By the end of this week, the country will be engulfed in decorations, strange sights, and a wide range of costumes. No, it isn't a nationwide convention but the season of Halloween where Americans revel in candy and horror. Many people take this time of the year to see scary movies, read horror stories, or play terrifying games. But how do gamers choose which scary games to play? Usually, it's by the cover art which tends to be a good indicator of whether a game is actually scary. Some work, some don't, but all try to show off just what kind of game is in store for the gamer. Usually, these covers fall into one of two categories: cheesy or creepy. After spending days scouring cover art for some of the best examples, here are ten of the cheesiest and creepiest video game covers out there.

Cheesy

Frankenstein's Monster (Atari 2600)

The monster itself doesn't look too bad. The unnatural skin, the imposing figure, and the stoic stare make it creepy for sure, but it's all undone by everything else on the cover. The flying bricks supposedly come from a wall he just burst through, but where is the electricity coming from? Is he a natural conductor? A better question is who the guy cowering in the foreground is and why he looks so large. The way he's positioned makes it seem as if he's crouching. If that's the case then it's likely he is bigger than the Monster. It makes the whole thing look ridiculous and, of course, cheesy.

Dracula (Intellivision)

Looking at this cover, I almost feel pity for the poor guy they dressed up in that horrible Dracula costume. The painted face, lack of fangs, and the silly expression make me laugh every time. This guy is supposed to be lord of all vampires, and I could swear he's no older than twelve. What makes this cover even more confusing is that in the background there is another figure that looks just like Count Orlok from Nosferatu. While a meeting between Dracula and Count Orlok would be kind of cool, here it looks like it'd be a silly mess. I could swear that whoever designed this just threw every bit of vampire scenery he could find on the cover. If it came out today, I guarantee Edward from Twilight would be there too.

Ghost Manor (TurboGrafx-16)

Perspective is the word of the day in this cover. It looks fine in the foreground but when you start looking at the background, you almost have to wonder. There's the manor on top of a giant stone skull and surrounding it are trees and gravestones that almost reach the manor. Those are some huge grave markers or a very small manor. Strangely, there's a waterway leading from the skull's mouth which makes me think of a theme park ride. That waterway also disappears completely by the time it reaches the boy. Maybe he's riding on it but again the perspective is just all over the place. The kid's look is downright strange with the wide eyes and outspread arms. It reminds me of someone who is about to slip and fall. Finally there's the actual ghost of this manor who looks like he belongs on a Kustom Kulture hot rod. The cumulative image just ends up looking completely silly.        

Splatterhouse 2 (Sega Genesis)

Welcome to Friday the 13th: The Animated Series. Seriously, that's the first thing I think when I see this cover. I know the hero is directly inspired by Jason Voorhees but it's so cartoonish that you'd never guess just how violent the game actually is. The monsters all have appropriately sharp teeth but do you actually feel threatened by them? The ghost looks ineffectual and just there for show while the octopus looks more concerned about getting to grope Rick's junk than actually hurting him. Then there's the alien which is an obvious Alien rip-off. I do have to give it credit for the backgrounds though. The decaying trees and the horde of bodies coming from the cemetery are creepy. But the foreground makes me snicker every time.

Night Trap (Sega CD)

You didn't think this infamous game would stay off the list, did you? This is the ultimate cover of cheesy schlock horror games, fitting for even some of the bad horror movies that came out in the 80s. Amusingly the game consists entirely of full motion video sequences yet the cover is completely hand drawn. Worse is that none of the elements on the cover add up or make sense. I know they're actually in the game, but if you were looking at this for the first time in a store, you'd see half naked blond chick, some kind of ninja using a belt as a weapon, and a commando team posing for a magazine cover in another room. Also, what is that woman screaming at? She's not looking at the ninja at all so is it something off panel? What could possibly be scarier than a ninja sneaking up on her with a killer belt? That would be a pressing issue to me. To me, this cover is as cheesy as it gets when it comes to horror games.

Creepy

The Immortal - (Sega Genesis)

I have a feeling some will disagree with this choice, but it's a lesson in simplicity. The game has immortal in the title yet the picture chosen was of Death. It makes you wonder just who this immortal is and if you will be literally confronting Death. And while Death has been featured on the cover of other games, here he gets top billing complete with a lightning storm and glowing yellow eyes. The way his scythe tears at the cover also shows that it isn't just for show. He can use it and really ruin someone's day. It's a simple picture, yes, but I find those to be the creepiest.

Nightmare Creatures (Playstation, Nintendo 64)

Another simple design that plays on two fears: that of the dark and what may be hidden within. There is no foreground or background with this cover. It is only the black and the monstrous thing which is lit by its own eyes. What is revealed is either a demon or a monster of some kind. The fact that you cannot tell its size immediately also makes it creepy as it could be bigger than you even imagine, hidden by the dark. Obviously it isn't friendly and if you see it, just start running.

Clock Tower (Playstation)

Clock Tower could easily have been one of the cheesy covers. Think about it, a killer is coming after you with giant scissors. How much more surreal could it get? However, the scary nature of the cover is preserved thanks to the fact that the killer's face is covered. You can't see him so he remains an unknown and ominous threat. It's why Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees are so scary. You can't see their face and immediately become afraid of the unknown. The giant scissors also stay scary because it is obvious that this killer has used them before. The blood splatter shows that being cut by those things wouldn't end well. What's more is that you are obviously on a beach with your only apparent place of safety at a castle on a cliff...behind the killer. Suddenly the ridiculous nature of the cover is forgotten, and you feel genuinely scared.

Twisted Metal: Black (Playstation 2)

Sweet Tooth has always been freaky. Let's face it, most clowns are. But Twisted Metal: Black took him and made him completely unsettling. His face is no longer painted and is instead a mask leaving you with no idea what's going inside the man's head. The permanent cracked grin just adds to the feeling but the real kicker is his flaming head. Looking closely, you can see his scarred skin and the pain he must be in yet his eyes are perfectly calm. In this respect, it makes you wonder if he's not a man or a clown at all but a pure demon.

Condemned: Criminal Origins (Xbox 360)

Being bound by anything is a scary thought. You have immediately surrendered control and are at the mercy of anyone who happens to be near you. Usually this is done through ropes or handcuffs but to see someone bound by chains, let alone chains around the face, is downright frightening. Seeing this person, you have no idea who did this to her or what they'll do next. The low light and grainy quality also make it seem like someone is videotaping this person which generates a whole new possibility of demented happenings. It's a scary idea and one of the more disturbing covers out there.

Now these are just my selections. I'm sure you have some ideas of your own when it comes to cheesy or creepy cover art. Let me know what you think of my picks while offering some of your own!