PC Gamer readers have begun the process of determining the scariest game of all time, with the first round of a 16-game bracket now underway. The tournament, organized through reader nominations and curated by the editorial team, aims to crown the ultimate horror title.
The Bracket Unveiled
The competition features a single-elimination bracket, with voting progressing daily. Round one will narrow the field to eight games, followed by further reductions on Wednesday and Thursday, culminating in the final vote-off on Friday. The winner will be announced on Saturday, just in time for Halloween.
Some popular submissions, such as Condemned: Criminal Origins, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, Alone in the Dark, and Skifree, did not make the final cut for this initial stage. The bracket has been seeded randomly.
Round One Matchups
The first round pits several acclaimed horror titles against each other. Among the initial pairings are Amnesia: The Bunker versus Outlast, and Cry of Fear against Clive Barker's The Undying.
Further matchups include F.E.A.R. against Subnautica, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. against Amnesia: The Dark Descent. The legacy of Silent Hill 2 is represented in a confrontation with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, with the article clarifying that votes for Silent Hill 2 can apply to either the original PC version or the recent remake.
Rounding out the first round are Fatal Frame 2 Remake versus the original Dead Space, and Alien: Isolation against SOMA. Another pairing features Thief: Deadly Shadows against Darkwood.
Voting for the first round is open until 9 am Pacific on Wednesday, October 28. Subsequent rounds will follow a similar accelerated schedule.