Dreamcast was one of the shortest-lived consoles of all time. The console failed to meet Sega's sales expectations, and the company was forced to retire from the gaming systems market as a consequence. But even though the Dreamcast was on the market just for a few years, millions of players still have fond memories of its software library, which included some all-time classics that are still renowned to this very day.
Surprisingly, there were many interesting horror titles on the system, many of which would prove to be successful when re-released on other platforms. Some were new entries in already popular series, while others were entirely new IPs, designed specifically for Sega's last console. But what are the very best horror games on Dreamcast?
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6 Carrier
- Release date: 2000
Carrier is one of the most underrated games on Dreamcast, and it's a shame because this game does have many unique things about it. For starters, Carrier was released as a Dreamcast exclusive title, and it has never been re-released in any other shape or form. This makes it one of the few titles that are still exclusive to Sega's last console to this very day. Secondly, Carrier is a fully 3D survival horror, something that was quite rare at the time, as most titles used pre-rendered backgrounds.
The game's main antagonists are some dangerous mutants, which players can fight by using numerous types of guns. The game also lets players aim at specific parts of the enemy's body, which is not so common for a game of this age. All in all, the game hasn't aged as well as other horror titles, but it's still something that every Dreamcast horror fan should play at least one time.
5 Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
- Release date: 2001
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare is the fourth main installment in the historical Alone in the Dark series, and it's probably one of its best entries. Players take the role of detective Edward Carnby, who's investigating the death of his best friend, Charles Fiske, who was found dead on the mysterious Shadow Island. Near the beginning of the game, players are given the chance to play as either Edward Carnby or Aline Cedrac, a young university professor who will help Edward in his investigation.
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The character's choice has an impact on gameplay as well. Edward's adventure is more combat-focused, while Aline's is much more puzzle-oriented. This makes the game worth at least two full playthroughs in order to get the full experience. Other than that, the game has an exciting and intriguing story along with a very tense atmosphere. This is what really makes this game great, and it's no surprise that it's also one of the best horror games on PS1.
4 Illbleed
- Release date: 2001
Illbleed is another game that is still exclusive to Dreamcast to this day. Players take the role of Eriko Christy, a girl who must explore a horror-themed amusement park in order to find her missing friends. Players will explore six haunted house mansions, which are inspired by fictional movies and will be able to rescue more and more characters as they go on, each with his own strengths and weaknesses.
Contrary to other popular survival horror games, Illbleed is not focused on combat. Players must instead focus on avoiding and neutralizing traps and enemies, all with randomized locations. This makes the game somewhat replayable, as every playthrough will provide a different challenge. Illbleed is definitely one of the weirdest horror games of all time, and it's a shame that it will become more and more difficult to find. A port for the original Xbox was planned but ultimately canceled due to Xbox's poor performance in Japan, where the game had the strongest sales.
3 The House of the Dead 2
- Release date: 1999
The House of the Dead is one of Sega's most popular IPs. Sadly, given its short lifespan, the Dreamcast only got one title from the series, and that is The House of the Dead 2. Luckily, this is yet another great entry in the series and is still a blast to play today as it was in 1999.
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The House of The Dead 2 maintains its predecessor's core gameplay: this is still an on-rail shooter, with plenty of zombies and other devilish creatures ready to jump at players. The game is at its best when played in two-player co-op mode, and it also offers some good replay value thanks to many branching paths, which can lead to very different stage layouts and enemy encounters.
2 Resident Evil: Code Veronica
- Release date: 2000
Resident Evil was already an established franchise by the time Resident Evil: Code Veronica came out. As many players know, the game initially started development as Resident Evil 3, while Resident Evil 3: Nemesis was supposed to be more like a spin-off from the main series. Before development was completed, Capcom changed its mind, swapping the titles' status and making Code Veronica a secondary entry in the series.
Despite this, the game is still a great classic-style Resident Evil game and is considered by many to be among the best entries in the series. While the game was initially announced as a Dreamcast exclusive, the system's quick demise led Capcom to release it on various other platforms. However, the original Dreamcast version still holds up quite well, and will forever be the way the game was originally meant to be played.
1 Dino Crisis
- Release date: 2000
Despite Resident Evil not being at the top spot, Capcom still gets the crown thanks to Dino Crisis. This survival horror game was heavily influenced by its older sibling, but instead of zombies, players are called to face a much more threatening menace in the shape of dinosaurs. They are far quicker and smarter than the undead, therefore quick reflexes are a must when in combat. The game is also much more puzzle-adventure oriented, which allows for a somewhat slower pace than Resident Evil's frantic action.
On top of that, Dino Crisis featured branching paths and multiple endings, which make multiple playthroughs of the game definitely warranted. Simply put, Dino Crisis is one of the best horror games ever made, and it's surely the best one Dreamcast has to offer. Not to mention, it's one of the best games with dinosaurs.