The only thing scarier than watching a slasher film is become the slasher’s prey.
Here are 15 slasher games to play for Halloween!
The slasher genre is one of the great lost genres in video games.
That doesnt mean that there arent any great slasher video games out there.
Its not based on combat or trying to kill your attacker, but rather, hide and avoid him.
Periodically, Scissorman will appear and youll be forced to hide so you can evade him.
Sometimes Scissorman will even wait for you in your hiding spot.
Its unfortunately a mess akin to the ones Jason makes of teenagers.
Theres a huge map screen thats far too big to be of any help to you.
it’s crucial that you get there quickly enough, or a counselor will get killed.
The game uses a pretty basic set-up thats streamlined quite well.
Throughout the game, youll be tasked with getting the kids to safety.
Its actually a creepy little touch.
Illbleed
2001 | Crazy Games | Dreamcast
Illbleedis a slasher game like no other out there.
Its set at a horror theme park.
The level is just as much a threat as the enemies themselves.
There are also time limits in place.
If you dont beat a level in a certain amount of time, your friends will die.
There are real consequences here, and people are expendable just like in a slasher film.
At least you get to play as Leatherface!
Theres a fuel meter for your chainsaw, which actually acts as your life meter.
When you run out of fuel, you essentially die in the game.
The constant high-pitched beeping throughout the game every few seconds is kind of maddening.
Pretty soon, youre in a hellish nightmare that could very well stop your heart from fear.
Youre unable to attack your threats here, but rather only hide, with a deeper emphasis on stealth.
But even hiding in lockers or under beds doesnt guarrantee that youll make it out alive.
Enemies can find you in any place and at any time.
The story borders on the religious and science fiction that makes for a truly horrifying combo.
I mean, really scary.
Youll no doubt feel disturbed by the games end.
Nightmare on Elm Street
1989 | Rare | NES
Ugh.
How will you know when hes coming?
Oh, just the big FREDDYS COMING!
disclaimer that will flash on the screen.
Every time the Slender Man appears, hes accompanied by a cacophony of static and harsh piano dischords.
It cuts into you and scares you, and the sound design is really phenomenal.
Noises like stomping, droning, and an annoying beeping plague you as you trudge through.
Soon you realize you cant win.
Even if you do collect all eight pages, the Slender Man still appears.
Of course, youll really only be into these games if you like the torture porn film series.
If not, youre better off just skipping these games, which had fussy controls anyways.
A game that is absolutely a slasher in concept, but not in the least in execution.
You attempt to catch the invaders with built in traps in the house.
This is what you shouldnt do in a slasher game.
It follows the basic slasher formula: eight teenagers are stuck in a log cabin with a serial killer.
Oh, and did we mention its on the anniversary of the death of their friend?
Gameplay works on a cause and effect system.
Throughout the game, players make important choices that then affect other sections of the game.
This is the slasher genre in its purest form.
This game can get very gruesome.
The slasher is out to kill as many players as possible before they can all escape.
Killing isnt as easy for the slasher as inFriday the 13th: The Game, though.
Then, a supernatural force known as The Entity claws them to death.
you might even choose to play a match in Haddonfield, the setting of theHalloweenmovies!
A version of this article first appeared on October 29, 2014.
