to its roots but cultivates a middle ground for itself instead. It has all the hallmarks of the Resident Evil games of old (classically obtuse puzzles, for one) but mixes proceedings up with some chilling encounters with the unforgettable Baker family as well. Shame its DLC was a bit naff, though. Here’s an excerpt from our verdict:

“This is the most impressive return to form I’ve seen in a long time. With heart-pounding scares, clever puzzles, and formidable enemies; Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is one of the best horror titles I’ve ever played.”

Which horror games have you enjoyed this year? This list is going to look very different come the end of the year, so let me know which game you’re excited for in the comments section below.