Oct 10, 2021Feature
As Halloween parties are being kept small this year (and being a lot little too old to go trick-or-treating), I had decided to get my sulk on, as opposed to getting my spook on.
Horror movies scare me, I can’t watch the Gremlins, and even get the heebie-jeebies from The Grinch. I admit it. I am a bit of a scaredy-cat. But I do really LOVE Halloween and this time of year.
So when I realized that candy is still abundant and mildly scary games perfect for Halloween exist, I was over the moon! Now, I’m super excited to curl up (in the warmth!) on the 31st, eat too many snacks, and play some of those slightly spooky games. So if you’re in the same boat as me, or are looking for something fun to do with kids, look no further!
Here are some wholesome games with Halloween events and some standalone slightly spooky games you should play this Halloween.
Nintendo was very cryptic regarding the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Halloween event when it first launched. So cryptic in fact, that players had no idea what the seasonal event would entail, and many wondered if it would happen at all!
But just when all seemed lost and Halloween canceled, Nintendo decided to casually drop the game’s fall update and even added new items this year around. And what an update it was! The introduction of real pumpkins, brand new eye and skin colors, Halloween costumes, and spooky furniture were just a few fab features from the update.
*Pssst* If you haven’t already spook-ified your island, it’s not too late! Here are some spooktacular island tunes and flags, pumpkin patches, and decor ideas to inspire you before Jack is back.
Be sure to check out your island between 5pm and midnight on the 31st to witness and participate in the spooky shenanigans occurring. Island residents will gather in the splendidly spooky-looking plaza at 5pm. You’ll also receive a visit from Jack, the “czar of Halloween.” If you indulge Jack’s sweet tooth and give him lollipops and candy, you’ll get spooky rewards in return.
Ooblets is described as ‘a farming, creature collection, and town life game where you build up your farm, befriend townsfolk, grow Ooblets, and have dance-offs’.
Developers and publishers of the indie game, Glumberland have been working their socks off to make the quirky little game the best that it can be. Excitingly, they released an early access version of Ooblets back in July of this year. Glumberland have been open about the game having some unfinished bits and bobs, and that players may encounter a few bugs. This is, however, to be expected in any early access game.
How is this relevant to Halloween you might ask? Well, back in September, Ooblets posted some very exciting tweets about the next update for the game. These posts spoke of a new area (named Nullwhere) for players to explore in update 0.4. Spooktacular images of Nullwhere were shared in the below tweet, which confirmed a Ooblets Halloween update.
Fast forward to October and fans got a (pretty darn awesome!) jump scare:
To check out the new update introducing new recipes a new area and more, you can download the Ooblets early access here for $24.99. The game is currently only available on Windows, however, Glumberland hopes to release it on other platforms in the future.
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time, it’s even worse.
As fall turns to winter, Mae notices that strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s definitely something in the woods. This charming game with a beautiful soundtrack and enthralling narrative is a must-play. Night in the Woods is playable on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One, Android, Macintosh operating systems, and iOS.
Night in The Woods is currently available on Steam, you can grab it here for just $19.99.
Described as a cross between Harry Potter and Animal Crossing, Konami published Magicians Quest: Mysterious Times for Nintendo DS in Japan on the 12th of November 2008. The cute game hit the shelves in the US on the 11th of May 2009. Magician’s Quest: Mysterious Times is a fantasy life simulation game for the Nintendo DS.
After customizing the appearance, name, and gender of their character, players are able to attend classes at the game’s magic academy. During classes, players will learn spells and incantations, alongside their classmates. Some of the game’s more amusing features include dating other students, playing instruments with others, and pranking (and getting pranked by) others.
When Mystery Time events are triggered in the game, however, things get a bit weird. On the 29th of October each year, a forced Halloween-themed Mystery Time event occurs. For added spookiness, the game also has a haunted house containing unfriendly ghosts and a ‘shady’ dude chilling in the graveyard (as you do!).
Costume Quest is a Halloween-themed party-based RPG game. The game was developed by Double Fine Productions and published by THQ. The player controls a kid who is out trick-or-treating with their twin sibling. When a monster kidnaps their twin, the player must travel around the neighborhood and collect candy, items for their costume, and other children to aid them in fighting the monster and rescuing their sibling.
The game released on October 19th, 2010, and is playable on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. The game’s sequel, Costume Quest 2 released on October 31st, 2014.
If you haven’t already played them, you can grab them both as a bargain bundle for just $4.99 until November 3rd.
Thimbleweed Park is a pixel-art-stylized puzzle-mystery game. The tiny town of Thimbleweed Park is home to 80 very strange people. Five people with nothing in common find themselves drawn to the town. They are all connected, although they don’t immediately know it.
Nor do these strangers know that somebody’s watching them. Despite the game featuring pixel graphics, with a rotting corpse, an abandoned circus, and a haunted house, the game is a far cry from Stardew Valley. The game is available to play on Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac.
If you don’t yet own a copy, the game is discounted by 60% to just $6.99 on Steam until November 2nd.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 released on Nintendo Switch on October 31st of last year. Considering its release date, players got a sneaky suspicion that Luigi’s Mansion 3 may be a good game to play on Halloween. They assumed correctly.
Luigi receives a dream vacation package with Mario and friends to stay in a luxurious hotel. But the friends never seem to catch a break, right? Once at the hotel, King Boo (booo!) reveals that it was all a ploy and captures everyone! The hotel contains an abundance of uniquely-themed designs, puzzles, and, you guessed it: Ghosts. But with his new ghostbusting equipment with new abilities, Luigi’s got things in the bag. He thinks.
Alternatively, you can play in co-op mode with one other player. After unlocking Luigi’s gooey doppelganger ‘Gooigi’, you can pair up in solving perplexing puzzles and ghostbusting ghouls. But the multi-player fun doesn’t stop there! For example, in the game’s ‘ScreamPark, you and seven others can play mini-games together on a single console. Additionally, you can gather a group of eight others, either online or via local wireless play in an attempt to conquer the ‘ScareScraper’.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is an action adventure RPG game. The game initially released in Japan for PS4 on the 30th of November 2017. It then released worldwide on the 15th of May 2018. The game was developed by A+ Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is currently playable on PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows.
if you’re unfamiliar with Little Witch Academia, it is an anime series about a school for training witches, Luna Nova Academy. The protagonist of the series, Akko, is a Japanese girl from a non-magical background.
In the game, you must uncover the mysteries at Luna Nova Academy with Akko and her friends. Players get to explore dungeons, cast spells, and use witchcraft, in order to discover the seven wonders, and solve the peculiar shift in time.
Another addition to the list which is kinda like Stardew valley, but a bit darker is Graveyard Keeper.
Graveyard Keeper is a simulation game set in medieval times, where players take on the responsibilities of a cemetery manager. You must gather resources and create your very own environment. To do this, you need to build and manage your graveyard, find ways to cut costs, and ultimately to help the dead find peace.
Perfect for Halloween, Graveyard Keeper has some elements of dark humor. Examples of this include, taking a break from graveyard keeping, and instead, participating in witch-burning festivals, or scaring locals into attending church.
Making this game more Halloween-y, is the recent release of the Graveyard Keeper – Game of Crone DLC on October 27th.
You’ll have to help the escaped prisoners of the Inquisition survive in the wilderness by providing them with everything they need. To develop their camp into a fortified settlement while keeping in mind its benefits. To protect those who entrusted you with their lives, from the sword and fire. And also – to untangle the circumstances of the cruel game, which turned into the Great Blast and the return of the Ancient Curse.
Released on the 28th of October, also just in time for Halloween, is the Graveyard Keeper Strangers Sins DLC, which we covered here!
The Graveyard Keeper Game of Crone DLC can be purchased for just $8.99 here. Alternatively, if you do not yet own the base game, at the time of writing, you can get a hefty 63% off the Graveyard Keeper Collector’s Edition here. For only $19.75, the Collector’s Edition contains Graveyard Keeper, Graveyard Keeper OST, Graveyard Keeper Artbook, Graveyard Keeper – Stranger Sins, Graveyard Keeper – Game of Crone.
Animal Crossing Pocket Camp is the mobile version of the much beloved Animal Crossing series. While it doesn’t offer the freedom of the console games, it still does a great job at delivering a super cute gaming experience.
During the month of October there will be plenty of Halloween themed events with spooky furniture and decoration items that you can use to turn your campsite into the ultimate Halloween Haunted House. The Pocket Camp team does a great job making the entire month of October feel spooky and fun!
Oct 28, 2019Quick Bits
Graveyard Keeper has often been compared to Stardew Valley with a creepy twist. Instead of growing pretty flowers and yummy veggies, you find yourself working on a graveyard tending to dead bodies. Just in time for Halloween the game gets a DLC called Stranger Sins.
Graveyard Keeper takes the player back to medieval time, where you will have to take on all the responsibilities of a cemetery manager. The simulation game allows you gather resources to create your very own environment by building and managing your own graveyard, finding ways to cut costs and make sure that all the dead find rest and peace.
Of course the game delivers this dark-ish gameplay with a pinch of humor. For example you can also turn to more fun activities like witch-burning festivals, or simply strolling through your yard and scaring nearby villagers into attending church – the choices are yours!
Oct 17, 2019News
Graveyard keepers has often been compared to Stardew Valley with a creepy twist. Instead of growing pretty flowers and yummy veggies, you find yourself working on a graveyard tending to dead bodies. Just in time for Halloween the game gets a DLC called Stranger Sins.
Graveyard Keeper takes the player back to medieval time, where you will have to take on all the responsibilities of a cemetery manager. The simulation game allows you gather resources to create your very own environment by building and managing your own graveyard, finding ways to cut costs and make sure that all the dead find rest and peace.
Of course the game delivers this dark-ish gameplay with a pinch of humor. For example you can also turn to more fun activities like witch-burning festivals, or simply strolling through your yard and scaring nearby villagers into attending church – the choices are yours!
The upcoming Stranger Sins DLC will add an additional 4-8 hours of gameplay that will come in the form of dozens of new quests from the villagers. It also adds the option to build and run you very own tavern. As a special treat fans can learn and witness the events of 200 years ago to learn more about the worlds story and your personal heritage in the game.
The Stranger Sins DLC will release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam on October 28th.
If you are looking for some more magic life simulation RPG fun, check out Witchbrook!
Jun 21, 2019News
Graveyard Keeper appears to be a darker game than what you would normally expect on your daily visit to myPotatoGames, but a closer look at the game reveals that its not much different from beloved franchises like Stardew Valley and other simulation games in the genre.
Graveyard Keeper takes the player back to medieval time, where you will have to take on all the responsibilities of a cemetery manager. The simulation game allows you gather resources to create your very own environment by building and managing your own graveyard, finding ways to cut costs and make sure that all the dead find rest and peace.
Of course the game delivers this dark-ish gameplay with a pinch of humor. For example you can also turn to more fun activities like witch-burning festivals, or simply strolling through your yard and scaring nearby villagers into attending church – the choices are yours!
Fans of farming simulation games like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon and other similar games might feel right at home in Graveyard Keeper. It is a slow moving and relaxing game where you can decide how to tackle it. Choices are yours, creativity is unleashed in the build mode and interacting with the various characters in the game is great fun.
Graveyard keeper is available on PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4 and will be heading to Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android on June 27th, 2019. Check out the fun gameplay trailer for the game below!
For more simulation fun check out Arclands where you play the role of wizard, banished to a treacherous place called the Arclands.