Horrorgames can end up being wildly influential and memorable when they get certain things right. This is especially true in the case of spooky, scary titles that age beautifully and let fans enjoy amazing masterpieces.
From immersive experiences to revolutionary titles that are remembered long after their release, there’s no shortage of quality horror games that fans can get lost in. Their gameplay, visuals, and other elements have aged gracefully, making them quite playable to this day.
It’s hard to fathom the sheer amount of time that has passed followingAmnesia: The Dark Descent’s release. It felt like yesterday when people were laughing at the reactions of popular Let’s Players as they explored a haunting mansion and escaped its dangers by any means necessary.
The sanity mechanics and immersive sim elements have aged very well inAmnesia: The Dark Descent, to the point where it’s still just as fun to play as it was during release, if not more. It helps that the game boasts a wealth of quality mods that players can sink more time into after they’re done playing through the base experience.
Manhunt’s controversy overshadowed this game’s strengths. James Earl Cash’s unwilling participation in a snuff movie leads toa ton of brutal and violent executionsthat are still hard to fathom.
Along with this, the game’s nightmarish story, amazing atmosphere, and tough gameplay ensure thatManhuntis still a blast to play to this day. Given how formulaic most modern AAA games have become, it’s nice to see a horror that actually feels different, for a change.
Playdead wowed players with two of the best games ever made, withInside’s muted brilliance turning it into an indie icon. However, fans shouldn’t forget the game that paved the way so that the company’s magnum opus could run.
Limbo’s mysterious setting, surprising brutality, and minimalist art style are still a treat to behold. Players who don’t want to learn the mechanics of a complex video game will love what this atmospheric side-scroller brings to the table.
There are many reasons whyDead Spacefans felt that the original game never needed a remake, even ifthe 2023 version of this title is still excellentin its own right. Some players may actually find the voiceless Isaac to be more charming and easier to assume control of than the 2023 version.
The visuals still look great, and the immersive UI feels more special, now that players have seen how UI/UX design has seemingly regressed in the industry. In comparison,Dead Spacestill feels ahead of its time and is a blast to play.
The biggest compliment players can give the originalSilent Hill 2is how it may still be the definitive way to enjoy this game, even if the remake did a great job of modernizing the experience. The fixed camera angles added to the game’s cinematic tension, something that is lost in Bloober Team’s effort to replicate this masterpiece, but that doesn’t discredit the exceptional remake.
It helps that the story has aged brilliantly and is still just as riveting, with James Sunderland being one of the most fascinating video game protagonists of all time.The psychological trappings of this game are intense, ensuring that players will be on the edge of their seats if they decide to give the classicSilent Hill 2experience a shot.
Given how narrative brilliance has become rarer in the video game industry over time, it’s easy to see whyBioShockcan feel like a breath of fresh air in the modern era. The voiceless protagonist trope is executed well, culminating in one of gaming’s greatest plot twists.
The claustrophobic halls of Rapture are dripping with tension that is still palpable to this day. The combat is the only area whereBioShockmay falter slightly, but this is something that fans will find easy to get over as they power through this magical experience.
It was unthinkable that a free horror game would become one of the most talked-about titles in the genre, and Kojima’s brilliance ensured thatP.T.would enjoy this reputation and then some. This iconic horror game features a looping hallway and an obtuse mystery that caused online communities to form, which would give players the solution they needed.
This turnedP.T.into a horror game way ahead of its time that fans will enjoy even more in the modern era, provided they have a PS4 with a copy of this playable teaser. The anomaly horror genre was born fromP.T.’s ashes, showing just how revolutionary this horror game was.
System Shock 2is one of the greatest video games ever made,inspiring games likeBioShockandPreyto emulate its brilliance. This survival horror RPG has aged like fine wine and is a blast to play even now.
The remaster will make it evidently clear why this game didn’t need the same remake treatment as the firstSystem Shock. The gameplay has aged brilliantly, with the immersive sim elements ensuring that players will be locked in every time they clock in numerous hours in this legendary video game.
