It should be a standard horror affair, but SCP: Containment Breach outdoes itself. Games like Slender: The Arrival and F.E.A.R. attempt to achieve a similar feel to this game, but they don't quite make it. With the legal battle the SCP Community is about to engage in over its copyright, there's an even better reason to show just what this game did that made it so special.
Released for free in 2012, Containment Breach was made by one person, Joonas Rikkonen, and is based on the community created fictional SCP Foundation. It is a force that seeks out supernatural phenomena and attempts to contain said threats. The game itself puts players in control of a D-class foundation test subject named D-9341, who finds himself alone in the middle of a complete containment breach inside an SCP facility and must escape. In the process of this, Rikkonen made a game that has features that still stand out today.
One of the things making this game so memorable is that the player is never truly safe. Throughout the game, the player encounters many hostile SCPs that wish to kill them. This means that while journeying throughout the facility, not only is SCP-173 a constant threat, but there are also all manner of other creatures. This feeling of never knowing what's ahead and never being safe is part of what makes SCP: Containment Breach such a magnificent game.
The game also boasts a persistent antagonist, not unlike Resident Evil 2's Mr. X. SCP-173, a sentient statue that moves when the player isn't looking at it, perpetually pursues the player throughout the game. Players must constantly keep enemies like 173 or other hostile entities in mind when moving throughout the game. In this way, Containment Breach is reminiscent of horror titles like Slender. However, whereas Slenderman was a constant threat who would appear randomly before disappearing, the SCPs never leave and are always just waiting for one slip up to pounce on the player. Horror games need to keep players scared and on their toes, and Containment Breach comes through there with flying colors.
Aside from SCP-173, there are thousands of creatures in the universe, and the game features a great selection of them. Enemies are a shining standard of the game; players may encounter SCP-939 "With Many Voices" or SCP-106 "The Old Man," and there are many more to encounter. The enemy types are varied and terrifying, adding to the sense of perpetual dread.
To keep the player on their toes, Containment Breach introduced the Blink system. The player cannot keep their eyes open forever, so blinking is a must, but obscuring your vision means you're wide open to monsters like SCP-173. It only heightens the horror when one knows they're being chased, tries to keep eye contact to stay safe, and then realizes they have to blink, to close their eyes.
Of course, learning the game is made more difficult with Containment Breach's defining gameplay feature -- a procedurally generated map. There are three zones generated in the game: Light Containment, Heavy Containment and Entrance. On repeat playthroughs, players will notice that enemies and objects are not where they were last time. You're never able to really predict or prepare for where or when something may happen, an absolutely incredible feature for a horror game.
But perhaps the most notable thing about SCP: Containment Breach is the price. The game itself is free to download, and it both looks and plays supernaturally well for a small indie game made by one person. There's so much to experience and find that it's quite honestly amazing that the game is just that readily available. Being free means more people can experience it, and that means more exposure for its community.
SCP: Containment Breach stands out among horror games for taking a series of fan-written stories and bringing an entire world to life. The impressive scope of enemies and the perpetual dread from foes that never give up or leave give out a true horror vibe and make it a strong title. Then a Blink mechanic and randomly generated map comes in and makes this an unforgettable experience. All of this combined turns the game into a horror masterpiece any horror fan should check out.