RPGs with Horror as the main theme?

[Harthwain]

I wonder if there are RPGs that run a horror (including psychological horror) theme. I am thinking of something akin to Diablo 1, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1, Darkest Dungeon, The Consuming Shadow, etc.

 

[Red Hexapus]

 

[Kev Inkline]

It was pure horror to follow how Mechajammer/Copper Dreams came about, the constant graphic overhauls and the general lack of direction.

 

[Outlander]

Fallout 3.

 

[Peachcurl]

More recent: 7th Circle

 

[Wunderbar]

Souls series, especially Demon's Souls and Bloodborne.

 

[Nortar]

Well, since you've mentioned Darkest Dungeon as a fitting option, check out Othercide:

 

[Darth Roxor]

Obviously System Shock 2. And that's all I can name other than The Legacy, which I know only because there was an LP of it here.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

VTMB

Ocean House Hotel is probably the most notable horror level in any RPG, anyways. Otherwise, general horror themes.

 

[Falksi]

SMT series

 

[Harthwain]

Well, since you've mention Darkest Dungeon as a fitting option, check out Othercide:

To be precise - I mentioned it mainly because it uses the horror theme, although it is not exactly a horror game. Overall I am interested in seeing something darker or creepier.

 

[Ismaul]

It seems to me that RPGs are somewhat antithetical to horror, beacause they're usually power fantasies. They're mostly about getting stronger, crushing your enemies, and coming out a winner, with a bigger dick and a hot girl stroking it.

So you're usually only going to find action RPGs dealing with horror as an atmospheric thing, a horror you'll succeed in pushing back by fighting. Even Diablo 1 with its bittersweet ending is like that. Horror is limited to the setting flavor.

Stygian had potential; and other games focussing on psychological horrors and sanity are interesting, but I'm not sure they succeed that well as cRPGs. There's always this distinction between making you, the player, scared, versus making the character scared and you dealing with the consequences of his insanity. FPSes and other first person games do the scaring the player better, but it's often cheap. In RPGs, the distance between player and character kind of blunts the horror. Quality of writing is more important then, and sanity or coping mechanics.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones.
Infra Arcana
Cataclysm: DDA
Veil of Darkness (more of an adventure game than RPG)

 

[Arthandas]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1002300/Fear__Hunger/

 

[Harthwain]

SMT series

Could you elaborate?

 

[wishbonetail]

Horrors and rpgs dont go well together. But there are some horror-themed rpgs.
Grim Dawn
Parasite Eve
Kuodelka
Mythos The beginning
Ravenlofts
Menzoberanzzan
The Inquisitor
Diablo 2 obviously
Bloodnet
Fear and Hunger
But usually upgrades, skills, stats only detract from experience and immersion.

 

[BruceVC]

Im not sure if you would consider The Forest to be a horror game because its defined as a survival game but I played it recently and it was very entertaining and the mutant creatures you fight can be horrific

 

[Drop Duck]

It seems to me that RPGs are somewhat antithetical to horror, beacause they're usually power fantasies. They're mostly about getting stronger, crushing your enemies, and coming out a winner, with a bigger dick and a hot girl stroking it.

There are plenty of systems that don't do that, it's enough to introduce an aging mechanic and the power fantasy is ruined by the reality and horror of old age coming for you.

 

[Falksi]

SMT series

Could you elaborate?

Shin Megami Tensei series.

List of Megami Tensei video games - Wikipedia

 

[Modron]

More recent: 7th Circle

He made another one of these, granted it's not as horror driven as that one

 

[buffalo bill]

Infra Arcana

 

[Skdursh]

Ross from Accursed Farms/Game Dungeon has played a few that kind of count. First one that comes to mind is this. RPG/Adventure hybrid.



Also, I'm on team "Roguelikes are not RPGs so Infra Arcana, CataclysmDDA, ect. don't count".

 

[JarlFrank]

 

[Technomancer]

Could try Exanima. It is light on RPG elements, it's mostly a dungeon crawl. First 3 levels are pretty mundane but then it surprises you. Sewers are especially great.

 

[Late Bloomer]

Parasite Eve & Shadow Hearts come to miind. Will need to check my games list and get back if I find a good one.