Seasonal games are an absolute joy. When spring comes around, I break out "Flower." "Sam & Max" are a must around Christmas. But the lead-up to Halloween? That's the time to play horror games.

Below, you'll find five of my favorite horror games for a very special spooky season. If you have other scary titles you think are worth calling out, feel free to mention them in the comment section. For now, let's embrace the fear.

'Soma' (2015)

"Soma" is existentially terrifying. The gritty sci-fi setting and superb story surrounding the nuances of personhood makes this title appeal well beyond the core horror crowd. And while the way it handles enemies was a tad awkward when it launched, Frictional Games later patched it to allow folks to simply bypass those sore spots entirely. Now, it's a much stronger package.

Just keep in mind that "Soma" deals heavily with depersonalization, so brace for some uncomfortable moments. It's heavy material.

'Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs' (2013)

This is a weird one. While the "Amnesia" franchise has been mostly handled by Frictional Games, mentioned above, this single entry was made by The Chinese Room — makers of the genre-defining walking sim "Dear Esther."

The subtitle "Machine for Pigs" seems like it would be a metaphor, right? Well, it is, but it's also quite literal, I'm afraid. This first-person horror game is what one might call "high concept," so it's more divisive than other games in the series. For my money, it's the best of the bunch though.

'The Quarry' (2022)

Supermassive Games has built up an incredible reputation for interactive horror storytelling with the likes of the "Dark Pictures" series and "Until Dawn." And while their newer title "The Quarry" gives you a wonderful cinematic choose your own adventure experience for solo play, it's the perfect game to play multiplayer — even with folks who normally don't engage with games at all.

'Doki Doki Literature Club' (2017)

This has all the trappings of a stock-standard visual novel with a stereotypical school setting and multiple characters scrambling to date the protagonist right out of the gate. But after a while, it becomes clear that something much darker is happening here.

I particularly enjoy the meta aspects that take place outside of the game itself, but it does brush up against a handful of topics that are exceedingly challenging. If you struggle with self-harm or derealization, this is best left unplayed.

'The Evil Within 2' (2017)

Tango Gameworks, a studio founded by Shinji Mikami ("Resident Evil," "Vanquish"), stumbled out of the gate with its first release, but the sequel delivered nicely. Considering that "Resident Evil 4" just received a remake, and is still considered one of the best horror games ever, this beloved spiritual successor is a must-play for "RE" fans.

Need something less scary to play? Check out "Forza Motorsport" instead.

[Image: Game Trailers]