Anomaly Video Games
Table of Contents
Anomaly video games put you in charge of monitoring cameras or freely exploring eerie locations for anomalies. Your job is to spot strange occurrences, like flickering lights, moving objects, or even shadowy figures. Think of it as a detective game for the paranormal! These games are often suspenseful and rely on sharp eyes and a good memory.
ANOMALY VIDEO GAMES
The following list contains anomaly video games played by Ties That Bind Gaming. Each listing contains a brief description of, and experience with, the video game.
Some of the anomaly video games on this list are so noteworthy that Ties That Bind Gaming has written featured articles on them. The links will be noted for the anomaly games that do.
ALTERNATE WATCH
Alternate Watch is a simple concept. You are tasked with monitoring video cameras placed in a home. Cameras are placed in the kitchen, living room, kids room, and more. There is an option to switch between cameras where you can soak in the environment of each room.
The first step is to memorize as much as possible about each room before anomalies start. Alternate Watch requires you to learn the environment of each room, so put on your observation and memorization hats.
After some time, anomalies will begin to appear. When you think you have spotted an anomaly, you must report it from a list of 10 types of anomalies. It takes about 10 seconds to report an anomaly. This prevents you from spamming reports. A lot can happen in 10 seconds so you must be confident in your reports. If too many anomalies appear, the game ends.
What I like about Alternate Watch is the creepy anomalies that can appear. Some of them can be downright horrifying. The atmosphere helps increase the horror factor. Alternate Watch isn’t perfect but it did get me to hunt for more anomaly video games.
CAPTURED
Captured fits in neatly with other anomaly horror games and contains elements associated with analog horror games, too. Freely roam the halls of your home in a loop. Hunt anomalies while progressing through each loop. If anomalies are reported correctly, the next loop will continue. If anomalies are reported incorrectly, the loop resets.
There is a haunting voice that speaks to you while exploring the hallways. It whispers and I can’t emphasize enough just how creepy the voice is. I love how something as simple as a voice enhances the anomaly horror experience.
Captured has several types of entities that have a chance of appearing at any time. One entity will chase you, another will only move in the dark, and there is another that you must look away from. Your best bet is to put a door between you and the entity before it gets you.
DOLLMARE
Dollmare didn’t scream anomaly video games when I originally came across the game. Truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect other than you work in a doll factory and there are creepy dolls. After diving into the game, the anomaly aspect immediately stood out. You have to inspect the dolls and find anomalies. If you find an anomaly, you trash the doll. If there is no anomaly, you approve the doll.
Dollmare’s mechanics change as the game progresses. New equipment is introduced including an x-ray machine and UV-light booth. The inspection process becomes more challenging as new mechanics are introduced.
The process of finding anomalies is not the only aspect that makes Dollmare unique. There is a story told by exploring the factory and finding notes left behind by former employees. There are plenty of mysteries and surprises to uncover in a playthrough. Each playthrough is slightly different and there are two endings so replayability is decent. Dollmare is creepy, too.
PLATFORM 8
I picked up Platform 8, the sequel to The Exit 8, during the 2024 Steam summer sale for a few bucks to add to my collection of anomaly video games. I went in knowing the game is short but I read a lot of good things. I beat the game within an hour but I have done multiple playthroughs. I have to say that those few bucks were well spent.
Platform 8 is one of those anomaly video games with a P.T. vibe. You are in a subway with the ability to move from car to car. The subway cars are identical until an anomaly appears. The anomaly can be subtle or apparent. Sometimes the digital displays warn the player of danger but not always. Some of the anomalies are deadly so be careful.
Platform 8 stands out from other anomaly video games in the diverse types of anomalies. Anomalies can be static and need to be found. Some anomalies move or alter the subway car. Other anomalies are deadly and can send you back to level 1. All anomalies block your way from progression in the game so you’ll need to tread carefully.
I am pleased with Platform 8 enough to add it to my favorable list of anomaly video games. I don’t think the scares are effective but the creep and dread factors exist.
PROJECT 13
The concept for Project 13 is simple and familiar to other anomaly video games. You are in a hospital and limited to exploring a specific hallway. A few patients inhabit the halls freely or behind locked doors. Your mission is to hunt down and report anomalies. If you report correctly, you move on to the next level. If not, you have to start over. If you get 13 consecutive correct answers, you are free to leave the hospital.
Project 13 contains some disturbing and grotesque anomalies. There are anomalies such as pictures changing and a mysterious open door, but there is also a patient sandwiched in a bed, a bloody skeleton hanging from the ceiling, head bashing, a giant spider, and more.
The grotesque and disturbing approach to some of the anomalies is what makes Project 13 stand out from other anomaly video games.
SHIFT 87
Explore chilling environments ripe with horror. The graphics are easy on the eyes, the audio haunts your ears, and there are plenty of anomalies to uncover. Shift 87 is a first-person observation game that requires you to report anomalies when they exist or move on if they don’t.
Locations are built on a loop. You enter through a door, explore the location looking for anomalies, and then exit through a door to reset the loop. Progression is determined by whether or not anomalies are reported correctly. If you get five right, you move on to the next location. If you get one wrong, the loop resets and you must start over.
The horror elements are on a grand scale. The atmosphere has creepy lighting, particles, and environmental effects that enhance the experience. Some of the horror sequences are downright terrifying.
Shift 87 is not a very hard game compared to other anomaly video games and does a good job of increasing difficulty as you progress. Shift 87 may serve as a good entry point for gamers who are new to anomaly video games. Don’t get me wrong though. The final area can be tough, but fair.
SHINKANSEN 0
You are stuck on a haunted bullet train in Japan. Some people are on board but something does not seem right with them. Find anomalies to advance on the train and reach the conductor’s room. However, you will return to where you started if you make the wrong choice.
Shinkansen 0 is a psychological anomaly horror video game and I love it. The concept is simple. Walk through a train car and look for an anomaly. You enter one door if you find an anomaly or you enter another door if you don’t find an anomaly. You’ll move on to the next train car if you are correct. You will be sent back to the start if you are wrong.
The difficulty in finding anomalies feels on par with the difficulty level I like. I did not cruise through the game. I was wrong often but not wrong often enough to become frustrated. It felt like a good balance here.
Shinkansen 0 is creepy. The game does a great job of creating a psychological horror environment and atmosphere. The people on board are mysterious. The anomalies can be scary. There are not a lot of jump scares here but there is a lot of dread. Walking up and down the tight aisle can feel uneasy.
I love Shinkansen 0 and fits well within anomaly video games. I wish the game were longer.
TEN BELLS
Ten Bells places you in an old English Pub. The bar is shaped like a horseshoe and there is a center shelf that separates each side. There is an ominous presence immediately upon entering the pub. The bartender has the face of menace. The barmaid paces back and forth opposite the side of the bartender. She is in tears. Disaster is bound to happen.
What makes Ten Bells unique from other anomaly video games is its story. A majority of the anomalies contribute to the story behind Ten Bells. The story itself is brutal and horrifying. The dread never lets up and you are left feeling desolate which makes for a great horror experience.
Ten Bells is a lot of fun, too. Looking for the anomalies can be challenging but rewarding. Some of the anomalies are downright terrifying. The environment is beautiful and the atmosphere is heavy. There is a lot to experience with Ten Bells.
THE CABIN FACTORY
The first time I walked into a cabin and saw what was around the corner made me pause for a moment. I didn’t know what to make of it. It’s the first time an anomaly game made me question what was going on right from the start. I pushed through that moment and everything else just fell into place.
You are an employee starting a new job where you have to inspect cabins and determine if they are haunted or not. Haunted cabins will have something that moves. If there is no movement, the cabin is not haunted. If something moves, the cabin is haunted. Most anomalies are easy to find and report. However, there are a few challenging anomalies to find and navigate.
The Cabin Factory’s storyline is incredible. Horror, dread, and sorrow are what come to mind. I left the game feeling anxious and depressed but to me, they are side-effects of a horror story done well.
The Cabin Factory Featured Article
THE DARK MIND
The Dark Mind places you in the shoes of Jessica. Mysterious hallucinations force her to navigate environments that are ripe with anomalies and angry ghosts. Your job is to guide her back to reality but expect challenges made to deter progress.
The locations are very dark. Jessica is equipped with a flashlight to help her navigate. Movement feels wonky because Jessica has trouble holding the flashlight steady. The shakes are exacerbated when running.
The rules are simple and are similar to several other anomaly video games. Walk through the environment and take note of where objects are placed. After the initial walkthrough, enter the green hallway if you find no anomalies. Enter the red hallway if you do find anomalies. Guess correctly 7 times and you win. The game resets if you are wrong.
The Dark Mind serves as a good starting point for newcomers to anomaly video games. The difficulty is not that hard and the game is not that scary. Veterans of the genre may feel differently.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS
You are trapped in a mansion and you need to outsmart the devil to get out. Your job is to find anomalies and banish them with talismans. What’s different here is the need to avoid traps and deadly creatures while working against a timer. When you have placed your talismans, you’ll need to check in with “The Arbiter” to determine if you are correct. Move forward if you are correct or suffer the consequences if you are wrong.
I can’t say enough about the sound design. The smallest sounds keep the mansion alive and you on your toes. So many times I was expecting something to appear but only to find out the sound was the mansion. Very well done.
There is a lot I like about The Devil Is in the Details. Free movement, as opposed to cameras or a repeating room, feels refreshing. The mansion changes as you progress so it never feels stale. Minor details change and new danger awaits. Interactions with the Arbiter are fun and create tension.
THE EXIT 8
The Exit 8 takes place in an underground passageway. Similar to games like P.T., the underground repeats but each passthrough can be different. You are on the hunt for anomalies. They can be as simple as a poster with moving eyes or as subtle as a shadow face on the ceiling.
You continue through the underground passage if no anomaly is found or turn around if you spot an anomaly. That is the basic principle of the video game. The concept is simple but finding the anomalies can be difficult early on. There are about 20 anomalies so eventually you will know what to look for.
I think The Exit 8 is okay. The gameplay is simple; spotting anomalies can become simple as you memorize them. For those reasons, I’d pick The Exit 8 up when on sale. Otherwise, check out my playthrough; that should satisfy your curiosity.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Ties That Bind Gaming played the following anomaly video games, too. For various reasons, they are not featured in this article. Since they are part of the genre, they do deserve an honorable mention. Here they are:
MEDIA
SCREENSHOTS
AS I SEE IT
Anomaly video games are quickly becoming one of my favorite types of video games. I love searching for anomalies and getting scared in the process. The tension tends to never let up and something is bound to happen at any second. Some have stories that unfold as you explore and discover anomalies and I tend to like these best. However, I enjoyed every game featured on this list.
Be sure to check out the article on Analog Video Games and Limanal Space Games for more haunting experiences.
SUGGEST A GAME
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CHANGELOG
- 05/24/2024 – Original Post
- 07/08/2024 – Added Platform 8
- 07/19/2024 – Added The Exit 8
- 08/05/2024 – Added The Dark Mind
- 09/13/2024 – Added Shift 87
- 09/23/2024 – Added Project 13
- 09/30/2024 – Added Captured
- 10/16/2024 – Removed Seeing Things / Edited Captured
- 11/03/2024 – Edited The Dark Mind and The Devil is in the Details and added Honorable Mentions
- 11/08/2024 – Added Ten Bells
- 12/9/2024 – Added Dollmare, moved some content, and fixed grammar errors
- 01/13/2025 – Added The Cabin Factory and featured articles