For those unfamiliar, H.R. Giger is a Swiss artist, renowned for his dark and biomechanical art style. His nightmarish creations, featuring grotesque fusions of flesh and machine, heavily influenced the horror genre and video games. For instance, one of the most popular inspirations that stem from Giger’s work is the Alien franchise, but Giger’s horror bleeds into many other creations.
In this list, we will explore some of the most popular Giger-inspired video games that plunge you into the nightmarish worlds.
8. Tormentum: Dark Sorrow (2015)
The developers behind Tormentum: Dark Sorrow have stated that the creation is a direct H.R. Giger influence. This is a point-and-click in which you play as a grimly hooded figure, with a ton of moral and mortal choices that impact your overall campaign. While the puzzles feel simple, what you will love about it is the dark atmosphere and nightmarish creatures all inspired by Giger, and complemented by brash music and mysteries of the realm you will need to explore.
7. Super Metroid 1994
Super Metroid features some subtle nods to H.R. Giger’s biomechanical art style. Certain bosses and later parts of the game have a distinct Giger-esque feel. The Chozo statues that hold Samus’ upgrades even resemble the fossilized alien pilot from the first Alien film. This influence is unsurprising, considering the Metroid director cited Giger as an inspiration. While not drenched in Giger’s nightmarish imagery, Super Metroid is still a fantastic Metroidvania experience and a must-play for fans of the genre and Giger’s art.
6. Alien: Isolation (2014)
This survival horror brings the core of the Alien movies to the video games. You play as Amanda Ripley, hiding from the deadly Xenomorph at the Sevastopol space station. The creature’s design and the station’s bleak atmosphere perfectly capture and combine Giger’s biomechanical and industrial aesthetics. Alien: Isolation is a love letter to the franchise with several memorable horror moments in gaming.
5. SOMA (2015)
SOMA is a sci-fi horror that throws you into a dark atmosphere inspired by Giger’s work. It delves into philosophical themes about consciousness and existence. While the monsters aesthetically reference Giger, the game focuses more on psychological horror than body horror. The game is an environmental masterpiece with underwater monstrosities that come from the minds of Frictional Games, the creators of Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Unlike Amnesia which focuses on gothic horror, SOMA takes place underwater in an abandoned research facility. You play as Simon Jarrett who awakens in the facility with no memories of how he got there.
4. Dark Seed (1992)
Dark Seed is a point-and-click horror game designed in collaboration with H.R. Giger. You play as Mike Dawson, who explores a normal world and a nightmarish parallel dimension crafted in Giger’s signature biomechanical style. The game is known for its disturbing graphics and unique atmosphere, directly inspired by Giger’s dark art.
3. Dark Seed 2 (1995)
Dark Seed 2 (1995) is a sequel to the horror game Dark Seed. You return to the role of Mike Dawson. The game has a normal, regular world and a horrifying Dark World resembling H.R. Giger’s biomechanical art. This sequel uses full-color, photorealistic environments to make the disturbing imagery even more horrifying.
2. Axiom Verge (2015)
Axiom Verge is a Metroidvania game inspired by Metroid and Giger’s art. You play as Trace, a scientist stranded on a mysterious alien world. The game emphasizes exploration and combat with a variety of weapons and abilities. The world design is filled with biomechanical imagery reminiscent of Giger’s work, and while this is the game’s plus side, the eerie resemblance of Metroid will put you off the game. Nevertheless, just because of how well the game transfers Giger’s work to the screen, it deserves the high second spot as a Giger inspired game.
1. Scorn (2022)
Scorn is a first-person biopunk horror game inspired by H.R. Giger. You play as a nameless character exploring a nightmarish world full of grotesque creatures mixing flesh and mechanics. Through this grim atmosphere and entertainment, player needs to solve puzzles while there isn’t much combat elements. Scorn is a perfect example of an H.R. Giger inspired game and deserves a No. 1 spot on this list.