I don’t subscribe to the belief that everyone likes a good scare. I’m an absolute chicken. I can barely stomach horror movies, and don’t even think about taking me to any haunted houses come October. However, I recently discovered the sub-genre of horror video games, and for some reason I can’t stop playing them.

Suffice to say, I don’t like the dark much anymore.

With spring break fast approaching, I’ve compiled a short list of two spectacularly terrifying games to try out in between hitting the beach for a swim or the slopes for skiing. Or if you’re like me and will just be lying unattractively on a couch. Whatever floats your boat.

####Emily Wants to Play

An inconspicuous pizza delivery man (aka you) shows up at a house and, because it’s pouring rain outside, enters it.

“Pizza’s here!” He calls, and it all goes downhill from there. The door locks behind him, and he is stuck inside the house until morning. But he’s not alone in the house. Lurking around are three dolls (a porcelain nightmare named Kiki, a clown named Mr. Tatters and a vicious puppet named Chester) and a savage little girl named Emily.

As each hour goes by, you must avoid being killed first by Kiki, then Mr. Tatters, then Chester. Each doll will kill you instantly if you make a mistake, and each doll can be thwarted in different ways. After avoiding each doll, you are forced into a deadly game of hide and seek with Emily, who will kill you if she is not found in time. In the last hour, you have to play while also avoiding all of the dolls.

I’d suggest investing in a good pair of headphones to go with this game, because sound cues are vital to avoiding the dolls. And trust me, you do not want to be caught unaware as many times as I was. My sanity may never forgive me. Or my poor roommate.
The graphics are fairly simple, but that does not retract from the experience in the slightest. If anything, it enhances the spooky aura of the game, especially when the lights turn off and all you can see is blackness.

For me, the game was nearly impossible and finally finishing it was a matter of sheer luck, but the fact remains that this jump scare game, while lacking in plot, is one of the best horror games released recently. It’s terrifying and challenging, making it a must-buy for any gamer.

“Emily Wants to Play” is available on Steam for Mac and PC for $4.99.

####SOMA

Unlike “Emily Wants to Play,” SOMA focuses less on jump scares and more on building your terror through suspense and an intricate plot and mythology.

SOMA takes place in a decimated, post-apocalyptic world. According to its Steam description, “The radio is dead, food is running out, and the machines have started to think they are people. Underwater facility PATHOS-II has suffered an intolerable isolation and we’re going to have to make some tough decisions. What can be done? What makes sense? What is left to fight for?”

What scared me the most while playing through this game was the inability to fight back against anything. Let me tell you: The enemies in this game are a thousand times scarier when you know that if you mess up once, they can kill you and there will be nothing you can do about it. Instead of fighting, you must outwit and avoid the rabid robots and other enemies, because after all, you’re only human . . . or are you?

Part of what kept me on edge while playing this was not knowing what exactly I was. The game doesn’t just tell you outright what is going on. You have to infer everything for yourself, which is a daunting task. You’re searching for answers while trying to stay alive in a hostile environment, and you never know what will happen next.

The terrain of SOMA is enhanced by gorgeous graphics and stunning scenic design. The world of SOMA is wonderfully and lovingly constructed by Frictional Games, creating a truly immersive experience.

For a college student on a budget, SOMA is a tad pricey at $29.99, but it’s affordable compared to PS4 and XBox One games, and you get more than your money’s worth.

SOMA is also available on Steam.

_Edited by Elana Williams | ewilliams@themaneater.com_