Atmospheric games recommendations?

[Numubunde]

Hello everyone! This is my first post ever on the site!

First, sorry if the title's kinda vague. I'm looking for something a bit more abstract and based on intuition rather than an specific theme. You know, just looking for neat vibes

So, I've been playing PS1's Mizzurna Falls for the first time lately, and I absolutely loved the game. I was intrigued by the settings before playing, but for some reason I kinda expected it to be janky and not up to my expectations. Fortunately I was wrong. I was hooked right from the start. The graphics are those classic low poly PS1 ones that are so nostalgic and I love so much, the music was so nice and did so much for the immersion and mysterious feeling, and just the setting and ambience, wow. An open world little countryside town during winter, filled with people, each one with their own schedule and secrets for you to find out if you happend to be in the right place at the right time... It was a really otherwordly feeling and immersive experience. Really reminded me of Deadly Premonition, Germs: Nerawareta Machi, Silent Hill, or even those "cozy games" like Stardew Valley, or a horror indie game I also loved called Lakeview Valley.

So, I hope I could somewhat transmit how this game made me feel. Do you think you know other games that have a similar feeling to it? Mysterious, immersive, uncanny... Not necessarily all of this at once, but something on that line.

 

[Bonkers225]

Clocktower 1 and 2 on the PSX.

 

[Numubunde]

Clocktower 1 and 2 on the PSX.

I had those on the backlog for a while now! I guess is a good time to start playing! Thanks!

 

[freebie#47]

If you like those kind of horrors, I recommend playing one of the oldest, Sweet Home for the famicom by Capcom. This game inspired Resident Evil, is slightly based on the Japanese movie and has all the horror elements, but Rpg Battle style. Just remember if your character dies, it is permadeath.

 

[Numubunde]

If you like those kind of horrors, I recommend playing one of the oldest, Sweet Home for the famicom by Capcom. This game inspired Resident Evil, is slightly based on the Japanese movie and has all the horror elements, but Rpg Battle style. Just remember if your character dies, it is permadeath.

Wow, looks fantastic. I never heard about this game, I'll definitively give it a try, thank you!

 

[Glimbo]

Echo Night 1 and 2 on PS1.
They play a bit like point-and-click games but from a first-person perspective.

 

[NeonKnights]

"The Fear" on PS2. One of my favorites and probably the future of FMV games and a nearly seamless experience on an SSD.

 

[Numubunde]

Echo Night 1 and 2 on PS1.
They play a bit like point-and-click games but from a first-person perspective.

I've heard about those games before, but didn't know much about them. I'm definitively intrigued by how a FromSoftware PS1 horror game might be like. I'll check the first one out, thanks!

Post automatically merged: Jun 15, 2025

"The Fear" on PS2. One of my favorites and probably the future of FMV games and a nearly seamless experience on an SSD.

I just heard about this game last week, and it looks wild hahaha. Definitively seems like something I need to try. Never played a FMV game before either, but I doubt I can go for anything better than this by the looks of it. Thanks!

 

[Fray Guillermo]

Can't get more atmospheric than King's Field IV

 

[Numubunde]

Can't get more atmospheric than King's Field IV

I've been meaning to play King's Field for some time now. I must admit I'm a bit afraid it will be too tough haha. Would you recommend to play the previous games first, or is it fine to jump straight into 4?

 

[Fray Guillermo]

I've been meaning to play King's Field for some time now. I must admit I'm a bit afraid it will be too tough haha. Would you recommend to play the previous games first, or is it fine to jump straight into 4?

Nah, the game isn't that tough. I've only beaten 4 so far (and Shadow Tower: Abyss) so yeah, I'd say it's perfectly fine to jump straight in

 

[Stare best girl]

Koudelka

 

[OPT1MUS]

Martian Gothic: Unification

It's a Resident Evil-like (or Alone in the Dark) game, i found its atmosphere (it's really the case to say it, given the setting) quite interesting. Also, it was written by the science fiction author Stephen Marley.

And The City of Lost Children

Another one I found quite intriguing, different I'd say...

 

[Tonberry]

Demon's Souls, and to an extent, Dark Souls 1 are overflowing with mysterious, eerie atmosphere for me personally, so I'd definitely recommend them for that reason.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Hello everyone! This is my first post ever on the site!

First, sorry if the title's kinda vague. I'm looking for something a bit more abstract and based on intuition rather than an specific theme. You know, just looking for neat vibes

So, I've been playing PS1's Mizzurna Falls for the first time lately, and I absolutely loved the game. I was intrigued by the settings before playing, but for some reason I kinda expected it to be janky and not up to my expectations. Fortunately I was wrong. I was hooked right from the start. The graphics are those classic low poly PS1 ones that are so nostalgic and I love so much, the music was so nice and did so much for the immersion and mysterious feeling, and just the setting and ambience, wow. An open world little countryside town during winter, filled with people, each one with their own schedule and secrets for you to find out if you happend to be in the right place at the right time... It was a really otherwordly feeling and immersive experience. Really reminded me of Deadly Premonition, Germs: Nerawareta Machi, Silent Hill, or even those "cozy games" like Stardew Valley, or a horror indie game I also loved called Lakeview Valley.

So, I hope I could somewhat transmit how this game made me feel. Do you think you know other games that have a similar feeling to it? Mysterious, immersive, uncanny... Not necessarily all of this at once, but something on that line.

Gris is pretty abstract.
Alternatively there’s LSD

 

[Numubunde]

Koudelka

Nah, the game isn't that tough. I've only beaten 4 so far (and Shadow Tower: Abyss) so yeah, I'd say it's perfectly fine to jump straight in

Good to know! I'll give it a try then, it definitively looks awesome. Thank you!

Post automatically merged: Jun 16, 2025

Koudelka

A survival horror turn-based rpg? Let's go, looks awesome. Thanks!

Post automatically merged: Jun 16, 2025

Martian Gothic: Unification
View attachment 81228
It's a Resident Evil-like (or Alone in the Dark) game, i found its atmosphere (it's really the case to say it, given the setting) quite interesting. Also, it was written by the science fiction author Stephen Marley.

And The City of Lost Children
View attachment 81229
Another one I found quite intriguing, different I'd say...

Oh boy, both of those games look great! I had heard about Martian Gothic Unification before, but didn't know much about it. Really intriguing vibes!

And The City of Lost Children, wow, never heard about this one, but I love the vibes! PS1 really is a gift that keeps on giving. Thanks!

Post automatically merged: Jun 16, 2025

Demon's Souls, and to an extent, Dark Souls 1 are overflowing with mysterious, eerie atmosphere for me personally, so I'd definitely recommend them for that reason.

I love Dark Souls 1, definitively my favorite of the trilogy! I wish I could play Demon's Souls, but unfortunately I don't have a PS3 or PS5 :P Hopefully someday we'll get a PC port!

Post automatically merged: Jun 16, 2025

Gris is pretty abstract.
Alternatively there’s LSD

I've got Gris on my backlog, and I've heard good things about it. Apparently it's fairly short too, so I'll probably pick some day and play it through :)

And I definitively have to play LSD dream emulator. I love the very concept of the game. Thank you!

 

[Graves Ruinwalker]

Laplace demon on the Snes is a great horror Rpg with lots of atmossphere combined with the cthulhu mythos.

 

[Numubunde]

Laplace demon on the Snes is a great horror Rpg with lots of atmossphere combined with the cthulhu mythos.

Wow another horror rpg I had no idea about! And looks super original too, I'll give it a try for sure! Gives SMT or even Fear and Hunger vibes :P Thank you!

 

[Graves Ruinwalker]

Wow another horror rpg I had no idea about! And looks super original too, I'll give it a try for sure! Gives SMT or even Fear and Hunger vibes :P Thank you!

Just be careful . This RPG is pretty tough and fleeing from enemies is recommended because your characters aint efficient enough and there are enemies that can cause some serious status effects while not being able to hit. Its more about surviving the encounters instead of conquering then .

And ressource management is important .
Have always enough bullets, healing items , batteries and film . It isnt like a typical final fantasy and dragon quest . But still an awesome game.

 

[Numubunde]

Just be careful . This RPG is pretty tough and fleeing from enemies is recommended because your characters aint efficient enough and there are enemies that can cause some serious status effects while not being able to hit. Its more about surviving the encounters instead of conquering then .

And ressource management is important .
Have always enough bullets, healing items , batteries and film . It isnt like a typical final fantasy and dragon quest . But still an awesome game.

Wow, that really sounds a lot like Fear and Hunger then! And I absolutely love those games. Definitively looks like the kind of games that get me instantly hooked

 

[Kamako]

Games that have a consistent effective tone (not always scary)

Shadow of the Colossus
The Sexy Brutale
Nightmare Creatures
Robocop v Terminator
Shadow of the Beast
Undertale
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Fable

 

[OPT1MUS]

Oh, yeah... like Kamako said, NIGHTMARE CREATURES (the 1st one) is a must!
Atmosphere is great, especially thanks to the music!

 

[Numubunde]

Games that have a consistent effective tone (not always scary)

Shadow of the Colossus
The Sexy Brutale
Nightmare Creatures
Robocop v Terminator
Shadow of the Beast
Undertale
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Fable

Interesting selection!

Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games I feel everybody knows about and everybody praises, but I've never actually played by myself. I should probably give it a try, cause it really has those incredible vibes. I'm also curious about Ico and want to play it sometime too.

I played a bit of The Sexy Brutale some time ago, and I must admit it didn't really hook me. The setting was very interesting though, I think the gameplay was my main issue. I should give it another chance probably since I didn't really play that long last time.

Nightmare Creatures looks awesome actually. I'm a huge Bloodborne fan, and it's impossible not to see the similarities on the aesthetic haha. I haven't played it yet, but the gameplay looks pretty fun too. I'll have to try this game.

I'm actually not very familiar with either Robocop or Terminator. I've only watched Terminator 2 before. It's not really the kind of games I use to play, but the art and sound design seem so good. I don't think I'll play this for now, but I'll keep it in mind and maybe give it a try in the future.

Shadow of the Beast sounded so familiar to me, but couldn't really place it. I think it's because I saw its remake somewhere around, but didn't know about the original. This game however catches my attention a lot more than Robocop vs Terminator, I guess because of the setting. I might give it a try, looks cool.

Undertale was also one of those games everybody seems to love, but I had a tough time trying to get into it. But I know if I keep playing I will most likely love it. I bought it on Steam for 1€ on sales, so I can get into it any moment, and I really should.

It's interesting you recommended me Need for Speed. I've never been a fan of racing games, but lately I was curious about playing one, specially a Need for Speed since it seems some of its games are super loved PS2 titles. I'll definitively give it a try. I may have been missing out on something great.

I absolutely love Fable. Fable 3 was my first one, and then 2, but I've never actually played the first one. It is on sale right now on Steam, so it may be a good time to get it. I also don't really expect much from the new Fable game, but I'm pretty curious to see it.

Thank you for you recommendations!

 

[LightningLegs]

The original Quake and Doom 64 can be pretty immersive once you let yourself get sucked into them. Doom 64, especially, it just oozes a bleak atmosphere.

If old PC games are an option then I'd also recommend Clive Barker's Undying and Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines.

 

[moonbits]

Baroque
Blade Runner 1997
Grim Fandango
Enemy Zero