Ghoul On! Horror Video Games, Then & Now

Pumpkins are on every post in World of Warcraft and our heroes are dressing up in Overwatch—it’s that time of year to get spooky and break out the horror games.

The horror genre of video games has shown a myriad of faces over the years, including the development of the wildly popular jumspcare-fest that is the survival-horror genre, a la Silent Hill. The world of horror games encapsulates a much wider spectrum of games, however, and today we’ll survey a few titles from the greater genre from the dawn of gaming through to today. Pixel blobs, ghost-cameras, and eerie music, it’s time to wrap yourself in a blanket, turn the lights off, and get your spook on.

What makes a horror-title?

Even as far back as the earliest video games, horror titles have been part of the gaming scene. While there is not necessarily one unifying factor which labels a game as “horror” there are certainly a number of criteria which make it eligible. Common factors include: an eerie atmosphere, horror narrative themes or figures (i.e. vampires, zombies, etc.), horror-movie franchise tie-ins, and psychological or thriller-based gameplay. Often, atmosphere is the largest element which produces that “spooky” factor. The music that builds to a crescendo of frozen-in-stone figures in an undersea city, the silence which prefaces zombies crashing in behind you, a child’s laughter down the corner of a dark hall. Sometimes even the simplest of things can create an air of pressure, fear, and the urge to not want to open your eyes.

The Early Days: The 1980’s

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Haunted House (1982) For the Atari, the game was one of the first of its kind in survival-horror. The player, represented by eyes, must navigate a haunted mansion to uncover a broken urn. Spooky pixels follow.
Haunted House (1982)
For the Atari, the game was one of the first of its kind in survival-horror. The player, represented by eyes, must navigate a haunted mansion to uncover a broken urn. Spooky pixels follow.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1982). A VHS video game made by Wizard Video, the player assumes the role of Leatherface and attempts to murder trespassers while avoiding obstacles such as fences and cow skulls. As one of the first horror-themed video games, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre caused controversy when it was first released due to its violent nature. It sold poorly as a result, because many game stores refused to stock it.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1982). A VHS video game made by Wizard Video, the player assumes the role of Leatherface and attempts to murder trespassers while avoiding obstacles such as fences and cow skulls. As one of the first horror-themed video games, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre caused controversy when it was first released due to its violent nature. It sold poorly as a result, because many game stores refused to stock it.
Castlevania (1986) Initially released by Konami for the Family Computer Disc System before porting to NES. Sporting many Horror tropes, the title would go on to create a successful horror platformer series.
Castlevania (1986) Initially released by Konami for the Family Computer Disc System before porting to NES. Sporting many Horror tropes, the title would go on to create a successful horror platformer series.


 

Progression: The 1990’s

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System Shock (1994) A FPS game released by Looking Glass Technologies in 1994, the cyberpunk title is still talked of today for it's success in blending sci-fi and horror/thriller elements into a unique experience. It would inspire many titles afterwards.
System Shock (1994) A FPS game released by Looking Glass Technologies in 1994, the cyberpunk title is still talked of today for it’s success in blending sci-fi and horror/thriller elements into a unique experience. It would inspire many titles afterwards.
Clock Tower (1995), a point and click survival-horror genre, initially released on the Super Famicom. The game saw two sequels, releasing on 1998 and 2002. The story follows the protagonist Jennifer as she's stalked through a mansion. The game was never released outside of Japan (so you know it's spooky...more on that later).
Clock Tower (1995), a point and click survival-horror genre, initially released on the Super Famicom. The game saw two sequels, releasing on 1998 and 2002. The story follows the protagonist Jennifer as she’s stalked through a mansion. The game was never released outside of Japan (so you know it’s spooky…more on that later).
Parasite Eve (1998) Made by SquareSoft, the title was Square's dive into the survival-horror action RPG. It was the company's first M rated game, and the first major American-Japanese collaboration. A video game adaptation of a Japanese horror novel, it was released alongside a film adaptation and two manga comments. Parasite Eve II later followed.
Parasite Eve (1998) Made by SquareSoft, the title was Square’s dive into the survival-horror action RPG. It was the company’s first M rated game, and the first major American-Japanese collaboration. A video game adaptation of a Japanese horror novel, it was released alongside a film adaptation and two manga comments. Parasite Eve II later followed.


Growth: 2000-2010

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American McGee's Alice (2000) A third-person psychological horror title, American McGee's Alice is a twisted and macabre adaptation of the original setting. A cult favorite, a sequel, media adaptations, and even animated short films have spawned from this initial title. It was also EA’s first M-rated game, which was fought for by McGee in order to stop parents from mindlessly purchasing it for their children for Christmas near its release.
American McGee’s Alice (2000) A third-person psychological horror title, American McGee’s Alice is a twisted and macabre adaptation of the original setting. A cult favorite, a sequel, media adaptations, and even animated short films have spawned from this initial title. It was also EA’s first M-rated game, which was fought for by McGee in order to stop parents from mindlessly purchasing it for their children for Christmas near its release.
Fatal Frame (2001) Perhaps better known for its frightastic sequel Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, the first title was released by Tecmo in 2001. Set in 1986, players are forced to face their fears by using a spirit camera to take pictures of ghosts in order to defeat them, and learn the eerie story which permeates the setting. As of 2015, four titles have been released in the series, and a film adaptation has been discussed.
Fatal Frame (2001) Perhaps better known for its frightastic sequel Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, the first title was released by Tecmo in 2001. Set in 1986, players are forced to face their fears by using a spirit camera to take pictures of ghosts in order to defeat them, and learn the eerie story which permeates the setting. As of 2015, four titles have been released in the series, and a film adaptation has been discussed.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002) Iconic outside of the video game genre, the title finds itself telling a yet-untold story from the Buffy-verse. Voice acted by the original actors, the beat-em-up title received positive reviews. The game mimics the show's introductions and narrative format, but uses game footage in place of live actors. A second Buffy title would later be released in 2003 for the PS2, Chaos Bleeds.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002) Iconic outside of the video game genre, the title finds itself telling a yet-untold story from the Buffy-verse. Voice acted by the original actors, the beat-em-up title received positive reviews. The game mimics the show’s introductions and narrative format, but uses game footage in place of live actors. A second Buffy title would later be released in 2003 for the PS2, Chaos Bleeds.


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Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (2004) An action RPG developed by Troika Games, the title is a digital version of the tabletop RPG World of Darkness. With the ability to play through a number of Vampire classes/sects, as well as a spooky haunted mansion, and eerie environments, the title provides a diverse but appropriate addition to the list. Play through the story once before you try again as a "Malkavian" Vampire for an even more engaging experience.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines (2004) An action RPG developed by Troika Games, the title is a digital version of the tabletop RPG World of Darkness. With the ability to play through a number of Vampire classes/sects, as well as a spooky haunted mansion, and eerie environments, the title provides a diverse but appropriate addition to the list. Play through the story once before you try again as a “Malkavian” Vampire for an even more engaging experience.
Dead Space (2008) Developed by EA Redwood Shores, now Visceral Games, the title quickly became iconic for its non-impact UI, eerie depths-of-space atmosphere, and genuinely haunting gameplay. The success of the game led to further games, and multimedia adaptations.
Dead Space (2008) Developed by EA Redwood Shores, now Visceral Games, the title quickly became iconic for its non-impact UI, eerie depths-of-space atmosphere, and genuinely haunting gameplay. The success of the game led to further games, and multimedia adaptations.
Alan Wake (2010) A psychological horror action-adventure title created by Microsoft Game Studios adds further diversity to this list and showing the ever-changing face of the genre. Not only are blood and guts kings in the horror-game genre, so too are eerie psychological elements. Progress through the game as the world twists around you, and as you accompany the protagonist through his descent into madness.
Alan Wake (2010) A psychological horror action-adventure title created by Microsoft Game Studios adds further diversity to this list and showing the ever-changing face of the genre. Not only are blood and guts kings in the horror-game genre, so too are eerie psychological elements. Progress through the game as the world twists around you, and as you accompany the protagonist through his descent into madness.


 

To Be Continued…

Stay tuned for a further exploration of the more recent titles released in the past six years. As time has gone on, the horror genre has skyrocketed into a respectable share of the pot, particularly in indie-game areas–but more on that next time. For now, hold your flashlight close, try not to use your camera in the dark, and remember that it’s all just a game… or is it?

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