5. Monsters, Mutants and Cannibals 

My what nice teeth you have. 

Cannibals, mutants and cyborgs. Oh my! One of humanity’s deepest fears is suddenly being bumped down a spot on the food chain. This can happen in a number of ways. Death can come in the form of a wild animal, like one of earth’s top carnivores. Death could also come into the form of a mutation, which can turn something that was once harmless into a threat. It could even come in the form of a human so detached from their humanity that they become little more than animals themselves.

We fear monsters for the same reason we fear a hurricane. What makes monsters in video games scary, apart from the claws and teeth, is their lack of humanity. They cannot be reasoned with, and given the chance they will eat you.

It is going to be tough to top the apex predator of the alien franchise, but there are some hungry monsters this year that refused to be overlooked. The afflicted of Pamela were once human, but have become so twisted by an unknown disease that there is barely any humanity left. The half-cyborg thralls of SHODAN in the upcoming remake of System Shock could also be arguably lumped into this category as well.

Examples of games in this genre:

• The Forest (2014) 

Just your luck to crash landed into a jungle full of cannibals. 

• System Shock 2 (1999)

Humans are only useful as her cyborg slaves.

• Silent Hill 

Silent Hill makes us face our own personal demons. 

• Slender: The Arrival (2013)

He is right behind you. 

• Five Nights and Freddy's (2014)

Brace yourself. Jump scares are coming.

• Emily Wants to Play

Emily and her three nightmare-fuel dolls want to play. 

• Resident Evil Series

Tons of zombies AND monsters!