From Silent Hill 2 to Crow Country, the best horror games of 2024 brought the chills
Dec. 9, 2024Year in Review | Here’s the must-play horror games of the year
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5. Slitterhead
Developer:Bokeh Game StudioPlatform(s):PC, PS5, PS4 Xbox Series X
While even its evocative title gives us chills, the biggest reason we loved Slitterhead is because of how bold it is. Not everything it sets out to do totally lands (some parts can feel narratively fragmented and there’s an annoying unlock system) but the creative ambition is admirable. From the host-hopping fast-paced combat to the surreal way the twisting story unfolds, Slitterhead feels like a refreshing approach to horror. We adore Slitterhead’s grisly gore – its fleshy beings will be giving us nightmares for years – but underneath the game’s meaty tissue, there’s a poignant message about humanity in the face of enduring monstrosity. It comes as no surprise when horror game veterans like Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama are behind the wheel. A radical debut from Bokeh Game Studio.
Learn more in ourSlitterhead review, where we called it “a daring horror vision executed with finesse”
Developer:Wrong OrganPlatform(s):PC
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Mouthwashing follows the crew of a wrecked space freighter as they slowly starve to death after being abandoned by a soulless corporation. With only boxes of mouthwash cargo to survive off, we follow the downward psychological spiral of the group through starvation, isolation, and ultimately their demise. Scenes bounce between the past and the present, slowly weaving together a story that’s not quite clear-cut until the game’s final moments as the crew grapple with blame and grief, all fuelled by the ship’s bandaged and dying captain who won’t stop moaning. Filled with nightmarish vignettes that immerse you in the inner worlds of each person in this stark, character-led journey, Mouthwashing pulls together dreamlike imagery and emotional delirium to deliver a bleak, shocking, and cutting tale that’s all finishable in an evening.
Learn more in ourMouthwashing spotlight, where we said that its “surreal philosophical processing of mortality hits hard”
Developer:SFB GamesPlatform(s):PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch
With its isometric third-person angle, stand-your-ground enemy blasting, and tank character controls – Crow Country is an authentic homage to some of thebest survival horror games, with plenty of puzzles to riddle through besides. It all feels familiar, but not in a way that’s just regurgitating survival horror tropes. Crow Country is totally self-aware, right down to its tongue-in-cheek notes and striking low-poly art style, and it uses its nostalgic inspirations to subvert player assumptions to both comedic andcreepyeffect. Set in the 90s, special Agent Mara Forest’s mission to investigate strange reports from an abandoned theme park is filled with twists and turns as she navigates half-ruined rides, explores back-room offices, and deals with an infestation of strange humanoid monsters. Crow Country isn’t just a homage, it’s crafting horror that goes beyond.
Learn more in ourCrow Country review, where we called it “a lovingly built greatest hits mix of retro horror ideas”
Developer:The Chinese RoomPlatform(s):PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
It’s a horror trope that goes back decades, and for good reason: Man vs Monster is a tried and true classic. In Still Wakes The Deep, humans have once again gone and poked something monstrous beneath the waves and now, as always, we have to suffer the consequences. Following Scottish ex-boxer turned industrial worker Caz McLeary as he attempts to survive a monstrous attack on an oil rig, Still Wakes The Deep does away with combat. Instead, Caz must sneak through and explore the metallic guts of the rig, the oppressive atmosphere doing most of the horror heavy lifting. The environment of the collapsing rig is disgustingly beautiful, everything so slick with oil, rust, and grime you’d get tetanus just looking at it. Without giving too much away, the monster is immense and gruesome, its howls reverberating off the claustrophobic walls making it feel like it could be waiting around every corner.
Learn more in ourStill Wakes the Deep review, where we called it “a moody, ambient piece of short-form horror fiction”
Developer:Bloober TeamPlatform(s):PS5, PC
Learn more in ourSilent Hill 2 remake review, where we said it was “up there with the Resident Evil remakes for reinventing a classic”
Want more? PerhapsSilent Hill 4 deserves a remake, after all they’re a great way to give games a second life when they truly need it.
Rachel Watts is the former reviews editor for Rock Paper Shotgun, and in another life was a staff writer for Future publications like PC Gamer and Play magazine. She is now working as a freelance journalist, contributing features and reviews to GamesRadar+.
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