If the horrors of real war don’t send enough chills down your spine, here are five strategy games that you can dive into on Halloween night to get your share of spooky thrills.

Darkest Dungeon

The pioneer of the PTSD-RPG genre, Early Access Sweetheart, and one of the best RPGs/ Turn-based strategy games ever made, Darkest Dungeon will take you exploring the darkest corners of the deepest caves. Sending other human beings deeper and deeper into the wells of madness as they venture forth, hopeless and scared against the ancient creatures of aeons past. All while trying to unravel what happened that led your family estate into ruin. The striking aesthetic, the unusual character classes, the punishing combat, the management aspect, and the idea that your heroes are nothing more than frail-minded humans that can, in one second, deliver a critical strike that wins the day and, in the next dungeon run they can encounter a short near-death experience that will send them down into an unsavoury mental breakdown. This focus on the mental health of your characters and the real impact it has on gameplay helps carry on the idea that madness and death play along, hand in hand, in the Darkest of Dungeons.

This game is always on my Steam Sale Recommendation lists whenever it is on sale.

They Are Billions

They Are Billions is a real-time strategy game that unfolds in a post-apocalyptic realm overrun by relentless hordes of zombies. Players take on the role of colony builders and defenders, tasked with shielding their settlements from the unending onslaught of the undead. The game boasts impressive isometric graphics that beautifully capture its eerie world.

Furthermore, “They Are Billions” weaves an engaging storyline into its desolate backdrop, immersing players in a rich narrative. Beyond the captivating world, the game offers a substantial challenge through its campaign mode.

Cultist Simulator

As a devoted H.P. Lovecraft enthusiast, I couldn’t resist the allure of Cultist Simulator, a game that promises the tantalizing experience of “seizing forbidden treasures, summoning alien gods, and feeding on your disciples.” This unique game employs a verb/card-based mechanism, where players draw cards and then allocate them to specific verbs, essentially actions, to yield various outcomes.

Navigating “Cultist Simulator” involves a significant degree of trial and error, and be prepared to meet your demise multiple times. Throughout your journey, you’ll unearth lost books and unearth hidden secrets, all while concocting plots and schemes to realize your deepest desires. This game demands avid reading, a vivid imagination, and a genuine appreciation for Lovecraftian lore.

Stirring Abyss

H.P. Lovecraft undeniably stands among the most influential horror writers of all time, with existential dread oozing from every baroque-esque paragraph into the realm of gaming. While few games manage to capture the essence of Lovecraft, Stirring Abyss doesn’t quite bridge that gap. However, it compensates with its distinctive charm and enigmatic allure.

This game entices players with its captivating ink-drawn submariners, risking their sanity and lives to rescue one another while seeking a means to rekindle the flickering hope of returning home. As you explore the depths, you’ll unveil sanity-defying truths and confront horrors from aeons past through relentless turn-based grid combat.

Stirring Abyss leaves an indelible mark by seamlessly blending a spine-tingling narrative with compelling combat, even if it doesn’t quite reach the zenith of Lovecraftian terror.

Hard West 2

The original Hard West emerged during the XCOM craze of the 2010s, delivering a quintessential experience of cowboys versus zombies versus demons. Hard West 2 elevates the original in almost every aspect, inviting players to command an expanding supernatural posse of gunslingers and witches. In turn-based skirmishes, they chase the enigmatic ghost train.

Hard West 2 it’s on sale, going by 11,59€, or your regional equivalent, which translates to: extremely cheap and you should totally buy it.

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