There are plenty of horror games for gamers to play thisHalloween, but there are some who just don’t like the horror genre yet still want to celebrate the spooky season. Those gamers may be looking for less-intense games to play on Halloween, and while there aren’t many choices, there are a few games that are definite standouts.
Here are three non-horror games for fans to play this Halloween.
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapturefrom The Chinese Roomis not explicitly a “horror” game. It doesn’t have any of the disturbing imagery or jump scares common for the genre, or the survival mechanics that appear in many horror games. But even though it’s not necessarily trying to scare the player,Everybody’s Gone to the Raptureis still a game that should appeal to horror fans and non-horror fans alike, with a premise that still makes it a fitting game to play this Halloween season.
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The Chinese Room takes what it learned withDear Estherand goes a step further withEverybody’s Gone to the Rapture, which has players exploring the village of Yaughton in England. All of Yaughton’s residents have seemingly disappeared, and players have to make their way through the town, interacting with supernatural orbs of light to piece together exactly what happened in the village. There is certainly a sense of dread hanging over the experience, and it almost feels like playing aTwilight Zoneepisode.
The experience is akin to the game that popularized the “walking simulator” genre,Gone Home. Both are first-person exploration games where players have to unravel a mystery, and both flirt with elements of the horror genre without fully committing to it. Both games manage to craft an engrossing atmosphere that will still leave players feeling a little uneasy while they play through it. It’s the perfect kind of game for someone who wants something somewhat creepy to play on Halloween but can’t handle the more intense scares found in traditional horror games.
It’s not surprising that elements of the horror genre bleed through inEverybody’s Gone to the Rapture. Prior to this game, The Chinese Room developedAmnesia: A Machine for Pigs, a blood-soaked sequel of sorts to Frictional Games' landmark gameAmnesia: The Dark Descent.
Everybody’s Gone to the Raptureis available for PC and PS4.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finchis similar in some respects toEverybody’s Gone to the Rapturein that it is a first-person exploration game with creepy vibes, but isn’t explicitly a horror game. The game is about Edith Finch, a woman who returns to her family’s old home, recounting stories of her various family members. Unfortunately, the Finch family is cursed, and so all but one person in any given generation meets an untimely end.
Players are given the chance to experience the lives of each ill-fated member of the Finch family, and each scenario offers up its own unique gameplay mechanics. However, there is one level in particular that is perfect for a non-horror fan to play on Halloween, as it actually takes place on the Halloween holiday itself.
The level is about Barbara Finch, a former child star who finds herself seemingly stalked by a killer on Halloween night. Whatactuallyhappened to Barbara is left somewhat ambiguous, as her story is told through the lens of a pulpy horror comic. But regardless, players will find themselves in the middle of a slasher movie scenario, complete withJohn Carpenter’sHalloweentheme musicand all.
While the Barbara level may be the most relevant to the Halloween season,What Remains of Edith Finchhas a foreboding atmosphere in general, and there are some levels that are disturbing and heartbreaking. The game won’t make it so players have to sleep with the lights on, but it will definitely have a lasting impact on them.
What Remains of Edith Finchis available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Nintendo’sLuigi’s Mansionfranchise essentially takes the survival-horror exploration and puzzle formula from theResident Evilgames and turns it into a kid-friendly experience.Luigi’s Mansion 3is the latest game in the series, and it sees Luigi hunting down ghosts in a haunted hotel, using his trusty Poltergust vacuum along with a variety of other abilities and gadgets at his disposal.
Luigi’s Mansion 3makes references to popular horror movie and video game franchises, includingResident EvilandThe Ring, which makes it more appealing to hardcore horror fans. Throw in some competitive multiplayer and a full-fledged co-op mode, andLuigi’s Mansion 3is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a non-horror game to play this Halloween.
