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When we decided to update our original list of the scariest adventure games, the plan was to increase the list from ten to twenty so as to not omit any of the games that were on the original list. But times and tastes change, so while some have given up their spots to newcomers, we decided it was better to focus only on the best of the best, or considering the title of the article, the scariest of the scariest.

What is horror? This is a question that has been the subject of voluminous tomes and endless documentaries and editorials. Horror is the psychological terror of Stephen King and the gruesome carnage of Clive Barker. Horror is the loneliness of Frankenstein's monster and the sadism of Freddy Krueger. Horror is a prison system that allows murderers to go free and imprisons marijuana smokers. For the purposes of the subject of this article, let's keep it simple--horror it that which scares you.

Unfortunately, even the best of computer games have been unable to evoke this seemingly simple emotional response on a sustained basis. Too many games go for the cheap, quick approach (i.e., the dogs bursting through the window in Resident Evil) rather than attempting to sustain and build upon a feeling of dread. Interactive adventure games are extremely immersive and time-consuming. An average of 30 to 50 hours may be consumed playing one game, as compared to an average movie length of two hours and an average of 8 to 10 hours to read a book. Computer horror also suffers in that the bond with that game is broken and must be reestablished every time that game is restarted. A good horror film is the equivalent of a two-hour roller coaster ride; a good horror game must whisper for your return to the monitor, regardless of the time of day. Yet the gaming medium has failed, with few exceptions, to elicit a strong emotional response. Once the industry begins to mature and realize that a great script should come before graphics and bloodshed, then, and only then, will computer games attain the level of respect that movies and books have obtained.

As is stands now, it is rare for a "game" to reach that level of emotional involvement.

The following ten games all have something in common. Be it an underlying Lovecraftian theme, computer technology gone mad, a plot driven by psychological horror or a story penned by a well-known horror author and translated to computer imagery. They have all transcended the limitations of the genre and are most assuredly games you should not play with the lights out.

What's #10?