10 Scariest Xbox Games

From third-person shooters like Cold Fear to iconic horror franchises like Fatal Frame, the Xbox had a couple interesting horror games.

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After spending most of the 90s out of the running, America once again became a major competitor in the console wars with the launch of the original Xbox in 2001. Even though this was Microsoft’s first gaming console, the success of iconic titles such as Halo and early online support for multiplayer and shopping led to the Xbox reaching high levels of popularity.

Despite the prosperity and the large selection of games, horror was still a rare genre on this console. But, there are some prominent Xbox horror games that are, even now, worth a look.

10 Cold Fear

As Ubisoft’s first published horror title, Cold Fear is an interesting survival horror third-person shooter released in 2005 that is often unfairly called a Resident Evil 4 clone. While the two games are very similar, Cold Fear was only released a few months after Resident Evil 4, which means the similarities are likely an unlucky coincidence. The player controls a member of the United States Coast Guard named Tom Hansen who explores a large Russian boat after both Russian Mafia members and CIA officers on the ship are turned into Zombie-like creatures.

Despite the similarities to Resident Evil 4 which have made this game a more obscure horror title, the game has its own unique aspects, like the boat realistically swaying from side to side and the detailed physics engine. Also, the cheesy story can keep players entertained throughout even if the gameplay is annoying at times.

9 Obscure

Released in 2004, Obscure is a survival horror where the player controls six different teenagers who get trapped at their high school at night while looking for their missing friend. While trying to find a way out, the characters slowly discover that the principal and the school nurse are using a rare plant spore that turns humans into monsters.

Although the plot is cheesy and some of the gameplay mechanics don’t quite work, it does have some intriguing ideas, like players controlling the characters in teams of two, players being able to continue the game even if some of the characters die, and exchanging and combining inventory items between characters. Also, the mediocre story is still fun to experience.

8 The Suffering

Before action-horror games like Resident Evil 4, F.E.A.R., and Dead Space helped popularize the subgenre, the 2004 horror shooter The Suffering pioneered the previously uncharted area of games. In this game, players control an amnesiac prisoner named Torque who is on death row for supposedly killing his wife and children. But, while at a large maximum-security prison on an island, the place gets overrun by supernatural creatures, and Torque must battle his way out.

Depending on the player’s moral choices, characters will interact with Torque differently and the ending of the game will be altered. At the time, this unique feature and the interesting monster designs led to the game’s success and eventual sequel.

7 The Thing

Based on the 1982 film and endorsed by the film director himself, The Thing is a 2002 survivor horror third-person shooter that has the player control a member of the U.S. Special Forces, Captain Blake, as he leads his small team to the Antarctic outpost after the events of the film. While exploring the place to figure out what had happened, the team ends up having to fight strange creatures while worrying about the Thing.

What makes this game unique is that the player has to communicate with their teammates to get them to do various tasks, and their cooperation is linked to how much they trust the player. Also, any of the teammates can become infected by the Thing.

6 Doom 3

Created as a reboot of the Doom series, Doom 3 is a 2004 survival horror first-person shooter where the player controls a Space Marine who explores a scientific research facility on Mars after a teleportation experiment creates a portal to Hell. The Space Marine must now fight hordes of demons in order to stop Hell from leaving Mars and threatening Earth.

While the graphics were revolutionary at the time and the story was the most developed, there were some slowdowns on the Xbox version because of the technological advancements. The gameplay is extremely similar to the previous Doom games, which was either a hit or miss with players.

5 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

Based on H. P. Lovecraft’s novella The Shadow over Innsmouth and other related Cthulhu mythos, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is a 2005 stealth survival horror game where the main character, a private detective named Jack Walters, goes to investigate the strange town of Innsmouth. But, shortly after arriving, he starts encountering fish people and other frightful things as he struggles to stay alive.

Even though the game has plenty of bugs and the gameplay is mostly linear, this title is notable for representing the main character’s health by directly affecting the gameplay, audio, and visuals rather than just having a health and sanity bar on the screen. Besides the annoying enemy A.I., the game is enjoyable enough for a playthrough.

4 Castlevania: Curse of Darkness

Taking place three years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness is a 2005 3D action-adventure that continues the Metroidvania style of this later era. The player controls a former servant of Dracula named Hector who returns to Dracula’s castle in order to enact revenge. Issac, the servant of Dracula who Hector wants to fight, killed Hector’s wife Rosaly because he believed Dracula lost to Trevor Belmont because of Hector’s betrayal, and now Issac is trying to bring Dracula back to life.

Since the player is not controlling a Belmont, Hector cannot use standard weapons like the whip. Instead, Hector has a wide range of other possible weapons and, since he is a “Devil Forgemaster,” he can create “Innocent Devils” that help him on his journey. Along with the great soundtrack, these varied gameplay options make up for the boring environments.

3 Fatal Frame Special Edition

Although the first Fatal Frame was originally released on the PS2 in 2001, an expanded port, Fatal Frame Special Edition, was released for the Xbox in 2002. Both games follow Miku Hinasaki who goes to the Haunted Himuro Mansion to find out what happened to Mafuyu, her missing brother. As she explores the building, she ends up having to fight various ghosts using the Camera Obscura.

This port has a couple of extra things that make it the superior version. With updated graphics, more ghosts, and a new “Fatal” difficulty mode, this game is a must-play for new players trying to get into the franchise.

2 Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams

At the end of 2001, Silent Hill 2, which was originally released on the PS2 and is considered by some to be the best game in the series, had an enhanced port released for the Xbox titled Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams. Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror game that follows a young man named James Sunderland who somehow receives a letter from his recently deceased wife, Mary, telling him to meet her in the small town of Silent Hill. While James explores the creepy town and fights monsters, he meets several strange characters, like a woman named Maria who looks similar to his dead wife, on his journey to find Mary.

Besides the general enhancements to graphics and gameplay, this port also includes an extra scenario called Born from a Wish that takes place before James visits the town and has the player control Maria instead. Although fans are divided on whether this is a good edition or not, it is still something that players should experience for themselves.

1 Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Director’s Cut

After Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly was released in 2003 for the PS2, an enhanced port called Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Director’s Cut was released on the Xbox in 2004. The original game follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu who are being targeted by the spirits of an abandoned village as sacrifices for an ancient ritual.

In this port, the game has better graphics, better audio, and some extra costumes. Also, the port allows players to play the entire game in the first person, and there is now a shop players can use to buy equipment for the Camera Obscura.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/scariest-horror-xbox-games/