36. Silent Hill 2 (2001)
What it’s about: A survival horror game about a man who explores the ghost town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead wife.
Why we like it: Often considered to be one of the greatest horror games of all time, Silent Hill 2 focused much of its gameplay and atmosphere around the themes of guilt, trauma, and punishment. From the twisted enemy design to the warped presentation of the town itself, the game remains a prestigious example of interlinking themes with the mechanics in pursuit of its subtext.
The emphasis on exploring psychological themes within a video game was still a relatively new concept in 2001. Horror games were still focused on gore and cheap scares at the time, and this helped Silent Hill 2 to stand out from the crowd.
