The best side scrolling horror games

Summary

• Side-scrolling horror games use limited perspective and excellent sound design for immersive gaming experiences.

• Different 2D horror games offer unique narratives and gameplay mechanics to explore.

• The visuals, puzzles, and atmosphere of side-scrolling horror games make for terrifying and enjoyable experiences.

Side scrolling games cover a wide variety of styles and genres. Horror, in particular, uses this style of gameplay to its advantage with claustrophobic spaces, stealth mechanics, harrowing chase sequences, and fear of the unknown. Players are made to feel vulnerable with limited perspective; not being able to see what's around the protagonist is sure to make any desensitized player feel even a little scared.

Audio design is also a crucial element in this type of game as it can make the player feel uneasy as it would be hard to tell from which direction the sound of breaking glass or the moan of a creature is coming from. As such, these elements ensure that side-scrolling horror games are addictive, terrifying, and enjoyable.

8

Re:Turn – One Way

Scary coming-of-age story set on a train

Saki and her friends go camping to unknowingly celebrate their graduation one last time. Jumping between past and present, explore an abandoned train as Saki to discover where her friends have suddenly disappeared. Straddling between pixel art and digitally painted graphics, the visuals really add a spark to the proceedings.

Because it's primarily set in one location, there's quite a bit of back and forth, so it can often feel a bit tedious. However, the creepy atmosphere, scary antagonists and mysterious story make up for some lacking areas. If players enjoy simple puzzle mechanics and quest gameplay, they will enjoy what Return the series has to offer.

7

Coma: Recut

A nightmarish look at Korean school culture

Korean school horror The Coma: Recut (2017) is a remastered version of Coma: Cutting class (2015). Student Youngho falls asleep during his final exams at Sehwa High and finds himself trapped in the school's dark corridors – with no end in sight.

Although he is also being followed by a killer, the player must help him get through this nightmare by taking notes and talking to classmates to unravel the mystery. With hand-illustrated images from a manhwa and social commentary on the Korean school system, it offers a narrative worth playing.

6

Withered rooms

A soul-like Rogue in a creepy mansion

Explore the ever-changing Mostyn House – a Victorian mansion that is home to a variety of enemies, including ghosts and witches who have their sights set on the protagonist. Players can adapt the gameplay as they wish, using hidden mechanisms to avoid the creatures or fighting them directly.

From rituals and crafts to hand-to-hand combat, it depends on the player's decisions whether the main character Nightingale will escape alive or not. It has a steep learning curve to begin with, but an interesting and unique experience nonetheless.

5

Endless nightmares

A scary, endless picture of mental health

Inspired by the developer's own struggles with depression and OCD, endless Nightmares follows Thomas who is trapped in a revolving door of horrific dreams, not knowing when he will wake up. In each nightmare, there are different ways Thomas can die – be it a monster manifestation or self-harm.

The black and white images really help make the world seem empty, along with a pop of bright red to highlight the horror Thomas is facing. With the creator's struggles being reflected, it could be relatable to some players, making the fear factor much more realistic.

4

Detention

Students trapped in 1960s Taiwan

Set in a school in Taiwan, explore Greenwood High as students Wei and Ray work together to uncover the mystery behind it while avoiding spirits and other evil beings. Being under strict martial law, combined with a desaturated color scheme, the world feels bleak and hopeless.

There's more of an emphasis on puzzle solving and stealth instead of fast-paced platforming, which helps heighten the horror. Characters hold their breath to get past enemies, which makes it very tense with limited vision. Some of the images are quite strange and will make anyone want to leave school as quickly as possible.

3

The Clock Tower: Back

Classic Point-And-Click Survival Horror revived

Get a fresh coat of paint with a remastered version of the 1995 classic The clock towerpick up young orphan Jennifer as she explores Barrows Manor. For the first time, it is officially translated outside of Japan, bringing fear to a new, modern audience.

This 16-bit game features amazing animated cutscenes, gore and jump scares as you solve puzzles and avoid the Scissorman menace. Jennifer can't fight back outside of using traps, and players will have to keep an eye on her health and stamina, which can be stressful for some. The remaster adds additional content and quality-of-life improvements, complete with the ability to play in its original or revised state.

2

inside

Escaping a disturbing dystopian world

Set against a strange, desaturated background with just a hint of color, a boy finds himself avoiding capture from the watchful eyes of those participating in the mind control experiment. Using the environment as he carefully weaves his way to freedom, inside it turns out to be rather anxiety inducing.

Along with an ominous narrative and an unexpected and powerful ending, platforming and puzzle solving are an integral part of insideencouraging the player to think about their actions and prevent this boy from being just another number in the system.

1

Little Nightmares

A deeply disturbing view of human nature

Embodying a faceless child in a bright yellow raincoat, you traverse a creaky ship-like vessel as protagonist six to reveal the disturbing underbelly of human consumption while examining themes between childhood and adulthood. Little Nightmares it is as dark as it is captivating.

Avoid grotesque monsters by using stealth mechanics or time jumps right during a chase sequence to avoid getting caught. Due to the size difference between the protagonist and the antagonists, the limited perspective is really abundant here, making the player feel more vulnerable and susceptible to the added tension, as it can sometimes be difficult to anticipate what the next step is.