As the leaves change color and the weather makes us pull out our wool sweaters, autumn is truly upon us. To celebrate this transition, here are my suggestions for some spooky Halloween fun. Grab your flashlight and hot chocolate. And don’t forget the comforter to hide from those chasing you!
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD
The Luigi’s Mansion series is great for Halloween as our green character explores a haunted mansion… all by himself! Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD was released this year on Nintendo Switch. In this version of the 3DS game, Luigi travels to the Evershade Valley, where the magical Dark Moon that hangs over it seems to have a calming effect on the ghosts that reside there. When it suddenly shatters, the once-peaceful ghosts become hostile! Luigi is not as brave as his brother Mario. But despite his clumsiness, he’ll go on a mission to restore the Black Moon’s to its rightful place.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is designed for the whole family. Each mansion has its own fun theme. Scenes are full of action and humor, even as you explore a valley filled with haunted mansions.
Silent Hill 2
Starting on October 8, fans of the horror genre will dive back into a remastered version of the brilliant Silent Hill 2 on PlayStation 5. This Konami classic features James Sunderland as he travels to the mysterious town of Silent Hill. Having received a letter from his wife, who died three years earlier, James searches the enigmatic town for any traces of her.
The game’s appeal at the time was the sense of claustrophobia created by the fog that engulfs the entire town. In this fog, James will find bloody monsters. The sight of blood-stained nurses chasing us despite having deformed limbs is still fresh in my mind. And, of course, the so-called Pyramid Head, whose encounter brings nightmares. With its re-release on the PlayStation 5, I’m very curious to see how this psychological atmosphere inherent to horror games will tap into the features of the DualSense controller, the modern lighting effects and Sony console’s headset surround sound.
Until Dawn
Another remake coming out just in time for Halloween is the survival horror narrative game Until Dawn. In this game, a group of young adults find themselves trapped in an isolated cottage. The eight friends have decided to gather where two of their loved ones disappeared just over a year ago. But the reunion turns tragic, and the remote vacation destination soon becomes a nightmare. It’s up to the player to keep them alive, but it won’t be that easy. In this game, the player’s choices about the decisions made by the characters are an integral part of the story.
Until Dawn will release on October 4 for PlayStation 5 and PC. It will incorporate the console’s modern features, including haptic feedback from the DualSense controller, 3D surround sound and added accessibility and ergonomics options. Developers have updated character models, environments, interactive objects, visual effects and animations. There are also additional collectible totems and camera shots, and the prologue has been reworked.
Can you survive Blackwood Mountain until dawn?
Alan Wake II
After winning several awards at the Game Awards 2023, the physical version of the horror game Alan Wake II will finally be released on October 22. A direct sequel to the first game, Alan Wake is trapped in the dark lair. The mystery writer, having been trapped by his script, has now literally entered his story. His nightmares, fears and stories materialize around him. For the past thirteen years, he has been trying to avoid sinking into madness and to write a story that would alter the reality around him to escape. But so far, to no avail. Meanwhile, this second installment adds the perspective of FBI agent Saga Anderson. She travels to Bright Falls to investigate a series of murders, but her adventure takes a supernatural turn when she gets her hands on the lost pages of Wake.
For those interested, the deluxe physical version of Alan Wake II includes:
- Alan Wake 2 physical game
- The Night Springs and Lake House expansions
- Deluxe Edition cosmetics and items: Nordic Shotgun Skin for Saga, Crimson Windbreaker for Saga, Celebrity Suit for Alan, Parliament Shotgun Skin for Alan, and Lantern Charm for Saga
- Alan Wake Remastered (Digital Edition – included as a gift with purchase DLC on a voucher)
Halloween is the winning season when it comes to video games
Many of us enjoy video games that send shivers down our spines. Gamers like to be scared. They want to be seen as heroes who face the worst enemies and come out victorious at the end of a spooky story. This Halloween theme can also be found in other games, even if just for one level. In Astro Bot, for example, a special level is dedicated to a haunted castle. As the game has just been released, I am not going to reveal anything about this level, but I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Do you have your own list of spooky or fun game classics for Halloween? Feel free to share them with us in the comments!
