Don’t be Afraid 2 is a horror puzzle game that tests your problem-solving skills. You play a boy who has just been kidnapped by a psychopath. Your role is to traverse the psychopath’s lair, escape his clutches, and investigate how you were kidnapped. Not many titles let you play the victim; It’s why Player.com handpicked the best psychological horror games with many puzzles.
Also Check Out: 8 Best Gaming Mice | Easily Execute Winning Streaks in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Top 5 Horror Puzzle Games Similar to Don’t Be Afraid 2
Horror puzzle games are another breed of game entirely because you know what’s next. If you’re a fan of mystery and survival, you’ll love games such as Resident Evil 4, Poppy Playtime, and Lethal Company. Yes, some of the puzzle games on this list are shooter titles, but then, the enemies and variety of monsters will test you.
#1: Resident Evil 4
Survival is the name of the game, and Resident Evil 4 epitomises it. You control Leon S. Kennedy, a special agent capable of toppling the biggest biotech threats. His latest job is tracking down the President’s kidnapped daughter, and all hints point to a European village. It turns out that the entire village has been mutated by the Plagas, which is an ancient parasite.
So, the hunter becomes the hunted. Leon is surrounded by a variety of monsters, such as the Garrador and Chainsaw Sisters. In total, you can expect more than 35 types of monsters in Resident Evil 4. So, the campaign is quite lengthy, lasting for at least 16 hours. Completionists who want to solve all 10 puzzles and investigate the Plagas’ origin will squeeze out at least 50 hours from the puzzle game. Resident Evil 4 is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC with next-gen upgrades.
#2: Poppy Playtime
Poppy Playtime is an episodic horror puzzle game that lets you fight off murderous toys. A useful gadget throughout the campaign is the GrabPack. It lets you grab objects from a comfortable distance and, in some cases, allows you to hack electrical circuits scattered around the abandoned toy factory. Along the way, you’ll fight memorable bosses such as Bot, Poppy, Huggy, and Catbee.
The storyline is also top-notch, letting you fill the shoes of a former employee of the abandoned toy company. So, the protagonist decides to visit 10 years after multiple employees disappear from the factory. Obviously, his stay at the old factory is anything but pleasant. Moreover, some parts of the factory don’t have electricity, which is where the GrabPack plays a huge role.
The GrabPack feeds circuits with electricity, and then you solve the resulting puzzles to progress. Thankfully, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and smartphone gamers can enjoy this puzzle game. Yet, Poppy Playtime is only available as a single-player experience.
#3: Lethal Company
Lethal Company is a multiplayer survival game from Zeekerss where you’re a scavenger. You rummage through abandoned moons for scrap that you can sell to the Company. Each moon is unique due to its strengths and weaknesses. Of course, some moons are just harder to loot than others, so you’re forced to calculate your risk-to-reward ratio at every turn.
However, danger is a recurring theme in Lethal Company, so it’s best to always play this game with a partner. Characters who risk searching for scraps alone can end up dismembered or crushed. Luckily, there are many tools available that can increase your chances of survival. Some of them are shovels, lights, walkie-talkies, boomboxes, and stun grenades.
Also, Lethal Company is like Dying Light, as nighttime is an extremely dangerous time to be rummaging for scraps. So, there’s always a sense of urgency behind all of your moves and calculations. To wrap things up, Lethal Company weighs less than 1 GB, but it’s only available on Microsoft Windows devices.
#4: Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is a survival game set in post-apocalyptic Russia, unlike the other puzzle games. The sandbox is cold, and many cities have been overrun by mutated monsters. Additionally, you must battle human enemies who are just as deadly as the many monsters you’ll face throughout the campaign. To secure your victory, you will experiment with different modified weapons and explosives.
Crafting supplies are also limited, so players can’t modify all their favourite weapons at once. Rather, carefully choose each weapon upgrade, as it will affect your playstyle. Some of the many weapons available in Metro Exodus are:
- Bastard.
- Lolife.
- Stallion.
- AKSU.
- Bulldog.
- Kalash 2012.
- VSV.
- Throwing Knives.
Thankfully, Metro Exodus is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Gamers will ride the Aurora, a steam train that’s occupied by other survivors seeking a haven. Still, your choices will determine the fates of your comrades, so keep your cards and supplies close to your chest.
#5: Escape the Backrooms
Escape the Backrooms is another survival puzzle game with a great storyline and multiplayer experience that up to four players can enjoy. You’ll explore the Backroom levels, which are inhabited by dangerous Entities out for blood. With so many rooms to explore, your job is to survive the dangers ahead until you find a way to escape each Backroom. Other reasons why fans are asking for a sequel to the puzzle game are:
@zynnatos Most terrfiying thing that happen to me in Escape the backrooms #escapethebackrooms #gaming #foryoupage #horror ♬ original sound – zach._.garrett – Zynn
- Great Visuals: The visuals are realistic, so you can expect great animations and an ambience that compliments the Backrooms. Also, the user interface is intuitive, so complete beginners can beat rooms within a few tries.
- The Levels Are Unique: Each Backroom is meticulously designed, with danger lurking behind every corner. They’re unique; Seek them out. Also, one escape strategy won’t solve all of the levels, so you best think on your feet.
- 12 Dangerous Entities Await: The Backrooms rotate between 12 Entities with unique traits and abilities. So, you can exploit their weaknesses only after you’re familiar with them.
- The Voice Chat Experience Is Immersive: It’s great how you can communicate with your teammates to help each other avoid the Entities. Also, the voice chat forces players to stick around each other as the Backrooms are constructed like a labyrinth.
Our Final Say: Horror Puzzle Games Are Best-Suited for Adults
Horror puzzle games are best-suited for adults because of their mature content, including gore, sexual content, and abusive language. Some adults aren’t fans of horror games, while others prefer pure shooter games. Fortunately, the list above has titles such as Metro Exodus, where gamers have a fighting chance, courtesy of the many in-game weapons available.
Still, puzzles aren’t inherently bad, but the monsters in the Backrooms will scare away the kids. Instead, check out these racing games for family if you’re interested in bonding with your kids and partner. The only game that isn’t chock-full of monsters is Lethal Company. It’s a farming game that may not scare anybody.