The Scream franchise has not only referenced horror films since its first installment, but cemented itself as a mainstay of the horror genre. The franchise’s video game adaptations are no exception, with Scream popping up in mainline video game titles for several years.
Ghostface may be one of the most iconic serial killers in pop culture to date, but the long-faced slasher didn’t appear in a video game until 2011. This first appearance, a Fruit Ninja-like mobile game, was a promotional tie-in for Scream 4 with which it shared a name. Ghostface has gone on to make a bigger splash in the video game world in the thirteen years since its humble origins, with notable appearances in games like Dead by Daylight. Yet, 2024 may mark one of the biggest revitalizations of Ghostface in video games in recent memory.
How To Stream The Entire Scream Franchise
Spooky season is perfect for a Scream binge, but where can you find all six movies? Here's how to watch every Scream movie on streaming.
Ghostface Slashes Up Opponents in Mortal Kombat 1
Along with Conan the Barbarian, T-1000, and Cyrax, Ghostface is included as a kombatant in Mortal Kombat 1’s Kombat Pack 2. The killer’s addition marks the first time a slasher character has been one of the franchise’s kombatants since Mortal Kombat X. This also marks Ghostface’s debut in the franchise, as the fourth slasher character following Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface.
Mortal Kombat is clearly no stranger to pop culture references within its character roster. Ghostface’s appearance in Mortal Kombat 1 is no oddity, and this inclusion could bring more interest not just in the Scream franchise, but slashers returning to the Mortal Kombat franchise. The original voice of Ghostface, Roger L. Jackson, reprised his role for the game, showing NetherRealm Games's dedication to invoking the franchise’s original spirit and catering to fans.
Ghostface Arrives in Hunt: Showdown 1896
Ghostface is popping in the DLC of other video games as well. Hunt: Showdown 1896 introduced the Ghost Face Rampage DLC on October 24. The DLC comes thanks to a collaboration between Crytek and Fun World, the first time the game has done this kind of pop culture partnership.
In order to fit with Hunt: Showdown 1896’s grimy historical aesthetic, Ghostface’s signature costume has received some serious revamping. Rather than just the killer’s signature mask and long flowing robe, Ghostface now dons a hat similar to a cowboy or a park ranger, a utility belt featuring weapons, pants, and a wrap around his chest. Though some fans of Hunt: Showdown 1896 have criticized Crytek for including an iconic fictional character like Ghostface in a video game with a historical setting, Ghostface’s makeover proves that the studio at least put effort into making the killer’s inclusion immersive.
Ghostface's Recent Roles Could Lead to More Scream Collabs
Ghostface’s addition to these two video games could lead the way for the killer to be included in other fighting and first-person shooter games. Fortnite immediately comes to mind, with spooky characters like Michael Myers, Edward Scissorhands, and various Nightmare Before Christmas characters all having skins in the game.
Further collaborations for the Scream franchise could coincide with the next movie The next entry in the franchise is slated for February 27, 2026, though this date could easily be changed as the film is still in pre-production. With Roger L. Jackson speculated to be in the new Scream film, the iconic voice of Ghostface could easily be featured in promotional tie-ins for Scream 7, just like in Mortal Kombat 1. Despite 2024 being a huge year for Ghostface appearances in video games, the next few could prove to be even more Scream worthy.
The Scream movie and TV franchise began with the release of the first film in 1996. Directed by horror master Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the deconstruction of slasher movies was an instant cultural, critical, and financial hit. Neve Campbell, who plays ongoing final girl Sidney Prescott, has become a horror icon in her own right, along with Ghostface, the only horror villain whose identity is always changing. Nearly three decades later, the Scream franchise shows no signs of slowing down.
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