Summary
- Well-crafted stories & acting elevate horror games to new levels of terror and immersion.
- Erik Braa, Jo Wyatt, Richard Topping, Peter Stormare, Jack Brand excel in their roles.
- Games like Layers Of Fear, Rule Of Rose, Amnesia, Until Dawn, Resident Evil 7 showcase top-tier acting performances.
More often than not, raw emotion is at the core of horror games. While terrifying monsters and creepy mansions can spook players on their own, adding an element of psychological horror with a well-written story/script takes the scares up to a whole new level of terror.
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Immersion is key in horror games; if it doesn’t seem like the characters are scared, how are players expected to feel scared? Fortunately for horror fans, there are a handful of great horror games that do an outstanding job of ensuring their audiences are fully invested. Here are some horror games featuring the best acting performances.
Disclaimer: Spoilers ahead!
7
Layers of Fear
Featuring Erik Braa as The Painter
- Released
-
June 15, 2023
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Layers Of Fear tells the story of how such a loving family finds their tragic end in the search for never-fading beauty. The story is told in narrated flashbacks of the main character, known as The Painter. The entirety of Layers Of Fear‘s story relied on Erik Braa’s interpretation of The Painter; and thankfully, he did an amazing job making the story his. As the game progresses and the player unveils the story behind The Painter and his wife, audiences see The Painter’s love for his wife slowly wither away, transforming into disgust and resentment.
6
Rule Of Rose
Featuring Jo Wyatt as Jennifer
Survival Horror
Adventure
- Released
-
January 19, 2006
- ESRB
-
m
Rule Of Rose follows Jennifer, a young girl who is at the mercy of the powerful Red Rose Aristocracy, led by the mysterious Prince and Princess of the Red Rose. Jennifer’s memories of her past are slowly uncovered through the game’s horrific events, creating a dramatic, fantasy-like version of what had actually taken place in Jennifer’s childhood.
Wyatt’s performance as Jennifer in the scene where she finally stands up for herself and protests against the aristocracy was chilling and made that one moment in the game unforgettable. The despair, disappointment, and resentment Jennifer had for both herself and the aristocracy was clearly heard, all thanks to Wyatt’s voice talents.
5
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Featuring Richard Topping as Daniel
Amnesia The Dark Descent
- Released
-
September 9, 2010
- ESRB
-
m
Amnesia still stands as one of the most iconic horror games of all time. It was truly ahead of its time and offered an incredible, immersive journey through the haunting corridors of the Brennenburg Castle. The player takes the role of Daniel, a man who has suddenly regained consciousness and is doomed to uncover all his memories around the castle through diary excerpts written by himself.
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Richard Topping’s rendition of Daniel did a fantastic job of telling the tales of each horrifying diary entry players slowly find along the way. Without Topping’s talent for storytelling (and the great audio design), Amnesia wouldn’t have made such a lasting memory for players as it did.
4
Until Dawn
Featuring Peter Stormare as Dr. Alan J. Hill
- Released
-
August 25, 2015
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
While most of Until Dawn‘s story revolves around Sam and her friends stuck in the cabin at Blackwood Mountain, Peter Stormare’s performance as Dr. Hill truly blew audiences away. Stormare plays Dr. Hill, also known as “The Analyst”. Dr. Hill is The Psycho’s therapist and is only ever seen in cutscenes that take place inside The Psycho’s mind.
Stormare’s take on Dr. Hill draws audiences in with his gentle portrayal of an understanding therapist slowly twisting into a more antagonizing aggressor. Despite Stormare’s limited screen time, his performance as Dr. Hill stood out, making the Until Dawn experience that much more chilling.
3
Resident Evil 7
Featuring Jack Brand as Jack Baker
- Released
-
January 24, 2017
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
The moment players heard Mr. Baker’s iconic, “welcome to the family, son” line from the famous RE7 demo, they knew they were up against a terrifying antagonist. Brand’s performance as Jack had players on the edge of their seats every time they heard Jack coming around the corner or lurking down the hallway.
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Not only did Brand do a fantastic job of portraying Jack Baker’s mold-possessed side, but also pulled on the audience’s heartstrings by giving us a window into how kind and caring Jack Baker used to be before Eveline’s cruel takeover.
2
Honorable Mention: The Last Of Us
Featuring Troy Baker as Joel Miller
- Released
-
June 14, 2013
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Troy Baker’s performance as Joel Miller takes the front stage, but that doesn’t mean that his costars are any less talented. The entire cast of The Last Of Us gave the performance of a lifetime, as the game’s subject matter is so emotionally heavy by its nature. The only reason The Last Of Us didn’t officially make it onto the list isn’t because of its talented cast, but rather its genre. While the game features zombies and lots of horror elements, it focuses more on more heartfelt philosophical topics about grief, regret, sacrifice, and love.
Horror (as a genre) in the world of The Last Of Us takes a backseat to other triumphing concepts and themes. The Last Of Us no doubt has some of the most impressive acting performances in gaming history, but isn’t a true horror game.
1
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Featuring Luke Roberts as James Sunderland
Survival Horror
Horror
Adventure
Action
- Released
-
October 8, 2024
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Luke Roberts was undoubtedly the heart and soul of the long-awaited Silent Hill 2 Remake. Roberts’ take on James was certainly different from Guy Cihi’s performance in the original game but didn’t disrespect the original SH2 and, instead, gave James even more depth as the tragic character he is. Every moment of James’ journey throughout Silent Hill is agonizing; whether it be because of terrifying monsters, being on the defensive when talking to Eddie, or the strain of desperately trying to repress his memories.
James’ agony and suffering are at the core of both Silent Hill as the town and Silent Hill 2 as the game. Roberts’ heart-wrenching performance as James Sunderland gave the SH2 remake the astounding immersion it needed to maintain the series’ signature cinematic edge.
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