Spooky Season Books & Games
From cozy and cute to spooky and creepy, here's my guide to books and games to help you celebrate the season to your heart's content.
With the temperatures dropping, nights growing longer, and Halloween right around the corner, there's no better time to dive into spooky books & games! Fall is my favorite time of year, so I lean towards autumnal books & games without even meaning to… meaning I have a massive TBR (and TBP, to-be-played, hehe) list, so I included things on my wishlists in addition to books & games I've experienced.
Payback's A Witch
I am obsessed with the setting of this book. Thistle Grove is such a refreshing and fun take on a community of family witches—LGBT+-friendly, down-to-earth, and full of juicy "founding family" drama. It kind of gives me a Practical Magic feeling…..so I want to live there. I'm already diving into the sequel (From Bad to Cursed) and am loving it even more. If you're into magic with a side of charm and angst, this is the series for you.
Keeper of Enchanted Rooms
I loved this whimsical book. It's a slower read, but it's great to cozy up to and escape into the enchanting world. If you also love historical/melodrama movies, this will be your top book!
Spells for Lost Things
This cute story about first love and family relationships will put you in a good mood without being too immature or corny. It's fast-paced yet pretty descriptive, with some witchy elements that'll transport you to what you imagine being a witch family in present-day Salem would be like.
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak & Magic
Self-described as a novel for Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls fans—uhm, sold. Some reviews denied this comparison, but I think this is a perfect way to describe the book as both showcase the deep bonds of family and the hardships that come with them. A lot of the language in the book reminded me of a Taylor Swift song, with the phrases having meaning behind them that make you ~feel~ and weren't just overused phrases. The chapters were long, but I think they tied things up nicely versus having storylines linger over multiple chapters. I absolutely loved the fresh take on magic, with the main character using her "power" to create delicious baked goods with some curses and drama thrown in.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampire
I purchased this book while on my bachelorette in the setting's town, Charleston. I had heard about it before, so I dove right in. Boy, do I wish I had realized that the genre was "horror," and they meant it.
Obviously, a book about a vampire is enough to be included in a fall read, but even more than that, Hendrix's eerie setting building & cringe-worthy scenes will definitely give you all the creepy vibes. A good thing to be aware of is that it's set in the Deep South in the ''80s/'90s & there's a big presence of some triggering content (mental health, SA, racism) along with a lot of gory descriptions. If you're squeamish or are looking for a *light* read, skip this one.
On my TBR
What Happens After Midnight: coming-of-age & first love vibes
Heir of Uncertain Magic: the sequel to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms, expects historical fantasy vibes!
The Witches of Bone Hill: A fantasy horror based around sisters & their family secrets.
The Year of the Witching: A review described it as "Handmaid's Tale meets Salem." Yes, please.
Beacon Pines
This game is a captivating and immersive coming-of-age story with a town full of dark secrets to discover. There's a large world to explore with a spooky, "ghost-town" feeling. This is highly narrative-focused, with alternate realities based on your choices during pivotal moments. The game reads like a book, voiced by a narrator, which kept me engaged throughout but gave the impression that you are playing a retelling of a folktale. The story-building shines throughout the game, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the autumnal town. Something that I loved about this game is that you don't have to play all the way through to re-make choices, and, as you will see, some options do not even allow the story to continue, giving you a real-life high-stakes feel.
Little Misfortune
Ahh, this game is so morbid yet sweet & cozy. It's an interactive story-based game with different story paths depending on your choices. It's grim and emotional, but I swear it's fun to play and quick — I've played through it twice already! It's perfect for those with a dark sense of humor.
Wylde Flowers
Arguably, my favorite game of 2023 & 2024, Wylde Flowers, transports you into a cozy world with witchy aspects. I have so much to say about this game, but tl;dr you essentially get to live your best witch life while helping your small-town community & neighbors of Fairhaven. The character & background development is incredible, with fully-voiced actors, has thoughtful LGBT representation, and the fall season in-game is swoon-worthy. You can dive in as this is a long-haul game with about 45 hours of gameplay in the main storyline.
If you're interested, you can read my full review of this game in my previous post here!
Night in The Woods
This is one of those games that look warm & fuzzy but then hit you right in the gut. While there is a storyline to get through, your "day-to-day" is filled with many choices, some optional, but others influencing later scenes (such as which characters you choose to develop friendships with.) The character development & dialogue are written so beautifully that the game almost plays like you're living in a book reading. The game is slow-paced and relies heavily on your own exploration & curiosity, but rest assured, there is an interconnecting storyline, and it gets DEEP. From inner fears about being a human to 'real-life' horror stories, there's a lot of thought-provoking, eerie, and sometimes gut-wrenching content as you follow Mae, a twenty-something college dropout trying to navigate life in her hometown.
Jenny LeClue - Detectivu
This quick puzzle-based game isn't necessarily 'fall' or 'spooky,' but its eerie art style and detective vibes make it a unique and exciting choice for the Halloween season.
On my TBP
Cult of the Lamb
I heard someone describe this as a "horror Animal Crossing," lol. The game has aspects of collecting, farming, and combat, all things that make for a cozy game. But there's a twist: You also have to run a cult. Honestly, I'm drawn to the cute yet creepy art style alone.
What Remains of Edith Finch
I saw this review on TikTok, and many reviews described it as eerie, unsettling, devastating, yet incredible and impactful. The game is a collection of strange tales about a family's infamous Curse, which led to the untimely death of many generations of Finches. As an emotional person, I know this game will absolutely wreck me.
Dredge
Dredge is a fishing adventure with a "sinister undercurrent." Essentially, you'll complete quests to learn about the area's mysteries, and as the game says, "You might not like what finds you in the dark..." So, a horror fishing game? Sign me up.
As mentioned, I favor spooky-season books and games all year long. However, for those who prefer to indulge solely during the fall months, I hope you discover something enjoyable here. Happy reading and gaming, friends!