The Horror Games Worth Playing on PS5 When You Need a Writing Break

As a speculative fiction author, there are moments when inspiration wanes or writer’s block sets in. Taking a break is essential, and immersing yourself in another form of storytelling can reignite your creativity. Horror games on the PS5 offer not just thrilling experiences but also rich narratives, complex characters, and atmospheric worlds that can spark new ideas for your writing.

Coupled with reading horror-themed novels, many people chasing a spine-chilling escape have generally always turned to gaming. For PlayStation 5 gamers, there are some top-notch scares on offer through a selection of must-play horror releases.

Even away from Sony’s hugely popular console machine, horror games receive plenty of plaudits. Signalis is a much-loved survival horror game on the Switch, Horror Hotel by Relax Gaming is a Halloween-themed slot release by one of the best iGaming developers, while Dead by Daylight Mobile is a game smartphone users seem to be enjoying right now. Although these superb horror products on other platforms are improving the horror genre as a whole, we’re only focusing on the best horror games on PlayStation right now. Let’s take a look at some of them below.

Resident Evil 4

Kicking things off with the latest release from a truly iconic series of horror games, Resident Evil 4 is impossible to ignore. For horror fans, this faultless remake has everything they need. From its lighting and particle effects to its spooky mini-quests and the game’s huge Spanish castle setting, Resident Evil 4 contains strong doses of gore and a series of threatening scenarios that will leave you firmly on the edge of your seat.

How It Can Inspire Your Writing

• Atmospheric World-Building: The game’s richly detailed environments offer a masterclass in creating immersive settings. As a writer, you can draw inspiration from how the game makes every location—from eerie villages to dark castles—feel alive and integral to the story.
• Character Development: The protagonist’s journey and interactions with a diverse cast can provide insights into crafting compelling character arcs and relationships.
• Tension and Pacing: Observe how the game balances action with suspense, using pacing to keep players engaged. This technique can be applied to your narratives to maintain reader interest.

Demon’s Souls

Although Demon’s Souls isn’t strictly a horror game, there are certainly some terrifying moments throughout it. An action role-playing favorite with a dark fantasy theme, there are some horrifying monsters to take down in this one. Along the way, you’ll traverse eerie locations, all of which add to the game’s bleak atmosphere. Demon’s Souls is a classic case of a remake done remarkably well.

How It Can Inspire Your Writing

• Dark Fantasy Elements: The game blends horror with fantasy, offering inspiration for creating a world where magic and terror coexist.
• Atmospheric Storytelling: Its oppressive environments can teach you how to use setting and mood to enhance the emotional impact of your scenes.
• Lore and Backstory: The subtle storytelling encourages players to piece together the narrative themselves, a technique that can add depth to your writing.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

An undoubted hidden gem that far more PlayStation 5 gamers deserve to session, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is the third version from a fantastic series of games from this particular category. Set in an underground Mesopotamian temple, the ancient horrors that occur are truly hair-raising as soldiers aim to survive in a bloodcurdling scenario. Containing an engaging narrative and strong doses of horror elements that terror enthusiasts will definitely warm to, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is impressive.

How It Can Inspire Your Writing

• Branching Narratives: The game’s emphasis on player choice affecting the outcome can inspire you to consider multiple pathways in your storytelling.
• Cultural Integration: Incorporating Mesopotamian mythology adds a layer of authenticity and intrigue, encouraging you to delve into different cultures and histories for your work.
• Tension and Suspense: The claustrophobic setting and unseen threats are excellent examples of building suspense, a vital skill in writing.

Soma

A title PlayStation gamers seem to rate highly, Soma’s popularity is entirely understandable. Released in 2015, a series of updates have kept the title fresh, while the PlayStation 5’s power has elevated the game even further in terms of its visual package. A dark and eerie offering, it’s hard to know what’s lurking around the corner in this survival favorite. Also containing puzzles to crack and an engaging storyline that you’ll struggle to predict, Soma is both intense and terrifying in the best way possible.

How It Can Inspire Your Writing

• Philosophical Themes: The game explores deep questions about consciousness and identity, providing material that can add complexity to your characters and plots.
• Psychological Horror: Soma excels at creating fear through atmosphere and existential dread rather than relying on jump scares, a technique that can enhance the subtlety of your horror writing.
• Unpredictable Plot Twists: The storyline’s unpredictability can inspire you to craft narratives that keep readers guessing.

Alan Wake II

The second version of a game horror fanatics adore, as expected, Alan Wake II delivers. A title that certainly deserves more attention than it gets, the game is still focused on novelist Alan Wake and his tales of ritualistic murders. Taking place across two narratives, there is plenty to get stuck into here. Be it from Alan’s or FBI Agent Saga Anderson’s perspective, Alan Wake II is a fantastic game.

How It Can Inspire Your Writing

• Meta-Narratives: As the protagonist is a writer, the game offers a layered narrative that blurs the lines between fiction and reality, a concept that can add depth to your storytelling.
• Dual Perspectives: Switching between two characters provides insights into different viewpoints and can help you develop multifaceted characters in your own work.
• Use of Symbolism: The game heavily employs light and darkness as symbols, which can inspire you to incorporate meaningful symbolism into your narratives.

Until Dawn

An interactive horror movie that you can help shape from the comfort of your sofa, Until Dawn is truly terrifying. Recently rebuilt for PlayStation 5 consoles, this choose-your-own-adventure video game developed by Supermassive Games is impossible not to immerse yourself in, with a horrifying but fun offering available for horror fans to get their teeth into.

How It Can Inspire Your Writing

• Character Archetypes: The game features a range of characters that represent common horror tropes, which you can study and subvert in your writing.
• Choice and Consequence: The branching story paths based on player decisions can encourage you to think about how character choices drive the plot.
• Emotional Engagement: By investing players in the fate of the characters, the game demonstrates how to create emotional stakes that keep an audience engaged.

Special Mentions

Special mention must also go to Alien Isolation, Dead Space, Still Wakes the Deep, Amnesia: The Bunker, Outlast, The Evil Within 2, and Silent Hill 2.

Alien Isolation

A game that perfectly captures the essence of survival horror, Alien Isolation places you in a constant state of tension as you navigate a space station with a relentless Xenomorph on the prowl.

• Suspense Building: The game’s pacing and use of sound can teach you how to build and maintain suspense in your writing.
• Isolation Themes: Exploring the psychological effects of isolation can add depth to your characters’ experiences.

Dead Space

Dead Space plunges players into the cold vacuum of space aboard a mining ship overrun by grotesque creatures known as Necromorphs.

• Atmospheric Design: The chilling environments and detailed world-building can inspire you to create settings that become characters in their own right.
• Body Horror: The game’s use of visceral horror elements can help you understand how to evoke strong emotional reactions.

Still Wakes the Deep

An upcoming horror game set on an offshore oil rig, Still Wakes the Deep promises claustrophobic environments and an unseen terror lurking in the depths.

• Unique Setting: The unconventional location can encourage you to think outside the box when choosing settings for your stories.
• Environmental Storytelling: The game’s emphasis on atmosphere over direct storytelling can inspire you to show rather than tell in your writing.

Amnesia: The Bunker

Part of a renowned horror series, Amnesia: The Bunker places you in a World War I setting where you’re pursued by an unkillable creature.

• Historical Context: Incorporating historical elements can add realism and weight to your speculative fiction.
• Psychological Elements: The focus on memory loss and fear can help you explore complex character psyches.

Outlast

In Outlast, you find yourself trapped in a dilapidated asylum filled with violent inmates and dark secrets.

• First-Person Perspective: The immersive viewpoint can offer insights into crafting intimate and intense narratives.
• Exploration of Madness: Delving into themes of insanity and morality can add layers to your characters and plot.

The Evil Within 2

A blend of psychological and survival horror, The Evil Within 2 takes you through a twisted world created by a corrupted mind.

• Surreal Landscapes: The game’s shifting realities can inspire you to experiment with unconventional settings.
• Redemption Arcs: The protagonist’s quest to save his daughter adds emotional depth, demonstrating the power of personal stakes.

Silent Hill 2

A classic that redefined the horror genre, Silent Hill 2 is known for its profound storytelling and atmospheric dread.

• Psychological Depth: The game delves deep into the protagonist’s psyche, offering lessons on creating complex, flawed characters.
• Symbolism and Metaphor: Its use of symbolic monsters and environments can inspire you to incorporate deeper meanings into your work.

Taking a Break to Boost Creativity

Engaging with these games isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a way to expose yourself to different storytelling techniques and genres. Playing allows you to:

• Recharge Mentally: Stepping away from your manuscript can provide the mental rest needed to return with fresh ideas.
• Experience Interactive Narratives: Understanding how interactivity influences storytelling can inspire innovative approaches in your writing.
• Analyze Narrative Structures: Observing how games build tension, develop characters, and reveal plot can enhance your own storytelling skills.

Final Thoughts

The intersection of gaming and writing offers a unique avenue for creative growth. By exploring these PS5 horror games, you not only enjoy a well-deserved break but also gather valuable insights that can elevate your speculative fiction. So, the next time you’re staring at a blank page, consider diving into one of these immersive worlds to reignite your creative spark.