THE NIGHTMARES BEFORE CHRISTMAS
IT’S hard to believe it, but we’re a few short weeks away from Christmas.
The chocolates in Advent calendars aren’t the only things being released this month, as a handful of new games also hit consoles. Considering it’s the festive season, it’s horror heavy this month.
From the remake of classic railshooter The House of the Dead, to creepy adventures with Hello Neighbor 2, and sci-fi survival horror action with The Callisto Protocol, looks like some of us will be having a nightmare before Christmas.
Hello Neighbor 2
(PEGI 12) PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX X/S, Switch, PC Release: December 6
The mysterious and mustachioed ‘star’ of this series – Mr Peterson – has vanished in this stealth sequel.
Hello Neighbor was the surprise hit of 2017, having gained an almost cult following on its addictive alpha release.
Part The Burbs, part Rear Window, you have to break into your neighbour’s home to uncover the secret hidden in his basement.
This time you’re trying to find out what’s happened to Mr Peterson, who has apparently disappeared, while a mysterious creature stalks your every move.
As ever the game’s clever AI means the beast modifies its actions based on your gameplay, meaning you have to alter your tactics every time you venture over the road, or end up as a bump in the turf.
The Callisto Protocol (PEGI 18) PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX X/S Release: December 2
This sci-fi survival actioner is set on Jupiter’s moon Callisto in 2320.
Described as a ‘next-generation take on survival horror’, your ultimate aim is to escape a maximum security prison, and uncover its terrifying secrets in the process.
It claims to be a heady mix of engaging cinematic storytelling and close combat, which takes place in both the prison and on the surface of Callisto. I have exceptionally high hopes for this one, not least because it’s directed by Glen Schofield, cocreator of the incredible Dead Space series.
We’ve been told to expect gore, heart-racing tension and a whole host of jump scares – you have been warned.
Kukoos: Lost Pets (PEGI 3) PS4, Switch, PC Release: December 6
A little light relief in the midst of these dark releases, the Kukoos are on a mission to rescue brainwashed pets.
Set on a planet covered in water, the bright, colourful and quirky Kukoos live on the only island which is home to the Kukoo tree.
After an experiment to make their pets more obedient goes haywire, it is up to the Kukoos to find their newly aggressive and unruly pets and regain control, restoring harmony to their home. Filled with puzzles, hidden collectibles and adorable bosses, this promises to be a lot of fun.
Cuphead (PEGI 7) PS4, XBOX ONE, Switch Release: December 6
It’s impossible to understate the impact Cuphead has made since its release in 2017.
In five short years the game’s titular hero and his sidekick Mugman have become cult figures, inspiring comic books, novels, action figures and even getting their own show on Netflix.
This year saw the release of the highly anticipated DLC – The Delicious Last Course – which added oodles of insane boss battle action for fans to enjoy.
This release includes both the base game and the DLC, so is perfect for players who are yet to sample the masochistic delights of this stunning run-and-gun masterpiece.
The House of the Dead: Remake – Limidead edition
(PEGI 18) PS4, XBOX ONE, XBOX X/S, PC Release: December 8
The remake of this 1996 rail shooter got a lukewarm reception when it hit the Switch earlier this year.
The biggest bugbear seemed to be the controls, so I’m hoping it will be better received when it lands on the Playstation and XBOX.
This series – alongside Resident Evil – is credited with popularising not just zombie video games, but the surge of zombies seen in popular culture towards the end of the 90s and early 2000s.
There’s little to no plot here, the aim being that you simply have to survive wave after wave of shambling zombies as they approach on the screen.
As this is a ‘Limidead edition’, physical copies of the game come in a lenticular box, with stickers and cardboard character stands.