Silent Hill 2
Survival Horror had a slew of strong showings during the PS2 era, but few gained the fame and accolades Silent Hill 2 has.
Its haunting atmosphere of a town shrouded in an oppressive fog, and its story of a widower coming to such a place in search of his dead wife, captivated players with ease. It made them want to know who, or what, was behind the odd happenings around them, and the game drew them further and further into its web until all was revealed masterfully.
Not only that, but it actually managed to scare players without relying on cheap gimmicks and jump scares. A glimpse of a strange creature in the distance only for it to vanish; the slow realization that other inhabitants of the town aren’t out to help you; and the looming question of what really brought James to Silent Hill all hung in the air, building a sense of dread.
It was a new kind of horror game, and one that still doesn’t have many contemporaries to this day. It may be harder to track down than most other titles on this list, but those who put in the time to get it will find the effort more than worth it.
