Conarium

It's a rare horror adventure that banks on fear rather than gore, and this is one of those. Though not exactly "safe" or kid-friendly, it relies on mature themes designed to provoke real creeping horror: fear of isolation, madness, and what's out there in the dark. Developer Zoetrope Interactive does right by its inspiration, creating a chilling story that builds on H.P. Lovecraft's novella, At the Mountains of Madness. Lovecraft's tale revolves around the discovery of an ancient race (possibly aliens) and their ruined city; Conarium is set in the aftermath of that discovery. The fear starts early when you realize you're all alone, snowed in and trapped inside an abandoned base. This emotion only builds as you search the base for your missing colleagues, and hings only get worse as you rediscover echoing ruins that trigger disturbing flashbacks of experiments gone wrong. The pacing's good for the most part, and tension is high. The only interruptions to these are occasional hard-to-find puzzle solutions. And despite one or two instances of jump scare/monster appearances, the fear is generated in true Lovecraft style, by the hero's own mind. The dread just gets thicker and more palpable until the final sequence, which is like a descent into Hell. Make no mistake; this is a adventure tailor-made for horror fans; as such, it's not for everyone. Then again, neither's H.P. Lovecraft.