Horror is one of those genres that is a sure hit in any entertainment medium. We live in unprecedented times where horror movies are topping the box office and horror television series are dominating streaming, and we are also entering another golden age of horror video games. The latter is super exciting because of a genre that was once best known for survival horror experiences resident Evil and silent Hill is now a cornucopia of all kinds of experiences to find your spooky fix.
With recent home run releases such as The Quarry and Evil Dead: The Gamethere are still many experiences that horror lovers can expect.
Here’s a look at some of the coolest horror games to keep on your radar.
Resident Evil 4 – Release Date: March 24, 2023
The original Resident Evil 4 is a real masterpiece. The 2005 game is still as fun today as it was nearly two decades ago (yes, it really is that old), so honing it to perfection will be a monumental task. But Capcom seems up to the task, bringing back the same team that did the outstanding Resident Evil 2 make new. And with new next-gen technology, I have no doubt that Capcom could actually pull this off and offer fans a whole new way of experiencing it Resident Evil 4.
Killer Clowns From Outer Space – Release Date: TBA 2023
Coming out of left field when it was announced last month, Killer clowns from space is one of the best candidates for a video game adaptation. Based on one of the best horror movies of the 80’s, killer clowns attempts to shake up the asymmetrical horror game formula by increasing the player count from the usual 1v4 standard to an experimental 3v7 format where 3 players play the titular maniacs and 7 players play as their prey. Teravision Games is leading the development of this game and although they seem fairly new, they have Randy Greenback (director of the Friday the 13th game) for their team and the full blessings of the Chiodo brothers.
Hell, they’re even bringing back that infectious theme song from the movie.
The Outlast Trials – TBA 2022
Remember Survive? One of the first horror experiences in the PS4 gaming generation, Survive plunged players into a mysterious asylum of man-made horrors, bridging a gap between first-person perspective and found-footage horror. Well, just in time for the series’ 10th anniversary, the franchise will return with the wildly ambitious title The Outlast exams. The game, a spin-off set during the Cold War, seems to take inspiration from the likes of bioshock and the Seen Franchise. Players take on the role of test subjects who are forced to work together to survive a gauntlet of death traps. Honestly since Konami doesn’t seem to be going back to them Seen video games soon, The Outlast exams looks like it might fulfill this fix.
The Callisto Protocol – Release Date: December 2, 2022
By Glen Schofield, one of the creators of Empty roomcomes a space horror game that aims to bring back the same amount of terror to next-gen hardware. The Callisto Protocol tells the story of Jacob Lee (played by Josh Duhamel) as he navigates a terrifying alien invasion at the Black Iron prison colony. From what we’ve seen of the game so far, it promises to be an insanely brutal, terrifying space horror experience with some of the bloodiest deaths ever seen in a video game. The art direction is exceptional as well, instilling a sense of fear and misery that’s lost in many horror games today. As a big fan of the original Empty room, I can barely wait for it.
(Note: Empty room is also set to get a next-gen remake in 2023, which is very odd timing.)
Alan Wake II – Release Date: TBA 2023
Hey, did you know that Remedy is finally making a sequel to their hit game from 2010 Alan Wake? Well they are. The original game followed author Alan Wake as he traveled to Bright Falls, Washington and began experiencing events from his novel come to life. This highly anticipated sequel is described as a full blown survival horror game as opposed to an action game with horror elements like the first. After confirming that it takes place in the same universe as Control, who knows what madness will befall Alan this time.
Redfall – Release Date: TBA 2023
From Arkane Studios, the masterminds behind it dishonored booty, and exceptional last year death loop, comes a co-op shooter about the blood-sucking undead. After the eponymous town of Redfall, Massachusetts is overrun by vampires because of a failed scientific experiment, players take up arms as would-be vampire hunters as they struggle to survive in a world gone to hell. Known for its world-class level design, Arkane Studios has a talent for delivering the promising premise of a cooperative vampire shooter in a rich setting. Sharpen the stakes and have a pitcher of holy water ready, because it sounds like an explosion.
Gotham Knights – Release Date: October 21, 2023
OK, listen to me. Gotham Knights follows the characters of Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and Robin as they fight to protect Gotham City after Batman’s death. Unbeknownst to them, the Court of Owls, an Illuminati-inspired cult secretly ruling Gotham, plot to strike whenever the opportunity arises. Gotham Knights appears to be inspired by Scott Snyder’s iconic Batman run in the comics, including the arc The courtyard of the owls. A horror writer himself, Snyder injected a healthy dose of horror influence throughout his run on DC Comics’ best-selling book. Gotham Knights has the same horror influence and makes the court the main antagonist of the game. If it’s just 10% of what the comic was, horror fans are in for an unexpected treat.
