Many people misunderstandhorror gamingas a genre that features relentless jump scares without any substance to offer. While some games in this genre rely on shock value to impress players, many horror games treat this genre with deftness and panache. In the best examples, the scares creep in like a slow burn and have an incredible payoff. The overarching narrative and engaging gameplay systems of these titles make them fascinating to play through.
Gamers who own a Mac may feel like they’remissing out on some great horror games, since the platform isn’t necessarily known for gaming. These players will be glad to know that there are several titles from this genre available on Mac, with Apple’s processor for their home systems becoming more powerful than ever. Modern Macs can run decently powerful games at high settings, including the following horror titles.
People expected a game based on theAlienseries to be scary, but that was about it.Then,Alien: Isolationblew everyone’s mindswith immersive audiovisual design, incredible AI for the titular alien, and immersive sim gameplay that prioritized a mix of stealth and action. Horror fans received an absolute gem, and more people need to check this game out.
Controlling Amanda Ripley and exploring the Sevastopol space station while a Xenomorph is on the loose makes for a harrowing time. Players must be wary and not make a single sound when the Alien is following them. Repeating the same escape strategy won’t work. It’s important to use distractions and the like to ensure that players don’t experience a gory death as the Xenomorph rips them apart.
Darkwoodis one of the least resource-intensive games on the list, meaning that players don’t have to worry too much about their Macs not being powerful enough to run this game. Allegedly, its developers were unfamiliar with H.P. Lovecraft’s work, which makes the cosmic horror of this game even more impressive. The game loves to limit what players can see until it’s right up in their faces.
Despite its top-down viewpoint, the savage combat and unnerving atmospherehelpDarkwoodstand out as one of the scariest video gamesplayers can get their hands on. The title’s survival mechanics add to the tension, forcing players to manage their resources while being hounded by enemies. Foes can genuinely surprise players as they go through this wonderful experience.
Oxenfreetakes the classic setup of a group of teenagers going somewhere to have some fun, and getting trapped in a dark situation.The narrative ofOxenfreefocuses on a time loop that can only be escaped after playing through the game multiple times. All of this is hidden behind some effective scares and thick tension as players explore Edwards Island and uncover the narrative piece by piece.
There’s something oddly cozy aboutOxenfreethat makes it easy to get into, even though its horror trappings give players a rude awakening from time to time. Since the visuals rely more on style instead of technical fidelity, Mac users should have no problem playing this game, regardless of how powerful their system is.
While there are many well-known RPG Maker horror games, not many titles feature the same level of deft gameplay integration as seen inFear & Hunger. This hardcore horror RPG is a pain to get through from the very first screen, where a pair of wolves will rip the player apart if they have no idea what to do.
What follows is a punishing video game whereplayers must learn with each deathand employ strategies that they forgot about before. Making even a modicum of progress inFear & Hungeris highly rewarding given how difficult this game is. Meanwhile, taking any form of risk is a gamble that players must think long and hard about. Even after numerous deaths and finally reaching the end of this amazing title, no player can say ever say that they’ve truly conqueredFear & Hunger. The title can still scare players out of their wits and make them feel a pressing sense of dread whenever something wrong happens in their run.
It’s easy towrite offAmnesia: The Dark Descentas a jumpscare fest, given how this title was one of those that led to the rise of the Let’s Play trend. However, players who look past these knee-jerk reactions will find themselves enjoying one of the most ingenious and terrifying video games ever made, featuring elements of immersive sim design.
Mac players who want to lose themselves in a terrifying yet captivating video game will love whatAmnesia: The Dark Descenthas to offer. The puzzle design and excellent narrative will keep players on their toes as they struggle to make progress while avoiding the many monsters in this mansion that are hunting them down. For a game that became popular for its shock value, the real strengths of the firstAmnesiagame lie in its chilling mystery and timeless gameplay.
