Summary
Mothers, like fathers, play a significant role in the development of a child, being a source of love and security. The expected role of the mother has changed throughout history, but regardless of what they are, the responsibilities of a parent can be a lot of pressure. The way that a mother handles this manifests differently across families.
In horror games, the mother has been portrayed in a number of different roles, be it villain, hero, or side character. While the genre has its fair share of evil mothers, there are also protective ones, and even those who no longer have children. These are some of thebest horror games about motherhoodthat explore a range of themes, from love to grief to guilt.
10MOTHER
The Unforseen Difficulties Of Parenting
MOTHERis a psychologicalhorror with FPS elements. The game follows widowed mother Mary and her two children after moving into a new apartment. The player must keep the children safe in bed; a simple premise that gets significantly more difficult as the nights go on.
As a psychological horror game,MOTHERdoes a great job of making the player question what’s real and what isn’t. With disturbing monsters, PS1 graphics, and an overall dingy aesthetic, the game explores grief and its impact on parenthood in an unsettling way.
9Don’t Knock Twice
A Mother’s Refusal To Lose Her Child Twice
Don’t Knock Twiceis ahorror game loosely based on the 2016 filmof the same name and the urban legend of the Baba Yaga. When artist Jessica’s daughter (of whom she has just gained trial custody over) is taken by the witch, she takes it upon herself to rescue her.
Navigating the eerie expanse of the mansion, the player must solve puzzles to complete a ritual that will allow them to enter Baba Yaga’s domain. At its core,Don’t Knock Twiceis a story about a determined and changed mother who is unwilling to lose her daughter again.
Chilla’s Art has a cult following in the indie horror community, boasting an impressive number of titles that often focus on the horrors of real life. That said,The Bathhouseis one of their games that features the supernatural, following Maina after she takes a new job at a bathhouse in rural Japan.
Between carrying out chores, dealing with unsavory visitors, and paranormal activity, players gradually uncover the truth about the bathhouse and Maina’s own past. A tragic tale about obsession and a mother’s love containing plenty of secretive characters with sketchy plans,The Bathhouseis one of the developer’s more story-driven titles.
7Nun Massacre
A School Run Gone Horribly Wrong
Nun Massacre(also known asNight of the Nun) is one of Puppet Combo’s many survival horror games. Trapped in a boarding school at the top of a mountain after heading there to pick up her daughter, protagonist Mrs. McDonnell becomes involved in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a murderous nun.
While not amassively plot-driven experience(largely following the slasher-esque stealth and puzzle formula of previous games)Nun Massacrestill dives into the ever-present fears a parent has of their child being subjected to pain and abuse.
6The Park
Tactfully Tackles A Difficult Subject
The Parkfollows Lorraine as she searches for her son, Callum, who has run back into Atlantic Island amusement park shortly before closing time. Upon entering, she finds the grounds transformed into a dilapidated collection of creepy, unmanned rides and inhabited by sinister figures.
With an abandoned setting, a creepy mascot, and a troubled protagonist,The Parkis not the most originalpsychological horror game, but it does have its own unique vibe that makes it stand out. Players can call out to Callum, who will reply to lead them in the right direction. The setting is also uncanny.The Parkhas an unexpected twist, symbolically touching on postpartum depression and guilt.
WhileThe Dark Descentis often painted as the figurehead of theAmnesiafranchise,Amnesia: Rebirthis an equally interesting title with its own compelling narrative. As Tasi, a young pregnant woman, the player must survive the Algerian desert after her plane crashes, taking refuge in an abandoned fortress.
As she regains her memories, Tasi must face the horrors that lurk in the dark. Both Tasi and the main antagonist of the game have their own child-related trauma, and their desires for motherhood mirror each other. These high stakes of success for them both make the game compelling and tense.
P.T.is a psychological horror game and tech demo/teaser for Konami’s canceled titleSilent Hills.Most horror gamers will be familiar with the game’s concept. The player —a nameless character with no backstory— must attempt to escape a hallway that continuously loops with increasingly disturbing changes.
While not overtly about motherhood,P.T.is rife with political social commentary surrounding family. The ghost of Lisa, who is implied to be the pregnant victim of domestic violence, consistently stalks the hallway. She is a stark representation of a vengeful mother-to-be and a reminder of issues that are still prevalent today.
The Cat Ladyis a graphic adventure-horror game that follows the reclusive and depressed Susan Ashworth. After attempting to end her own life, she meets the Queen of Maggots, who makes Susan immortal and tasks her with getting rid of five “parasites.”
Despite the limitedside-scrolling gameplay,The Cat Ladyemphasizes visual and thematic horror, with color playing a subtle but important part in reflecting the narrative. Exploring heavy topics like parental grief, violence, and mental health, this game is a particularly poignant one. There are multiple endings, depending on the choices the player makes throughout the game.
Silent Hill 3is a sequel to the original 1999 game, this time following Heather Mason’s journey to Silent Hill.Initially a revenge story, Heather becomes involved in a much larger conspiracy. Finding herself at the center of The Order cult’s plans to birth a God, the player must find a way to shut the operation down.
Although Heather is not a mother,Silent Hill 3is rife with symbolism that displays anxieties around coming of age, including assault, pregnancy, and abortion. It might seem less on the nose thanSilent Hill 2’s imagery, but once players experience the game through the lens of a 17-year-old girl, the portrayal of these fears becomes very apparent.
Warning: this entry contains spoilers forResident Evil Village!It may not be lost on players that the protagonist, Ethan Winters, is not in fact a mother. That said,Resident Evil Villageis a game packed with narratives revolving around motherhood that ultimately drive the overarching story.
The first character that might come to mind is Lady Dimitrescu — thegiant looming vampire— and her three “daughters”. Initially keeping Ethan alive under Mother Miranda’s orders, when her children are defeated, she becomes hellbent on avenging them. Mother Miranda herself is the catalyst for the events of the game. The leader of the Cult of the Black God, she abducts Ethan and Mia’s daughter, Rose, in order to revive her own child whom she lost to the Spanish Flu. If anything,Resident Evil Villageis a display of the brutal lengths that a mother will go to for her child.
