VIDEO: The 10 best games to celebrate Halloween with

Matt Hawkins Contributing Writer, Video Games

More than likely, you got dressed up and sloppy drunk this past weekend instead of Halloween proper, since it’s Monday. Which means there’s also a good chance that your plans after work might consist only of eating candy and finding a scary movie on Netflix Instant. Though I have a better idea: how about a good game that’s perfect for the holiday?

The following are the games that best encapsulates what Halloween is all about; a few are fairly accessible (and should already be in your library already, quite honestly). While other are treasures ready to be tracked down by whatever means necessary. Translation: time to head to eBay once again…

10. Left 4 Dead
What happens when you take Valve’s penchant for crafting finely tuned first person shooting, and make it more of a stumbling around in the dark experience? One in which strength in numbers, not just simply guns a blazin’, will help come with a never ending wave of zombies? Why, one of the best reasons to crack open Steam later this evening; either part one or two will do…

9. Fatal Frame
Basically, you’re a ghost hunter, but instead of relying upon a proton pack and the like, your only weapon is a camera that takes pictures of ghastly specters, which ultimately dishes damage to them as well. There’s been four installments thus far, and the best one unfortunately has never made it here. That being the fourth entry in the series, for the Wii, which also adds a flashlight into the mix, to burn ghost up in a fashion similar to Alan Wake. Otherwise, go for part three on the PS2 if you can track a copy down…

8. Dead Space
For those who love stumbling around dark corridors in outer space, as well as fighting off gruesome space zombies and other forms of otherworldly mutations, one can’t go wrong with EA’s ode to Alien. Again, both parts one and two are excellent, but I’d start with the first one if at all possible…

7. Dementium
Wait, a portable game? How scary or creepy can a DS title be? You’d be surprised! The plot makes zero sense, but it hardly matters. Just know that you’re some dude, trapped in a hospital inhabited by zombies and other bloodthirsty creatures, all coming after you. Thankfully there’s an abundance of handguns and shotguns littered about. Of the two, I’d say go with the sequel, since it’s a bit longer and more refined…

6. Dead Rising
Who doesn’t like Dawn of the Dead, right? That’s what the first Dead Rising is essentially; beating the crap out of zombies at a mall! Unfortunately, the needlessly rigid structure makes the game a chore to slog through, hence why the sequel is the better option. Not the first one though, staring some motocross guy and his sick daughter. Instead, go for the recently releases remixed version; aside from the far superior Frank West as the lead once again, there’s a sand box mode in which no time limits or other constraints to get in the way…

5. Night Trap
Believe it or not, this crappy Full Motion Video game that’s molded after classic, cheesy horror flicks from the 80s, and starring the now dearly departed/dead as a doornail 80s sitcom star Dana Plato, was all the rage among pissed off pissed off parents and law makers. Oh the world of video games controversy, before Grand Theft Auto. Also, good lucky tracking down a copy!

4. Haunting Ground
On a similar note, the best horror part of horror flicks is one in which some damsel in distress is running around, terrified out of her wits. Preferably with huge breasts. So imagine an entire game based upon such a scenario! You can’t fight back, just run away, with the goal being, aside from not getting caught, not going insane due to fright. Though along the way you befriend a dog who not only protects you, but helps to solve puzzles. So there’s actually a decent game underneath all the goofy t&a…

3. Silent Hill
One of the hallmarks of survival horror genre. Not much to say here; virtually everyone should be familiar with the series. There’s been countless entries, but only two are definite must plays. Part two is still absolutely amazing, a must for any seasoned gamer. Though the recently released Shattered Memories for the Wii is also pretty damn good, which retells the first game in a manner that will seriously send chills down your spine…

2. Resident Evil
Okay, time for the undisputed king of the genre. Again, I have absolutely nothing to say here, since pretty much everyone has played a Resident Evil game, and most of them are actually quite good (well, the primary entries at least). While most will agree that RE4 is the best one, I say give RE2 a replay later this tonight, since it sticks closest to its inspiration (hell, they even got George Romero to direct the commercial), has you blasting away actual zombies instead of crazed villagers in Spain, and also introduces Clair Redfield, by far my favorite video game hottie of them all…

1. Illbleed
Huh? Yeah, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of this game before. It was released in the tail end of the Dreamcast’s life, about ten years ago, but still remains, the best pound for pound “haunted house adventure” ever crafted for a video game (and the only to this day, as far as I can tell). Whether it be the insane amount of blood that gushes from your body if an enemy so much as breathes on you, or the “cake from hell”, plus EVERYTHING in between, it honestly doesn’t get any better than this…

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