2024 Game of the Year Awards — Achievement Awards

Atmosphere in a game doesn’t always need to be scary, but often it is. Some of the worst game to be in are horror titles, but bright and colorful RPGs can suck you into their world with fantastic architecture and lore. There are many ways a game’s atmosphere can be alluring or dreadful, but the combining efforts of sound design, music, and art make a difference.

Silent Hill 2 (2024)

You could easily say that this one was a no-brainer, but not so fast. Bloober Team has made quite a few horror titles and only a couple had an engaging atmosphere. Silent Hill already has one of the most oppressing and horrifying atmospheres out there and with this being the most recent and up to date game in the series we get next-gen flair to pull us in even more. Some may say this is something they have dreaded all along. Some may adore this. Silent Hill 2’s fog combined with the claustrophobic nature of the buildings and familiarity to everyday life puts us in a position in the game that feels all to close to home.