Summary
Part of the horror in horror games is achieved not only by themonsters and ghostspursuing the player, but also through the settings in which the story takes place. Being two of the most horrific events in human history, games centered aroundWorld War 1 and World War 2 are enriched with the bloody realities of the conflicts.
The wartime settings are bleak enough in any other genre, but horror games, by virtue of their terrifying nature, best utilize WW1 and WW2 as their backdrops. The horror titles compiled below are some of the highlights within the genre, usingtheir historical contextas a springboard for all manner of horrors.
While quite rough around the edges, with glitches and some inconsistent pacing, Hekate’sAd Infinitumis a solid horror outing that delves deep into the trenches of a German soldier’s mind.
Assuming control of Paul Von Schmidt, said soldier, players bounce between front-line trenches and Paul’s family mansion, both of which are warped and infested with twisted creatures. These tangible threats, however, merely serve as extensions ofAd Infinitum’s true horror: the destructive effects warhas on the mind.
Treyarch’sCall of Duty: World at Warwas the first game in the franchise to introduce players to (what would become) its long-standing Zombie game mode. Many gamers are already intimately familiar with its arcade-style gameplay loop of surviving against endless waves of zombies with the help of the iconic Mystery box and Perk-a-Cola buffs.
WhileWorld at Warlacks the more elaborate Easter egg storylines that would be introduced in future titles, it still deserves its spot on this list as the inception of such a beloved game mode.
Similar toCall of Duty: World at War’s zombie gamemode, Rebellion translated the gameplay ofSniper Elite V2into an arcadey zombie spin-off calledZombie Army. This surprise experiment went on to receive two sequels, the third of which,Zombie Army Trilogy, bundled the prior games into one complete package.
Forgoing the measured approach to combat seen in theSniper Eliteseries,Zombie Armyis pure chaotic Nazi-zombie-killing fun with all the added bonuses one would expect: replayable missions, zombie variants to shake up gameplay, and a nonsensical plot about Hitler raising the dead as a last-ditch effort against the allies.
A number of theWolfensteingames could have made this list, but it’s thefranchise’s 2001 reboot,Return To Castle Wolfenstein, that stands out as the best — at least when it comes to blending action and horror.
Following a set-up familiar to the series, players assume the role of B.J. Blazkowicz as he (like the title suggests) returns to Castle Wolfenstein to put a stop to Hitler’s army of scientific abominations and the occult. While the game does show its age now, players returning to the game or discovering it for the first time will still get to enjoy a solid action horror experience that combines the supernatural with a WW2 backdrop.
Conscriptis unique among the entries on this list as it doesn’t featureany supernatural elements. The game is concerned only with the awful, objective reality of World War 1, emphasizing its inherent horror without the need for other fictitious threats.
The decision to remain rooted within the realms of reality is made all the more effective when considering the fact that the game isstillscary. Its oppressive atmosphere, plethora of tightly confined and dimly lit areas, and constant threat from enemy soldiers is more than enough to keep players on edge. All of these elements ofConscriptcombine to make it an exhausting experience in all the best ways.
Frictional Games made the move into full-blown survival horror with the release ofAmnesia: The Bunker.Players assume the role of Henri Clément, a French soldier trapped in a WW1 bunker with a relentless monster stalking him.
While players are capable of protecting themselves with guns and a number of tools (more than they have in past Frictional titles), they work only to fend off the monster for a time. The unkillable creature roaming the bunker easily rubs shoulders with the likes of Nemesis, Mr. X and otherstalker horror monsters. Adding to the tension is the constant thunder of battle raging elsewhere, reminding the player that even if they were to escape, they’d be no safer outside.
