Summary
The horror genre is noted for its ability to produce slow-burn experiences, as the best spooky experiences often rely on increasing the tension and ramping up the in-game frights to maximize the experience. And some of the most celebrated,influential horror titles of all timehave relied on this, utilizing the long-form nature of video games to evolve both their horror and design systems, as these descents into darkness can improve throughout the adventure.
Whether it’s introducing new mechanics and weapons, ramping up the horror, or elevating the story, these horror titles are among the best to do it. Some of them lean into science fiction, while others utilize a more grounded style of horror, proving that the genre is still just as multi-faceted as ever. These games have been ranked based on their stories, the escalation of events, and their ability to introduce new elements for the adventure.
Taking inspiration from true-crime films likeSevenandThe Silence of the Lambs,Condemned: Criminal Originswas developed by Monolith Productionsas a first-person horrordetective game about a member of the Serial Crime Unit named Ethan Thomas, who is on the hunt for a serial killer. Utilizing a slick, responsive melee combat system and escalating tension,Condemnedis still one of the most visceral, compelling horror games ever made.
Condemnedbegins with a scene that feels right out of a police procedural, with Ethan investigating a crime scene that sprawls out into a much larger, more complex narrative. Ethan’s journey takes him into a series of increasingly narrow, darker hallways with enemies lurking in the shadows. Combat starts to become second nature, but the sinister descent into the most depraved parts of humanity sees Ethan struggle greatly with the gravity of it all.Condemned’s evolving story and brilliant forensic investigation system all push the game forward, as each step Ethan takes unfolds more and more of this twisted, fantastic experience.
Resident Evil 4took a lotof chances with a well-established franchise, introducing an innovative over-the-shoulder perspective alongside a story seemingly disconnected from the threats of zombies and Umbrella. It killed Umbrella off-screen with a piece of throwaway dialogue, then sent Leon Kennedy into the heart of rural Spain to rescue the President’s kidnapped daughter Ashley from a deranged cult known as the Los Illuminados.
It is precisely this set-up that creates the over-the-top escalation ofResident Evil 4, as the introductory journey through the village sends Leon on one of the franchise’s most thrilling adventures. The weapon upgrade system is one of its best features, as defeating enemies to gain pesetas that can improve guns, as well as buy them, encourages forward progression.Resident Evil 4’sstory and combat system, along with weapon upgrades and purchases, are the heartbeat of the game. Each aspect just continues to get better as the game progresses, and it is still one of the finest third-person action horror games ever made.
While a lot of horror games focus exclusively on darkness and shadows,Dead Islandtook the opposite approach by setting its open-world zombie survival experience on thesun-drenched island of Banoi. It was a bold decision, but it worked out, as this campy, over-the-top horror game lets players choose from four playable characters and join a friend to slay the zombies together. Its combination of action RPG combat and wild characters is a delightful match, asDead Islandsees the player journey from a sandy beach to a zombie-infested city, all the way to a multi-level offshore prison.
Dead Island’s skill tree and upgrade system are excellent, as adding new abilities to a character increases the ability to slay zombies in a spectacularly bloody fashion. The zany story inDead Islandalso makes a great effort to increase its stakes, as the characters find themselves in increasingly desperate situations that are grounded in various hideouts that tie the game back to some sense of humanity. It’s these moments, found in all the game’s main locations, that keep the human story going strong and keep things progressing wonderfully.
As one of the earliest vanguards of what wouldbecome the survival horror genre,Alone in the Darkhas ascended into one of the industry’s most fascinating franchises. And following a few disappointing releases, the series took a much-needed break and triumphantly returned in 2024 with a complete remake of the debut title, bringing the franchise back into prominence in the most outstanding way.
Utilizing some incredible facial capture and a spectacular doom jazz soundtrack,Alone in the Darkis the dual story of private investigators Edward Carnby, played by David Harbour, and Emily Hartwood, played by Jodie Comer. It deftly combines sharply written, well-acted cutscenes with some fantastic shooter combat, as well as puzzle-solving and exploration. The combat feels excellent as it includes firearms and melee weapons, as well as throwable items. The wide variety of enemies keeps combat fresh, as each location ups the danger, making the trek to the next story section more exciting as a result.
Following an arduous, protracted development process that saw Remedy acquire theAlan WakeIP from Microsoft, the long-awaited sequel to the 2010 cult classic was finally releasedin 2023 to rave reviews.Alan Wake 2picks up in the present day, seeing the horror writer escape from the Dark Place and go on a mind-bending horror adventure along with FBI agent Saga Anderson, as the game features both of them as playable characters.
Alan Wake 2unravels the deep, complex layers of its story with perfection, as each section is loaded with a combination of quirky small-town drama, surreal horror, and the traditional off-beat dark humor that Remedy and writer Sam Lake are known for. Combat is fantastic, as using the flashlight to open enemies up for a firearm feels even better than the first game, and exploring the beautifully rendered environments is a treat. The game also includes one of the most inventive video game levels in recent memory, with a musical number that ties deep into the game’s lore and is just one minor part of one of the most compelling horror games of all time.
It’s safe to say that a modern remake ofResident Evil 2was on the wishlist of every gamer for a long time until Capcom finally listened, releasing an incredible, from the ground-up, recreation of the game in 2019. The long wait turned out to be well worth it, asResident Evil 2retold the harrowing final hours of Raccoon City in spectacular fashion, pittingheroes Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfieldagainst an army of zombies, lickers, and a frightening stalker enemy named Mr. X.
The pace and energy ofResident Evil 2are pitch perfect, as the journey from the Racoon City police department to the NEST lab is flawless. Featuring some wonderful writing, remarkable voice performances, and facial animation, as well as some of the best boss fights in the franchise,Resident Evil 2is easily a contender for one of the best games in the series. Both Claire and Leon’s stories are tremendous achievements in the horror genre, as the effortless ability to combine human drama with horrific nightmares is a delight to experience.
After the massive, runaway success of theResident Evil 2remake, it didn’t take long for other developers to use their horror IPs to jump into the fray. And when it came time for EA and developer Motive to giveDead Spacethe royal treatment, they didn’t disappoint, as this wonderful 2023 remake of the classic horror game took full advantage of the vastly improved hardware at their disposal since the original launched in 2008.
Taking place aboard the USG Ishimura, a mining vessel that gets overrun by terrifying creatures known as Necromorphs,Dead Spacesees engineer Isaac Clarkein a desperate battle for survival against the horrors of the cosmos. With its unique combat system that requires Isaac to dismember Necromorphs,Dead Spaceoffers weapons that are unlike any other arsenal in horror gaming, as he uses engineering tools like torches and plasma cutters. Upgrading Isaac’s suit powers and equipping add-ons to weapons is also fantastic, asDead Spaceencourages forward momentum in a way that other games in the genre don’t. This beloved horror remake is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
