The 20 Best Horror Games To Play On Halloween 2021

2 years 5 months ago

It's the season to get your fright on, and as usual, the video game industry has no shortage of spine-chilling and nerve-wracking games that'll make you wish that you'd left the lights on. A combination of tricks and treats make some horror games stand out from the rest of the pack though, and we've collected 20 of the best that you can play this weekend in case you don't plan to go out.

From the pure unsettling atmosphere of Bloodborne to pure shock value in Resident Evil Village, these thrill-loaded titles will make certain that you never fall asleep ever again.

Which horror games will you be playing this fall? Shout out your favorites in the comments below.

Editor's note: This article is the updated version of a story first published on October 30, 2018.

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Matt Espineli

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Halo Infinite dev "has sort of a love-hate relationship with Craig"

2 years 5 months ago

Halo Infinite developer 343 showed off the campaign for the first time in over a year this week - and in doing so revealed the infamous Brute dubbed Craig has received quite the glow-up.

Microsoft's reveal of Halo Infinite's campaign last year went so badly it delayed the game to this Christmas, and part of the negative reception had to do with the flat visuals. A closeup of a Brute enemy dubbed Craig by the Halo community became an instant meme - and to be fair developer 343 subsequently leaned into it.

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Wesley Yin-Poole

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Halo Infinite Is All About Freedom, Including The Freedom To Yeet AI Teammates Off The Side Of A Mountain

2 years 5 months ago

One of the takeaways from this week's new Halo Infinite campaign footage was that it appears the new Halo game is designed purposefully to give players a heck of a lot more freedom than in past games. 343's Joseph Staten doubled down on this in a blog post. He said Halo games have always been about giving players freedom to make tactical choices, but none have ever come to close to what Halo Infinite will offer in terms of player freedom--and this includes the freedom to send AI teammates to their deaths just seconds after saving them, if you so wish.

"Halo games have always been about freedom, and more specifically: the freedom to make interesting tactical choices to optimize your power projection inside a rich physical simulation. While previous Halo campaigns have been chock-full of interesting choices, none have had a world simulation that comes close to Halo Infinite's," Staten said.

In Halo Infinite, players will be trekking across Zeta Halo and taking down Banished enemies who have overrun UNSC encampments. Players will have the freedom to fight the Banished in a variety of ways to get the job done.

"Banished bases like Ransom Keep aren't obstacles across a linear path. They don't have one or two or three avenues of attack; they are approachable from every cardinal direction--and often from above and below as well," Staten said. "They don't just have designer-crafted, pre-placed weapons and vehicles that encourage you to lean into a particular set of tactics. These mighty fortresses stand ready to repulse any arsenal that you choose to deploy against them."

Author
Eddie Makuch

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Facebook parent company now named Meta, unveiling vision of a metaverse

2 years 5 months ago

The company behind Facebook and Oculus, previously known as Facebook, have unveiled a new name: Meta. Oh christ. Yes, it is named after the metaverse, because tech megacorps can't resist the delusion that their platform to sell adverts is elevating humanity to a new plane of existence. Mark Zuckerberg suggests that in the future they're building, you'll experience everything through virtual and augmented reality, and that definitely won't be a horrible world devoid of intimacy, okay, it'll be great.

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Author
Alice O'Connor

The Emperor's Champion is now in a Warhammer 40,000 video game

2 years 5 months ago

I'm going to be honest with you, dear reader: I'm writing about the addition of a character from the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop into a Warhammer 40,000 video game not because it's particularly newsworthy. I admit it! I am writing about this because I'm a sucker for Warhammer 40,000 lore, and I suspect there are a few of you out there who are too.

With all that said, on to the good stuff: The Emperor's Champion is now in a Warhammer 40,000 video game.

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Wesley Yin-Poole

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PUBG Mobile is getting Liverpool FC kits

2 years 5 months ago

It's one of the more bizarre crossovers we've seen, but if Fortnite can have a virtual Harry Kane, why can't PUBG get Liverpool stuff?

More specifically, PUBG Mobile will soon get Liverpool branded outfits and items to unlock. It's the first time PUBG Mobile has collaborated directly with a football club.

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Wesley Yin-Poole

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PT-Like Psychological Horror Game, Visage, Gets Next-Gen Upgrade Today

2 years 5 months ago

Just in time for Halloween, developer Sadsquare Studio has just deployed a free next-gen update for its first-person scare-’em-up, Visage, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Yes, almost one year later, the acclaimed title gets a second lease of life in the form of Visage: Enhanced Edition.

As expected, the new patch upgrades the visuals to support 4K displays and updates the overall performance to a much smoother 60 fps by leveraging the next-gen systems’ extra horsepower. Additionally, you can expect much faster load times and support for the PS5’s unique DualSense haptic feedback. The new update is available to download now.

Accompanying the new upgrade is a freshly cut trailer highlighting the newly added features the Canadian studio has implemented, as well as a bunch of praise the game has managed to garner from gaming press:

Author
Dylan Chaundy

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Seeing the Windrush generation through a bold new game

2 years 5 months ago

In June 1948, a huge, repurposed German cruise liner docked in London, having travelled all the way from Australia. It was carrying more than 1000 passengers, but the vast majority of them - more than three quarters - had embarked in, and had lived in, the Caribbean. These people set sail for Britain invited by a country looking for help rebuilding after the Second World War, entering under a brand new British Nationality Act, which allowed anyone from a Commonwealth country residency there. That ship was the HMT Empire Windrush, and its name would go down in history as marking the beginning of a migration to the UK that would last more than 20 years and number hundreds of thousands of people. It would change the face of Britain forever.

A lot is owed to those people - the people of the Windrush generation - who faced and overcame adversity to settle in the UK. They laid the foundations for a multiculturalism that we, the people who live here, gain so much from today. From food to music to fashion to sport: the impact has been immense. The Windrush's arrival is such a significant part of modern British history it was even recreated for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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Robert Purchese

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Rick Astley Trolls Guardians of the Galaxy Players in the Ultimate Rickroll

2 years 5 months ago

What does Rick Astley and Guardians of the Galaxy have in common? They’re both synonymous with ’80s tunes, of course! But who’d have thought that the two would join forces to deliver that iconic ‘Rickroll’ meme, huh? Well, that’s exactly what’s happened in Eidos-Montréal’s latest tongue-in-cheek video promoting its just-launched sci-fi action-RPG.

Feast your eyes on the amusing Guardians of the Galaxy teaser trailer down below:

Featuring popular YouTube stars DanTDM, DrLupo and PaladinAmber, the new vid boasts an appearance of the legendary king of memes himself: Richard Paul Astley, aka Rick Astley – who sneaks in a classic rendition of Never Gonna Give You Up following a Huddle between the Guardians.

For those unaware, the Huddle is a new gameplay mechanic in Guardians of the Galaxy, and sees the ramshackle band of misfits huddling together for a strategic pep talk before launching into combat to the tune of an ’80s classic.

Author
Dylan Chaundy

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Genshin Impact Gets New Trailer Introducing New Character Thoma

2 years 5 months ago

Following the recent release of version 2.2 of Genshin Impact, MiHoYo launched a new trailer showing off on one of its characters.

We get to take a look at Thoma, retainer of the Kamisato clan of Inazuma. He’ll be available in the gacha on November 2.

You can check the trailer out below in both the English and Japanese trailers depending on your voice-over language preference.

Here’s how MiHoYo officially describes him:

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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Square Enix Reveals Gorgeous Masterline Terra Figure from Final Fantasy VI & It’ll Likely Be Extremely Expensive

2 years 5 months ago

Today Square Enix announced something that will make Final Fantasy VI fans either celebrate or cry if they cannot afford it.

The publisher revealed the new figure of the Masterline brand created in collaboration with the acclaimed creators at Prime1Studio. It portrays Terra atop the iconic Magitek Armor.

The scale is 1/6, which means it’ll be rather large, but for now not much is known about the figure, including precise measurements and pricing.

That being said, it’s likely going to be extremely expensive. The previous figure of the line, dedicated to NieR: Automata, was priced up to $3100 and Prime1Studio figures usually go for prices with that many zeroes as well.

Whether you find this tempting or like me you can just look but not touch, you can at least see what it looks like in the video below.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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Halo Soap Is A Real Thing You Can Buy

2 years 5 months ago

Official Halo soap is on the way to celebrate launch of Halo Infinite and the 20th anniversary of the series. Dr. Squatch has announced a partnership with Halo for a limited-edition bar of soap called Spartan Scrub.

According to the soap company, Spartan Scrub will help you feel "energized, focused, and ready to take on any challenge in gaming or in life."

The soap itself is made with a "blend of herbs rooted in Halo lore to help condition and soothe battle-worn skin."

What a time to be alive

The description of the soap just keeps getting better. "Its unique exfoliating and skin soothing ingredients are all drawn from the Halo universe, including Sevenbark Root, Little John, and Bishop's Wort. The aroma was thoughtfully formulated with silver sage, yuzu and cedarwood, and its color inspiration is an ode to Spartan's Mjolnir green armor and the iconic master chief helmet orange visor," reads a line from its official description.

In reality, the soap is made from natural oils and sustainably sourced ingredients, the company says. Dr. Squatch subscribers can get the soap from October 29 for $6, while everyone else can buy it on November 1 for $8.

Believe it or not, this is not the first Xbox-oriented product for your body and skin. Before this, Xbox ANZ created Xbox body wash and deodorant in partnership with Lynx (known as Axe in the US) for people in Australia and New Zealand.

Author
Eddie Makuch

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Call of Duty Warzone's New Pacific Map Has a Release Date

2 years 5 months ago

Call of Duty: Warzone's new Pacific map debuts on December 2, a little less than a month after Call of Duty: Vanguard launches on November 5.

Activision released Call of Duty's new content roadmap on Thursday, laying out the important dates that will lay the groundwork for transitioning players from Verdansk to the sandy shores of Caldera. Several new images of Caldera were also revealed.

It's all laid out in Call of Duty's colossal blog, but here are the highlights you need to know.

October 28 (console) and November 2 (PC): Call of Duty: Vanguard pre-loading begins. If you're worried that your hard drive will choke on yet another Call of Duty install, the good news is that Vanguard will be 30% to 50% smaller than previous games' install sizes. Still sounds like a good chunk of storage space, though.

November 5: Call of Duty: Vanguard launches on consoles and PC. That includes the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes. This is also when Call of Duty's new kernel-level anti-cheat program "Ricochet" will begin server-side implementation. Warzone's Ricochet implementation begins on December 2.

Author
Joseph Knoop

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Apex Legends Season 11 Patch Notes Released, Shows Much-Needed Love To Wattson

2 years 5 months ago

Respawn has released the patch notes for Apex Legends Season 11: Escape. Wattson mains can finally rejoice, as the new season will make substantial buffs to the defender legend's tactical and ultimate abilities.

"Move aside Ash, this is Wattson's season," Respawn writes in the Apex Legends Season 11 patch notes. "Her win rate and encounter win rate have always been above average. This could be for a multitude of reasons; her defensive playstyle correlates to higher average placements, Wattson mains are diehard loyalists, and her hitbox has been the smallest in the game ever since Lifeline's adjustment.

Regardless, much of the high-level data that we've shared doesn't match perception. Play a few games as Wattson and you'll often find yourself wanting more out of her kit. The goal of these changes is to redistribute her invisible power into the parts of her kit that shape the battlefield in a unique way. We wanted to see what changes could spark more consistency and efficacy in her kit, and ideally ground some of the difficulties surrounding the way her abilities work."

Those adjustments make Wattson into a more efficient deterrent. Her tactical ability, Perimeter Defense, has been buffed to increase how quickly Wattson can erect her fences, as well as how much damage they do. Plus, her ultimate ability, Interception Pylon, has been buffed so that it more regularly intercepts incoming ordinance and it recharges body shields at a faster rate. So now, when Wattson bunkers in, she can more easily protect her squad, encouraging enemies to think twice before aggressively pushing.

Author
Jordan Ramée

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What's In The Fortnite Item Shop Today - October 29, 2021: Shadow Midas Skin Debuts, Dune Returns

2 years 5 months ago

Today's Fortnite Item Shop update reveals one of the final new skins for Halloween 2021. We've seen Epic debut at least a new skin or style every day this month, and if you still haven't found the costume right for you, perhaps today's new outfit will fit you well--and just in time for Fortnite's in-game horror movie festival. Here's everything new to the Fortnite Item Shop for October 29, 2021.

Today's headlining new character is Shadow Midas, a much darker rendition of the Chapter 2, Season 2 main character, Midas. His golden touch has been replaced by a misty purple touch reminiscent of his look from the Fortnitemares 2020's event, Midas' Revenge. This marks the very first time Shadow Midas has come to the game as a playable skin, which makes it a year since fans first clamored for him.

While you can grab Shadow Midas for 1,500 V-Bucks, he doesn't come with any other accessories, nor does he have any more in his set anyway. If you worked your way through the Season 2 battle pass, you'll at least have a slew of suitable toys such as back bling, a pickaxe, and more--all adorned in his classic gold, of course.

Elsewhere in the shop, you can grab up to four Ayo and Teo licensed Icon Series emotes featuring four different songs. The full set includes:

Author
Mark Delaney

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Halo Infinite Dev Shows Off And Discusses Craig's Glow-Up

2 years 5 months ago

343 Industries has shared new details and released a new image of Craig the Brute from Halo Infinite, and he's had quite a glow-up. Once the posterboy for Halo Infinite's not-so-great-looking graphics, Craig is now sporting a new look. And he has a beard, too. In the latest installment of the Inside Infinite blog post, 343 ran through some of the changes to Craig.

"The team has sort of a love-hate relationship with Craig. While it was fun to see the community gravitate towards Craig, he unfortunately represented some content and systems that were not ready for prime time in that demo," 343 said. "The positive outcome of Craig was that he was one of the factors in gaining some more time to finish work and get Brutes to a place where the team is happy with them. This is one of the many positive examples of 343 working with and aligning with the Halo community around expectations. Players who look hard enough will still be able to find some evidence of Craig in Halo Infinite, his spirit lives on!"

Craig has "glammed up," the developer said. "He is feeling very good about himself and has fit back in well with the rest of his Brute friends. He has also picked up a new hobby and has done well for himself. Long live Craig!"

Author
Eddie Makuch

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Inscryption Review

2 years 5 months ago

There’s a technique popular in classical music called variation: a composer will take a single melody or musical idea and explore it in many different ways, potentially twisting it into dozens of different styles and structures without the overall work ever getting repetitive or tiresome. While that’s not exactly a concept unique to music, it is a practice I couldn’t help but be reminded of while playing Inscryption – an undoubtedly odd connection to make, given that it presents itself as a horror-themed roguelite deck-building card game. But dig beneath that somewhat familiar shell and it reveals itself to be nothing short of a symphony of exciting twists, clever concepts, and consistently surprising iterations on the fundamentals that hooked me in its very first minutes.

Inscryption holds much more than meets the eye, and a lot of what's so impressive about it are the unexpected places it ends up taking you. That means getting into many of the specific moments that make it so special will blunt their impact to a certain degree, so I am going to try to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can – both in terms of its story and some of its mechanics. That said, you only have to watch its launch trailer to understand that this isn’t just another Slay the Spire-inspired entry into a genre that has begun to feel a little too derivative recently. In fact, it manages to partially live in that genre while simultaneously tearing it to pieces.

Author
Tom Marks

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