Welcome to the first post about our “Horror Gaming Conquest.” This post will be slightly different than posts going forward as I actually started this “Conquest” about 6 months ago prior to deciding to blog about my journeys. As such this will be a summary post of the list thus far and a description of the “genre” rather than an opinion piece on an individual game. If you are looking for the rules of the Conquest please refer to our introductory post to the blog.
The Genre
As stated in our introductory post to the blog, we will not be sticking to traditional genre definitions for our ranking. In the case of the “Horror Conquest” there are a few criteria by which a game may qualify. While only one criteria must be met to make the list, in many cases multiple criteria will be met by a game. The potential criteria to be classified as horror are as follows:
- The game is traditionally classified as “survival horror.”
- The game has consistent references to demons.
- The game has consistent references to the undead.
- The game has consistent references to the physical representation of death or the grim reaper.
- The game has consistent references to classic monster movie monsters.
- The game is based off of a thriller or horror film.
- The game features a character or stage from a “survival horror” game.
- Game features “body horror” style gore.
The List Thus Far
- Carrion: A short indie metroidvania in which you control a monster set loose within an underground lab. Console: Xbox One. Time to complete: 4 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds.
- Metro 2033: A survival horror game based on the novel of the same name. Make your way through cold post-apocalyptic Russia, overrun by mutant monstrosities. Console: Xbox One. Time to complete: 7 hours 10 minutes 37 seconds.
- Shadow Warrior 2: Play as a crude, foul mouthed warrior as he slay thousands of demons. Blending twitch shooter gameplay with loot shooter style arsenals. Console: Xbox One. Time to complete: 12 hours 22 minutes 44 seconds.
- Darksiders 3: Play as the horseman Fury in a hack n’ slash adventure that pulls gameplay elements from the “Souls” series. Console: Xbox One. Time to complete: 13 hours 57 minutes 45 seconds.
- Felix The Reaper: A unique puzzle game in which you must cause a chain reaction that will ultimately kill your victim without being caught in the light. Console: Xbox One. Time to complete: 6 hours 04 minutes 29 seconds.
- After-Party: A comedic choose you own adventure style game about two best friends whom find themselves in hell with no explanation as to how they got there. Console: Xbox One. Time to complete: 5 hours 34 minutes 23 seconds.
- Vambrace: Cold Steel: A ghastly rpg in the style of Darkest Dungeon requires strategic planning as you navigate dungeons with randomly generated rooms. Console: Xbox One. Time to beat: 15 hours 49 minutes 44 seconds.
- Demon’s Tilt: An occult virtual pinball game that combines bullet hell elements with traditional pinball mechanics. Console: Xbox One. Time to beat: 21 hours 23 minutes 44 seconds.
- Mortal Kombat X: A graphic fighting game with a compelling story mode and mechanically sound fighting gameplay. Console: Xbox One. Time to beat: 4 hours 41 minutes 55 seconds.
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice: A fascinating trip through insanity as you embark on a grim adventure as a young woman struggling with schizophrenia. Console: Xbox One. Time to beat: 8 hours.
Total time played: 99 hours 30 minutes 10 seconds.
How can you play these games?
Most of the games on this list are available on Xbox Game Pass. The games not currently on Game Pass are available for purchase on the Xbox digital store.
Gaming Conquest 
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