Horror games that will still be studied 20 years from now

There are some horror games that have left such a lasting and deep mark on the genre that we'll probably still be talking about them two decades from now. This includes games that nailed their atmosphere and game loop, such as Amnesia: The Bunker and The last of usbut also more traditional survival horror games like Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2. These titles have already been around for years, but they brought something so fundamental to the table that it's simply impossible to discuss the horror genre of gaming without mentioning them.

In addition to the games already mentioned, there are a few other notable titles that will likely serve as blueprints for future horror titles. All of these games accomplished something unique, from popularizing a multiplayer experience to delivering an unforgettable but brief demo of a game that never came to fruition. Organize your inventory, turn on your flashlights, and let's talk about these genre-defining horror games.

The last of us

Perfect marriage of emotional storytelling and horror

When it comes to combining a deep, emotional story with the thrill of a horror setting, it's no easy task. SLEEP did this quite well by providing a deep sense of loneliness and search for humanity, but The last of us dive even deeper by exploring Joel and Ellie's bond in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-filled world. It's also one of the best examples of more action-packed survival horror, delivered in stunning third-person efficiency.

The game became such a phenomenon that it got a sequel (good, if controversial), as well as a TV series (also good and controversial). With just these two accomplishments, it's safe to say that many games will be watching The Last of Us' success for a blueprint to replicate, and most importantly, horror can only become more effective when a deeply personal story of sacrifice and choice is woven into it.

Resident Evil 2

The Crown Jewel of Survival Horror Games

I could have easily brought the first one Resident Evil here too, but given the overwhelming popularity of the franchise's other entries, it managed to take a spot here instead. The remake only further solidified people's love for this game, establishing the basic genre requirements for a true survival horror experience. We have jump scares galore, protagonists with limited inventory and resources, and a seemingly unstoppable antagonist that must be avoided at some point in the game.

These features have become tradition, including the soothing music in the safe room where no evil can enter. Many survival horror games have since taken a page out Resident Evil 2's book and the latest record, Requiemis a welcome return to Leon and Raccoon City.

Dark wood

Pushed the limits of how horror can be experienced

Many horror games put players in a first-person perspective. Also Resident Evilwhich for the longest time was third-person POV, leaned into this change of perspective with later games, even placing it as a switchable option in Requiem. Dark wood throws that whole tradition right out the door and pushes the boundaries of what horror games should look like.

You're put in a top-down perspective instead, with your cone of light illuminating what you directly see, as you explore the titular dark woods and gather clues about what's going on in the world. It's an unexpected way of dealing with scares, maybe not as effective as traditional jump scares, but I think it will get its credit in the future for challenging old genre traditions and encouraging innovation.

Survive

Found movie style horror and its effectiveness

To return to the issue of first-person perspective, Survive and its sequel delivered some of the most terrifying horror experiences in gaming history with a simple tool: a video camera. Previously managed resources such as lantern oil i Amnesia had already dabbled with the idea of ​​light being a limited luxury, but Survive raised it to 200%.

Without the camera's night vision, some parts of the game are really so dark and scary to go through that you will struggle. This extra layer of stress, which is exactly what good horror games strive for, is a great source of inspiration for all games to come. Jump scares and chases aren't the only ways to scare you, although both of these are also abundant in Outlast's bloody and brutal world.

Silent Hill 2

The king of psychological horror

Much of the horror is zombies and real tangible threats, but illusions and psychological hellscapes have also been explored liberally. Silent Hill 2 is the pinnacle of the franchise, but the entire series has always leaned heavily on the inner, mental turmoil that the protagonists must face in the form of the titular town's twisted residents.

The remake of the second game and its popularity proves that this approach still resonates strongly with players, and the fact that Silent Hill bwhich also moves extremely deep into Hinako's mind over three consecutive playthroughs, also did relatively well, showing that psychological horror is here to stay, and Silent Hill will likely be its main torchbearer for years to come. It does the best job of delivering the surreal and absurd.

Phasmophobia

Most effective horror games played with friends

Being alone is a great tool in horror games to make you even more scared. If you don't have an NPC companion, let alone other friends, you're really on your own against any threat. However, Phasmophobia showed that this is not necessarily the case. It might not be the scariest game out there, but it established systems and an experience that could still create satisfying and eerie moments for an entire group of people.

As a ghost hunter, you go to places and try to find out which ghost you are dealing with. At the same time, you also need to avoid being attacked by the ghost to “extract” as a group and earn more money. The proximity chat and the simple yet terrifying atmosphere of Phasmophobiawith tons of different ghosts to discover, has already inspired many subsequent multiplayer experiences, and more to come.

Alien: Isolation

Revolutionary Alien AI that had people on the edge of their seats

No game delivered a more terrifying AI for its time yet Alien: Isolation. As Amanda Ripley, you are forced to survive the xenomorph on a crumbling space station, where no place is truly safe. If it's not the alien that gets you, it's the Working Joes, vicious and relentless in their pursuit. And if not them, then some of the local survivors who regard any outsider as a threat. The alien is where the real juice is though, as the AI ​​was designed in such a way that it would always roughly know the area you're in and start looking around.

This gets even crazier in Nightmare mode, where it often drops from the vents to try and sabotage your escape attempts. Given that you can't kill, just push it away when you get molotov cocktails and the flamethrower, it's a constant, stressful race against a predator that's much stronger and smarter than you. The AI ​​was highly praised for its time and will definitely serve as an inspiration for future games. First, a sequel is in the works, so that's good news for fans of the game.

Alan Wake 2

A visual feast and a psychological journey

Back to the realm of more psychological and surreal stuff, we have Alan Wake 2. This game delivered an exceptional visual experience when it came out, unlike any title we've seen in recent years, and just goes to show that environments and character models absolutely matter in the horror genre, perhaps more so than anywhere else.

Without spoiling too much of the experience, the game features two different protagonists and two different “worlds” that can be explored. Prepare to have your mind blown, as things get extremely weird and surreal. It's likely to be the only game to carry on the Lynchian tradition of horror and the surreal, and it's an important niche of horror that we absolutely need for more mind-bending stories.

Amnesia: The Bunker

Frictional Games' epic return in a highly replayable

Replayability has always been tough with horror games. This usually means that the experience must not be too long in terms of playing time, and it must also deliver something new every time. It's there Amnesia: The Bunker comes in. It's not a long game at all, but the extra difficulty settings, especially the Shell Shock mode, are what make it stand out.

This mode is the ultimate way to experience the horror of the game, as it randomizes resources and some other aspects of the game, while giving you a much tougher start against the monster (namely, no weapon). Although this has already been done in some other games, The bunker arguably did it the best, and it's definitely a game that other horror titles will need to look at in the future if they want to emphasize replayability.

PT

A demo that shattered the world forever

It says a lot when a simple demo can leave such a lasting, cultural impression on the world. Kojima's PTone take on Silent Hill franchise, had the world going absolutely wild when it was first released. It provided a brief but deeply disturbing horror experience where players are haunted by the ghost of a pregnant woman. Everything about the demo was top notch: the mood, the visuals, the trippy repetition, the sound design.

For such a short piece of gameplay to get so much right really makes you wonder what kind of masterpiece would have resulted from it if PT had come about. Even though I'm no longer available and getting cancelled, there's no doubt about it PT will serve as a major source of inspiration for many horror games to come due to how much they achieved in a short amount of time.