Xbox Gaming in South Africa

A study by UK-based usability and user experience studio Vertical Slice has found that Visceral Games' Dead Space 2 is the most frightening Xbox 360 game ever, beating the likes of Alan Wake, Silent Hill and the original Dead Space for pure fear factor.

The study, which made use of interview techniques, think-aloud, researcher/participant post-play analysis and biometric feedback, asked gamers to play through around 30 minutes of four different appropriately frightening games - Alan Wake, Resident Evil 5, Dead Space 2 and Condemned.

Once the screams had subsided, the data collected and fresh undies handed out, the title of Scariest Xbox 360 Game was handed to Dead Space 2. The opening cut-scene alone was enough to set pulses racing, with the study showing that "at least four of the participants found this moment [where Isaacs dead wife turns into a necromorph] distressing, and were frightened further still when throttled by the orderly, only to have him gruesomely slaughtered by a grotesque creature."

Increased heart-rate, heavy or stunted breathing, and "a great deal of panic" were pretty much standard responses across the test audience. And rightly so - Dead Space 2 is bloody terrifying! 

For the full analysis of all four games, head over to the Gamasutra, and be sure to let us know in the comments below which game you think is the scariest of them all.