Dark Pictures & Dangerous Choices: A Scaredy-Cat’s Guide to Scary Games
Full disclosure…I’ve never been the biggest fan of scary movies. I was the scaredy-cat who pretended to watch horror flicks with friends, but my eyes were always fixed anywhere but the screen. Growing up, my idea of a fun Halloween movie night was Casper or Hocus Pocus.
As I got older, I could handle scary movies to a degree, but I never sought them out unless it was a group event. And I remain tragically susceptible to the most suspenseful element of them all… the dreaded jump scare.
The horror.
So no one was more surprised than me when I became obsessed with a series of horror video games built entirely around classic horror tropes, starting with Until Dawn.
Like all games I can’t stop recommending, it comes down to the story. Specifically, the narrative experience. Ever since my days of Choose Your Own Adventure books, I’ve loved exploring the consequences of decisions, good or bad. That love for narrative choice pulled me into the world of interactive horror, and surprisingly, I stayed.
Below, I’ve ranked Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures Anthology games by story engagement, character depth, and replayability.
1. Until Dawn
An empty mountain mansion. A group of traumatized young adults with unresolved drama. An abandoned psychiatric ward and mine shaft conveniently located nearby. Freezing temperatures. What could possibly go wrong?
Until Dawn took the gaming world by storm upon release and with good reason. A quick YouTube search reveals countless playthroughs and reaction videos with millions of views. Besides an all-star cast including Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek, the game delivers the perfect mix of camp, suspense, and cinematic horror.
When I finally mustered the courage to play, I recruited a few friends to join me. Unfortunately, it’s a single-player game, but that didn’t stop everyone from shouting their opinions on what choice to make next to keep our characters alive.
The gameplay revolves around the Butterfly Effect: how one small choice can have devastating or redemptive consequences hours later. Combine that with the relentless jump scares, and you’ve got a game that will keep you both terrified and thrilled to the end.
(Ranking: Scares: 4.5 | Characters: 4 | Story: 4)
2. Little Hope
Thematically, this one nails the spooky atmosphere. My first playthrough left me underwhelmed by the ending , but after replaying and unlocking the “good” ending, I found it rather emotional and narratively satisfying.
Plus, it stars the always-watchable Will Poulter, which is a win in my book.
The story follows four college students and their professor stranded in a mysterious town they can’t seem to leave. As they search for an escape, they uncover eerie ties to puritanical witch trials. It’s haunting, tragic, and rewards replaying to uncover deeper layers.
(Ranking: Scares: 4 | Characters: 3 | Story: 4)
3. House of Ashes
This one’s a bit of a curveball. I’d actually classify House of Ashes as more adventure-thriller than pure horror, which is maybe why I enjoyed it so much. What it lacks in scares, it makes up for in character growth and emotional stakes.
Aside from Until Dawn, this was the one game where my friends and I genuinely cheered for the characters during the climatic final scenes. We were that invested.
At first, I was skeptical about setting a horror story during the Iraq War, but it surprisingly works. You play as a military unit that gets trapped in an ancient Sumerian temple. The tension, atmosphere, and ensemble dynamics give it a modern-day The Mummy vibe (which I loved as a kid). Plus, it was fun to see Ashley Tisdale in a new type of role. If you prefer action and mystery over traditional horror, this is the perfect entry point into the Dark Pictures series.
(Ranking: Scares: 2 | Characters: 4.5 | Story: 4)
4. Man of Medan
The first installment in the Dark Pictures Anthology follows five adults whose pleasure cruise goes terribly wrong, leading them to an abandoned military ship with a sinister past.
The premise is fantastic, and it delivers some solid scares and unsettling moments (plus, Shawn Ashmore — always a bonus). The multiplayer mode introduced an intriguing twist that became the standard for Dark Pictures, since each player can see different events unfold depending on their character.
However, the ending feels rushed, and after multiple playthroughs, I often found myself thinking, “Okay… but what now?” Still, it’s a solid entry that sets the tone for the anthology.
(Ranking: Scares: 3 | Characters: 3 | Story: 3)
5. The Devil in Me
To be honest, this one didn’t grab me the way the others did. The premise of a documentary crew exploring a replica of H.H. Holmes’ infamous “Murder Hotel” is intriguing, but the execution fell flat.
The scares lean heavily into body horror and Saw-style traps (not my thing), and the choices didn’t feel as meaningful. To be fair, I played shortly after release, and it had several bugs, so maybe a replay would change my opinion.
Still, it had one redeeming factor: there’s a dog. And yes, I absolutely abandoned my friend’s character during a pivotal moment and risked my own character’s life to save that dog. No regrets. (Don’t worry, my friend’s character survived too.)
(Ranking: Scares: 3 | Characters: 2 | Story: 2)
6. The Quarry (Honorary Mention)
While not part of the Dark Pictures Anthology, The Quarry deserves a mention. Its summer-camp horror setup feels like a love letter to ‘80s slashers where a group of counselors try to survive one chaotic night.
I was excited about its promised multiplayer feature, but it wasn’t quite what fans hoped for. Only the host controls the story, while others can vote on decisions or assist in quick-time events. After playing more interactive titles, it felt a bit limited.
Despite a stellar cast (David Arquette! Grace Zabriskie!), the characters and story never quite hooked me. My friends loved it, but I found myself detached. Still, it’s worth checking out if you prefer a campier horror experience.
(Ranking: Scares: 2 | Characters: 2.5 | Story: 2.5)
Final Thoughts
So that wraps up my ranking of spooky, story-driven games. Whether you’re a horror fan or a self-proclaimed scaredy-cat like me, I highly recommend giving one a try, preferably with friends to share in the scares.
Or, if you prefer a less interactive fright night, watch a playthrough online. The storytelling alone is worth it.
Images & footage from: Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology series.
© Supermassive Games and 2K. Learn more or purchase at supermassivegames.com/games.
