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What are the best PC horror games that don't use jump scares?

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Amnesia: The Dark Descent vs Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth vs Alien: Isolation

 vs Observer vs I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream vs Fatal Frame vs Sanitarium

Specs

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

First-Person / Horror / Survival

Co-Op

None

Controller Support

Full

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Pricing

-

Available Platforms

-

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

Mixed

Genre

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Pricing

-

Available Platforms

-

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

FPS

Co-Op

None

Controller Support

Full

Release Date

Oct 06, 2014

Multi-Player

No

Single Player

Yes

Pricing

$49.99

Available Platforms

PC / PS3 / PS4 / XBox 360 / XBox One

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Cyberpunk Psychological Horror

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Pricing

-

Available Platforms

-

Platforms

Windows, Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Steam Rating

Mostly Positive

Genre

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Pricing

-

Available Platforms

-

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

-

Genre

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Pricing

-

Available Platforms

-

Platforms

-

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

-

Co-Op

-

Controller Support

-

Release Date

-

Multi-Player

-

Single Player

-

Pricing

-

Available Platforms

-

Platforms

-

Pros + Cons

Pro
 Excellent, unnerving atmosphere

Much of the game is inspired by Lovecraftian horror wherein the player is constantly assaulted with their sanity being eroded as they try to regain their memories. Monster lurk within the game that are quite frightening and the whole game is sparsely lit with constant sounds surrounding them that could be eluding to their next encounter.
Comment

Pro
 Immersive puzzle solving

Amnesia offers immersive puzzles to the player by creating interaction that comes natural to the player. When a door needs opened, the player must pull their mouse towards them to actually open the door, same goes for drawers as well. It is through these interactions that the player can feel as if they are actually manipulating these objects instead of just pointing and clicking like so many other puzzle games.
Comment

Pro
 Tons of extra stories

Users can download and install mods/stories created by other users, which can extend the gameplay of the game by quite a lot. Being that these are custom stories, being able to find one that appeals to the player should be pretty simple enough. A good comparison of the top available stories can be found here.
Comment

Pro
 Epitome of horror, but that's not all

The game manages to keep you tense at all times, but there's more. Even if the monster wasn't there, this would be a great game to walk around, solve puzzles, and read the letters. The atmosphere is just very well crafted.
Comment

Con
 Puzzles tend to be easily solved

Sadly the core of the game is the puzzle aspect but they tend to be easily enough solved, which makes for a bit of a let down for players who are used to or looking for difficult gameplay.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent atmospheric sound

With minimal music, this game generates much of it's atmosphere from the miscellaneous background noises. The audio generally in the forefront is the titular Alien, which loudly thumps along the ground and through vents. This game also uses directional audio as a tool both for and against the player. It uses it to scare the player, but it simultaneously gives the player more information to survive with.
Comment

Pro
 Beautiful graphics

Aesthetically, this game nails the look and feel of the original film. Both well optimized and incredibly beautiful, this game is a graphical marvel.
Comment

Pro
 Useful tools throughout

The game provides you with many tools and weapons to assist you along the way. Some items you may only find a use for once or twice, but you'll be glad to have them.
Comment

Pro
 Creates a lot of tension

Intelligent A.I. is capable of keeping the game unpredictable. As soon as the Alien starts stalking the player, the game can easily become tense with player never knowing what the Alien will do since the majority of interactions with it are completely unscripted. Especially in VR, you get the feeling like you are actually being hunted.
Comment

Pro
 Excellent, nostalgic design

Environmental design very closely resembles Ridley Scott's Alien. It has the same retro design of the computers as well as a chilling soundtrack. It still works well in the modern age too - the 3D is on point, and the designers have gone into detail. If you dare to spend time exploring, it's a very cool experience wandering around a spaceship and looking out into space.
Comment

Con
 Frustratingly difficult at times

Some segments of the game can be frustratingly difficult or even unfair at higher difficulty settings.
Comment

Con
 Unrealistic teleporting alien

The alien will somehow always be somewhat near you no matter how stealthy you are. This does maintain the game's difficulty, but it can seem unfair putting all this work into not getting heard only to have the alien pop out of the nearest vent.
Comment

Con
 The game progresses slowly, and you can lose interest

The game is too long and quickly loses its charm and tense feelings as the game drags. Too many hours of even the best game can become a chore more than an enjoyable experience. Whats worse is that a bunch of the length is incessant back tracking, which frankly is just a lazy way to prolong a game.
Comment

Pro
 Terrifying, mind-bending story presentation

Observer's detective story sounds simple, with you tracking down protagonist Daniel Lazarski's missing son, but the way the game presents this narrative is what counts. As you follow leads on his son's whereabouts, you'll analyze crime scenes mostly by searching through horrifying, psychedelic memories from the neural implants of dying or dead victims. These are unstable displays of augmented reality, with broken visuals filled with psychedelic colors, eerie hallucinations, and rattling jump scares. They manage to distort your own consciousness in the game, making you question the reality around you. Through these terrifying experiences, the game poses philosophical questions on the true nature of reality, such as what point technology can take over and shape what we believe is real.
Comment

Pro
 Hacking into peoples' memories is an engaging way to investigate crimes

While solving cases, you can hack into a subject's memories through their augmentations, creating a new reality as you physically explore their thoughts. You'll then proceed through the scenes of their memories, listening to conversations that reveal more about the story and the world. The psychedelic visuals as you progress through these memories are unique and mind-bending, making these sequences even more exciting. These sections of Observer go above and beyond the other, more standard investigation mechanics in the game, making each crime mystery unique and exciting.
Comment

Pro
 In-depth environmental storytelling

As you search around apartment buildings and office spaces with augmented vision, you'll come across emails, video sequences, and notes that flesh out the story. You can take your time to find out about now-extinct religions from the past, learn about the lives of the many people who died from the digital plague, and interact with each piece of evidence lying around at crime scenes. Scanning items, computers and blood stains to solve these crimes can lead you down a rabbit hole of discovering more about the world through environmental storytelling.
Comment

Pro
 Intriguing cyberpunk world

The deserted, rain-slicked streets of the gritty city at night, filled with unsettling displays of government advertisements fits right in with the themes and media that inspired Observer's cyberpunk world. A dystopian future where augmented humans were killed off by a mysterious disease is a fascinating, if familiar concept for cyberpunk enthusiasts. It's interesting to explore this technologically-advanced world where the government has collapsed and a mega-corporation has taken over, making you wonder how you might survive in this type of setting.
Comment

Con
 Some frustrating, out-of-place chase sequences

Some segments of Observer force you to stealthily avoid a menacing enemy lumbering through a dark workspace or a dilapidated set of hallways, but they don't quite fit with the game's overall freedom of discovery and exploration. If you're discovered, it's game over. These parts ruin the pace and flow that you're used to from the gameplay.
Comment

Con
 Gameplay is limited to mostly walking around

As a "walking simulator," Observer is appealing to players who enjoy taking their time to explore and take in the environment, but it may not have enough gameplay for those looking for a more involved experience. Hacking into minds, analyzing crime scenes and moving from place to place makes up the bulk of the game.
Comment
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