Summary
Horrorgaminghas progressed by leaps and bounds, providing everything from jumpscare fests to psychologically stimulating experiences based on what players check out. For the most part, games in this genre let players mess around with compelling gameplay loops that are fun to play.
However, there are times when players may prefer a passive experience instead and would ratherwatchcertain horror gamesplay out instead of playing an active role in their progression. There are more than enough games in the genre that fit the bill here.
Slender: The Eight Pageswas a phenomenon back when it launched. Playing the game was fun enough as is, but what madeSlendersuch a captivating title was the trend of Let’s Plays that blew up following this game’s release.
Players loved watching other people’s reactions as they were shocked to their core by the sudden appearance of the Slenderman. This supernatural entity was a pain to outrun as players roamed around the map trying to find eight pages, facing an increasing encounter rate as the Slenderman started interrupting them more often. It made for great jump scares that, in turn, made for great and entertaining player reactions.
Rule of Roseis one of the most underappreciated horror games of all time, with its story being absolutely enthralling to watch unfold. However, the catch here is that the action gameplay of this title is frustrating and can force many players to give up on this title before the story gets going.
Therefore, it’s not the worst compromise to watchaRule of Roseplaythroughto experience the story without any frustrations. Given how challenging it may be to play this game on a PS2 nowadays, this might just be the best course of action reserved for players.
TheUntil Dawnremakehas its fair share of critics, but one can’t deny that the campy horror vibes of this title remain largely intact in its faithful visual update. It plays out like a movie at times, where players must decide the fates of certain characters, either saving them from a horrible death or helping them survive after numerous harrowing encounters with the Wendigos.
As long as players don’t mind losing out on the gameplay side of things, they can have a great time watching a perfect playthrough of this title where almost everyone survives. As a bonus, they can also watch videos of certain failures to see how brutally their favorite characters can die.
Five Nights at Freddy’sis one of the greatest horror games ever made in terms of the influence it has had upon the genre. A simple game about simulating the job of a security guard as horrifying animatronics try to hunt them down became a cultural phenomenon that is still going strong to this day.
A huge part of what madeFive Nights at Freddy’sso popular was the Let’s Plays that showed popular content creators losing their minds as they got jumpscared time and time again by these animatronics. It was infinitely entertaining back in the day and can still be interesting to watch for players who want to see people get surprised by a jumpscare-heavy horror game.
The sublime exploration and intriguing story ofOutlastis one of the biggest reasons why people love this horror game, even if the title ends on a disappointing note. The mere act of exploration can be either rewarding or horrifying, especially when Miles starts getting chased bythe game’s many pursuers.
However, these chase sequences can either get boring or too intense for players, who may miss out on the other great parts of this game as a result. Watching a playthrough online is a great compromise to ensure that players can still have a great time checking out the twisted experiments that caused Mount Massive Asylum to garner such a cursed reputation.
One of the most disturbing horror games players can check out,The Cat Ladyis a story-driven experience that isn’t afraid to shock its players. On the gameplay side of things, the title is fairly simple, with run-of-the-mill puzzles and other things players usually see in point-and-click adventure games.
With its lengthy scenes featuring a lot of dialogue, it’s easy to see whyThe Cat Ladycan be such a rewarding game to watch instead of play. The gameplay is decent, but it’s the story ofThe Cat Ladythat will keep players coming back for more, regardless of whether they’re actively playing the game or just watching a playthrough.
Layers of Fearis one of the most interesting psychological horror games around, where the simple act of walking can turn into a nerve-wracking experience. The game’s scares are effective but don’t lose their impact even if players just decide to watch a playthrough instead of playing it firsthand.
It helps that the storyinLayers of Fearis so engaging that passively experiencing this title is a ton of fun too. The Painter may seem like a sympathetic figure early on, only for certain plot reveals to make players question the actions of the protagonist.
Telltale’s claim to fame isThe Walking Dead, an adventure set in the world of the popular graphic novel series that has become a legendary story-driven adventure game. Most people will agree that this breakout success led to the Telltale formula becoming more mainstream as other titles tried to replicate this game’s magic.
WhileThe Walking Deadhas a lot of choices that players can make, only a few of themlead to any meaningful narrative changes. This is why players won’t miss out on a lot if they choose to watch a playthrough instead of playing it themselves, with the main story beats being largely similar across most branching paths.
