October is, unambiguously, the best time of year to love horror. Whether you lean toward horror movies, games, or both, there’s no shortage of ways to get scared this season. But what if you love everything about Halloween but the scares?
Plenty of people love the aesthetics and vibes of the Halloween season, but could do without the terror. If that describes you, have no fear (get it?). We’ve gathered five games that pack in spooky art styles, eerie atmospheres, and fall visuals, but stop short of leaving you with nightmares.
A weekly cheat sheet to what you’ll eventually love to play. No buying, no commitment — just saving for later. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is practically the platonic ideal of a spooky-not-scary game.
You guide Luigi through the seventeen floors of The Last Resort, as he tries to rescue Mario and Princess Peach from the clutches King Boo. Luigi explores every corner of the hotel, from its gift shop to its fitness center. Each floor has its own unique layout, music, and puzzles.
Easily the best Luigi’s Mansion game, Luigi’s Mansion 3 perfects the goofy haunted house aesthetic that defines the series. It has everything you’d expect in a Luigi’s Mansion game: Luigi’s Ghostbusters-style Poltergust, his ghostly dog Polterpup, and his never-ending fear of anything that moves. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is also one of two games in history to feature Gooigi, an aptly-named Luigi clone made of green goo.
That has to count for something. Where to Play: Nintendo Switch, Windows PC Penko Park is a cute-yet-spooky photography game, reminiscent of Pokémon Snap but with even weirder little guys. You ride a tram through a mysterious forest, spotting and photographing the strange creatures hidden around you.
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