Summary
TheSCP Foundationis a collaborative creative project that has been providing horror, sci-fi, and speculative fiction nerds with thrills and chills since its inception in 2008. Having grown far beyond the original wiki of creative writing ideas, the supernatural security specialists at the Foundation now boast a host of video games inspired by theclinical yet creepy aestheticof the universe.
Whether focused on the strategic issues that crop up while running a secret extrajudicial organization, asking players to run away from bloodthirsty monsters, or exploring the everyday tragedy of the red shirt-like D-Class personnel, there’s something for everyone in the Foundation’s collection. Here are a few titles that may appeal to veteran players and newbies alike, provided they don’t get killed during their first containment breach.
7SCP: Secret Laboratory
Chaos Insurgents, D-Class, and Danger
Free-to-play on Steam,SCP: Secret Laboratoryis a first-person shooter that throws the player into the middle of a mass containment breach at Site-02. Alongside other D-Class personnel dressed in distinctive orange jumpsuits, escaping in one piece is a top priority amid the death and destruction.
The presence of the Chaos Insurgency rebel group adds an interesting twist to the containment breach format (which most SCP games, unsurprisingly, base their storylines on), as it raises the stakes from pure monster blasting to also battling a human element. Explosive graphics and fun twists on familiar creatures bring further excitement to the title.
6SCP: Bloodwater
Battle The Red Pool & Defend The Faciltiy
SCP-354 is considered one of the most haunting articles from the SCP Wiki, taking the form of a blood-like pool of liquid that periodically births monsters.SCP: Bloodwaterpositions players as part of a Major Task Force team assigned to the containment site, tasked with blasting as many of these entities as possible to collect the valuable material they excrete.
Styled with chunky, hand-drawn art and evoking the feel of an old-schoolside-scroller game, this is a stylistic departure from most of the gloomy, menacing titles in the SCP oeuvre. A fun take on base defense that will put players in minds of mobile shooters, players should beware of a steep learning curve and the potential to sink hours into mastering hard mode.
SCP: Labratoffers a cool twist on the containment breach premise so beloved by SCP-inspired game designers, as itsVR-supported formatallows players to fully immerse themselves in the terrifying world of ravenous beasts and terrifying legends come to life.
Building on the ground broken by pioneerindie gameSCP: Containment Breach,Labrathas new SCPs to encounter, unusual events to trigger, and is calibrated to offer a full-body experience when in VR mode. Gamers who want to escape their everyday lives for something a bit more supernaturally horrifying may wish to don the D-Class jumpsuit for this one… if they dare.
4SCP: Strategy
Strategise The Foundation To Find, Contain & Protect SCP Units
Fans ofstrategy simslikePlague Inc.may find their sweet spot withSCP: Strategy, as gamers are tasked with running the Foundation from the top down. In the role of the shadowy administrator, players organize containment sites, deploy Major Task Forces to capture anomalies, and can even create their own SCPs to include in the action.
With plenty of mini-games to keep players busy and opportunities to get creative with naming combat divisions and monsters,Strategyis a customizable experience that allows dedicated Administrators to get out what they put in. Perhaps not ideal for those more interested in shoot-em-ups, but might be perfect for players who want to ponder the everyday mechanics of containment.
3SCP: Secret Files
Question Reality Itself With This Strenuous Induction Program
Regarded by some as the most original title to be born from the SCP Foundation’s creative soup thus far,SCP: Secret Filesis a contemplative experience that asks players to ponder the nature of the paranormal creatures they’ve been tasked to contain.
Don’t expect to feel like an action hero while playing this title, as the game follows a new assistant researcher while they explore various case files and learn the truth aboutthings that go bump in the night. Reality-warping effects creep up on the player and provide an entertainingly unsettling atmosphere, though some will wish there was more straightforward monster hunting involved.
2SCP: Containment Breach Multiplayer
Genre Classic With A Co-Operative Twist
Closely adapted from the foundational 2012 title,SCP: Containment Breach Multiplayerallows players to join with a team of friends to risk their lives and possibly escape the Foundation’s reinforced walls.
One notable update to the multiplayer version is Breach Mode, which lets players switch their perspective on a life-threatening emergency. Rather than a fleeing D-Class, gamers can play as a Foundation staff member trying to contain a rampaging anomaly… or even step into the monstrous shoes of the SCP itself.
While most SCP-inspired games put players on the side of the Foundation,SCP: 5Kbucks the trend and tackles the shady organization from the outside. Inspired by SCP-5000 (a story in which the Foundation abandons its"Secure. Contain. Protect"motto and takes on the world instead), gamers can expect an explosive, exciting experience.
With cool graphics,immersive tactical combat, and tons of weapon customization opportunities, this is a title for players who value big booms and want to shoot at anything that lurks in the shadows. Creepy sound design adds further tension to the action, and those who get the game in Early Access are promised frequent updates as the world develops.
