Summary
Thehorrorgenre is extremely popular among players, as it not only presents them with spine-chilling stories and moments that get their adrenaline rushing, but it also has a ton of variety in terms of the titles it offers. Whether it is a standalone game thatplays with people’s fear of the darkor a franchise that’s beloved by all, there’s always something new to discover.
Whilemany titles of a horror franchiseare typically connected together by a series of characters, a haunted place or even a story, others have separate narratives that have nothing to do with each other. Here are some of thebest anthology horror game series, ranked.
5Corpse Party: Book Of Shadows
A Scary Series Of Tales In Various Timelines
Corpse Party: Book of Shadowsis one of those games that shines thanks to its design, narrative elements, and overall theme. The gamepresents players with an anthologythat serves both as a sequel and a prequel, as well as an alternative universe story to otherCorpse Partytitles.
Consisting of eight different chapters, including Encounter, Purgatory, and Shangri-La, this game covers several different timelines, which adds a layer of complexity to the experience and makes everything much more interesting.
On paper, this would disqualify this title as an anthology horror game. However, since the contents ofCorpse Party: Book of Shadowsare actually an anthology, it still deserves to make the list. While not as well received as other entries on this list, the game still offers an amazing experience for players who are into this genre.
Ever since theAlienfilm came out back in 1979, the horror subgenre revolving around an unknownalien species that preys on stranded survivorsin deep-space has become very popular, and this is exactly what makesThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020so great.
When the colonist ship Cassiopeia crash lands on a mysterious planet known as “Tau Ceti f” (which actually exists in real life), the crew inside it will have to survive an unknown threat that is stalking them from the shadows.The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020not only excels at deep-space horror, but also offers players an anthology story that works very well with the overall concept of the game.
As far as non-AAA psychological horror games go,Layers of Fearis among the best ever released. Players will walk in the shoes of a disturbed painter trying to complete his final masterpiece as he makes his way through a creepy mansion from the Victorian era that will reveal many secrets about his past. Presented from a first-person perspective and driven mainly bypuzzle-solvingand exploration,Layers of Fearwill keep players extremely entertained.
This title is divided into six main chapters, and in each one, players will have to find different items with the ultimate goal of completing the artist’s masterpiece. The atmosphere set in the game is gloomy, dark and grim, which perfectly complements its concept and delivers an unforgettable, spine-chilling experience.
The Amnesiaseries is vast and covers many topics, but for the purpose of this article, the main focus of this particular entry will revolve aroundAmnesia: The Bunker, which is, arguably, the title that’s more loosely connected to the rest of the series.
World War 1 and 2 are already very dark periods in human history, which means that horror games set in either period will most likely offer players a spine-chilling and near-traumatic experience. InAmnesia: The Bunker, players will take control of a French soldier who goes by the name of Henri Clément and is constantly being chased by a monster referred to as “The Beast”. The protagonist’s main objective is to escape the bunker alive while trying his best to keep the lights on and gather as much ammunition as he can possibly carry to defend himself against this supernatural threat.
While this title is not as big as others in its genre, there are stilla lot of things that players can missas they’re trying to escape the horrendous Beast. Although some players argue that a few elements ofAmnesia: The Bunkermight be connected to other titles in theAmnesiafranchise, this is debatable and, in most cases, it’s a statement that doesn’t really hold up. If players want an unforgettable experience as they try to escape a creepy bunker that they share with an unknown supernatural creature, they should look no further thanAmnesia: The Bunker.
Stories Untoldis an anthology that’s heavily based on puzzles and adventure. There are a total of four episodes, each with its own theme. However, when players reachthe surprising end of the game, they will find a mind-blowing truth that they will most certainly not be expecting. Players who have not completed the game should stop reading at this point, as there are spoilers ahead.
Throughout the majority of the game, it would appear that the first three episodes are standalone and have nothing to do with each other. However, once players reach the fourth and final episode, they will discover that every single one is connected. So, while this title isn’t really an anthology, players will play it as such until they reach the end of the game, which makes it a solid addition to the list.
