Paranormal

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: MattCohen

Paranormal, according to its store page on Steam, is an early access release game…The problem is that it's been in early release for 11 years at this point, so I'm assuming that we've got is what the final product is or will be. This game is essentially a virtual haunted house….interact with things, see creepy stuff…that kind of experience. The game attempts a few jump scares, which is lazy horror in my opinion, but this game also doesn't really do them well. I never felt uneasy or nervous at any point in this game. Whenever something "creepy" popped up, I always walked right over to it and observed. Sometimes it's a broken window, or bloody-looking writing appearing on a wall, but it's never really frightening in any way. Still, though, if you're looking for a short horror game that's entirely about exploration in a small house, then you may find mild enjoyment in Paranormal. I just wouldn't expect it to be too good.  

Review added: 10/31/2023

Paranormal Place

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: ASK_GAMES

Paranormal Place is the only game that I gave up on during the giant Halloween update that I'm adding this game with. It starts out promising - stuck in a military building with just a flashlight and cameras, a monitor, and laptop. The atmosphere is done very well…and that's why I'm even more frustrated with this game. I WANTED to like this…but it's just awful. My first, and biggest complaint - it's what made me give up on the game…the camera. The camera gimmick itself, I like a lot. What I loathe is the fact that you're expected to take pictures of areas that you are shown. While that's not terrible on its own, one of the pictures is so picky that I literally took several dozen photos of that location with no luck because the window for a successful picture is so small that I simply could not find it. Some of my pictures looked almost identical to the photo that you reference, but still no luck. The developer apparently knew about it, too - it's the only location where I got a message giving me a hint to move a little bit to make the photo work. I've got an idea - how about opening up the tolerance for a good photo like the other locations apparently had. The other annoyance is in the beginning - the game specifically says to watch the monitor and go check out any differences that you see. I watched a door open…went to go check it out, but no…I need to watch the monitors more. Saw a light go on in another screen…nope, I need to watch the monitors more. Finally, after a third weird occurrence, I'm allowed to go check things out. Anyway, like I said, the atmosphere here is well done…but, for me anyway, much of it was killed with that awful photo mechanic. I found myself annoyed and frustrated rather than anxious and creeped out. I may go back and give Paranormal Place another chance later on down the road, but right now, I really have no desire to go through all of that frustration again.

Review added: 10/31/2024

The Park

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Funcom

The Park is a game that attempts to use psychological horror to scare the player instead of using enemies…and it doesn’t really work. The concept of walking around in a seemingly abandoned amusement park sounds fun…but there isn’t a ton to explore here, unfortunately. In fact, the game is very short. You can explore most of the game and still finish in a little over an hour. If The Park had more meat to it, it also could have devoted more time to fleshing out the story and establishing Lorraine, the main character, to players. As it was, I felt the story was kind of weak ‘cause I didn’t know enough about Lorraine or her son to really care what happened to them. In the end, The Park seems to be a psychological horror game based on mental illness…and while it’s passable, it’s not much more than that. If you want a similar game that actually makes you care about the main character, I’d recommend The Town of Light over The Park. But, if you MUST play a game about mental illness that contains an amusement park, then Funcom has you covered with this game.

Review added: 10/16/2019

The Path

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Tamsoft

The Path is basically a game of reverse psychology using the basic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. If you do as your told, and head to grandmother’s house while avoiding the wolf, you’ll likely find yourself bored. If you disobey the game, wander off the path, and allow the wolf to catch you, you'll start to advance to the next chapter and unravel the stories of each of the six girls taking the role of Little Red Riding Hood. One by one, their mother sends these girls to go to their bedridden grandmother...and depending on how you play, either one by one, they'll all obey and head straight to grandmother's house, or one by one, they'll all disobey and wander into the forest like the adventurous young ladies that they are. Or a mixture of the two, if you so desire. It’s a pretty slow-paced game that’s heavy on exploration, so if that sounds like it appeals to you, then you may enjoy The Path much like I did. If you need constant action and/or a game telling you what exactly to do next, well, then you may not be as enthralled with The Path as I was.

Review added: 08/30/2019

Perfect Strangers: The Game

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Joda Advergaming

This sixty-second-long game is an example of how style over substance can actually work...the secret to success is to make it a sixty-second-long game. The length of the game saves it, I think, as the gameplay is extremely basic and leaves plenty to be desired, and had it gone any longer, it would likely get very boring very quickly...but it gets the job done for the minute it takes to reach the end. But the environments are the real reason to play this. They are awesome, especially if you remember this television show from decades ago. I do. I’m old. Anyway, the right and left arrow keys move you left and right and the spacebar makes Balki jump. Your goal is to collect every star in order to make Cousin Larry's dream come true - the dream being whatever you type in. So, if you wanted to have a forehead like Mr. Belvedere, collect the stars and it'll come true...So says Balki. Anyway, it's a nice, short game worth playing just to see how awesome the environments were designed. Fans of the show will likely love it. I sure did. Unfortunately, the original website is now the home of something that triggers malware alerts on my computer...you can tehnically play it at archive.org, however, the game isn't very playable with most backgrounds (and Balki himself) not loading properly. I should have wished that this game would be online forever....but at least I've got this sweet Mr. Belvedere forehead to remember this game by...

Review added: 07/22/2019

Personal Nightmare

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Horror Soft

Personal Nightmare is a mix of point-and-click adventure and horror that reminds me a bit of Chiller on the NES in terms of amusing death sequences and such...But, like many point-and-click adventure games, despite the amusement, you'll probably need a guide to make your way through it with seemingly nonsensical things to do...Mind you, they all make sense in the long run, but during your initial playthrough, you'll have no idea why you'd need secateurs...And then later find out that you've gotta cut the fingers off of a corpse to get a book. I also like some of the demented aspects in the game, like finding the diary of a child, and upon opening it, you discover that the kid covered his parents in petrol when they were sleeping and lit them ablaze. The ending is kinda corny, and there's not enough horror here to live up to the fact that it considers itself to be a horror game...But, if you're into point-and-click adventures, Personal Nightmare might be worth looking into.

Review added: 10/15/2020

petsitting

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: goose-nest

While not labeled as a horror game per se, petsitting could be nightmare fuel if you're not a big fan of giant creepy crawlies. The concept of petsitting is simple…you're being a pet sitter for your friend. Their family pet, Dog, needs to be cared for while they're away. The problem is that Dog isn't a dog…it's a giant caterpillar that doesn't enjoy being a family pet and is a bit of a cranky-puss. In this very short game, your goals are to greet Dog, make dinner and feed Dog, bathe Dog, tuck Dog into bed, then go to bed yourself. From there, you're basically working towards the end of the game. I won't spoil things here, in case anyone wants to play it. But from beginning to end, it took me roughly 15 minutes to complete petsitting. I like the concept of the game, and the idea of taking care of a giant caterpillar named Dog, but it's not really an engaging 15 minutes of gameplay…still, though, I'm assuming that petsitting was made by a single person, so if that is the case, it's better than my score reflects. But anyway, if petsitting sounds like an interesting game to you, you can find it over at itch.io, where you can download it for free to give it a try.

Review added: 10/28/2025

Phantasmagoria

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Sierra Entertainment

Phantasmagoria is a game that I had heard about but never played prior to adding it to this list. Now that I’ve played through it from beginning to end, I guess I understand what all the hubbub was about. While the vast majority of the game is absolutely harmless, the intro movie shows a scene with the married couple that the story revolves around having a romantic time in bed. Nothing graphic, but probably enough to get noticed by parents that look for excuses to hate video games. About halfway in, there’s what I think is supposed to be a rape scene…but it more looks like the husband having a stroke, with both folks fully clothed, than anything else. In the final chapter, there’s some pretty graphic scenes of violence…like b-movie, over-the-top, cheesy horror film gore. I can’t imagine too many parents would be thrilled to see their child witness a swinging guillotine slice through the head of someone...even if it's cheesy and unrealistic. But anyway, take the controversial aspects away, and what you have is a solid point-and-click adventure game. It’s a good game on its own, but if it didn’t have the controversy surrounding it, I’m not sure if it’s a game that people would still be talking about a quarter of a century after its initial release.

Review added: 10/25/2020

POOLS

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Tensori

POOLS is labeled as a horror game on Steam…but it also states that it relies on sounds to create a relaxing, yet unnerving experience. My impression going in was that it was less of a horror game and more of just a simulation of an overwhelming feeling of being alone in a strange place. The first chapter or two basically made me feel like my prediction of the game was correct. However, as you advance on in the game, you begin to see that this was, in fact, designed to be a horror game. It doesn't contain monsters tracking you down or enemies of any kind…but the imagery does begin to reflect what you'd see in a nightmare a you get closer to the end. Add in the imagery with the ambient sounds and the fact that you're navigating a giant maze, and I can definitely see this game making some people feel a little uneasy. I, personally, found this to be the most relaxing, stress-free horror game that I've ever played. Anyway, if you like walking simulators, want to take in some gorgeous environments, and don't mind feeling like a mouse in a maze, then POOLS may be a good game for you. Likewise, if you want to play a horror game, but want your horror elements on the mild side, then POOLS is also a good choice. It's not a game for everyone, but I enjoyed my time playing it.

Review added: 10/27/2025

Portal

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Valve Software

When the Orange Box compilation was released, most people bought it for Half-Life 2. And as great as Half-Life 2 is, it was seemingly overshadowed by a little-known game called Portal that became the star of the package, instantly gaining popularity and adulation. Essentially, in Portal, you've got a gun that can shoot out...well portals. A blue portal and an orange portal. If something goes into one portal, it comes out the other. You can put a toaster in the portal and watch it come out the other. You can place a turret in one portal and watch it crash to the floor when it pops out of the other one. You can even hurl yourself into a portal to access otherwise unreachable areas. It's not just fun to play Portal, but it's fun to experiment within Portal to see what you can do. Anyway, the action-based puzzle gameplay was addicting and fun. It wasn't very long before it saw its own solo release, and eventually even saw a sequel. Spawning several catchphrases, like "the cake is a lie," and spewing personality out of every corner of the Aperture Science facility, from words scratched into the walls, or your far-too-short time with the lovable Weighted Companion Cube, Portal is a game that will stick with you long, long after GlaDOS sings to you as the credits roll.

Review added: 08/12/2019

Power Drill Massacre

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: puppet combo

Power Drill Massacre is a fairly popular game created by Puppet Combo. I can see why it’s popular, but at the same time, it’s a very flawed game. I probably shouldn’t be too harsh since the game is labeled as “Early Access,” but since it was released in 2015, one would have to wonder if the remainder of the game will ever come, though when you purchase it, it does say that you will receive a key for the complete game when it gets released on Steam, so who knows? If it is, indeed, early access, then I’ll update this when the full game is released. For now, though, the controls are extremely awkward. Tank controls while having free movement of the camera with your mouse (which is extremely sensitive) can easily cause you to get disoriented. It feels unnatural. You can switch to a controller setup if you want, and while it controls much better that way, it still doesn’t feel great. I like the rest of the game for the most part…but the controls just ruin much of the experience, unfortunately. All that said, if you’re a horror fan, you’ll probably find enough here to keep playing. Everyone else will probably spend a few minutes playing and move onto something else.

Review added: 10/31/2020

Power Drill Massacre Arcade

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: puppet combo

Puppet Combo created a popular game called Power Drill Massacre, which was a 3D survival horror game similar to 90’s survival horror like Resident Evil or Silent Hill. Then they released this gem. Labeled as Power Drill Massacre Arcade, the game looks and plays like an old Atari 2600 game, though I doubt that this game is small enough to fit on an actual Atari 2600 cartridge. For what it is, though, it’s actually brilliant. I can’t imagine survival horror being done much better in this format. It’s essentially a mix of Atari 2600 classics Adventure and Haunted House. The goal in each level is to collect all three keys, find the exit, and avoid the killer that will spawn from doors. In the beginning, the levels are a single screen. As you advance on, levels will span across several screens. Each level basically starts as a blank screen and as you move through, walls appear, making it clear what paths to take. Having the killer chase you into the darkness of an unexplored part of the screen is part of the frantic fun. I always appreciate simple games that get things right. This game is very basic, but it gets everything right for the style of game that it is. I’m a big fan and I really appreciate that Puppet Combo isn’t afraid to attempt horror in different video game styles and doesn’t stick exclusively to PS One-era survival horror.

Review added: 10/31/2020

Project Runway

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Atari SA

Yeah, I played this. Got a problem with that? I will whoop you! I will whoop you like a turkey in a wheelchair!!...That didn't make sense, but that's fine. It doesn't make sense for anyone to want to play Project Runway, either. Project Runway might sound nice for fashion design folk that also enjoy video games...until you play and see the limited selection to work with while playing dress-up. You're then rewarded with five to ten minutes of watching your model and the models of all other contestants walk the ramp only to find out that your sense of fashion is boring...Even if you gave your model tiger face paint and a mohawk. What's boring about tiger face paint and a mohawk?! My model could whoop all the other models...this review has more whoops than my average review. Anyway, Project Runway is a bore-fest of a game that most will hate, and the lack of stuff to work with when dressing the model means that fashion designers probably won't enjoy it either....It's a lose-lose all the way around. Project Go Away is a better name.

Review added: 07/30/2019

Proteus

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: Ed Key & David Kanaga

Proteus is an odd game to comment on. There are no enemies, there's no way to die, there's no real goals or objectives in a traditional sense...in Proteus all you do is wander around and take in the scenery and audio. In order to “beat” the game, you need to explore the randomly-generated island that you’re on and find a circle of stones. At night, you’ll be able to “warp” to a different season if you stand within that circle. Explore all four seasons and you’ll eventually float into the heavens for "victory." It's definitely not for everyone, but since I'm someone who enjoys just aimlessly wandering around, enjoying the scenery in the Elder Scrolls games, I find this to be a very relaxing way to spend 10-20 minutes exploring without having to worry about if something is going to try to kill me. Proteus is beautiful, relaxing, and it's one of my favorite games to come out in the last decade.

Review added: 09/28/2019

Puppet Master: The Game

Also known as:  N/A

Developer: October Games

I'm a big fan of the Puppet Master movies. I own the majority of them on DVD, and I consider Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys to be my favorite Christmas movie to play during the holiday season. So, I was immediately filled with joy and excitement when I saw that an officially-licensed Puppet Master game would be released….and then immediately disappointed when I saw that it was yet another horror movie franchise that was turned into an online multiplayer game. I'm not a big fan of online multiplayer games…I'm not competitive by nature, I just enjoy playing games for fun. Way too many folks online are overly competitive to the point where it simply isn't fun for me. That said, the online community here isn't bad…but I still preferred to spend most of my time playing the offline, single-player mode. Unfortunately, there's not really much to the offline mode. You can level up your characters and get used to how everything plays, but the base game only has three offline levels to play in. Also, the gameplay itself is okay, but it could definitely be improved upon. The good news is that this game still appears to be in the beta stage, so it may only get better. As it is, it's still a decent game. With some luck, the developers will smooth out the gameplay, add some more levels, and I sincerely hope that some single-player modes get added. Fans of the Puppet Master movies will likely still find enough here to enjoy to continue playing. If you've never seen a Puppet Master movie before, you may not really find much of a reason to continue playing after a game or two.

Review added: 10/31/2023