[VR Game Review] Dread Halls: The Gold Standard of VR Horror

Boogeyman (which I reviewed yesterday) notwithstanding, Dread Halls is the only "real" horror game for VR right now. Albino Lullaby is creepy but I wouldn't call it terrifying. The Vive has the Brookhaven Experiment, but that's just a horror themed wave shooter. When it comes to exploring dark subterranean passages while being stalked by unfathomable monsters, Dread Halls is currently the only game in town.

Dread Halls is available on both Oculus Rift and Gear VR, the only difference being graphical fidelity. I wouldn't call it gorgeous but it is up to modern standards, and it's not like you'll have time to closely study environmental details while running from demons, leaving a trail of terror turds behind you. When it comes to being frightening, Dread Halls does not disappoint.

It doesn't rely on jump scares either, to its credit. Rather, while wandering in the dark you're liable to turn a corner and come face to face with one or more of the game's bestiary of interesting monsters. Each has its own set of behaviors, such as being drawn to light, or only moving when you're not looking ala the weeping angels from Dr. Who.

It's quite like those "be chased around a maze by a monster" Unity based games that are a dime a dozen on Gamejolt, only with a lot of polish. That's not trash talk either, they've done as much with that core concept as you can reasonably expect. The labyrinths can be randomly generated, and in each major area of the game, the architecture and materials the corridors are made from changes.

Besides that much appreciated visual variety, there's also something of a story here. You will occasionally find scrolls left for you by someone you know, who has gone on ahead because it was no longer safe to wait for you to show up. I can't say much more without spoilers, but besides the scrolls, lore is also doled out from talking stone medusa heads mounted to the wall in exchange for gold coins.

In addition to gold coins you can collect a small selection of useful items like more oil for your lantern (which you must periodically refill), lock picks (which can be used to open locked doors and chests more quickly) and eyeballs, the macguffin you're after in every labyrinth you visit.

These RPG-ish gameplay elements help it to feel like more of a proper fleshed out game. Which it is, but only barely. There's nothing else to it but exploring each maze, avoiding monsters and retrieving the eyeball you need to open up the next level hub. That said, it's frankly more sophistication than was necessary in a game the main purpose of which is to scare you.

Its simplicity and random generation option greatly increases replay value. This has become my go-to game when I want to be spooped, and for demoing to friends who've not yet tried VR. The monster encounters are legitimately heart attack inducing, and while you're able to run, there's an endurance gameplay mechanic which slows you down from exhaustion pretty quickly.

This adds some meager strategy to the game. Ducking into narrow corridors that the largest monster cannot follow you into for example, or shutting doors behind you to slow down your pursuer. Control is artificial locomotion with the standard options for snap turning or smooth turning as you'd expect.

Interpret this rating within the context that this game essentially has no competition right now. Among the available scary games for VR, this one is the closest to what you probably expect and want out of a VR horror game. But only just, and that's reflected in the modest price of $9.99. All told, I give Dread Halls an 8/10.

^{All images courtesy of Oculus and White Door Games.}