No Players Online

Pros

• One of the scariest games available
• Lots of exciting action and scenes
• Tons of jump scares and unsettling background scenes
• Gives you the freedom to explore the game field
• Features three endings

Cons

• Too scary for younger players
• Confusing at times
• Takes 30 minutes or less to complete the main game

No Players Online is a horror game that draws inspiration from the V/H/S series of films. Those films feature a central story that surrounds people finding and watching videotapes that they find. Each story unfolds in a different and unusual way, usually with tragic consequences. You don't need to seek out old tapes to recreate the feeling of those films because this game does it for you.

When No Players Online starts, you come across an old tape covered in dust that claims it's from 1986 and features a game of Capture the Flag. You put the tape into a VCR and watch the action unfold. The game shows a short video and then lets you get to work. No Players Online essentially asks you to play a game of Capture the Flag without any enemies to battle. You need to find your way across the field to grab the opponent's flag and then get back to your home base. While it sounds easy, the game is quite creepy as you'll find yourself in the middle of an empty field with no one around you but lots of odd noises in the background.

If you think the game sounds boring or you played it once and wondered why people loved it, you probably missed out on the secret second way to play it. When you keep your eyes peeled, you'll see a large creature that looks almost human hiding nearby. Once you capture the flag three times, the creature will reveal itself as the person who made the game. This character tells you that his wife died and is now a ghost trapped inside the game's server. The way the game ends will depend on whether you agree to help her ghost escape or you simply leave. As a bonus, you can also wander around the map and keep track of the hidden clues you find, which will show you an ARG game hidden where you least expected to find it.

Don't worry if you find the gameplay confusing because you're not alone. It took months after the game hit the market before players found the hidden ARG elements. Even today, players keep finding new elements. You may find it helpful to download a complete guide to No Players Online just to make sure you don't miss anything.

No Players Online is one of those rare games designed for adults. It can take as little as 20 to 30 minutes to complete, but once you uncover the ARG aspect, you'll want to spend more time checking out the map and finding all of the hidden clues. No Players Online is the type of game that offers exciting action but makes you want to sleep with a nightlight.

Pros

• One of the scariest games available
• Lots of exciting action and scenes
• Tons of jump scares and unsettling background scenes
• Gives you the freedom to explore the game field
• Features three endings

Cons

• Too scary for younger players
• Confusing at times
• Takes 30 minutes or less to complete the main game