Halloween is upon us and what better way to celebrate than playing some horror games? That is assuming you’re not a child who’s trick-or-treating during Halloween.

We here at Niche Gamer appreciate a good chilling horror title, but instead of making a list with the usual suspects like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, here are some lesser mentioned titles that should be looked at:

1. Overblood

Despite Resident Evil being the massive title which revolutionized survival horror on the PS1, there was actually a title which beat it to the punch, Overblood. The game follows Raz Karcy, who awakens from a cryogenic chamber with amnesia. While the plot itself isn’t unique, the gameplay certainly was with a fully 3D rendered world, where you explore the laboratory and learn about its secrets.

Players will spend most of their time exploring the game world, solving puzzles, and occasionally doing combat against enemies. The game would receive a sequel, Overblood 2, which was vastly different and is more comparable to Final Fantasy VII of all things.

Contemporary reviews were rather mixed for the title, hence why Resident Evil is the one people think of being the first of its kind. But even though it does have some of the expected jank of the 3D titles during the PS1 era, it’s still an interesting experience that fans of older horror games should try out.

Overblood came out on PS1, and unfortunately it has not received any releases on more modern platforms.

2. Echo Night

Before they were known for making difficult video games, FromSoftware actually had works in other genres beyond RPGs. Echo Night is one of those games. The game follows protagonist Richard Osmond, who after receiving a letter from his father, works towards discovering the fate of a sunken ship.

The game features a solid mystery story with a good atmosphere, where players explore the ship through a first person perspective. It also features multiple endings based on the aid players can choose to give to the ghosts throughout the story.

This series would end up getting 2 sequels, though one of which was only released in Japan, but has since received a fan translation. The 3 stories are standalone, but it’s worthwhile to check out where this series got its start.

Echo Night is unfortunately only available on PS1 and has not seen any re-releases, though it was the inspiration for FromSoftware’s VR title, Déraciné, which released back in 2018.

3. Koudelka

Not all horror games have to only be created with strict gameplay requirements. Koudelka is one such example, proving that survival horror can mix well with the JRPG formula.

The game follows a trio of protagonists as they are explore a mansion infested with monsters. In essence, it follows similar gameplay to Sweet Home, which was the original horror game to inspire Resident Evil. As a JRPG, there are random encounters done with turn based grid combat, similar to that of the Legend of Heroes series.

You can expect a similar style to that of Resident Evil, as both focused on exploring mansions with dark secrets. However, Koudelka brings about comic horrors inspired by works such as Lovecraft. So those looking for a deeper horror experience may want to give this one a try.

This game would actually spawn a successor series known as Shadow Hearts, which saw later releases on the PS2. Sadly Koudelka remains a bit of a cult hit with no re-releases beyond it’s original PS1 launch back in 1999/2000.

4. Haunting Ground

Arguably this might be the most popular title on the list. But adding to the list of games that got overshadowed by Resident Evil, Haunting Ground deserves more attention. Ironically this might be the most well known game on this list simply due to it being listed among the underrated horror titles.

It’s considered a bit of a spiritual successor to the classic Clock Tower series, which is also a horror franchise worth checking out as well. The story follows Fiona Belli as she tries to escape from a dungeon she became trapped in, with the aid of a dog.

Gameplay sets itself apart with its emphasis on gameplay relying on Hewie, the dog, and training it through commands as if it were real. And the game puts a lot of focus on Belli being a rather helpless protagonist beyond minimizing her combat abilities with the inclusion panic mode.

Unfortunately, unlike Resident Evil 4 which had come out the same year and stole much of this game’s thunder, Haunting Ground is only available on PS2 in the US with no re-releases. It did come to the Japanese PlayStation Store though.

5. Penumbra: Overture

While Amnesia: The Dark Descent was the game which really got off the ground, partially thanks to all the YouTubers during the early 2010s, Penumbra: Overture was where Frictional Games got their start.

Gameplay is mostly similar to Amnesia as players explore an abandoned mine infested with monsters. The story sees the protagonist get beckoned from his supposedly dead father’s letter. There’s more of an emphasis of stealth and puzzle solving over killing enemies, though combat is possible.

The game would receive a sequel, which itself would receive an expansion to conclude the entire story. So if you do enjoy Overture, it’s highly recommended continuing on in the series with Penumbra: Black Plague and Penumbra: Requiem.

Unlike other games on this list, Penumbra: Overture is much more easily available. You can pick it up along with the rest of the franchise on Steam, where it is currently on deep discount for this Halloween holiday.

6. SIGNALIS

Easily the most recent entry on this list, Signalis, is mostly lesser known simply because of how new it is. While it has been out for a few days now, our thorough review is forthcoming. However, it is definitely worth checking out for those searching for a new horror experience.

Players assume the role of Ester, who must deal with horrifying creatures in a setting where humanity has reached the stars. The game takes inspiration of classic survival horror titles with the management of scare resources, solving puzzles, and surviving against terrifying monsters.

The game is a great way to get a classic horror experience in a modern game with its distinct art style, which will surely cause spines to chill when they encounter the horrifying sights the game will present.

Signalis is available now for Xbox One and PC (via Steam).

Are you going to play any of our recommendations for Halloween 2022? Did we miss any of your favorite lesser-known horror games? Which should we include in future horror game features and/or lists? Sound off in the comments below!