What are some games that feel hostile and dangerous?
So, full disclosure, I don't follow the gaming market very well nowadays, videogames aren't my primary hobby.
But this is something that I've been wondering inspired by Silksong, a game I have a few gripes with (the new pogo movements, some bad bosses...) but where I really appreciate how hostile and dangerous the world can feel. With emphasis on THE WORLD. In modern soulslikes (which I tend to like less and less) it seems like there's lots on focus on flashy hardcore boss fights with very little challenge in between. Conversely, in Silksong it feels like the whole level design is out to get you (fight rooms, traps, money being scarce...) and I really like that feeling, it's almost like a dungeon crawler or a survival horror.
Even more than Silksong, Salt & Sanctuary and Blasphemous are my favorite MVs I've played (not just for that reason) and they definitely scratch that itch. I guess I always had a fascination with media that feel kinda hostile, lol.
Are there other games in the genre that feel like that? Like I said, I don't follow videogame news/market that much nowadays, and I play few new titles, but I'm interested to see if there's some hidden gems I missed in that vein. Not necessarily soulslike either, could be a more old school approach as well. I'm just not particularly interested in games where the challenge is mainly/only in the bossfights.
Posted Oct 5, 2025, 3:46 PM UTC