While many of us might feel nostalgic for the early days of Pong and Pac-Man, you have to admit that in the 21st century gaming has become a much richer, more dynamic experience than ever before. Screw productivity — video games are here to stay, and to tell the truth all those long-term aspirations you used to harbor were kind of stupid anyway. Which brings us to Bloody-Disgusting’s list of some of the best horror-themed video games the techno-gods have on offer for the holidays this year. This season’s list also includes a new section highlighting some of the best ghoulish iPhone apps now (or soon) available for purchase. Further proof that human contact is totally overrated — after all, your XBox360 will never leave you.

MUSIC & MOVIES | BOOKS & COMICS | VIDEO GAMES | TOYS & MERCH

The highly-anticipated sequel to the incredibly popular co-op first-person shooter/survival horror video game Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 gives gamers a tour through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the South, including Savannah, GA and New Orleans. Unlike the first game, this one will feature narrative-style story arcs for its four characters. Also, in an advanced version of the artificial intelligence system (A.I. Director) featured in the first game, the Director will have the capability of changing the placement of buildings and obstacles, as well as weather patterns, to make each session of play unique. It will also reward players that take more difficult/risky paths through the game by dispensing more useful equipment and weaponry. There’s been some controversy amongst L4D fans that the sequel has been rushed out by EA too quickly, but hopefully that negative buzz will subside (if it’s actually an improvement on the first game, of course) once the game is released.

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A re-imagining of the first game in the series, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories features several cool new features, including the development of a “psyche profile” that will change elements of play according to each specific player’s choices in the context of the game. The monsters, as well as the attitudes of the other characters the player encounters during the game, will vary according to the path he/she chooses. The Wii version is the most anticipated, as that system’s Remote will be used to solve puzzles and to operate the flashlight and cell phone of the main character. The prospects for this one, thankfully, seem good so far: the demo version was bestowed with three IGN awards during E3 2009 (in the Wii category), for best overall game, best adventure game, and best graphics technology.

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Based on a treatment by Zombie Studios and original franchise creators Leigh Wannell and James Wan, the storyline of the long-delayed Saw video game takes place between the first two movies (although it features traps from the first five films). Players will control the actions of Detective David Tapp, who at the beginning of the game awakes in an abandoned insane asylum rigged with Jigsaw-planted traps. Tapp soon learns that the other people trapped inside the asylum with him are actually hunting him for the key to their own games, which has been implanted in his chest. As in the films, our protagonist also comes to realize he shares a dark connection with the other characters. Saw has been developed in the third-person style of Silent Hill, with the player alternately fighting off enemies and attempting to solve the mystery behind Jigsaw’s deadly setup. The game has received mixed reviews from critics, but for players with a taste for gore, it doesn’t come much bloodier than this (players are even graced with the ability to carve open bodies to extract objects – nice!).

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This fully-immersive action/horror game, featuring amnesiac shape-shifting protagonist Alex Mercer, has been one of the best-selling video games of 2009 so far. Players are given free reign of the Manhattan setting, with numerous abilities acquired throughout the game including running up the sides of buildings, gliding through the air, and plummeting from extreme heights without injury. Perhaps the coolest power players will enjoy as Mercer is his ability to absorb the memories, biomass, appearance and powers of other characters in the game. Prototype has received good reviews from most publications, with much of the praise going to the free-ranging nature of the interactive landscape and the uniqueness of each player’s gaming experience based on the enormous magnitude of physical forms, powers and options available during play. Sure, the setup (a virus overtaking New York City) is a little predictable, but players will forget all of that once the action gets started and the mysteries of the plot begin to unravel. Guaranteed to suck up hours upon hours of your valuable time.

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With the enormous success of Apple’s iPhone (I think I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t have one at this point), a raft of video game apps have been released for it as of late that combination horror fiends/iPhone lovers just might salivate over. Here are a few that Bloody-Disgusting fans will probably enjoy:

Silent Hill: The Escape

This first-person Silent Hill entry developed specifically for the iPhone has players navigate ten levels of atmospheric horror. The game-play is pretty simple, really: slide your fingers to move, tap the screen to shoot. This one follows the successful PSP-specific Silent Hill entry, Origins, and any fans of the game series should definitely check it out.

The Relic

This top-down, Gauntlet-style multiplayer game for the iPhone has gamers focused on the destruction of the “Quinotar”, a 5-horned dragon who is able to reanimate the dead. To reach their goal, players must fight through hordes of deadly skeletons, giant spiders and zombies in a claustrophobic dungeon setting. Makes me nostalgic just thinking about it.

Dexter the Game

One of the more unusual video games to come out in many a moon, this creation based on the hit Showtime series should be a big hit with fans of the show. The storyline of this first game follows that of Season 1 of the show, with subsequent installments following the storylines of Season 2, 3, and so on. Control sociopathic blood-spatter analyst Dexter Morgan as he investigates crime scenes and uncovers evidence, all in service of his agenda to mete out a particular kind of justice. Don’t have an iPhone? No worries – the PC (and possibly a console) version is on the way.

Haunted 3D Rollercoaster Rush

This game boasts up to 40 horror-themed rollercoasters that players must navigate successfully (read: not lose too many riders along the way) to advance to the next level. The riskier the stunts you perform, the higher your score. Haunted 3D Rollercoaster Rush (which is a follow-up to the 2D Rollercoaster Rush) is blessed with great replay value too, as players have the option of two modes: Career Mode, where players attempt to pass all 40 tracks, and Challenge Race Mode, where you race against a haunted ghost train. Also available in a free three-level demo version.

Zombie Pizza

The conceit of this one is simple: race to create pizzas topped with human remains like organs, eyeballs and brains to keep the flesh-hungry zombies on the other side of the door satisfied. All of these gory accouterments whiz by on a conveyor belt, where you must keep your wits about you if you’re going to avoid becoming their next meal.

All of these titles are available for download at the iTunes Store, with the exception of “The Relic” (keep checking http://www.chillingo.com/ for updates on that).