Best Horror Games With No Main Villain

Summary

• Some horror games can create chilling experiences without traditional antagonists present.
• Iron Lung terrifies players in a claustrophobic submarine with minimal environments.
• Omori explores Sunny’s guilt without a clear antagonist, focusing on personal demons.

Most games usually feature antagonists that players can fight against to help the plot stand out more in their eyes. This is especially true in horror titles, with certain nefarious forces or enemies working against the player to ensure that they’re on their toes every step of the way.

However, some horror games do a great job of letting players experience chilling horror experiences without requiring a nefarious villain to keep things interesting. This is a massive achievement for titles that execute other tropes of the genre well enough to horrify players without needing a familiar face to enhance the plot’s intrigue.

8 Layers Of Fear

The Painter’s Backstory Is Haunting

Layers of Fear is a chilling psychological horror game where players are kept in the dark as they control a painter in their empty mansion. As they make progress in the story, it’s made clear that this man had a wife whose beauty he was obsessed with for a while.

However, a fiery tragedy causes her face to get burned, extinguishing the painter’s passion and leading to him ignoring the love of his life. This abandonment causes his wife to carry out a drastic act that leaves him alone in the world as he battles his demons.

7 Iron Lung

A Short, Immersive Horror Game That Takes Place Within The Confines Of A Claustrophobic Submarine

Iron Lung is an indie achievement that shows how a game with barely any levels or environments to speak of can horrify players. Players drive a cramped submarine in an ocean of blood after an unspecified tragedy, which is chilling enough as is.

During their travels, players will soon be hounded by an unnamed monster who isn’t revealed barring a single blurry pic that sends shivers down a player’s spine. The game ends in no time at all, with players being devoured by said monster at the end to hammer in just how hopeless their task was.

6 Omori

Sunny Must Overcome His Personal Demons

Omori is an exploration of Sunny’s guilt, with the character receding to the world of his dreams before he eventually comes out and reconnects with his old friends once again. It’s a harrowing tale that chills players to the bone, with the mysterious Something serving as the game’s mysterious antagonist. At least, this is what players are led to believe.

It’s not until the truth of certain past events comes to light that the entire game’s events are recontextualized. Omori is a game about guilt and what it does to a person, with players cheering on Sunny with teary eyes as he finally accepts the depth of his tragedy and decides to face his demons instead of letting Omori control him.

5 Sunless Skies

An Atmospheric Game Where Exploration Is Infinitely Rewarding

The exploration in Sunless Skies is miles better than its predecessor. The UI is improved to be as engaging as possible and players can enjoy better real-time combat as they explore the skies and its many varied realms.

Sunless Skies boasts an impressive atmosphere courtesy of its amazing art design, with shades of cosmic horror maddening the player character and their sailors as they make their way across hostile landscapes to find a reward for their efforts in the form of a new port or other useful items.

4 World Of Horror

The Cosmic Horror Rampant In This Title Is All-Encompassing

World of Horror is a game perfect for Junji Ito fans. The game wears its inspirations proudly on its sleeve, letting players take on the role of an aspiring detective who wants to solve the mystery of the lighthouse by solving cases and acquiring keys.

The combat can be pretty harrowing, which is why players are encouraged to tackle the game at lower difficulties before trying their hand at something harder. Every mystery has numerous endings, and even the cosmic beings causing all manners of oddities in Shiokawa can’t exactly be labeled as antagonists because of their obtuse nature.

3 Doki Doki Literature Club!

A Game That Hides Its Twisted Influences Before Shocking Players

Doki Doki Literature Club is a unique visual novel that uses its identity as a game to shock and scare players. The title feels like a run-of-the-mill dating sim, only to reveal something horrifying during the story that completely alters the tone of the game.

With the cracks in the game starting to show, players are treated to a horrifying and meta experience as characters either die or become sentient. While Monika may be the final girl standing in the way of players and their endings, she’s more of a tragic figure than an antagonist if players really put their minds to it.

2 Pathologic 2

The Sand Pest Is A Mysterious Entity That Defies Explanation

One of the most bizarre psychological horror games around, Pathologic 2 is a perfect game for players who want to check out an odd yet immersive video game. The Sand Pest plague that decimates this mysterious town is an enigma all on its own.

Along with this, the numerous bizarre incidents and characters that players come across during their adventure make it clear that all is not right in the world of Pathologic 2. Despite lacking a clear-cut antagonist, Pathologic 2 stands out as an excellent horror game that is unlike anything else players can enjoy.

1 Bloodborne

A Game That Leans Heavily On Horror Elements In A Recurring Nightmare

While most FromSoftware games have scary elements in them, Bloodborne boasts the most clear-cut use of the horror genre to help its setting come to life. The game shows off its gothic horror chops early on before eventually moving on to Lovecraftian horror.

The Hunter must navigate numerous creepy areas and nightmarish creatures before they eventually understand the true nature of this Nightmare. To label anyone as an antagonist in this game would be erroneous once players get the full picture and realize just how all-encompassing the presence of the Old Ones is.