Summary
- Many quality horror games exist that demonstrate high standards despite underwhelming sales figures.
- Ambitious titles like Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth stand out for unique gameplay despite development issues.
- The Evil Within 2 showcased exceptional quality but struggled to gain significant traction against competition.
The horror genre is a mixed bag of indie successes that redefine the space and AAA titles that continue to develop on classic franchises all these years later. Whether it be mind-melting puzzles that take hours to crack or intense gunfights against all manner of grotesque enemies, horror is truly a genre that knows no bounds and holds something for anyone and everyone.
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But it's not all sunshine and rainbows, and as good as a game may be, sometimes the sales figures just don't line up with that quality. This can be due to a number of factors, from marketing to a shoddy release, and has led to more than a few problems within studios and resulted in closures in the worst case. Regardless of the financial success, there are still plenty of games that demonstrate a high level of quality, even though they didn't break any records in terms of sales.
1 Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth
Ambitious Lovecraftian Horror That Was Overshadowed By Bugs
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
- Released
- March 24, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M 17+
- Developer(s)
- Headfirst Productions
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- Sales: ~5000 (UK 2005)
A cult classic that is remembered for its immersive Lovecraftian environment, Dark Corners is the perfect blend of both physical and psychological threats, forcing players to use stealth to navigate through the world and be constantly threatened by the evils within it. The sanity mechanic made it stand out a lot against the competition, along with the advanced enemy behavior that was certainly ahead of the curve.
Despite some solid gameplay mechanics and systems, the game suffered from a troubled development cycle that spanned over five years, leading to many bugs and flaws that critics were quick to point out. The reach was limited, and the initial reviews really hampered its success, but in retrospect, it is still a great horror title that demonstrates the ambitious potential of the developers.
2 Dead Space 2
Bigger And Bolder But Below Expectations
Dead Space 2
- Released
- January 25, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Visceral Games
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Sales: 4 Million copies (2017)
Dead Space 2 was the highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed original, which took everything from the first game and refined it with far tighter combat, more cinematic settings, and deeper character development. The game is incredibly intense, and the atmosphere is chilling and psychologically maddening, causing more than a few scares even when there are no enemies on screen.
In terms of raw numbers, selling millions of copies sounds like a lot, but compared to the enormous cost of the game and the expectations of the publisher, the overall commercial success was fairly underwhelming. It remains an exceptional horror title that pushes the player to their limit and thrives on the claustrophobic environments and environmental tension.
3 Prey
Awkward Marketing For An Immersive Sci-fi Experience
Prey
- Released
- May 5, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Sales: 180,00 first week (2017)
Prey is an incredibly interesting title that takes sci-fi horror tropes and flips them on their head. The areas have a lot of depth, and players are encouraged to think creatively to avoid enemy encounters and uncover the truth that hides just around the corner. The enemies themselves are particularly frightening, being shapeshifters that can disguise as any item in the environment — and with clever AI that makes them more than just walking bullet sponges.
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When the game launched, it suffered from poor marketing, partly thanks to Bethesda's review copy policy, but also due to the confusion surrounding whether it was a sequel or a reboot of the 2006 game. Despite the good reviews, the launch was underwhelming in terms of sales, and the game suffered financially, particularly on consoles.
4 Alone In The Dark
A Reboot With A lot Of Promise But A Failure Financially
Alone in the Dark
- Released
- March 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Pieces Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Sales: 20,000 First week (2024)
The 2024 reboot of the classic franchise, Alone in the Dark, aimed to modernize the series with upgraded visuals and a star-studded cast of Hollywood actors to bring some strong performances to the story. The setting paid homage to the original game in a big way, and the third-person exploration feels just as immersive and rewarding as any other game in the franchise.
Despite the brand's legacy, the reboot failed to stand out in a crowded market. The launch had mixed reviews and technical hiccups, which were enough to deter most from giving the game the attention it deserved. It is still a decent horror title that does enough to keep players entertained for many hours, even though it doesn't innovate in a big way.
5 The Callisto Protocol
Spiritual Successors Don't Always Hit The Mark
The Callisto Protocol
- Released
- December 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Striking Distance Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- Sales: 2 million copies (2024)
The Callisto Protocol brought AAA polish to the horror genre with stunning visuals, detailed character animations, and an oppressive sci-fi atmosphere that called back to the iconic Dead Space series that made such a huge splash in the genre. Brutal melee combat and grotesque enemy design made the gameplay feel raw and tense, while the cinematic presentation aimed to push narrative immersion to new heights.
Despite all the ambition, the game didn’t land as strongly as hoped. Technical issues at launch and a lack of gameplay variety left many players underwhelmed. While it did sell over two million copies, this was far below its projected target of five million, leading to disappointment from both the studio and investors.
6 System Shock 2
Innovative And Well-Loved Despite Low Commercial Success
System Shock 2
- Released
- August 11, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games, Looking Glass Technologies, NightDive Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts, NightDive Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Sales: 60,000 copies (2000)
System Shock 2 was a groundbreaking hybrid of horror, RPG, and immersive sim that delivered a deep and terrifying experience aboard a haunted starship. Its cyberpunk narrative and heavily customizable gameplay were far ahead of its time, earning praise for its atmosphere and design. The influence of the game is still felt today, and the franchise paved the way for some of gaming's most well-loved franchises, like Bioshock.
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However, despite critical acclaim, it struggled commercially at release. Poor marketing, a limited budget, and a niche appeal meant it never reached mainstream success. Sales were weak, but the game’s legacy has grown steadily, cementing it as one of the most influential horror games ever made and a standout in the early days of sci-fi horror.
7 The Evil Within 2
A Nice Follow-Up That Struggled Against The Competition
The Evil Within 2
- Released
- October 13, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Sales: 200,000 copies (Steam, 2018)
The follow-up to a newcomer to survival horror, The Evil Within 2 is a psychological horror title that sees players venturing into the deepest and darkest parts of the mind, in search of answers and closure. The set pieces are pretty stunning, and the enemy design is truly remarkable, being comparable to some iconic enemies across the horror genre.
Even though the game has a lot of quality, it failed to gain any serious traction, and the enthusiasm was pretty lackluster due to a few mixed reviews toward the start of its lifespan. There was also a lot of competition during its release window, and despite later praise, the initial release was enough to axe any chances of another sequel.
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