Video games can be metal. I’m not talking put-on-big-hair-and-fight-demons-while-the-guitarist-shreds metal, but dark, creepy, rich, brutal, wading-through-blood-while-trying-to-hold-onto-your-soul metal. The sort of experience that’s intense and horrifying and makes you see, hear, and feel the world as a dangerous, wicked thing that wants nothing more than to consume your being. Sure, there’s plenty of demon fighting too, but I’m talking more about the general theme of the hardcore metal genres. Here are the seven most harsh, most dark, and in many cases most insanely awesome metal video games ever made.

And if you’re interested in big-hair-and-fight-demons metal, check out this older list. It has two titles that overlap, and then stays away from the creepy, crushing darkness of “truly” metal games in favor of huge swords and guitar solos. Because there’s nothing wrong with that if you like keeping your soul un-crushed.

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