Summary
Top-down horror gamesare severely lacking in quantity, despite being an excellent merging of genres. When done effectively, top-down horror games can often be even scarier than their first- or third-person counterparts, due to a more unnerving and disorientating perspective.
Of the few titles that tackle this niche genre, there are some absolute gems and players should be sure to check out. Some of these games won’t be for everyone and that’s okay, but if gamers are into horror games and can appreciate a well-made, top-down horror experience, they most certainly won’t be disappointed with these amazing entries.
Hellsignis not an amazing game, but that’s not exactly the developer’s fault. Unfortunately, Ballistic Interactive, who served as both the developers and the publishers of this title, effectively ran out of money midway through the game’s development. This is a real shame because there is clearly so much potential behindHellsign, and it could have become a classic.
This is a top-down, investigative horror title where players explore a small town, piece together the events that took place, and hunt down some ruthless creatures. From what content there is,Hellsignis super enjoyable and incredibly effective top-down horror. It’s just a shame thatthere’s not a real ending, and the whole game’s finale is lackluster, to say the least. What could have been?
Motte Islandis an island paradise getaway… or is it? Well, as it’s a top-down horror game, players might have already guessed that that’s not quite the case. WhatMotte Islandis, however, is an excellent 2D top-down shooter that presents an intriguing story with a deep coating of mystery and suspense.
There are lots of puzzles to solve as well as large areas to explore. The combat sequences can become rather unsettling, and there’s an overall terrifying tone to the game, which is partially what makes it such a great horror title. It’s worth noting that this is quite a weird game, and although it’s got some flaws (its combat system isn’t great), this is an all-around solid entry in the top-down horror genre.
Presented in a classic horror style,Viviette’sreal highlight is its gorgeous art style and presentation, which enhances the atmosphere brilliantly. This is an interesting top-down horror game as it emphasizes navigation, which can become extremely difficult as it’s easy to get disoriented.
This is a game that has a Metroidvania approach, as the player will be constantly backtracking in order to unlock new locations. It’s a fantastic puzzle experience that just so happens to be a great top-down horror title too. It also manages tomaintain a JRPG aestheticall the way through, and will actively keep players engaged as they uncover the mystery.
Subterrainis certainly more focused on action in comparison to other top-down horror titles, but it’s still a great entry in the genre. This is asci-fi survival shooteras well as a top-down horror title that takes place on Mars as players battle waves and waves of evolving mutants across procedurally generated levels.
Subterrainthrows in survival management aspects, including hunger, thirst, and exhaustion gauges, and mixes this with wave-based gameplay to create the ultimate top-down survival experience. It’s easy to learn but difficult to master and will suck players into its engaging gameplay straight off the bat.
Part visual novel, part top-down horror,Corpse Partyis a unique take on Japanese-style horror and crafts a spooky yet epic story. It’s a somewhat cliché premise: a group of high school students accidentally perform an occult ritual that banishes them to some other world, and they have to work together to escape.
It’s refreshing toplay a visual novelthat mixes so well with actual gameplay elements, as the best part ofCorpse Partyis its 2D top-down horror gameplay. Players will solve mysteries and uncover secret clues as they attempt to escape with everyone alive. Just be warned that some classmates will definitely die.
Again, this is a title that has a tight focus on action-driven gameplay, butDead Nationstill manages to capture top-down horror effectively here. The unrelenting waves of zombie hordes are genuinely petrifying and will have gamers on the edge of their seats as they mow zombies down one by one. Its tense gameplay is absolutely non-stop!
Dead Nationmight not be the scariest game in terms of atmosphere, but it’s still a terrifying experience mixed with extremely fun and satisfying gameplay. It’s fun to mix the shooting with building defenses and preparing for the next inevitable horde. It’s even better to see all the hard work pay off as players rip into mounds of zombies.
Project Zomboidis the ultimate top-down horror, survival experience. This isessentiallyDayZbut 2D- and better!Project Zomboidis incredibly detailed, and the gameplay mechanics are rich and complex. Players will have to master managing their survival with strategically planned gameplay if they want to keep their character alive.
Seriously, this is genuinely one of the best survival games ever made and should be on the radar of anyone who enjoys a good zombie survival video game. Sure, the graphics might look kind of ugly, but that’s all part of the grimy, realistic charm thatProject Zomboidgoes for. Don’t sleep on this survival masterpiece.
Don’t Starveisan indie classic, and anyone who hasn’t played this game by now needs to go out and buy it. Seriously, this game is incredible. It’s got a basic presentation and looks pretty simple at first, but that shouldn’t fool anyone.Don’t Starveis a difficult game that places uncompromising survival above all else.
The art style is captivating yet unsettling at the same time, and the creature designs are genuinely terrifying. Players will be tasked with gathering resources to craft items and shelters and further their goal of surviving. It’s worth mentioning that the excellent co-op sequelDon’t Starve Togetheris another fantastic top-down horror title where gamers can tackle survival together.
This is the most critically acclaimed top-down horror game ever made, and that’s for a very good reason.The Binding of Isaac: Rebirthisan absolutely unnerving masterpiece. It looks innocent on the surface, but anyone who has ever played aBinding of Isaactitle knows exactly what to expect.
This is a tragic tale of a lonely boy fighting against his harrowing mother and her relentless pursuit. The titular character, Isaac, ventures into his basement in an attempt to escape, but what follows is an endless, nightmarish pursuit against devilish creatures and some extremely tough boss battles.
Although it’s got a slightly lower critical rating,Darkwoodis genuinely the best top-down horror title ever made. To explain the game would be an injustice, so it’s easier to say that although it looks like some generic top-down horror shooter with some cool visual elements, it is so much more than that.
This is a difficult game that is punishing in all the right ways while remaining fair and fun. If gamers enjoy being frightened, or if they are looking for some downright haunting atmosphere in their games,Darkwoodis certainly the game to play. This is uncompromising horror at its finest, and its most deranged. Buckle up for a formidably spooky descent in unfathomable horror!
