Alien: Isolation
Survival horror games have fully embraced the hide and seek sub-genre that was popularized by games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Outlast. This type of horror gameplay revolves around the player running and hiding from enemies that stalk them in the night. At first glance Alien: Isolation seems to follow the same formula until you obtain the flamethrower later on in the game. While this weapon cannot outright kill the Alien, it’s ability to fight and ward off the nasty Xenomorph cannot be overlooked.
Being able to fight off your deadly pursuer helps alleviate some of the tension this game can build, yet the brilliance behind Alien: Isolation’s combat is that you cannot kill this monster. Using fire will only scare it off, offering a brief sense of relief while simultaneously reminding you that this monster is still out there waiting. It’s a smart way to keep the psychological horror aspects the genre is famous for, while still giving users some sense of control.
