5 Games You Should Play Before The Chant

The Chant is an upcoming third-person survival horror game by Brass Token, one that takes psychedelic torment to a whole new degree. Like games of its kind, players must activate an inner fight or flight switch, using strategy and wisdom to overcome a wicked curse that plagues the locale. And yes, there will be gore, and there will be a banquet of unencumbered thrills, mostly topped off with a band of unruly folk driven by tenacity.

As it stands, The Chant hasn't released on its wide array of console preferences. In fact, it still has a rather ominous 2022 slate pinned to it, meaning there is still plenty of time to sink hours into a few quality alternatives. And believe us when we say, there are a few. Like, a treasure trove of horrifying experiences, all of which flow from the same blood-curdling body of water. So, if you have a bit of spare time in your diary, then be sure to check these five survival horror games out.

5. Until Dawn

A survival horror that immediately springs to mind in this instance, of course, is Until Dawn, developed by none other than the kingmakers of episodic thrills, Supermassive Games. Although without a crafting system like in the upcoming The Chant, Until Dawn does narrow in on a similar setting, and explores the emotions that correspond with being isolated on a monster-infested retreat.

Taking a bunch of old friends and having them carry out a number of tasks in order to wade through twilight is, of course, the aim of the game. For every decision there's a consequence, and for every death there's a motive to return and try again. It is, in essence, a nexus of pathways, all of which play out in vastly different ways. It's bread and butter survival horror blended with choice-based gameplay, and we're all for it.

4. The Forest

Now, returning to the world of crafting materials, scavenging, and strategizing, The Forest certainly feels a little closer to the ballpark. The major difference here, of course, is that it's a first-person shooter, much rather than a third-person survival horror, similar to that of The Chant. But other than that, there's plenty of similarities swimming around here, and many of them round back to the inhabitants that each world employs.

The Forest has you embarking on a quest of life and death, one that can either make or break you, depending of the choices you make and the actions you take. As a survivor of a plane crash on a remote cannibalized island, you must locate your missing son, Timmy. However, with no course paved out before you, you must learn to survive without guidance, using the natural environment to develop the stepping stones needed to progress deeper into the dreaded woodland region. One wrong step, as they say, can very well cost you your life.

3. Maid of Sker

Maid of Sker transports you to the dainty Welsh region of Sker, an island that hides a much darker secret than what meets the eye. After its residents and guests succumb to a rather sinister curse, one that blinds its carrier and causes them to hunt for the slaughter with only the use of sound, the Sker Hotel invites you to enter in a bid to undo the damage that's already been dealt.

Upon arrival, you'll come to learn that Sker dares not host regular holidaymakers, but a daring cult that favors only the the flavor of torment and sacrifice. Blinded and without guidance, you just traverse every nook and cranny in search of a remedial note that posseses the power to return the island to its former glory, without the bloodshed and murderous sadists. No pressure or anything.

2. Outlast II

Outlast is a survival horror series that needs no introduction, as it is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most terrifying thing on the block. Its sequel is no different, and offers an equal amount of hair-raising scares and terror sequences. The major difference between the two is the setting, of course, with one following an asylum, and the other going with a cult theme.

Outlast 2 follows aspiring journalist Blake and his wife as they scour an Arizonan desert that holds the secret to the murder of a woman known only as Jane Doe. However, after being separated, Blake is made to traipse a tainted village that houses only a notorious cult who believes the end of days is nigh, and that you have something to do with its happening. With that, you yourself can expect a number of petrifying scares and chases as you pursue your dearly beloved.

1. The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

The Dark Pictures Anthology is known for procuring some pretty creepy tales for its library, a popular one being Little Hope. Like The Chant and other survival horror games that depend on a common threat to sway the narrative, the game features a cult. Or at least, an old fashioned collective that believe in burning witches at the stake for emotional gain.

Little Hope follows four students and their college professor during a field trip that takes a turn for the worse. After a thick layer of smoke cloaks their bus, they find themselves trapped in the remote town of Little Hope. With no way out, and only a series of nightmarish apparitions looming beyond the haze, the player must make a set amount of choices to course each character through the night. The question is, who will survive until dawn, and who will struggle to make it past midnight? Fate is in your hands.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.