Sound is, without a doubt, one of the most fundamental pillars of a good horror game. Everything, from the music to the creaks and footsteps, has to be in order to have complete immersion. And with complete immersion comes complete terror.
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In these horror games, sound isn’t only just a crucial element that’s been incorporated throughout; but without it, the game and the story being told genuinely wouldn’t be the same.
The sound and music for these horror games, simply put, is as horrifying and alive as the world itself.
10
Left 4 Dead 2
Jingles of Doom
While leitmotifs have been used in media since soundtracks have been created, Left 4 Dead 2 uses them not just for storytelling purposes – but also as a warning.
Each major enemy (such as The Witch) has their own distinct jingles, typically on a piano. When it plays, you know exactly which enemy is lurking and that they’re nearby.
Not to mention, it’s an excellent showcase of the calm before the storm. There’s the jingle, then your encounter, where you only have a brief moment to develop a plan before you have to fight to survive.
It’s a simple, yet distinct way to instill feelings of dread and impending doom in players. With just a few notes, players will quickly revert from gathering supplies to constantly checking over their shoulder.
9
Outlast
In a horror setting, footsteps are the most distinct and terrifying noises that audiences will encounter. It’s the simple fear of not being alone when you’re supposed to be, amplified with an everyday sound.
In Outlast, these footsteps echo, and it constantly leaves you on edge over what might be lurking around the corner. When you’re caught and the chase begins, these footsteps can be heard in spite of your yelling to run.
The overall sound of Outlast is consistently off-putting, which makes an ordinary sound like footsteps all the more unsettling. Especially since you know who those footsteps belong to, and you don’t want to be anywhere near it.
Just be ready to sprint, since you’ll have to do that quite a lot to avoid those footsteps catching up to you.
8
FAITH: The Unholy Trinity
Atari-Style Graphics and Sound
When modern games take on a vintage look (such as PS1-Style Horror Games), something tends to give it away as a modern game – typically, it’s the sound design.
However, for FAITH: The Unholy Trinity, it not only perfectly replicates the graphics of an Atari-era game, but also the sound.
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If you grew up with Atari, the sights and sounds will send you right back to your childhood in the most horrifying nostalgia trip you’ve ever seen. Plus, it ends up fitting well with the story, since it takes place during the Atari Era.
Each chip and pixel ends up painting a terrifying picture, and it’s just as riveting by the third game as it is at the start of the series.
7
Darkwood
What’s That Sound In the Woods?
The sounds of the woods are some of the most comforting and horrifying noises that humans could listen to, depending on the time of day. It’s far less scary during the day – you can see the origins of these sounds, after all.
However, at nighttime, it’s an entirely different story. Especially for a game like Darkwood, where your survival is directly correlated with how you handle these woods.
Staying alive on your own is a horrifying prospect, especially when you’re abandoned in literal dark woods. It’s paranoia-inducing, and it’s something that this game is especially skilled at weaving in players.
Plus, the actual forest sounds end up being additives to fear, rather than your sanctuary.
6
The Last of Us
Clickers, Tension, Terror
When The Last of Us first came out, not only were the graphics and sound already revolutionary, but new enemies introduced unique, new noises. Specifically, the Clickers ended up stealing the spotlight.
Sure, Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack is nothing short of spectacular, but the sound in this game has so much more going for it than just its soundtrack. The sound as a whole is simply wonderful.
There’s nothing more tense than entering a room and hearing the distinct clicks of danger, and it’s enough to keep players on edge until they’re able to kill the infected or sneak past.
Thankfully, the show managed to adapt the infected wonderfully – and this includes the Clickers and their noises.
5
Resident Evil 7
Incredible at Building Atmosphere
When it comes to the Resident Evil franchise, the sound adapts to each game and its respective vibe. This is why RE7: Biohazard ends up taking the cake for the scariest sound design in the whole series.
In comparison to the other games, the sound for RE7 is fantastic at building atmosphere, making it one of the moodiest games in the entire franchise. Not to mention doubly claustrophobic.
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Plus, the voice acting is top notch, especially with The Baker Family – a family you’d never believe you’d end up sympathising with – and their wide, emotional range.
The Resident Evil games have consistently had good sound, but none of the games do it as well as 7 does.
4
Dead Space 2
The Whole Franchise is Ear-Candy
The entire Dead Space franchise is full of ear-candy and eye-candy, which is to be expected with sci-fi (especially sci-fi horror). That said, when it comes to sound, Dead Space 2 takes the cake and cherry on top.
Isaac Clarke is not having a good time in Dead Space 2, heavily traumatised by the events of the first game and creating debilitating PTSD. These sequences end up being incredibly realistic, in spite of the circumstances, and the sound has a lot to do with that.
The way all sound quiets and narrows in on unwanted, intrusive thoughts, the new direction of voice acting that Isaac implements, and the unforgettable silence of space makes the sound design all the more fantastic.
Sure, you’d get this moody atmosphere from the sound design of the first game, but it’s not until the second when that sound really starts to shine.
3
Alien: Isolation
Your Ears Are Your Lifeline
The main way that games aim to scare players is to introduce an incredibly powerful enemy that’s hunting you down. Alien: Isolation takes it one step further with some of the most intricate AI that’s ever been used in a game.
While you’re being hunted down by the horrifying Xenomorph, it actually learns and adapts to your playstyle, leaving you no choice but to be observant. This observation can end up saving your life.
This is especially true with the sound design – your ears are your literal lifeline. They’re not only tracking where the Xenomorph is, but also where help is, and it’s up to you to help yourself.
Seriously, if you want to play this game on Ultra Hard Mode, just mute it. That’s how essential your listening is.
2
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
The Whispers Will Get You
In the Hellblade games, you end up playing as a woman named Senua, who also happens to suffer from schizophrenia. With schizophrenia comes auditory (and sometimes visual) hallucinations, and Senua’s hallucinations are particularly scary.
Most often, it’s an auditory hallucination of whispering, right in your ear. It’s unsettling and outright disturbing as they crescendo, leaving you particularly vulnerable to fear.
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After all, losing your grip on reality has got to be one of the most terrifying things a person can experience. Combined with mental illness, and you’ve got a tragedy that’s simply horrific on all fronts.
1
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Akira Yamaoka is an Audio Genius
When it comes to sound design in horror games, nothing executes this as perfectly as the Silent Hill franchise – all thanks to Akira Yamaoka’s genius. Of course, Silent Hill 2 Remake ended up being his best work thus far.
But to be wholly frank, the sound direction of the entire franchise simply can’t be beat. I grew up playing the Resident Evil games, but I grew up listening to the Silent Hill soundtracks. It’s some of the most iconic music in all of gaming.
Plus, the usage of sound not only supplements the player’s fears but also the game’s storyline. Sometimes, it leaves clues about characters or situations that you’d never notice until a second or third playthrough. Pay attention to the “banging = danger” equation in his work, and notice how everything suddenly aligns.
There is no other game that does sound design as miraculously as the Silent Hill games, and there will be no others that do it the same. That is, unless developers all decide to have Akira Yamaoka do their sound design.
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