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Im not going to act like jump scares are a new idea.
The same goes for games: weve all seen the dog jump through the window inResident Evil.
Weve all noticed an animatronic animal creeping on a security camera.
Those double legs inSilent Hill 2sure love it.
Jump scares are easy, effective, and kind of annoying.
Which makes it so funny that Im now completely obsessed with cheap anomaly games.
Ill buy them forever and a day.
Today’s State of Play had a clear animation standout.
What Are Anomaly Games?
I recognize this doesnt sound terrifying, but itiscreepy.
Being trapped in a world thats almost like one step to the side of hours.
Like a Brian Evenson story.
I also think its worth reiterating that these games are short.
Some,like The Cabin Factory, have you exploring a creepy space and reporting on strange activity.
And Im gonna be real honest: some are.
It doesnt matter that they are, but - if that bothers you - some are.
And half of the anomaly games are even cheaper rip offs of other anomaly games.
In fact, that kind of works for the genre.
Anomaly games are all about something being slightly off or not working.
One yellow backrooms is going to be just as spooky as any other yellow backrooms.
And seeing the little interpretations of that horror experience is nice.
Even similar prefs have different ways of making you fill your drawers.
At These Prices, Who Can Argue?
I also love that anomaly games present a creepier, more subtle world.
A lot of horror games really want you to pay attention to every single scary design.
Ghosts with broken, yawning jaws.
Was that a doll moving in the corner or your imagination?
Was that painting always there?
Is it haunted if its not moving?
Just a tiny, subtle move can run everything.
And heres again perhaps thats the biggest thing: these games are, by and large, very cheap.
I love a cheap game.
Were all conditioned to spend $70 and then a $30 season pass for a game.
And you know what?
For a 100-hour adventure, that seems fair to me.
But for a little horror experience, $5-$10 is more than reasonable.
Youd spend more than that to visit a Halloween haunted house for less time and zero replay-ability.
The price itself also encourages the same curiosity as the games.
Meanwhile, Im excited to be playingAvowed, but it hasnt been what Id call casual fun.
I know there are quest logs and explainers.
And I love it!
But going into a cheap game completely blank is the perfect place for horror.
you’re able to nope out at any time, which makes pushing forward all the more compelling.
Theres no financial obligation that you should put as much time into the game as possible.
If youve got $5, I recommend looking at some of the games Ive mentioned.
But go down the rabbit hole.
Is it always going to be good?
Is it always going to be weird?
