The horror genre is something both AAA and indie developers can tackle, using a wealth of different ideas to ensure that their scary experiences stand out. Some games in the genre are so fortunate that they end up going mega-viral upon launch.
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From Silent Hill to Resident Evil, these horror game franchises went through massive changes and shifts to become what they are today.
This rampant success encourages developers to form sequels or try out unique spins on their established gameplay loops. Either way, no one can argue that these horror games didn't deserve to go viral, especially after players experience the quality these titles bring to the table firsthand.
Five Nights at Freddy's
A Jump Scare Fest That Spawned One of the Most Popular Horror Franchises Around
Five Nights at Freddy's
- Released
- August 8, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the most popular horror games ever made that spawned a legendary franchise, Five Nights at Freddy's captured the attention of fans all over the world with its focus on jump scares and simple button presses. It enjoyed a boom during the Let's Play era and has ridden this wave of success ever since.
The gameplay loop was simple enough for players to wrap their heads around, powering through the game's jump scares to enjoy a fun horror title. While the quality of subsequent games is up for debate, there's no denying that Five Nights at Freddy's used its branching lore to capitalize on the title's virality and helped fans enjoy a genuinely compelling backstory to these nightmarish animatronics.
Slender: The Eight Pages
A Stalking Horror Game That Became All the Rage in the Let's Play Era
Slender: The Eight Pages
- Released
- June 26, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Parsec Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Parsec Productions
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC
During the time when games with a ton of jump scares were blowing up on Let's Play channels, Slender: The Eight Pages became one of the most popular video games fans could check out in the horror genre. What seemed like a simple objective to grab all eight pages in a desolate forest became complicated as the Slenderman started stalking players.
It's a simple premise that turned Slenderman into one of the most popular modern horror legends. Even now, players can boot up this game and enjoy a nostalgic experience back in a time when YouTube gamers were blowing up... That is, until the haunting Slenderman appears and scares them out of their wits.
Phasmophobia
A Co-op Horror Game That Showed Everyone How This Unlikely Combination Can Work
Phasmophobia
- Released
- October 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Kinetic Games
- Publisher(s)
- Kinetic Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Co-op and horror don't seem like genres that can mix too well, which is why Phasmophobia was such an important title. It showed how friends could have fun roleplaying as ghost hunters, using proximity voice chat to interact with others.
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Each ghost in the game needed to be identified before players could figure out how to exorcise these spirits. It made for a great time as players tried not to be split apart from their friends and screamed in unison when a ghost started chasing them.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
A Horror Game With Immersive Sim Elements That Blew Up On YouTube
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Released
- September 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frictional Games
- Publisher(s)
- Frictional Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Action, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS
Frictional Games had done a great job of combining immersive sim elements with horror gameplay in their Penumbra titles, but the dawn of the Amnesia series is when their games truly became mainstream. The Dark Descent became a favorite of horror Let's Plays as players uncovered a chilling story while trying to survive in a scary mansion full of nightmarish experiments.
Unlike most other horror games that became prominent around the same time, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a genuinely great game that weaves a terrifying atmosphere to scare players out of their wits. It's an approach that worked so well that Frictional Games didn't change the formula too much with its sequels before eventually switching things up (for the better) with The Bunker.
Alan Wake 2
Everyone Put Some Respect On Remedy's Name After This Title's Quirkiness Resonated With Them
Alan Wake 2
- Released
- October 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Epic Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Remedy Entertainment has made some of the most stylish, story-driven action games that fans can check out. While most of their games are popular in their own right, Alan Wake 2 reached a level of popularity and success that this title deserved.
The game's bizarre sequences and the exploration of the Remedyverse ensured that this game became a major talking point after it came out. The dance number, in particular, lit the internet on fire with just how bizarre it was. The surreal tones, combined with the game's unique horror (and humor), created an unforgettable survival horror experience.
Alien: Isolation
Came Out of Nowhere to Become the Best Video Game to Use the Alien IP
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
No one expected Alien: Isolation to be anything more than a decent use of the IP. So, when this immersive horror game shattered all expectations and let fans enjoy some of the most advanced pursuer AI seen in a video game, it's easy to see why fans couldn't stop raving about this title.
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The Xbox Game Pass library is full of exciting titles, but remember to check out the best and most terrifying horror games in this collection.
The numerous ways Amanda can meet a grisly end made for an easy way for the game to go viral, but it's the scintillating gameplay and tense exploration that helped Alien: Isolation stand out as one of the best horror games ever made.
Inside
A Side-Scrolling Horror Extravaganza That's in a Class of Its Own
Inside
- Released
- June 29, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
After their modest success with Limbo, Playdead decided to go all out with the release of Inside. This atmospheric side-scrolling puzzle game with horror elements became a gaming sensation, with players loving its immersive storytelling and simple yet engaging gameplay.
A bombastic ending that left players with more questions than answers cemented this eerie game as one of the best indie horror games players can enjoy. The cryptic storytelling ensured that passionate fans would discuss this title at length, which only made outsiders even more curious about what it had in store, helping Inside reach a far broader audience than Limbo ever could.
P.T.
Kojima's Taser Demo Became a Horror Sensation
P.T.
- Released
- August 12, 2014
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PS4
Only Kojima can make a playable teaser for a never-to-be-released Silent Hill game and turn it into one of the biggest revolutions in gaming. Even if his relationship with Konami imploded not long after, that should take nothing away from the sheer impact P.T. Had on the gaming industry.
The looping hallway was so revolutionary that it spawned the anomaly hunting genre, while the game's obtuse puzzles formed communities to crowdsourced solutions. If this game wasn't legendary enough on its own merits, the fact that it's pretty much no longer playable cemented its legend. After Kojima and Konami parted ways, Konami delisted the demo from the PlayStation Store, turning it into a piece of lost media so valuable that PS4s with P.T. Downloaded on them have sold for thousands of dollars!
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