Well-madehorroris among the most fascinating genres in the media industry. Whether it’s in films, books, or video games, a good horror story can make you feel tense and emotional as it works to play with your deepest fears. Those bone-chilling sequences keep your eyes wide open with suspense and are, surprisingly something people really love to experience.
The horror genre is really impressive these days, and unique concepts are integrated into it to create video games that are fresh and engaging. One such genre is Medieval Horror, which has been mastered by franchises such as Dark Souls or games like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, seamlessly blending ancient lore with creepy elements in its gameplay.
10Thief: The Dark Project
The Medieval Stealth Masterpiece
Although Thief: The Dark Project, a 1998 classic stealth game, may not be categorized fully as a horror game, its integration of supernatural and undead creatures contributes to the game’s spooky ambiance. Developed by Glass Studios, Thief: The Dark Project is primarily set in a vast, Gothic metropolis, The City, that is reminiscent of the Middle Ages.
The game mechanics are simple to understand, but it’s not the combat that makes the gameplay experience rewarding, it’s the stealth. You control a character named Garrett, a master thief who sneaks past various guards to steal valuable loot worth thousands that can sometimes feel thrilling enough to be considered a genuinely good horror game.
Darkest Dungeonis a dungeon crawl game that overlaps with the medieval horror genre and is perhaps one of the most well-loved of its kind. After inheriting an estate, your job is to explore the dungeons below with the help of a couple of heroes you employ.
The game itself has interesting mechanics, for example, you have to control your heroes' stress levels, which rise as you progress. The variety of bizarre monsters adds to the fact that Darkest Dungeon is an impressive horror game that keeps you on the edge of your seat and is enhanced by its medieval-like setting.
The Citadel - Home To An Army Of Undead
Joining hands with VR-exclusive games such as Blade and Sorcery, Undead Citadel brings something fresh to VR headsets, a single-player mode. With terrific physics-based combat mechanics, allowing for close-ranged medieval stand-offs, Undead Citadel has simple yet impressive gameplay.
The plot revolves around a hero seeking refuge in an ancient Citadel, only to discover that it is hoarded by an Army of Undead. You must fight the undead as the adventure progresses forward. Even though the game only has ten levels, the graphics, along with the VR experience, hook you into the game.
7Fear And Hunger
The Disturbing Dungeon Indie Crawler
Known for its unique horror infusion, the indie role-playing game Fear and Hunger is a dungeon crawler that’s set in the medieval era that forces you to make really tough decisions to survive. Fear and Hunger is R-rated, filled with extremely disturbing and triggering elements, so it might not be for everyone.
However, its cryptic lore is fascinating, as you slowly uncover the secrets of the caverns. The gameplay is highly strategic and doesn’t involve any muscle, but relies on choices, no matter how heinous, to survive the playthrough.
Blasphemoussets itself apart from the medieval genre by exploring the theme of religion and introducing a world heavily influenced by nods to Spanish Catholicism. The lore is based around the Land of Cvstodia, afflicted by The Miracle, a divine curse causing grotesque mutations all over the country.
Amidst this, the Penitent One, the sole survivor of the Silent Sorrow, is resurrected. As you explore Cvstodia, you uncover its mysteries while facing terrifying creatures. The pixelated visuals and haunting atmosphere, depicting the grim destiny of its in-game world, truly make Blasphemous one of a kind.
One of the best depictions of war in a medieval-inspired world,Plague Tale: Requiem, is the second addition to an already acclaimed gaming franchise. Set in the 14th century, the game picks up where it left off with Amicia and Hugo, as they survive the hardships during the tumultuous Hundred Years' War in France.
Once you start, you control Amicia, as she tries to find a cure for her brother. This is made difficult by the fact that death looms around every corner. The bond that Amicia shares with Hugo gives the gameplay a beautiful dimension, making you root for their survival.
Innocence and Requiem are frequently pitted against each other despite belonging to the same franchise and being part of the same storyline — set in Plagued-France during the 14th century. While fans of the Plague Tale series will never cease to draw comparisons between these two titles, both games are easily among the best horror-themed medieval RPGs ever.
Innocence tells the story of Amicia, a child maneuvering through the shambles of war and plague during the 14th century while finding a cure for her brother Hugo. However, with a much shorter gameplay experience due to the excellent pacing and shorter levels, it doesn’t feel like dragging the plot much and ends up slightly better than its sequel.
Inspired by the iconic Demon’s Souls, theDark Soulsfranchise re-imagines the RPG genre with a dark-nihilistic medieval world where you must assume the role of an undead character to begin your journey to reignite the flame.
Defined by its methodical combat, Dark Souls is exceptionally fun, offering you various ways to interact, giving an even more engaging experience. The horror comes from the fact that you’re surrounded by creatures who can never die, having long-lost their sanity. The fear you’ll truly feel though is having to run across an area with powerful enemies while holding a bunch of souls to the nearest bonfire without dying.
2Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
A Vampire Saga Done Right
Castlevania is one of the most well-known and loved RPG franchisesever and for good reason. The influences from Gothic and vampire mythology scream horror and fantasy that just fit perfectly in a medieval setting.Castlevania: Symphony of the Nighthas become particularly synonymous with the Metroidvania sub-genre due to its distinct pacing and gameplay elements.
You assume the role of Alucard visiting his father’s castle in this non-linear adventure, which the game creators managed to make highly immersive. With its haunting graphics and musical score keeping players coming back to this medieval horror, the game has earned a dedicated fan base that some would call a cult following.
Drawing inspiration from Celtic lore,Hellbladeis an intense visual novelthat places a brilliant human performanceby its protagonist at the forefront. The game follows a Pictish warrior, Senua, as she journeys to the Land of the Northmen, Helheim, to reclaim the soul of her beloved.
Due to its intense visuals and audio design, Hellblade creates a haunting environment, especially due to its realistic portrayal of psychosis. Hellblade is a game that you’re not supposed to trust because of what you perceive, as it will often betray you and for that same reason, there are moments of terrifying tension enough to invoke anxiety and horror in its players.
