Dead Space — ever since Doom brought us the unbeatable mix of space marines shooting space zombies, action horror games have looked to the stars time and time again. Some games are more spooky and even cerebral (System Shock), but most are just all-out fragfests with the horror elements generating a bloody setting and a few spooky moments.

Dead Space certainly tends toward the latter…in fact, put Aliens in a blender with Doom and you’ll have a bloody milkshake that tastes like Dead Space. Adding to the mix is more than a touch of Resident Evil (the perspective, especially) and a weapon-upgrade mechanic that reminds me more of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic more than anything else.

In the end, the aspect that made this game work for me was the immersion factor. No HUD and an increasing level of overall atmosphere, gore, and good ol’ impending doom gets you to the point where the slightest movement freaks you out. And that’s exactly where I want to be while playing a game like this.

Runner Up — Condemned. If you like F.E.A.R. but need even more horror in your FPS, Condemned gives you brutal Manhunt-style fighting and a serious boost to the creepy psycho-derelict theme. Condemned 2 may be slightly scarier, and possibly even better. I’ll let you be the judge; either one is a great gritty grotesque game.

Runner Up — Dead Rising. C’mon, it had to make the list. Dismembering zombies is entertaining for far longer than you want to admit. Not exactly scary, or even creepy, but the horror theme qualifies it for the list, and we didn’t have a ‘best funny-and-satirical-B-movie-horror-themed-game’ category.

Dishonorable Mention — Silent Hill: Homecoming. It’s not even bad enough to be good, it’s just bland. It’s like Silent Hill fan fiction written by someone who completely misses the important parts of the originals. And I’m a die-hard Silent Hill fan that even found plenty to like about the much-maligned SH 4:The Room.