Bug-Infested Games Are Scary!
The days are getting shorter and the nights are growing longer. It’s that time of year when the horror genre dominates pop culture; when audiences watch movies with bated breath and brave anxiety-inducing games. While plenty of releases deliver expertly crafted scares, I’m more interested in the flawed execution. After all, sometimes the scariest thing in a video game isn’t the monsters – it’s the bugs!
Launch Nightmares
Cyberpunk 2077
After releasing one of the greatest games in the medium, hype was at an all-time high for Cyberpunk 2077. However, when the sci-fi epic was released, it was packed with bugs and atrocities that quickly transformed the gritty, neon-drenched world into a twisted nightmare.
Fallout: New Vegas
As great as the series is, the Fallout games are packed with glitches, often leading to hilarious outcomes. New Vegas, which is arguably the finest entry, suffered with issues, making each step a tentative one as you never knew when the game would crash and you’d lose your progress. Terrifying.
Assassin’s Creed Unity
Ubisoft’s celebrated series had just released the critically acclaimed Black Flag, and fans were eager for a true next-gen entry that would showcase the power of modern consoles. What they got instead was a title riddled with bugs: assassinations that sent body parts rocketing into the sky, and the infamous “faceless” glitch, where characters loaded in with only floating eyes and teeth, like creatures straight out of a George A. Romero film.
Unsettling Glitches
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda games are known for their fair share of bugs, and Skyrim is no exception. While there are plenty to choose from, one of the most unsettling involves the mannequins. These strange, lifeless figures are scattered throughout your home, but every so often, they’ll shift position or suddenly appear behind you, turning your cozy abode into a creepy maze where you never truly feel safe.
WWE 2K20
Unfinished and broken, WWE 2K20 is a wrestling fan’s nightmare. Superstars fall through the ring and the gameplay is a bug-infested mess. Although absolutely hilarious, it’s also quite disturbing to see your favourite wrestler morphed into a hideous monster.
The Sims
The simulation series has dominated the genre since its inception. At its core, it’s a wholesome title that allows you to navigate your family through the complexities of life; however, the abundance of glitches makes this a harrowing title that will leave you with nightmares. From Slender Man-looking characters to babies with missing eyes, the glitches continually change to make this a creepy affair each time you play.
Red Dead Redemption
A classic game which features immaculate storytelling features a horrendous bug. There’s a certain vulnerability when out in the wild west, there could be bandits, animals, plenty of dangers that require you to stay alert. However, no one could predict the horrific ‘Manimals’ that dwell in the outdoors. Hilarious but bloody weird, these hybrid creatures can be seen hiding in bushes and at times, even flying through the sky!
Well, there you have it! If you’re after a different kind of fright this Halloween, skip the horror titles as these terrifying bugs will do the trick. Who needs zombies when you’ve got accidental nightmare fuel?
Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.