Horror Games That Revolutionized the Genre

Horror games may seem like uncomfortable experiences for players not too keen on the genre, but anyone willing to give these games a shot will understand why fans go crazy over a great horror game. This is especially true when talking about some of the most revolutionary games in this genre.

The popularity of these titles, coupled with the innovation they bring to the table, ensure that players will have a great time enjoying their stories and gameplay. The iconic stature of some of these games should be more than enough to convince players to give these titles a shot.

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8

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

An Immersive Horror Game That Served As A Template

Survival Horror

Indie Games

Adventure

Action

Puzzle

Released

September 8, 2010

ESRB

t

The Dark Descent is one of the greatest horror games ever made simply because of how viral it became. The game had the good fortune of launching around the same time when the Let’s Play craze started, with several popular YouTubers introducing their fanbases to these titles.

Players loved the breathtaking chase sequences in The Dark Descent coupled with some wonderful puzzle design. All of this was held up by a wonderful story, forming the holy trinity that most horror games would try to channel in a bid to tap into this market.

7

P.T.

A Playable Teaser That Became A Phenomenal Piece Of Lost Media

Systems

Released

August 12, 2014

ESRB

m

It’s a testament to Kojima’s brilliance that something as simple as a playable teaser turned into one of the most revolutionary horror games of all time. P.T.‘s revolving hallway and eerie atmosphere made it one of the best horror games players could get their hands on.

It’s a shame that this game has turned into a piece of lost media, but the impact of P.T. has been felt in the horror genre ever since. It gave Resident Evil 7: Biohazard the confidence it needed to let players enjoy a playable teaser of its own, while Lisa’s erratic head-shaking has been emulated in several other horror games ever since.

6

Sweet Home

An Innovative Combination Of JRPG And Survival Horror Elements

Sweet Home

Systems

Released

December 15, 1989

ESRB

Mature

Sweet Home is one of the most underappreciated video games of all time, especially once players realize how revolutionary this title was. It combined elements of traditional JRPGs with other gameplay elements that would go on to form the basis of the survival horror genre.

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The fact that this game’s enemies inspired the iconic zombie head turn in Resident Evil is a testament to how wildly unappreciated this title is. It may be a pain to play Sweet Home nowadays, but players who can enjoy this golden opportunity will love how ahead of its time this title was.

5

Resident Evil

Kickstarted One Of The Greatest Survival Horror Franchises Of All Time

Released

March 22, 1996

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence

The original Resident Evil did a great job of introducing many players to the horror genre. The gameplay was tense yet action-packed, making for a great balancing act that fans loved.

This, coupled with the limited saving and a focus on puzzles, ensured that most other titles in this genre would emulate the same gameplay loop for quite some time. Even with the genre evolving and conforming to modern trends, Resident Evil still occupies a soft spot in the hearts of many fans.

4

Silent Hill 2

Showed How Effective Psychological Horror Could Be In A Video Game

Systems

Released

September 25, 2001

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence

While the original Silent Hill was groundbreaking in its own right, it wasn’t until the sequel came out that fans realized just how much promise these games had. Silent Hill 2‘s incredible narrative takes players through several twists and turns before the final reveal comes to light.

The haunting atmosphere and a focus on psychological horror have inspired several video games since. It was a miracle that the remake managed to capture a lot of what made this title so magical, since most players had already written it off given Konami’s poor reputation at the time.

3

Alone In The Dark

An Underappreciated But Important Horror Game

Systems

Released

1992

ESRB

T // Animated Blood, Animated Violence

Alone in the Dark is another horror game that has been forgotten for the most part, with the series’ attempt at a reboot being deemed a failure. It’s a shame, since the original game preceded titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, introducing many players to the hallmarks of the survival horror genre.

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Tense combat and a focus on puzzles are prevalent in this revolutionary title. It may feel dated by modern standards, but players willing to adjust to the game’s archaic controls will love experiencing a piece of video game history with Alone in the Dark.

2

System Shock 2

Set A Foundation That Other Games Would Emulate

Released

August 11, 1999

ESRB

m

System Shock 2 is a survival horror title in which Ken Levine played a major role in enhancing the game’s immersion. The sense of solitude in this game, coupled with its RPG elements, helped it stand out as one of the best immersive sim titles around.

The narrative structure and immersive atmosphere are two of the game’s biggest contributions to the video game industry, setting the foundation that games like BioShock would flourish with. Hopefully, Judas will continue to pay respect to System Shock 2‘s legacy and let fans enjoy another masterclass by Ken Levine.

1

Resident Evil 4

Established The Genre Tropes That Would Shape Future Third-Person Shooters

Released

January 11, 2005

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

There aren’t enough words to express how legendary Resident Evil 4 is. The game had a greater focus on action compared to its predecessors, ensuring that players had a great time powering through the title’s riveting combat as they took out numerous villagers infected by the Las Plagas parasites.

The game is revolutionary for implementing many design choices that have become synonymous with third-person shooters. The over-the-shoulder aiming was revolutionary back in the day and made combat feel tense, as Leon was rooted to the spot and vulnerable to enemy attacks if he missed too many shots.

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