We’ve put together a list of some of the most memorable experiences we’ve had within that framework. Some of them really turn things up a notch, and you might want to keep a light on if you decide to dive in!

Let’s get started.

1. Elden Ring

Despite a more visually bright world in The Lands Between, Elden Ring squirrels away poignant, truly frightening tales in the backgrounds of its dungeons, or in plain sight for the Tarnished to uncover. The lore behind those in pots in any of Shadow of the Erdtree’s dungeons showcases a side to Queen Marika that makes her actions all the more terrifying to think about, while other instances of her kingdom’s trysts with monsters manifest in frightening ways.

Grotesque monstrosities accost you, sometimes in the most beautiful places, while the darkest corners of The Lands Between or the Shadow Tree’s cursed landscape hide melancholy secrets and enemies deadly enough to take out even the best builds. Bloodborne players might be all too familiar with that one and the Madness gauge.

And of course, there’s Mohg’s haunting story to uncover for those of you interested in some gruesome lore that has some far-reaching implications spread across the story.

2. Demon’s Souls (Remake)

One of the best things Bluepoint Studios did with the Demon’s Souls remake was to recreate its environments just as they were set up in the original game while adding a layer of realism to its oppressive levels and its many threats.

Each boss, although familiar, was now all the more terrifying, their new character models lending them an additional layer of imposing dread. That’s also true for many of the game’s grunt enemies as well, and the entire experience was definitely worth experiencing all of the tension between boss runs that comes with it all over again.

3. Lies of P

One of the things that Lies of P does so well is weave in its horror component into its narrative in subtle ways, with it being an important part of the background that underlines the bizarre puppet frenzy and its aftermath. We’re not going to forget fighting Andreus’ mutated form any time soon, or the battle against the Monster of the Swamp.

The DLC took things up a notch right off the bat, having us explore a zoo whose inhabitants were certainly a sight to behold, even as they tore us to shreds. Lies of P hides very morbid tales behind its lore and encourages you to learn more about how the Alchemists and those against them both went to extremes to achieve their goals. We’re not forgetting the results of Romeo’s time with Arlecchino in Overture anytime soon, and that tale alone is enough to earn this one a place on our list.

4. Control: Ultimate Edition

A supernatural realm existing outside time and space, being at the center of Altered World Events that distorted reality, should have been quite a giveaway, in hindsight. But Control cleverly hid its horror behind a layer of sci-fi that could be quite the surprise when the game decides to raise your hackles.

There is some SCP-style terror on offer here, and you’re soon going to be at the center of some very scary encounters in the role of the FBC’s new Director. Warped realities and whispered threats are among the many reasons that this one was a no-brainer for this list.

5. Death Stranding 2

We have two words for you: Beached Things. These monstrosities, called BTs for short, are nothing short of terrifying when you encounter them. These lost souls are not just terrifying to fight, but bring the risk of a Voidout to every encounter with a living being. That’s a sentiment that is right in the background with each one, and is scary enough with each of the BTs bringing unique attacks and horrendous appearances.

Their frequency makes every step through Death Stranding feel like it’s a trek through a world that continues to be haunted by the horrifying event that started it all.

6. Returnal

Housemarquee certainly did a great job of weaving in some brilliantly written psychological horror into Selene’s “time” at Atropos. Not only are the alien monsters she encounters quite menacing on their own, but every discovery of the time loop she is in adds a layer of subtle tension to the rest of the experience, slowly peeling back the layers of a timeline that could plague her for the rest of her life.

Returnal’s very premise sets the stage for a few truly frightening encounters and revelations, and is one that could stay with you long after you roll the credits on it.

7. Remnant II

Irrespective of where you end up at the start of your adventure, thanks to the procedurally generated experience, things get weird and scary quickly in this one. From the time loop in a burning house to tracking down the Nightweaver in the Tormented Asylum, this one can get quite hair-raising when it ups the ante in that direction.

Remnant II’s themes of desolation and a sort of decay in the worlds it takes you to blend very well with the lore and discovery around some of its more imposing bosses, each of which boasts a design that could give even the bravest Travelers.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

Folklore and monster contracts are a perfect recipe for some chilling stories and horrifying enemies in CD Projekt Red’s excellent take on the novels. Several missions in the franchise’s third instalment bring its many impressive monsters to life, partly through their designs but also via the journey of following their tracks and witnessing what they’re capable of firsthand.

It’s a sense of anticipation and dread that the game does well to capture, especially if you manage to uncover the second DLC’s deepest secrets. Or perhaps uncover a side quest with some truly haunting consequences in the Skellige Isles.

9. Metro Exodus (Enhanced Edition)

4A Games’ take on a post-apocalyptic shooter certainly packs in moments that can have you in sheer panic and trying to button-mash your way out of a situation without even thinking about it. In a world that has many inhospitable areas, and some very terrifying mutant creatures in areas that are, this is a level of gas-mask panic that’s quite memorable indeed.

We’d argue that it’s a survival horror game in disguise, given how challenging it is to brave the world it presents to us.

10. A Plague Tale: Innocence

Guiding your way through a take on a 14th-century setting with the Inquisition on your tale should be harrowing enough. But Asobo Studio certainly dialed things up by factoring in the Black Plague. But did they stop there? There was also a layer of supernatural entities and some horror elements thrown in, making this one a story that had us feeling both terror and awe at so many points.

Hugo’s journey alongside his sister and the erosion of his innocence as he battled his illness is a story that’s right up there with the most haunting ones we’ve seen. It’s made all the more haunting given his young age, the struggles of his sister to find a way out for both of them, and, of course, the sense of melancholy that a land falling victim to the Black Plague can bring if done correctly.

Bonus: Ghost of Yotei

While Atsu’s role as an onryo and the eventual terror she inspires in her enemies is great and all, Sucker Punch included a touch of the supernatural in this one. The Mythic Tale of the Spider Lily General involving his armor turns into a trek through an estate still haunted by his ghost.

He brutalises other bounty hunters ahead of you, he watches somberly as you attempt to navigate his puzzles, and his shadow passes ominously across the window as you enter his home. The eventual battle and the way it ends are as haunting as the journey through this character’s life story.

His story is hauntingly poignant, involving a morbid take on a father’s love that leads to some very interesting conversations with the general himself later down the line. We’d say that uncovering the tale is as unsettling as the premise itself, a sentiment that isn’t helped in the slightest by his estate’s general sense of neglect and suffocating atmosphere.

And that’s a wrap on some of the scariest experiences we’ve had outside of the horror genre. We’d argue that some of these games more than deserve a place among the genre’s finest, though!

The Witcher series has a very passionate fanbase, all of whom are hoping that they’ll get to see another entry in the series at some point in the future. While we do know that Geralt of Rivia’s story is over, Geralt’s voice actor Doug Cockle stated that he would want a hypothetical Witcher 4 to be about Geralt’s protege and adoptive daughter, Ciri.

In an interview with Gamereactor, the voice actor stated, “If you’re leading into The Witcher 4, I can only say I have no idea, although I think it will be. This is my own opinion, and CD Projekt Red knows what they are doing, and I have no idea what the plan is, but… If I was CD Projekt Red, I would make The Witcher 4, but I would be focusing on Ciri. In The Witcher 3 she hints at visiting other worlds, and I think a game around her visiting those different worlds would be a cool Witcher 4.”

Doug Cockle’s voice for Geralt will stay with fans of the games for a long time, and hopefully, his wishes for regarding the series come true. It would certainly be a treat to follow Ciri around on her adventures, but unfortunately, it does not seem like The Witcher 4 is in the works as of now. We’ll just have to wait and see if CD Projekt RED will listen to the fans and work on it sometime in the future. For the time being, we have Cyberpunk 2077 to be excited for!

Horseback combat seems to be a big deal in all these fantasy games. It was a big deal and a huge selling point of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Bethesda made a lot of noise about it in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. And now, CD Projekt RED are joining the horse drawn bandwagon, promising us that the upcoming Witcher 3: Wild Hunt allows for horseback combat anywhere.

“And of course there’s the horse combat! But we didn’t show it in the demo. You can do it whenever you want. You can attack with a sword, shoot a crossbow, throw bombs; you can even fight another horseman,” said CD Projekt RED’s Game Director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz to AusGamers.

I mean, that does sound exciting. How epic would it be to have two horseback riders clash swords in an epic battle in a picturesque setting? Sort of like that bridge battle in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

The Witcher 3 launches next year for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the conclusion to CD Projekt RED’s seminal Witcher series of role playing games, is hitting the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC some time next year. Warner Bros Interactive will be publishing the game in North America, while distribution duties in Europe have not been finalized yet. Now, it has a publisher in Japan too, and it’s the same as last time.

Spike Chunsoft, the same company that handled publishing and distribution for The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360, will be publishing and distributing The Witcher 3 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in Japan.

“Spike Chunsoft did an amazing job launching The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for Xbox 360 in the Japanese market, which is why we’re very excited to announce the continuation of our partnership. We’re thrilled that they see the same potential we do in the open world and novel-quality narrative we aim to deliver with The Witcher 3 and are willing to partner with us to launch the game on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,” said Michał Nowakowski, Vice President of Business Development and Member of the Board, CD Projekt RED.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with CD Projekt RED on the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in Japan. RPGs have always been a prominent part of the Japanese video game landscape. Although more and more quality western RPGs are now localized into Japanese, most gamers in Japan are still unaware of them. I strongly believe that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will redefine the western RPG for Japanese gamers,” said Satoru Honma, International Business Development Producer, Spike Chunsoft.

Stay tuned for more coverage on the game.

A few hours ago, CD Projekt RED posted the image below. The image is nothing out of the ordinary, is a normal sword but hey, which of the CD Projekt’s game has a sword as the main weapon? There are no prizes for guessing.

Not only that, they even said the following: ‘Oh, and if you are wondering what’s that in that picture above – well, we’ll leave it for your imagination to answer. :)’ Of course we are reading you right.

Last week, CD Projekt RED revealed the first trailer of CyberPunk 2077 which had cryptic messages that indicated a Witcher 3 reveal. So, now it is only a matter of time before the game is officially announced.

If the game is announced, do you think the game will go next-gen? Do you think it will also be available on current gen consoles? Judging by the company’s history and their hunger for developing technological advanced games, a next gen release is a best bet at the moment.

Are you guys excited by this teaser? Let us know in the comments section below.

Jan Bartkowicz, game designer and writer of the Witcher 2 dropped heavy hints about a possible new expansion pack for the game and also a new game in the series. He said they were planning at least one big entry in the series, whether it was Witcher 3 or something else, he didn’t mention.

“We still have at least one big title ahead of us in The Witcher franchise,” he told Eurogamer.

“All I can say is – outside of when the pre-production starts and finishes – with the story team we were probably in pre-production for The Witcher 3 during making The Witcher 2.”

“Just because even while we were doing The Witcher 2 it was all about, you know, there’s got to be probably something after.

But he didn’t confirm anything, but did hint at an expansion pack for the Witcher 2.

“All I can say is we’re planning on releasing something. [The Witcher 2.0 is] not the last update for The Witcher 2. That’s what I can assure you.”

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.