Top 10 Halloween Recommendations!
Happy Halloween!
For generations, October has been a special month for gamers. The days shorten, the nights lengthen, and playtime "increases" with the hours of darkness… or, at least, we don't have as much glare on our screens. Besides that, there's the whole Halloween thing, the "pagan" holiday adopted and adapted in our lands, which allows people to dress up on 31 October: either for parties or for a discount at some cafe or restaurant. We continue the tradition started last year, with a new list of recommendations, and this time we've returned with some "new" games to keep you busy on this spooky night (or whenever you fancy something a bit more spooky).
Castlevania
Recommended by Vlad Costea
The first Castlevania is truly terrifying. Not necessarily because it puts you in the position of slaying beasts depicted in classic cinematic productions from Universal studios, but because it challenges you to drive a stake through Count Dracula's chest in an adventure at the intersection of fair challenge and diabolical trap. The main character, Simon Belmont, is mute. But if he could communicate verbally, he would scream… for every gravitational trick that pulls him into the abyss, for every moment his magic whip can't reach the enemy, and for every sluggish movement that somehow makes the difference between survival and sacrifice on the Count's altar.
If you want a slightly more relaxed experience, then I recommend the pseudo-remake Super Castlevania IV. It tells the same story, but at a difficulty level that offers a certain sense of power. But nothing compares to the challenge of memorising each enemy's movement and trying to use Simon Belmont's otherwise limited movements to avoid devastating attacks.
The moment you bring the dawn upon Count Dracula's wounded body, you will surely be overwhelmed by a profound satisfaction. But until then, you are invited to take part in a true grind that tests your will, reflexes, and ability to adapt to new threats.
Castlevania is available on most platforms, with modern features such as saving progress and rewinding time to avoid fatal errors. But I finished it on NES several times: on original hardware, without any safety net and with the permanent possibility of the disk being misread to generate display errors. And nothing compares to the experience of playing in a situation where your mistakes are truly painful and costly. Kids these days will never know the true horrors!
Call of Cthulhu – Dark Corners of the Earth
Recommended by Retro Adrian
A game from 2006, probably the best representation of H.P. Lovecraft's universe in video games. It has many flaws, but the atmosphere is impeccable and the horror is everywhere. Perfect to play in the spooky season, if you haven't tried it yet.
Sweet Home
Recommended by Ronan
Before Resident Evil defined the "survival horror" genre, there was Sweet Home.
A niche title released on NES in 1989, developed and published by Capcom. Inspired by a Japanese film of the same name, the game sends a team of explorers into a haunted mansion where death lurks at every turn. The sombre atmosphere, oppressive music, and system of managing each character separately were incredibly innovative at the time. Sweet Home manages to convey an authentic sense of fear and isolation. For Halloween, it's perfect for those who want to find out where it all began — even if they don't play it, it's worth at least watching or listening to, for its tension-filled and mysterious soundtrack.
Sweet Home: You’re dead. You’re done. And you’re next! 🔪
Crow Country
Recommended by Klamath
A shorter game, but one that brings back the atmosphere and gameplay of 90s survival horror.
With graphics that seem straight out of the PS1–Dreamcast era, Crow Country is a more relaxed horror game — if you can call it that. It achieves this through a few small, but effective, modifications to the classic recipe: the inventory is no longer limited, and enemies seem easier to avoid than in other games.
Crow Country is an abandoned amusement park — the setting for your investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the owner (how else?). The game is full of puzzles that aren't very difficult, I'd even say they're cosy. It gives me the impression of a title very suitable for introducing a new player to the genre's mechanics.
The game will receive a physical version on Switch that is due out these days, but it can already be found digitally on all platforms.
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan
Recommended by Arhiva BD
If you like games where your choices can turn a peaceful cruise into a maritime nightmare full of ghosts and screams, The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is exactly what you need! The cool part? Every decision matters — you can save the crew… or you can cause perfect chaos without even realising it. The graphics are super realistic, the story keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the atmosphere has that frightening charm that makes you look over your shoulder even after you close the game. On that note, I invite you to test your courage and see how well you cope when the ghosts start knocking on the door. Spoiler: it's not the cruise of your dreams!
Remothered Tormented Fathers
Recommended by Silviu Tănase
Do you like games like "Clock Tower" or "Haunting Ground"? If so, maybe you haven't heard of an underrated psychological survival horror called "Remothered: Tormented Fathers". The story follows Rosemary Reed, a woman investigating the mysterious disappearance of a young girl, leading her to a mansion full of secrets and dangers. The game focuses on tension and strategy, using "run and hide" mechanics instead of direct confrontations, forcing the player to hide, flee, or improvise to survive. The atmosphere is sombre, "realistic" and full of tension, and the story unfolds slowly but steadily, through exploration, dialogues, and the discovery of disturbing details about the Felton family's past. It's not an action game but a mature horror experience, recommended for those who prefer suspense, mystery, and that horror atmosphere inspired by Italian giallo films. Behind this project, you can feel the passion for classic horror, "Remothered" being the creation of a single man, Chris Darril, who serves as a homage to an era where horror was built through story, rhythm, and ambiguity, not through visual shock, jump scares, or whatever new elements are recycled in horror today. It's the kind of game you instantly remember in a discussion about "underrated" horror games or when it comes to mentioning it in a list of Halloween recommendations.
Bloodborne
Recommended by Mancave.ro
Everyone who's been infected with Bloodborne in the last 10 years asks for its modernised version for a very good reason: the unique experience that only Bloodborne can offer. I admit without any reservation that Elden Ring is vastly superior in almost every way. But what massively differentiates Bloodborne is the horror atmosphere that enters your veins like a blood transfusion. The atmosphere is almost entirely shaped by the terrifying Victorian-Lovecraftian art style, which, although over 10 years old, still outclasses many aborted games oozing from the Unreal Engine 5 placenta. The austere sound design, strongly contrasted by the painfully superb soundtrack, intensifies the in-game experiences to a level I cannot describe in words. Add the brutal combat, the formidable weapon design, the merciless ferocity of the enemies, and you get one of the most unique and incredible entertainment experiences. The superb part is that weapons define builds, and every time you decide to start over with a new weapon, you get the same maximum intensity without ever feeling repetitive.
Grim Fandango
Recommended by Zuluf
I don't know about others, but every few years I pause my life a little to revisit what I've always considered Tim Schafer's magnum opus, Grim Fandango.
It seems to fit perfectly with Halloween (not coincidentally, the events described in the game take place on 2 November, Day of the Dead), and like Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, it's an example of neo-noir that balances sophistication and irreverence.
If you've experienced the magic of the adventure genre, it's hard to have overlooked Grim Fandango. If not, it's short enough, funny, and clever enough to fill your Dia de los Muertos with puzzles, jokes, and the mystery of a necro-Chandlerian conspiracy.
Ghostwire Tokyo
Recommended by Tudor-Codrin Enea
My Halloween recommendation comes from the distant lands of Japan, namely Ghostwire: Tokyo. It's more of an action-adventure with RPG elements than a classic horror title, but it has enough scary moments for an unforgettable gaming session. The action takes place in a Tokyo completely devoid of life, after a mysterious group makes all 37.4 million inhabitants of the metropolis disappear without a trace. In their place, only ghosts, yokai, and other creatures from Japanese folklore remain. The city is faithfully reconstructed, and many of the urban legends of the Land of the Rising Sun come to life in the approximately 30 hours of gameplay. So, if you want to hide from faceless entities in an abandoned hospital or run from a diabolical mannequin in school hallways, Ghostwire: Tokyo is the perfect choice (unless you plan to wander through Aokigahara). And whatever you do, don't visit the Shibuya crossing, because you might be abducted by the parade of a hundred demons.
Cronos: The New Dawn
Recommended by Leo Luția
This year I decided to come with a fresher recommendation.
Not that older games necessarily show their age, maybe some do… I just want to be grateful, in a way, for having had a great year.
It's not the scariest or the greatest horror game in history, but it blew me away for many, many reasons, the main one being the atmosphere. Bloober Team has once again proven that they are damn good at making games, especially when it comes to dark-horror themed ones.
I'm not going to review it, because Klamath already did, and did an excellent job, but just to bring it back into focus. Maybe, just maybe, you'll consider giving it a chance. It's mysterious, looks great, is dark literally and figuratively, has fantastic sound design (especially if you pair it with headphones) and plays somewhat similarly to Dead Space. It also has a few downsides, especially on the combat side, but overall it comes in a solid package.
That's what I'll be doing this Halloween, tonight, besides the classic pumpkin with a candle. I'll be playing at least an hour of Cronos: The New Dawn, with the sound almost at maximum, to mark this spooky event properly.
🎃 Happy Halloween, everyone! 🎃
Dear readers, these were GRIND's recommendations for you. Thanks to the team for their contribution to this spooky article. I hope you have a terrifyingly cool Halloween and feel like playing these solid 7s from above.
