Anomaly Horror Games
Table of Contents
Anomaly horror games continue to gain traction. The boundaries that define them continue to fluctuate as they evolve. Let’s explore the genre and discover what makes these games so amazing. This is a deep dive into the terror.
ANOMALY HORROR GAMES
The top-level definition of anomaly horror games goes something like this. They have you observe or explore a location through cameras or as a person. You need to memorize where you are as best you can because you will need to look for differences once the game begins. If you report the anomalies correctly, you progress in the game. If you do not, you return to the beginning or a penalty applies. Once you report enough anomalies without error, you win the game.
On a deeper level, there are two types of anomaly horror games. Each of these two has distinctive gameplay mechanics that separate them. These are observation games and exploration games.
OBSERVATION GAMEPLAY
Observation horror anomaly games have you stationary. There are cameras mounted throughout and you use those cameras to observe. You can switch between cameras with the click of a button. The difficulty usually determines how many rooms you have to observe.
You’ll spend the first (in-game) hour memorizing the different rooms. There will be no anomalies during this time. After the first hour, anomalies will begin to appear. They tend to be subtle at first and amplify as time goes by. You’ll need a keen eye and watch for changes.
The object is to report anomalies as they appear. You need to do so correctly to keep the timer going. A gameplay mechanic is usually in place to keep you from spamming anomaly reports. For instance, it can take 10 seconds for an anomaly report to go through. Those 10 seconds can be detrimental when managing multiple anomalies so you need to pay attention.
The game ends when too many anomalies appear. The location has become overwhelmed by evil energies and you fail at your task. You’ll have to try again. A new location unlocks when you successfully beat a stage. This sums up the idea behind observation anomaly horror games.
EXPLORATION GAMEPLAY
Exploration horror anomaly games let you walk and run in first-person view. You are generally locked inside a location via a loop. You report an anomaly through a variety of mechanics. Once you report the anomaly, the loop resets, and you either progress to the next stage or suffer penalties. That all depends on whether or not you report anomalies correctly.
You’ll go through the location once before anomalies begin to appear. This gives you a chance to look around and memorize the location. You have free reign and can take as long as you like so use that to your advantage.
The anomalies begin to appear once you complete the first loop. Exploration gameplay allows for varying mechanics to report anomalies and differ by game. You may need to mark a spot, use an interface, push a button, go through a certain door, or some other mechanic.
The gamer never ends but penalties have a similar effect. Incorrectly reporting anomalies will subtract or reset the anomaly count. It can restart the entire cycle or put you back a few counts. Some anomalies are deadly. They can reset the loop if you are caught by one.
Captured is a great example of an anomaly horror game with exploration gameplay. You are trapped inside a house and haunted by a demon with powerful minions. Use the camcorder you carry to report anomalies. Walk through a door to confirm your selections. If you miss reporting anomalies or are caught by a minion, the cycle resets.
We wouldn’t have exploration anomaly horror games without the cycle and loop. You need them because you memorize one location and then you re-enter the same location to look for differences. Let’s take a deeper look at the loop and cycle.
THE LOOP
Exploration anomaly horror games all theoretically have a loop. The loops are theoretical because not all loops are a circle. Some act differently but work the same as a circle. Here is a shitty diagram I made to help visualize different types of loops.
THE CYCLE
The cycle houses a bunch of loops. Think of a cycle as a cup. The cup is full of a bunch of ice cubes. Those ice cubes are metaphorically loops. A piece of ice melts for each successful loop. You repeat this process until the cup is empty. When the cup is empty, you win. However, you refill the cup with ice if you mess up. The process starts all over.
THE HORROR
A variety of mechanics are used to create horror in anomaly horror games. Some mechanics work better than others and some developers understand horror more than others. Horror is subjective and what scares me might not scare you. The good news is there are a lot of anomaly horror games that cover a wide array of horror so you are bound to find something that creeps you out.
IMMERSION
Immersion is a common theme in anomaly horror games. The impact of immersion is generally left to the player. It depends on how much you can suspend disbelief and inject yourself into the role of what you control, whether that is cameras or a person.
With that said, these games tend to give you the tools to immerse yourself. Sound plays a major role and can have a gigantic effect on immersion. There is often no music and that leaves room for ambiance. You’ll hear the environment whether that is wind, creeks, cracks, water dripping, or any number of environmental sounds.
ANXIETY
You’ll be in first person mode so everything is up close and personal. These locations are usually tight. There isn’t a lot of room to avoid conflict. A sense of apprehension is always present. You know that something is bound to happen and it will. You’re constantly inspecting for differences with eyes vulnerable to horrifying scares.
It’s an anxious feeling that comes with the territory of good horror. Anomaly horror games can tap into your anxiety and raise it with psychological horror. Sometimes nothing needs to happen at all. All it takes is the apprehension of waiting for something to change suddenly or chase you.
STORYLINE
Some anomaly horror games have a storyline embedded in the gameplay. A unique approach is available here because the story can be told completely through the environment and anomalies. A word does not have to be spoken and a note does not have to be read.
Ten Bells does this best. The concept is simple. You are in an old English pub. The bartender suspiciously tends the bar. The barmaid is upset and terrified. The anomalies constantly hint at the horrors that have taken place and revealing any of them now would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say, a terrifying story lies between the anomalies you uncover and Ten Bells excels in this area.
ANOMALY VIDEO GAMES
There is a decent library of anomaly video games. Plenty of them are a great experience. We don’t find and play them all (time constraints) but Ties That Bind Gaming does our best. We have played so many that we have a curated list of anomaly video games. Click on the button below to learn about some of the games we played. It’s full of excellent titles.
AS I SEE IT
Thank goodness for Steam and Itchio. I love consoles but you can’t find many anomaly horror games on them (if any). They have also allowed Indie game developers to compete against the larger corporations. I often find indie game developers are willing to push the boundaries, experiment, and provide new experiences.
If it weren’t for the platforms and creators, anomaly horror games may not exist. I can’t think of any large game developers that have made one but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. If there are, I haven’t played them. No matter the case, please keep making these games. I love them.
PLAYLIST
SCREENSHOTS
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