Atmospheric games. What are some atmospheric games with a delightful storyline? Video games Depth
It’s easy to believe in the reality of events if we watch some drama about divorce or a directionless life. Another thing is to convince the viewer, or in our case the player, that this elf with blue skin is actually worried about her missing father, who can control the forces of nature. Today we choose games that stand out with their impeccable atmosphere, even if their world is completely different from the real one.
BioShock
This is not the first time a shooter series has been included in our selection, but it undoubtedly deserves it. BioShock 1 and 2 take place in the underwater city of Rapture, which was inhabited by prominent people in the 1950s. The best scientists, doctors, artists, musicians and thinkers were tired of the imperfections of the familiar world and decided to retire to the bottom of the ocean.
Rapture is a utopian city, which its inhabitants destroyed. A substance capable of developing superpowers turned into a powerful drug, which led to disaster and the decline of the city. Rapchur combines gloss and dirt: expensive furniture is stained with blood, marble floors are covered with salt water, a mutilated corpse sits at a shiny piano.
The location and time of BioShock Infinite has changed: a new hero is sent to the airy city of Columbia, and the events unfold in 1912. The city only seems to be prosperous: the locals have even more skeletons in their closets than the inhabitants of Rapture. Both worlds of BioShock are worth exploring: it is one of the most atmospheric and detailed series.
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
It’s a rare case when a game “based on” turned out to be worthwhile. Howard Phillips Lovecraft is one of the most enigmatic writers of the twentieth century. The author did not receive much recognition during his lifetime, but his works acquired cult status after his death. Reading these works is like walking through a forest through thick fog. You hear the cracking of branches and rustling nearby, but you don’t understand whether it’s a squirrel, a drunken mushroom picker, a bear, or something worse. The same sensations arise when playing Call of Cthulhu.
The developers surprisingly accurately conveyed the atmosphere of the writer’s stories. This is a leisurely and dark game that sometimes gives you goosebumps. Horror scares not with sudden screams, but with quiet whispers from around the corner. Not as a monster who jumped out, but as a murdered girl who just stands there covered in blood and stares at you. The ambience is formed thanks to the conversations of the characters, well-developed locations, and the eerie details of events. Detective Jack Walters will regret more than once that he undertook to investigate the case in the quiet town of Innsmouth, but it will be too late.
Far Cry Primal
Far Cry took place on tropical islands, in sultry Africa, and in the Himalayan mountains. After the fourth part, the developers chose an unexpected setting - primitive. There are practically no games in such surroundings; one can immediately remember only Zeno Clash, but there is a share of fantasy there. Here everything is more or less detailed, although it is impossible to check the realism in any case.
We play the role of a representative of an almost extinct tribe, who revives the settlement and prepares to repel opponents. The gameplay is tied to hunting, and this becomes boring over time: after all, tracking down animals was only one of the gameplay elements in Far Cry 3-4, and not the main one. But here there is little variety: either get skins, then collect leaves, or kill the enemy squad.
But the atmosphere is excellent: nature has not yet been touched by people, mammoths walk through the fields, saber-toothed tigers and other long-extinct animals can be found in the forests. You can wander around for hours and just take screenshots for your desktop.
Red Dead series
The line of cowboy action games began not with Red Dead Redemption, but with Red Dead Revolver. But the games are practically unrelated: the action time and characters are different. In the original action film, the hero Red takes revenge on the bandits for the murder of his parents, while John Marston from the new action film tries to save his family by eliminating his former gang colleagues. Red Dead Redemption 2 is due out in the fall, but there is no information about connections to previous installments.
The games have well-designed territory and characters; locations are full of interesting little things and random events. It would seem that what can happen practically in an open field? You ride calmly on a horse, looking at the setting sun, and suddenly you fall into an ambush, then you stumble upon a hermit, or you see how the Indians deal with the pale-skinned people. Rockstar, the developer of GTA, knows how to create rich worlds: there is more life in the prairie of Red Dead Redemption than in the Chicago metropolis from some Mafia 3.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
The series is based on the story “Roadside Picnic” by the Strugatsky brothers. The franchise currently has three games plus a ton of fan-made additions. Ukrainian GSC Game World made “our Fallout,” which played on its popularity.
The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has given rise to a new business - both dangerous and profitable. The release of radioactive substances provoked the appearance of artifacts that provide bonuses to characteristics and are also required for scientific purposes. This is how stalkers appeared, searching for valuable substances.
The key objects of the Zone have been recreated on a large territory: a giant radar, the town of Pripyat with the same Ferris wheel, a dump of abandoned equipment that participated in the operation after the accident, and the nuclear power plant itself. There is still life on the dead lands, which for many stalkers lasts a couple of days at best. The atmosphere is depressing, but you definitely want to visit this place.
Bloodborne
This list can also include Dark Souls, a popular series from the same developers. Games are sometimes compared, but there are still differences. First of all, they have different combat systems - Dark Souls is slower. But what they have in common is complexity. The developers have made it their “trick” to create very difficult conditions for the player: the tips are sometimes even more confusing, sometimes it is not clear what they want from us and where we need to go, enemies are killed in literally a few blows, and bosses reach the size of the house “U Troitsky”.
The main character comes to the city of Yharnam, where medicine has reached great heights: doctors have learned to cure diseases with blood transfusions. But because of the epidemic, people began to turn into monsters. We have to cleanse the city and figure out what's really going on here. The locations are impressively beautiful, despite the general gloomy state of Yharnam. The game, like BioShock, features an aesthetic mixed with literal and figurative dirt.
Mass Effect
The space epic captivates with the scale of events and detailed elaboration of the universe. Despite the abundance of races, planets and conflicts, everything seems very reasonable. Detailed descriptions of creatures and difficult relationships between species, the reasons for the aggression of one side or another - during the course of the game there are almost no moments where the writers can be caught.
The BioWare studio should be reproached only for the same type of structure of its games: in both Mass Effect and Dragon Age, the hero needs to gather a squad of fighters, fulfill (not necessarily) all their wishes and then go to the main villain. Captain Shepard and his team will visit many planets - snowy, covered with greenery, volcanic, incinerated by the rays of the sun. Even though many of them turn out to be bellhops, the compelling plot, interesting dialogues and situations keep people glued to the screens for a long time.
Fallout
Nuclear war did not destroy humanity, but completely changed its behavior, lifestyle, and priorities. What remains of Maslow's pyramid of needs is actually the base - basic needs, such as satisfying hunger. Judging by the world of Fallout, people in the Wasteland will never be able to get even to the third stage.
A large percentage of gamers always strive to find an atmospheric game that will captivate you not only with its gameplay and graphics, but also with its plot, music, design and overall mood. Such projects can improve your mood, inspire or make you think. Most of them, by the way, are far from cheerful - it is the gloomy and depressive atmosphere that is popular. In this article we will look at the top atmospheric games on PC, regardless of the time period.
Let's not take into account indie projects, most of which try to entice only with atmosphere. We will look at games where atmosphere is combined with an interesting plot and gameplay. The only thing we won't pay attention to is the graphics. It is known that creating a truly atmospheric game on a PC does not require the most modern technologies - this has been proven by many examples and time.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Let's start with the game series S.T.A.L.K.E.R., developed by a Ukrainian studio. The fate of the project is complex, but interesting. The first part was released in 2007 and immediately fell in love with almost all players in the CIS. All parts are similar in mood and spirit. The action takes place in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant after the tragic events. In the game universe, there are anomalous zones and mutants that fill it. The player, in the role of one of the stalkers, will have to go to the very depths of the Zone and solve its riddle.
At the beginning of the passage you are “thrown” into an open world with a lot of opportunities and characters. The atmospheric game captivates with its mood - abandoned buildings, songs with a guitar by the fire, a gray autumn palette and unfriendly opponents. Stories of other stalkers, bars, groups and much more - all this awaits you in the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
BioShock
The BioShock series continues the top atmospheric games on PC. The game has one of the best level designs, soundtrack and a fascinating story of an underwater city. Interest in what is happening appears from the first minutes of gameplay - the main character swims up to an abandoned lighthouse and goes inside, where the bathyscaphe is waiting for him. He will sink to the very bottom of the ocean with the huge and beautiful city of Rapchur. During your first excursion, you can spend a few minutes gawking at the landscapes behind the glass showcases, the water world, and the austere and beautiful decoration of the city. We will not reveal all the subtleties of the story - we will do without spoilers.
The third part of the series will take you to a different, but no less fascinating place. The air city also has a friendly face and beautiful scenery. But inside you will find a story with a tyrant ruler, several parallel worlds and a charming partner. It is clear that Bioshock's designers and planners have worked hard on the atmosphere.
Max Payne
Let's return from fictional Universes and cities to a more real story. The Max Payne game series tells the story of a police officer whose family was killed by bandits. Max Payne loses his wife and daughter, after which he sets out to take revenge on his offenders. The first two parts cannot boast of excellent graphics due to the fact that they were released in the early 2000s. However, they can safely be called one of the most atmospheric PC games of all time. The action takes place at night, which adds to the atmosphere of noir and detective cinema. Dynamic firefights with time dilation are replaced by surreal inserts using the internal voices of the main character, dreams and voice-over narration.
Max Payne 3 was released in 2013 and slightly changed course from a noir work with an atmosphere of hopelessness to a spectacular action film. The game tells us about the fate of Max several years after the events of the second part. The action takes place in South America with all its inherent flavor.
Fallout
The top most atmospheric games could not remain without the Fallout series. The first two parts, released at the end of the 90s, are made in isometric graphics, so they do not allow you to completely immerse yourself in the oppressive atmosphere of the post-apocalyptic world. However, for those who like to read dialogues and quest descriptions, these games may be even better than modern ones.
Fallout 3, 4 and New Vegas are developed in a full-fledged 3D world, which helps to feel the spirit of America after a nuclear explosion. In the third part, the hero travels around the outskirts of Washington, New Vegas copies locations near Las Vegas, and in the “four” the action takes place in California.
The main character's journey takes place under a selection of jazz music and conversations between his partners. The world is completely open for exploration. Along the way you will meet many interesting characters, factions and quests. The Fallout series keeps the player engaged for dozens of hours.
The Elder Scrolls
The popular series of RPG games also takes its place in the top of the most atmospheric games on PC. In the first two parts - Arena and Daggerfall, a modern gamer, of course, physically cannot force himself to play. However, starting with Morrowind, which is built on a 3D engine, there is nothing stopping you from immersing yourself in the fantasy world of Tamriel.
The two subsequent parts - Oblivion and Skyrim - differ in the general mood and location design, but they have one thing in common - the atmosphere. Each player will find something to do in the game world - he will explore locations, wander through castles or dungeons, engage in crafting, or simply sit in a tavern until he is affected by a random event. The Elder Scrolls is an excellent fantasy, fulfilled according to all the canons of the genre.
Dark Souls
Many gamers cannot overcome the difficulty threshold of Dark Souls games, so the mesmerizing atmosphere of Lordran does not have time to appeal to them. However, we recommend that every player overcome himself and spend a few hours mastering the mechanics and controls in order to enjoy the game in the future. What’s captivating is that the game doesn’t tell you the history of the world in plain text.
Even more - the game doesn't tell anything. You must learn about all events and mysteries yourself through item descriptions, hints, rare dialogues with lonely characters and bosses’ remarks. This makes you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Dark Souls. Over time, you will stop noticing the complexity of bosses and locations, enjoying the design and general mood of this RPG.
The Witcher
The game based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski is rightfully considered one of the best RPGs of the last decade. The Polish studio managed to convey the atmosphere of the Middle Ages with an admixture of Slavic mythology and flavor. The third part of Wild Hunt with its large open world deserves special praise. If you are a fan of The Witcher, we recommend going through all parts. However, it was the extreme game that became the most popular and received the best ratings.
Geralt of Rivia is left to his own devices and can explore the vast world in any order. The player can do the usual witcher work, help the villagers, meet with his old friends and, of course, do not forget about the main mission - to find and protect Ciri. A large and complex game will not let you leave your computer monitor for a long time.
Grand Theft Auto
Each part of the action boasts its own unique atmosphere. It is worth highlighting the games, starting with Vice City. Here you will immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Miami, the sunny coast and the theme of the movie "Scarface". The joyful and carefree resort hides bloody mafia wars and drugs.
The next part - San Andreas - introduces the player to the flavor of the whole state. You start out in the thick of the Los Angeles ghetto, then move to San Francisco and then to the entertainment city of Las Vegas. All this is accompanied by large rural landscapes and a good plot.
The latest part of GTA returns the player to Los Santos, this time redesigned and more interesting. Random events await you on every corner, the night view of the city is simply mesmerizing.
Mafia
The most gangster game series ever. It’s impossible not to mention “Mafia” after the story about the Grand Theft Auto series. The atmosphere of the 30s is wonderfully conveyed in the first part of the game. Here you will be completely immersed in what is happening thanks to the excellent musical accompaniment. All three Mafia games feature excellent soundtracks, detailed cities, and intriguing stories based on the events of the time.
We have reviewed the best atmospheric games that can give you a lot of pleasure from playing and will not let you go from the gameplay for a long time. All presented projects became successful and popular due to the atmosphere and detailed elaboration of the game world.
Atmospheric games on PC are the TOP 10 most interesting and memorable projects that you want to return to again and again.
A deep plot, high-quality picture and an ideal soundtrack - the combination of all factors creates the very atmosphere that sets them apart from ordinary projects.
This collection contains ten of the most atmospheric games. Most are in Russian.
1. Dead by Daylight – horror in its purest form
“Dead by Daylight” - imagine that all your favorite horror games were collected in one game, and even allowed players to take part in any role.
Video games Dead by Daylight
The replay value is almost endless - track down the stupid humans and kill them in a variety of ways as an assassin, or team up to outwit death itself as survivors.
2. Nioh - the difficult path of the samurai
Nioh is a big, challenging RPG with powerful bosses that will force you to spend dozens of hours destroying them.
Video games Nioh
Be careful, the game can drag you on for 200 hours, making you forget about real life. Everything here is done too well and beautifully.
3. Killing Floor 2 – zombie meat destruction
“Killing Floor 2” is one of the coolest atmospheric action games to destroy zombies and mutants. Graphics, sound, entertainment - everything is top notch.
Video games Killing Floor 2
And also: customization of heroes, a whole bunch of perks, and sometimes even good humor. Big updates are released regularly.
4. No Man's Sky - endlessly generated space
“No Man's Sky” is one of the largest modern space sandboxes with beautiful graphics and co-op play.
Video games No Man's Sky
Unfortunately, the developers did not implement everything they promised in the game, so its ratings are average. But the atmosphere is there!
5. Endless Space 2 – management of space civilization
“Endless Space 2” - the second part of the game lives up to its name, it is truly endless space with cool graphics and a huge amount of content.
Video games Endless Space 2
A large development tree, a detailed ship creation editor, diplomacy and just a very beautiful big world. We recommend.
6. Aragami – stealth action in an interesting world
Aragami is a game where atmosphere comes first. Although the gameplay is very good.
Aragami video games
The picture looks especially beautiful in night missions, but they are not easy to complete. This is a quality indie that, unfortunately, few people know about.
7. Warspear Online – cozy RPG with tough PvP
“Warspear Online” is a lamp MMO from Russian developers. The game looks simple only at first glance, but when immersed you realize that there is a lot of content in it.
Video games Warspear Online
The game is entirely in Russian. It has beautiful old-school graphics, not the easiest gameplay and consistently great online.
8. Steep – winter sports competition
“Steep” – the most realistic graphics and endless snow in the winter adventure from Ubisoft. This is a game about winter sports.
Video games Steep
The game is made of very high quality - the tracks are copied from real ones and their passage depends on the player’s personal skills. And there's great sound here too.
9. We Were Here Too – A dark co-op adventure
“We Were Here Too” – delve into the mysteries of a medieval castle, trying to get out of it with your partner.
Video games We Were Here Too
Interesting, atmospheric and sometimes even too difficult, but that’s the fun of the game. You won't be able to pass it the first time.
10. Depth – massacre of sharks and divers
“Depth” – dive into the very depths of the ocean to fight bloodthirsty sharks, or play as predators tearing stupid divers to pieces.
Video games Depth
There is a game mode with real opponents and training with bots. Many different maps, Russian language, always good online.
These may not be all the great atmosphere games on PC that exist today, but we tried to remember the best ones. Need more? Look for them in other collections and reviews!
For a game to be remembered for a long time, it requires not only an exciting plot, stunning graphics and interesting gameplay. IT.TUT.BY has compiled the top 10 games that attract gamers with the extraordinary atmosphere of a fictional world.
10. Red Alert
Red Alert is loved by gamers not only as an excellent strategy, but also as a game that has collected the largest number of stereotypes about Russians. An alternate world in which the Soviet Union launched a full-scale attack on Europe through tank hordes and fighting bears. Add to this pretentious music, the destroyed Statue of Liberty and, of course, a Soviet general raising a glass of vodka for Comrade General. Here is the perfect recipe to make the Russian-speaking part of the gaming community smile.
9. Dark Souls 
Dark Souls is remembered not only for its “old-school gameplay,” but also for its dark fantasy world, saturated with loneliness and death. The hero has to go through a difficult path, where one wrong move can end his life, and a meeting with any monster may be his last. A few encounters with NPCs and respites around fires are perceived as a small ray of light in the kingdom of darkness. Dark Souls is a constant game of death, but that's what gamers love about it.
8. The Elder Scrolls 
The Elder Scrolls series has created one of the most memorable worlds in the classic fantasy genre. Huge maps, strewn with small details, a history comparable in scale to the universe of Tolkien's Middle-earth, full libraries of books and full taverns of rumors, cunning political games of mortals and endless intrigues of immortals. And one hero, free to go wherever he wants.
7. Machinarium 
The quest from Amanita Design tells its story in the scenery of a rather strange city inhabited by intelligent machines. Mashinarium is remembered by players not only for its riddles and history, but also for the world of robots, thoroughly saturated with machine oil, rust and touching stories of living pieces of iron. The game won the Excellence in Visual Art category at the 12th annual Independent Games Festival and is considered one of the standards of independent games, and by many who played it, a work of art.
The post-apocalyptic world of Fallout is remembered not only for the endless desert, but also for the atmosphere of the 60s of the last century, or rather the world that survived a nuclear war in the minds of the inhabitants of the time of the “Cubbie Crisis”. It's as if Nuka-Cola, car and weapon designs came straight out of the pages of magazines from a bygone era. Radioactive sand, gangs of marauders, the Chosen One, in whose hands is the salvation of the world. Black Isle Studios has given us a game imbued with the spirit of Mad Max and Roger Zelazny's Valley of Damnation. And of course, the player will long remember the image of the game symbol, the smiling guy from the educational pictures and videos, cheerfully holding his thumb up.
5. Aracanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
The world of steam and magic. Troika Games was able to successfully combine the industrial revolution of the Victorian era and a classic fantasy setting with orcs and elves in one game. The era of steampunk is coming, guns and guns are replacing swords and spells, the first Zephyr airship is proudly soaring into the sky, but the world is still full of ancient and powerful artifacts, and any enterprising necromancer can establish his own manufactory using the labor of raised zombies. A huge world, music filled with the cry of a violin, and complete freedom for the explorer-adventurer.
4. Bioshock 
A first-person shooter made in the dystopian genre and based on the philosophical views of the American writer Ayn Rand, set out in the book “Atlas Shrugged”. The player watches the fall of the ideal world created by millionaire Andrew Ryan. Irrational Games was able to accurately convey the atmosphere of a dying city, thoroughly saturated with human vices. Bioshock is a smart, frightening shooter that tells us a tragic story set in the 1950s. In 2013, Bioshock Infinite was released, moving the action from the underwater world to the skies and telling a story in the spirit of a classic science fiction novel.
3. Silent Hill 
One of the most famous game series created by Keiichiro Toyama. A deserted city capable of bringing to life the dark essence of the people who fall under its influence. The gray fog that shrouds Silent Hill is fraught with monsters created by the subconscious of the heroes. The musical score composed by Akira Yamaoka adds even more gloom and hopelessness to the atmosphere of the game. " Some things we forget, and some we never forget.“, says one of the characters in the game. This phrase could fully characterize Silent Hill. A city of nightmares from which you don’t want to return.
2. Max Payne 
We say Max Payne - we mean noir, we say noir - we mean Max Payne. Remedy Entertainment was able to create an almost perfect game. The tragic story of a policeman, told through stylish comic book cutscenes, shootouts in the best traditions of John Woo action films, main theme song and the final credits of the second part of the game, which made the Poets of the Fall group world stars. The combination of these factors easily forced gamers to be transported to the snowy streets of New York and watch the fall of Max.
1st place - Elite 
The game, which won thousands of hearts back in 1984, with a minimal plot and a fairly simple graphical component, is capable of immersing gamers in the cockpit of a spaceship and giving maximum freedom of action. Players could easily engage in trade, piracy, be explorers and pioneers of deep space. The game engine could generate 281,474,976,710,656 unique galaxies, each of which could have 256 stars, while the game weighed 22 kb. However, the publishers felt that users were unlikely to believe in such game capabilities, so a limit was introduced to 8 available galaxies.
Elite was able to acquire numerous myths and legends. Just look at the story about the mythical planet Raxxla, which fans persistently searched for, despite the creators’ statements that this planet is a fiction. The helm of a spaceship, endless space and a feeling of complete freedom - Elite gave all this to its fans back in 1984.
Video games are usually evaluated according to certain, tangible criteria - graphics, sound, gameplay, plot elaboration, and so on. But there are projects that can be a failure in all respects, and at the same time adored by millions of gamers. Such games attract a thick, enveloping atmosphere, which promotes complete immersion in the virtual world. We will tell you about them in this collection.
24. Heavy Rain
Just a month ago, this game could not get into our top atmospheric games on PC, but now that the PC version has been announced, we simply cannot help but include it in the list. from the studio will tell you the story of completely different heroes who are united by one thing - a serial killer nicknamed the “Master of Origami”. The gloomy plot, which through the choices made can lead to one of several endings, is complemented by a thick atmosphere of hopelessness from the feeling that a dangerous maniac is always one step ahead.
23. Half-Life 2
22. Mafia 1-2
21. Bioshock trilogy
Each game from the Bioshock line brilliantly demonstrates the setting in which its events unfold. Whether it’s underwater Rapture or celestial Columbia, in any case you will plunge headlong into the thick atmosphere of the era, feel the mood of decline and hopelessness hiding behind the screen of idleness and luxury. This is facilitated by both the visual style and plot, as well as minor trifles - a random phrase dropped by an NPC, an audio diary found in a box, a corpse lying in a gateway.
20. Dead Space
19. Tom Clancy’s The Division duology
18. Sunless Sea
Exploring murky waters in a universe reminiscent of Lovecraftian horror - what could be more exciting and frightening? Sunless Sea will invite you to take control of a steamship and go on an unforgettable journey across the ocean, which hides many nightmarish monsters. If you love games that focus on survival and exploration, then this might be just what you've been missing.
17. This War of Mine
Surviving in a city engulfed in civil war is not an easy task. Especially if you have never been a fighter, take refuge in a dilapidated house and are constantly thinking about how to feed a dozen hungry mouths under your care. This War of Mine is a game that will challenge you to look at war from a different perspective. Not the one where it’s so fun and exciting to shoot at enemies, but the one that forces you to rummage through buildings in search of canned goods, risking getting shot or running into looters. Perhaps the most powerful anti-war statement in the gaming industry.
16. Alien: Isolation
A space station is the perfect setting for a good horror movie. Just add some crazy androids and one deadly Alien who behaves so intelligently that you have almost no chance of survival. That's exactly what the authors of Alien: Isolation did, presenting one of the most frightening games of recent years. Here everything works for the atmosphere: the universe, recognizable surroundings, terrible enemies, and even the surname of the main character - yes, you have to play as the daughter of that same Ripley from the classic quadrology.
15. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
14. Metro 2033/Last Light/Exodus
Each game in the Metro series is an excursion into the world. Even if this world is shown somewhat pretentiously and exaggeratedly, it nevertheless feels familiar to every gamer living in the countries of the former. The third part of the series has been especially successful in this field - Metro Exodus, the events of which go beyond and show how the fate of the survivors east of the capital developed.
13.Resident Evil 2
12. Limbo/Inside
The stories that are hidden behind the plots of games from the Playdead studio need to be imagined independently. You will spend more than one day trying to understand what exactly the developers wanted to say, what goals the characters are pursuing, and what generally happens in these universes. But even if you can't unravel all the mysteries of Limbo and Inside, you can't argue with the fact that these games leave a lasting impression.
11. RESIDENT EVIL 7 biohazard
The latest numbered part of the RESIDENT EVIL 7 line for 2019 plays on a slightly different field than its predecessors. Here the developers took as a basis a horror story about a house somewhere in the countryside, the owners of which are not at all happy about uninvited guests. Each member of this crazy family will be remembered for a long time, and the first-person view will make boss fights as frightening and atmospheric as possible.
10. Hellblade: Senua`s Sacrifice
A project from the British studio Ninja Theory. The developers set an unusual goal for the gaming industry - to visually present gamers with human mental disorders. And they succeeded one hundred percent: thanks to excellent graphics with an abundance of special effects and very high-quality sound, the immersion into the palaces of the mind of the main character, a warrior named Senua, occurs very organically and frighteningly believable. Together with the girl, the player travels through Celtic myths, and it is simply impossible not to be immersed in the atmosphere of the enchanting world created by the authors.
9. Firewatch
8. Beholder
7. Dark Souls
Anyone who has ever suffered in the gloomy worlds of Dark Souls will definitely include them in the list of the most atmospheric games on the PC. The mysterious universe, full of unexplored secrets, both attracts and frightens, and numerous ones hiding in the shadows are always ready to punish the careless traveler who so carelessly wandered into their domain. All editions are known for their high difficulty, but those who can overcome all difficulties will discover the fascinating story of a fallen world.
6. Alan Wake
One of the most atmospheric thrillers in the gaming industry, as if straight from the pages of Stephen King's novels. The American outback, a writer trying to find his missing wife, and creatures of Darkness crawling out at nightfall - such adventures will be remembered for a long time. Alan Wake may not be as scary as other games in the horror genre, but in terms of immersion in the world invented by the developers, this project is able to give a head start to many of its competitors.
5. L.A. Noire
Rockstar knows how to create atmospheric projects, and Detective L.A. Noire, which asks players to investigate crimes in the 40s, takes a leading position among them.
The main character, a police detective, will have to expose murderers, rapists, swindlers, arsonists, and a revolutionary facial animation system for its time allows you to monitor the characters' facial expressions and determine whether they are honest with the investigator or are being disingenuous, hiding important information. Every aspect of the game - virtual Los Angeles, story missions - is made with strict quality requirements and attention to the smallest details, which contributes to the deepest immersion in the game world.
4. Silent Hill
3. The Witcher
When compiling the top most atmospheric games on PC, one cannot help but include this role-playing series in the selection. The Poles from CD Projekt RED managed to transfer the fictional universe authored by Andrzej Sapkowski to the screens, while preserving the unique Slavic flavor and medieval atmosphere with an admixture of fantasy.
The third part of the saga The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt deserves special mention - here the game makers jumped above their heads, creating a huge world filled with exciting quests, dangerous monsters and charismatic characters. In this game, you can easily forget about the main goal and go about your business - play Gwent in taverns, explore the swamps on Roach, have affairs in brothels, look for hidden robbers, fulfill witcher contracts. It's no surprise that with all this, many consider The Witcher 3 to be the best RPG of the decade on PC and consoles.
2. Grand Theft Auto
If even those who don’t play horror games know about Silent Hill, then everyone is familiar with it. The franchise created by the studio has become a real cultural phenomenon, reaching far beyond the gaming industry. The secret of success is high-quality gameplay with complete freedom of action, a detailed world with a parody of modern society, a carefully written script and a huge number of little things that make the universe alive and believable.
series S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Yes, the game is replete with bugs, the life simulation system is far from what the developers promised, and the plot sags in places - but how good is the atmosphere here!
Traveling through the Zone, you are tempted to leave everything and just enjoy your stay in this harsh but very beautiful world: listen to the jokes of stalkers around the fire, walk through the streets of an abandoned city, help one traveler fight off a pack of pseudo-dogs. The franchise has already celebrated its tenth anniversary and is now suitable even for weak PCs, despite the fact that at the start it had far from democratic system requirements, but players do not forget about it, releasing custom modifications with new locations, stories and characters - isn’t this an indicator of people’s love?
Conclusion
It was very difficult to compile this rating, because there are many more favorite projects than were included in it. Nevertheless, we managed to select the best atmospheric games on PC, but you can add to our selection or argue with us in the comments. After all, each list is subjective, and where one sees only a set of pixels, another will see the “soul”.