Top 10 Most Atmospheric Games Of The Decade

Around this time of year, and especially this time of decade, a lot of people will start compiling lists of video games. However, they all seem to be concerned with such trivial matters as which game is the best, or the most influential, or similar things like that. Instead of something like that, heres a list of the top ten most atmospheric games of the decade the games which make us feel like a part of the worlds we are shown, the ones which draw us into the imagination of the designers and only let us go once the game is complete.

[digitalivan]

My top favorites are BioShock and Heavy Rain. I wonder why Heavy Rain didn't make the list. That rainy intro made me drop my jaw. The unique atmosphere kept me immersed through the whole game.
EDIT: and also Resident Evil 4.

[imvix]

Dont think anything comes close to Stalker COP complete as long as atmosphere is concerned.

It uses the following mod as part of the package:

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Havent seen any game do weather like this.

[LunaticBrandon]

I don't think a single game with preset weather for its levels comes close to that and CoP is all dynamic.

[BattleAxe]

The Darkness has more atmosphere than any of those games in that list. I still don't get why people think Half Life 2 is so great, it was a really bland game with good graphics and physics that could have been condensed to around 10 hours because it was soooo drawn out.

[captain-obvious]

Amnesia on PC

[Ranshak]

Nothing Compares to COP Complete imo.

[kramun]

I've gotta agree about Stalker, the games (the first game and also COP) were so atmospheric. I don't think a single game comes close, nothing I've ever played has filled me with dread like those games have.

The first time you go underground and encounter a bloodsucker......brrr.....that moment stays in your mind forever.

[jony_dols]

Alan Wake, Resi 4 & Amnesia.

[shadow2797]

That mod looks fantastic. Color me impressed.

[MaxXAttaxX]

They're all shooters. Almost all are FPS.
Great.

Would it have hurt them to put a couple of non-Western games there?

This is an Opinion Piece, not an "article".

[RankFTW]

MY personal favorite atmospheric game from the last decade is MGS3 Snake Eater Subsistence. But System Shock 2 is still number one on every list but that came out in 1999 so it doesn't count.

[paintsville]

Allan Wake and Dead Space should definately be on this list.

[realiks]

also uncharted 2.

[AndrewRyan]

Atmosphere, not graphics my man.

[Brewski007]

Bioshock and Heavy Rain are both great and totally immersive.
Also I would add Amnesisa - The Dark Descent. That game is probably the scariest game i have ever played... even watching youtube videos of people freaking out is hillarious.

[Pintheshadows]

I played Amnesia with a Paratrooper and a few other guys once. we all pooed ourselves. Does that mean I'm as hard as a Paratrooper?

[HINDERIZATION]

i recently watched a playthrough of Amnesia on youtube and got freaked out even though i was just watching. i felt that adrenaline rush, man!

[BlackTar187]

i real good one is Prenumbra Overture for scare the crap out of you games.

well it scared me with 7.1 headphones

[Winning]

Red Dead pulled me into the West. Especially at night when you see some people sitting by a campfire. You join them and they tell you a story or something.

[jony_dols]

Aye.

[LastDance]

Silent Hill 2?
Shadow of the Colossus?
Ico?

[MaxXAttaxX]

Not Western enough apparently.

[Gameolio]

Definitely agree on those choices

[Darkfocus]

my top 10 is
STALKER (whole series)
Metro2033
HL1&2
System shock 2
Metroid Prime
Amnesia The Dark Decent
SotC
ICO
The Witcher
Demons Souls

[XxPURExX]

Demons Souls and The Witcher had a awesome atmosphere

[nskrishna2]

Max Payne numero uno...for good reason too...till date it remains my fav game ever...

[sourav93]

Off topic...but does anyone else see the resemblance between the story picture and a section from the Killzone 2/3 map salamun market? Or is it just me?

[mc-fine]

Max Payne was awesome. Love the theme music. Such a great game.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Istanbull]

Shadow of the Colossus
ICO
Heavy Rain
Metroid Prime 1
Uncharted 2
Half Life 2
Bioshock 1
Shenmue

Close thread/

[Kurt Russell]

Fair list

[ShabbaRanks]

AVP 2 ? ...

Alot of people forget just how good this game ones for its day ...

[TheDivine]

nice id add alan wake best atmoshere ever.

[Queefy_B]

Glad to see stalker there but should have been higher.

[Shaka2K6]

.

[aviator189]

Good list, but I definitely would put Alan Wake on that list.

[AntiHeroComplex]

deus ex 1 bitches. idc if its not in this decade. That game surpasses time and reality as we know it.

@ Disagree: Reveal yourself mofo. Ill break your legs.

[danielle007]

Wasn't deus ex released in 2000? Unless they're going from 2001 to 2011.. Which I guess they could bee..

[Danielmccue]

Dude lighten up, stop being so aggressive.

[AntiHeroComplex]

Sorry if i hurt your feelings kid. too bad idc about it.

[room414]

I disagreed with you twice. Whatcha gonna do about it bitch? Lol

[AntiHeroComplex]

@room414.

Excellent. At this point we can proceed to take this situation to a whole new level. A neutral meeting place must be arranged, where we can discuss the nature of gaming as well as which games had best atmosphere of the decade. After a constructive discussion i suppose the best course of action would be to beat your ass till its purple and send you home wailing like a little baby.

[room414]

Well you know that's never gonna happen. Meeting to fight over internet comments but keep acting like a tough guy lol.

If you're ever in Vancouver look me up though it would be fun. #414-344 E. Hastings St.

Yes that's my real address and no i'm not the least bit concerned about giving it out on the internet. You would probably piss yourself just walking through my neighborhood.

You have a good evening kid.

[Pintheshadows]

Haha, one day I might come find you in Vancouver. "Hey, you know that time you gave your address out on N4G".

Don't worry I won't really.

Or will I.

Nah, plane tickets are expensive from England. :)

[antz1104]

LOL, AntiHero got OWNED.

[BlackTar187]

Im just gonna LOL at the tuff areas in vancouver. Really ;)

[room414]

Of course. Just like any big city.

[Legion]

I will add a disagree to that post for you. (and give you a ball-peen hammer and you still are just talk)

Loved Deus Ex but it didn't rank in the atmosphere department.

I would have had to put Condemned and Alan Wake on the list. Condemned ranked right up there with F.E.A.R. on the shock meter... thinking every second something was going to jump out and attack you. Alan Wake just oozed atmosphere. Why is Half Life 2 on the list? And Fallout 3? Really?? Atmosphere???

An arcade game that should be on the list is Limbo. And I would think of putting Shadow of the Colossus on that list.

[news4geeks]

good list, some of my all time fav games in there.

[ct03]

I'm impressed they chose Call of Cthulhu as No. 2. Not many people know the game, but it is soooooo good and very atmospheric indeed.

[Bigbangbing]

More like most atmospheric FPS's of the decade...

[rumplstilts]

No Knytt Stories?

[WiIIiam]

I like the list, but I would have added the remake of Resident Evil for Gamecube

[Tex117]

Demon's Souls needed to be on there.

They actually tell the story through the atmosphere.

[Slimshadyn]

I'm playing it now so I'm a little biased, but I agree. Love how dark and dreary it is. It feels like a world that demons would be in.

[Tex117]

Yeah, it is hard not to be bias, but still. They use the atmosphere as a story mechanic. The story is smeared across the walls.

[MysticStrummer]

Agreed. This list is a sham without Demon's Souls in my opinion.

[knowledge4lfe]

without a question. probably #2 behind bioshock last decade for best atmosphere. although max payne's atmosphere was unreal

[trophywhore1]

Pftt where the fack is heavy rain? That is all.

[heylo]

agree with Max Payne 2 and FEAR

[megalonagyix]

agree with FEAR, MP, HL, Doom, and STALKER
i'd add Condemned, and Amnesia

[ATiElite]

Stalker COPc is the best.
Doom, MP, FEAR, and Amnesia are awesome as well.
I would put HL2 in there also. It's the first game i ever played where i really felt oppressed and i cared for the NPC's while going through the story.

i still get sad when you first get a handgun and the combine beats the crap outta that dude and his girl is crying, that right there really sets the tone for wanting to kick butt.

[bozebo]

Hitman Contracts
Morrowind
Fable

Atmosphere doesn't have to be horror. They probably wouldn't be in my top 10 though.

[Johandevries]

Call of Pripyat generally has a less gripping atmosphere than SoC, but at one time I really was so tense that I just had to leave the area as quickly as possible. I was in an old factory complex, a rainy day, and there was this constant suspense like I remembered it from X-18 and X-16, but all the while nothing really scary happened. Just because of my past history playing STALKER and knowing how they can completely fuck your mind up, I could not stand the fear any longer. A rare moment, and games that are supposed to be more scary, never actually scare me. In the tradition of Lovecraft: ''What one does not see or meet, one actually fears the most''

[ATiElite]

I take it you where in Lab X8 under Yanov. you used the Red and Yellow cards. I hated that place and especially when one of the Burrers was tricking me by crying like a baby. that really freaked me out.

After that I was never so happy to get above ground and see a Zombie.

[NeoSprtacus]

Dead Space should be on that list

[MysticStrummer]

Agreed. Also, I'd leave GTA off the list and put in RDR.

[Quagmire]

I'd keep them both, despite RDR having the better story, they both portrayed their environements very well, the city and life in liberty City was as believable as the western outback of RDR

[Johandevries]

My top five of atmospheric games is:
-STALKER
-The Saboteur
-Vice City
-You are Empty!
-Far Cry 2 (gameplay had serious flaws, but oh damn, the environments)

Edit: I forgot Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason.

[Big_Dom]

Vice City is a great shout. Most would never think to mention that in regards to atmposphere, because they think atmosphere is mostly about horror. Vice City captured the 80's vibe flawlessly.

[Pintheshadows]

Clever inclusion of the Saboteur as well.

[The_Nameless_One]

Where's Heavy Rain, Demon's Souls, Amnesia: The Dark Descent...to name a few. Do these guys even play games?

[SuicideShaun]

Halo should be in here. It has very good atmospheres. Also stalker should be higher.

[SuicideShaun]

If you're going to disagree at least tell me why. I don't care what you say, halo has great environments.

Just look at the amazing backgrounds and epic ships in the atmosphere.

[ATiElite]

iDK about Halo. I've played it many times but i never felt like i was there or it was me against the world. Halo really didn't make me feel like i was truly immersed into another world like STalker or these other games do.

The one part that did was when you first got to the planet right before getting the Warthog and you met up with the drop ship and the other troops and defended that fort thing. That part brought me into the game.

I didn't agree or disagree just voiced an opinion

[kyl277]

Max Payne is one of the best games ever, it deserved #1.

[S-T-F-U]

God I so loved Max Payne, just wish I could bring myself to play it all over again. Ahhh the memories :D

[GodofSackboy]

MGS4

[Saladfax]

Except MGS4 doesn't really tell the story via environments.

It tells the story through cutscenes. Lots of them.

[ShabbaRanks]

AVP 2 should have been on that list ...

[LightSamus]

Silent Hill 2 definitely deserves to be on that list.

[lochdoun]

LIMBO

[phello]

That part in Call of Cthulhu when you are asleep and they try get into the room was pure genious. It scared the sh*t out of me.

[kramun]

The whole game was genius, it was so original. A shame the devs went out of business, it deserved a sequel and maybe the game would have got a bit more support as the bugs it had were one of the only bad things about it.

[Saladfax]

Grrrr. The ending sequence always pissed me off. I kept getting the early death bug, so I had to get a trainer to crank up my character's speed so he wouldn't die.

[Venoxn4g]

Silent hill 2 & 3
Alan Wake
Dead space
fatal frame series
REZ
Metroid prime
bioshock

[guigsy]

Metro 2033 has a fantastic atmosphere.

[stigmurder]

Having played every single one of these games, I'm gonna have to disagree on the order they were listed. Rapture in Bioshock was definitely the most atmospheric game world on this list. The rest were very good though

[Rage_S90]

shadow of the colossus

[Kos-Mos]

Beware people. This list is meant for teens.

[Hazmat13]

what? no Metro 2033? that game was fucking epic cant wait for Metro 2034 on PS3/360 and PC!!!

[KotC]

System Shock

[qadsia123]

Bioshock,Manhunt and arkham asylum.

[Snatcher]

Ahh... let's see.

Max Payne 1 & 2
Braid
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Dead Space
Ghost Master

[SpartanPrince]

The dark, dreary skies that make you feel like you can even choke on the air. Red eyes always coming at you from the distence. The heavy feeling of the weapons and bodies burning in front of you.

Definitely KZ2

[TheMutator]

Killzone the ultra mediocre game without feeling lol this game is soulless than the devil

[Big_L]

You're on page 2 of the comments bud, saying anything pro killzone here will get you KILLED xD

They're in denial, salamun market was intensely atmospheric

[tiphanycufflink]

You might as well just say Pokemon, Call of Duty, and Kane & Lynch should be on this list XD

[Shane Kim]

Have to agree with Spartan. KZ2 had atmosphere.

[Xfanboy]

STALKER!!!!

[user858621]

Alan Wake

[snipes101]

What about Metro 2033? The atmosphere in that game was great!

[TheMutator]

mehhhh where is Alan Wake????

[Workshyskiver]

Alan Wake for me.

[DigitalHorror81]

For me....Half-Life 2 and Condemned:Criminal Origins.

Edit: Oh! I forgot, Amnesia!

[Big_L]

Mafia 2 and KOTOR were pretty atmospheric for me

[The_Zeitgeist]

I'd say Bioshock or The Darkness are the most atmospheric games I have ever played. The Witcher is right up there for me as well.

[ghost04]

Max Payne, there's a game way before it's time. Bullet time, the attention to detail: being able to shoot bottles, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, rats even. the kill cam on the sniper rifle. The interaction like turning on the t.v, turning on sink faucets, getting a pop out of the pop machine even. The winter in New York setting, along with the chilling story made it feel that much colder

[pcz]

shit list.

needs a silent hill.

needs resident evil

hidden atmospheric gems like fragile dreams.

[Picnic]

People don't say it a lot but the first Max Payne game, for all its Bullet Time showing off, was a scary game. The opening of course but then just large sections where it's you wandering through cold unforgiving locations in New York where there is graffiti strewn inside buildings, people on Valkyr and booby traps, going through this eternal maze in reality and in your mind knowing that none of it can end completely happily. No wonder Remedy went on to make Alan Wake- Max Payne was a bit of a survival horror really. The sequel is scary too of course (e.g. the fun house) but you feel a bit more secure by the love story. I think that the original has a particular lonely seediness and grittiness which is unsettling.

[Dead_Cell]

Anything Lovecraftian done well would make the list, so Call of Cthulu is basically a given.

Vice City and F.E.A.R were both awesome.
It's a shame F.E.A.R never aged well, The first time I watched a pair of legs be dragged up a ventilation shaft and then instantly have something jump through a window at me I shit a Platinum brick.

[Shane Kim]

Can't believe he didn't mention SotC. That game is atmosphere defined.

[ATiElite]

What a laughable list. Nothing compares to the ScopC.

First off a huge portion of Chernobyl, Pripyat and the surrounding area has been recreated as it actually looks today in this game.
the weather is dynamic, 24 hour day night cycle, rain, wind, dust storms, clouds, stars, and walking around by moonlight sneaking up on NPC's is the best of any game ever (except MGS).
enemies or animals will hear you splashing water or rustling through bushes and react accordingly. certain fields make noise when the wind blows.

Shooting a gun in the dark produces real-time lighting effects. The game has the best sun rises and sunsets ever in the history of video games. You actually have a sense of being all alone in this game because of the open world go any where concept the game has and this means above or below ground, caves, buildings, and Anomolies.

go under ground into the labs and tunnels and the game goes from wide open fun to down out right scary as the sound effects, screams, and echoes of fallen objects only intensify the movements of supernatural enemies that you encounter. And to top it all off are The Blowouts. this is when the Nuclear Reactor spews a huge radiation storm all across the game killing everything and everyone in it's path. the sky changes in real-time with radiated red dust, lightning and high winds that effect your characters speed. (nothing is worse than carrying too many items and being hungry when the Blowout siren goes off).

Watching a Blowout from cover as the storm kills birds, mutants, animals, and NPC's characters that didn't make it to cover is something I haven't seen done this realistically in any video game plus the blowouts changes the positions of anomalies and artifacts every time they happen.

[Squadron40Dive]

DEAD space !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Relientk77]

Final Fantasy games

amazing atmospheres

[cb4g]

My list would include:

Bully
Arkham Asylum
Vice City or San Andreas
Red Dead Redemption
Fallout 3
The Saboteur
Persona 3
Mafia (PC version)

[Big_Dom]

Nothing touches Half Life 2 as far as atmospherics go. The music, setting, sound effects, visuals - they all compliment each other like no other game. And just when you think the game won't change it's setting, you step into Ravenholm at night time, and suddenly the game now has a survival horror element to it that is genuinly brick-shitting inducing.

Majora's Mask is also dripping with atmosphere.

[Pintheshadows]

Even though it was broken, Vampire the Masquerade had a well built atmosphere. Also Thief and System Shock 2. Both games filled with tension.

[Der_Kommandant]

The Darkness
Oblivion
Siren
Dead Space
Manhunt
Read Dead Redemption

[andreasx]

KOTOR anyone?? the best atmospheric game i believe... :DD

[SIGH-BORG88]

My fav last year: LIMBO
Also, DeadSpace, Red Dead Redemption, Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, and Portal

[D0UbleF_]

You're right about some of them, but not the whole list is like "perfect".

[GodSquad]

Most atmospheric games of the decade? Most, if not all of those games came out LAST DECADE.

[downwardspiral]

i'm a big fan of the red dead redemption atmosphere. I thought they captured that western feeling very well.

[Alos88]

Every single one was a shooter. Would Silent Hill 2 count as this decade? It's more atmospheric than half the games listed.

[EVO-OM3GA]

My favourite atmosphere..
Doom3 on Xbox that game scares the crap outta me
Condemned-the way the AI behaved in that game and the whole enviroment was not nice.
Gears 1
Crimson Butterfly on Xbox

I don't play scary games often lol

[MrChow666]

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth deserves a sequel! it was so good and stayed true to the tales of H.P Lovecraft

[Venoxn4g]

I really did forget .. Fragile dreams :)

[Game0N]

dead space

[artynerd]

This list seems like it comes from someone who hasn't played a lot of games. Namely:

any Silent Hill game (minus Homecoming)
Heavy Rain
Shenmue
Alan Wake
Ico
Syberia
Shadow of the Colossus
Condemned
any Resident Evil game
Siren: Blood Curse
Red Dead Redemption
Mass Effect
Uncharted
Dead Space

[mastershredder]

This article uses the word atmosphere or a derivative 19 times without ever really going into why the titles he listed are atmospherically worthy of mention as top 10 of the decade. If this is the type of journalism people are eating....we are in trouble.

Elaborate please. Saying "It was good, it had atmosphere", Is not very convincing.

[spunnups]

From what I've played personally, Resident Evil 1, Demon's Souls, Bioshock, and Shadow of the Colossus are on another level

[dreamoner]

the first that came to my mind...

THE WITCHER baby.

[KrystofKage1]

No Alan Wake? Like the gameplay or not, the atmosphere for the game is without a doubt top notch.

Same with Batman: AA, Red Dead Redemption, Silent Hill, etc..

[callahan09]

I am probably forgetting some important choices here, but off the top of my head:

1. Demon's Souls
2. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
3. Silent Hill 2
4. Metroid Prime
5. Bioshock
6. Shadow of the Colossus
7. Heavy Rain
8. Dead Space
9. Limbo
10. Alan Wake

[Lazy_Gamer]

Great list but sad to see many atmospheric games left out.

[dkgshiz]

Too bad they are ruining Max Payne 3 by bringing him to Brazil or some South American country. They also turned him into a meth bum. They really need to just have Max in New York were he belongs.