Halloween Gaming Tips in 2023
You've met with a terrible fate....haven't you?
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, though I admit I haven’t gotten into it as much as I usually do this year due to a mix of reasons. That being said, I do think gamers should use video games to celebrate the season as much as we watch horror movies. I wanted to talk about ways gamers can enjoy the spooky season in gaming form.
Horror Games
The easiest way to celebrate the season is by simply playing some horror video games. Obviously how much you can play depends on your personal situation and free time. We have a huge catalog of horror titles to choose from, but never really take advantage of those come spooky season. With franchises like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Fatal Frame, and a host of indie titles; there’s plenty to look at for horror. Even for kids there’s Luigi’s Mansion, which is starting to grow as an appreciated series. Plus, some non-horror franchises have games with horror or scary type of elements such as Gears of War and Zelda’s Majora’s Mask. So, there is plenty to choose from when it comes to horror titles for the season.
Traditions
One thing I make sure to do every Halloween time, even in years where I don’t get into it as much as usual, is to watch my annual traditions. Movies like House on Haunted Hill, Freaks, Hellraiser, Cat People, Son of Frankenstein, and so on. I then add in a mix of new movies to round out the season. With games you can make your own traditions as well. One tradition I hope to start is to play the original Luigi’s Mansion annually, or at least watch Let’s Play or speedrun of the game. It helps when companies realize the season could be good marketing and release Luigi’s Mansion 3 or even this year with Alan Wake II near or at Halloween. Considering its status as the king of horror franchises, you can play your favorite Resident Evil title during the season too. Establishing a Halloween tradition around games can bring some nostalgia for you, even if it’s not about getting scared or you’re not a huge fan of the holiday.
Evolution of Horror in Gaming
While I want to do a deeper dive into this in the future, horror gaming is very much a major part of video game history. From the original Castlevania to Resident Evil to all of the jump scare horror indie titles, the genre is just as much a part of gaming as it is in cinema. Early horror games tend to be based on gothic horror elements, such as the Castlevania series. Of course, there was the zombie craze of the 90s, which gave way to the jump scare focused indie titles. Resident Evil was the more famous of these and has become one of gaming’s most beloved franchises. And in more modern times, there’s more variety with even some genre crossover. One great example of this is Bloodborne, which is a soulslike title with Victorian horror mixed in. And there’s The Legend of Zelda who has put some horror elements into games like Majora’s Mask and Twilight Princess. So even if you’re not looking to play to get scared, there’s plenty to play to immerse yourself in spooky atmosphere.
Happy Halloween 2023!
So I hope everyone has a great Halloween and Spooky season this year! I hope to write a bigger article on the history of gaming in the near future. And remember, if you see a ghost, just look at it.