Halloween is nearly upon us, which means soon it will be time for parties, dressing up, carving pumpkins, and most importantly, lots of candy. For some people, it’s a great time of year to play games such as Resident Evil or Days Gone. But what if you don’t like horror games? Luckily, we’ve got you covered with 10 games that will put you in the Halloween mood, even if you aren’t into horror.
Afterparty
From the developers of Oxenfree, Afterparty is an indie adventure in which you play as two friends who suddenly die and find themselves in Hell. They are given a chance to return to Earth if they manage to outdrink Satan himself.
As you roam around the underworld, it is your task to figure out exactly why you’ve been sentenced to Hell and how you can save yourself from the eternity of doom. Your decisions will shape not only the relationship between the two protagonists but also of Hell itself.
Afterparty will have plenty of drunken games like beer pong and chugging contests, but make the wrong choice and the friends could find themselves caught in one of the devil’s traps.
Afterparty releases on Oct. 29 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Luigi’s Mansion
All three Luigi’s Mansion games are perfect for Halloween. They are just spooky enough to capture the “spirit” of the holiday (see what I did there?).
In the upcoming title, Luigi is once again our protagonist, and this time he will navigate a haunted hotel to save his friends. Luigi, armed with a flashlight and the Poltergust G-00, teams up with his new counterpart Gooigi to capture ghosts that occupy the hotel where King Boo is hiding.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 will also include a local and online multiplayer mode in which up to eight players can work together to climb the Scarescraper. Players work cooperatively to clear floors of ghosts before time runs out.
If you aren’t ready to jump into Luigi’s Mansion 3 just yet, the first two games are available on the 3DS. But if you’re looking forward to the Nintendo Switch title releasing on Oct. 31, be sure to find out our thoughts on the game by reading the review.
Hollow Knight
The highly-praised Hollow Knight has a mysterious atmosphere that sets the perfect eerie tone for Halloween.
You play as a nameless insect knight as he uncovers ancient secrets and mysteries of the kingdom Hallownest. Because it is a Metroidvania, one of the highlights of the game is its sense of exploration and environment, and its areas are full of strange caverns and creatures.
The dark themes of the game, both physically and thematically, give it a strong association with Halloween (not to mention the fact that there are bugs everywhere in the game…creepy!).
If you end up enjoying Hollow Knight, you might be interested in knowing that the developers have announced that a sequel is in the works.
Metroid Prime
Since it may be a while before we get to play Metroid Prime 4 , there is plenty of time to revisit the first three games in the series (or play them for the first time).
There is a distinct feeling of dread and isolation throughout the planet of Tallon IV where the first Metroid Prime game takes place. It genuinely feels like everything that moves is out to get Samus as she explores the ruins of the strange world and pieces together information about the Chozo species.
Though it’s classified as a first-person adventure, Metroid is so influential that it has inspired an entire genre of games. There are a few slight jumpscares when Metroids break out of their tanks, but it’s not severe enough to call it a horror game.
Metroid Prime will have you exploring every corner of a bleak, alien world as you wait for more news about the (long-awaited) next game in the series.
Costume Quest
Costume Quest was literally made for Halloween, so it would be wrong to not include it on this list.
In this adventure-RPG, you play as one of two twins who, while trick-or-treating on Halloween, encounters a monster that kidnaps the other sibling. The player collects candy around the neighborhood while recruiting other kids to help defeat the monster and rescue the sibling.
The gimmick that makes it unique from other RPGs is that during battle segments, each child in your party turns into the creature they are dressed as for Halloween. Costume Quest is very cute, and it will make you feel nostalgic for trick-or-treating and letting your imagination run wild.
There is also a sequel, Costume Quest 2, with a similar plot and includes time travel elements.
Undertale
Undertale, one of the most famous indie RPGs of all time, might not strike you as Halloween-like at first.
Of course, there are the famous skeleton brothers Sans and Papyrus, who bring humor and hope to the underground world where the story takes place. And you can’t forget the ruler of monsters Asgore and his goal of stealing human souls to break the barrier between worlds.
But the game truly gets dark during the playthrough of the True Pacifist route. This route is achieved by completing the game by helping enemy characters instead of hurting them, which is harder than it sounds.
Without spoiling too much, during this special ending you learn more about the backstory of the characters and Alphys’s experiments, creations called ‘Amalgamates.’ The True Laboratory, where figures and mutations lurk in the shadows, is easily the creepiest area in the game.
If you already beat the True Pacifist ending and want more, the developer of Undertale Toby Fox has a new game in the works called Deltarune. You can play the first chapter for free, and it already seems just as chilling and dark as Undertale is.
Animal Crossing
Since holidays in Animal Crossing happen in conjunction with real-world time, this is the perfect opportunity to jump back into New Leaf, and it might be the last Halloween you celebrate in the game before New Horizons releases next year.
Throughout the month of October, Halloween masks and spooky furniture are sold in the shops. On Halloween night starting at 6:00 p.m. you can play special mini-games with villagers. You can play tricks on them, or they can do the same to you.
Jack, the self-proclaimed Czar of Halloween, will also be wandering around your town. This is a great chance to get rare items that are found only during this month.
Since these events only happen once a year, this is a great time to load up that save file you haven’t touched in months.
Seriously, go visit your town. Your villagers miss you.
Night in the Woods
Though Night in the Woods may feel more autumn-like, the game’s plot is driven by actions that occur on Halloween night.
It is an adventure with a strong focus on exploration, story, and characters, and it also tackles topics in mental health. The protagonist Mae returns to her hometown Possum Springs after dropping out of college, but nothing feels the same as it had during her childhood.
The game is very narrative-heavy, and players can decide who Mae spends time with during the storyline to see their characters unfold. The goal is to uncover the dark secrets that are hidden in the nearby woods.
Night in the Wood’s melancholy tone and intriguing mysteries are what make it feel as though it was meant to be played during this time of the year.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Arguably the darkest entry in the Legend of Zelda series, Majora’s Mask is certain to put you in the Halloween mood.
The plot is a bit different than most other Zelda games; instead of saving Hyrule, Link has only three days to stop the Skull Kid from summoning a moon to destroy the land of Termina.
There is a huge sense of urgency and doom as the townspeople learn their fates. Since every character has a unique personality and problem, you feel a desire to save them from their certain demise. Some of the storylines are genuinely depressing and thought-provoking.
Masks play an important role in the game by transforming Link into a different race (such as a Goron or Zora) or eliciting a reaction from a character to make progress. Wearing each mask to assume the role of another is all the more reason why this game has a strong Halloween vibe.
Jackbox’s Trivia Murder Party
If you aren’t familiar with The Jackbox Party Pack games, you need to know that they are the best party games out there. Each ‘pack’ has five games designed to be played in groups, and the best part is that everyone uses their phone as a controller.
One of the games is called Trivia Murder Party, and it’s a great choice to play with 2-8 people. The name sounds sinister, but don’t worry, you probably won’t actually get murdered.
Each round consists of a multiple-choice trivia question. Players who answer it correctly stay alive, while players who answer it incorrectly are brought to a “killing floor” and must participate in a mini-game in order to stay alive.
However, ghosts can still win the game! When only one player remains alive, everyone (dead or alive) plays a face-paced category guessing game until one player manages to “escape” and win.
It’s a blast for gamers and non-gamers alike, and the host is hilarious. If you plan on throwing a Halloween party this year, Trivia Murder Party is a must-have. You can find it in The Jackbox Party Pack 3 and the recently-released The Jackbox Party Pack 6.
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