It’s hard to define what makes horror such an appealing genre for so many, but it may have to do with how it excels at any medium, whether its a book, movie, or video game. While longtime horror video game franchises have had their ups and downs — just look at theResident Evilfranchise — the Xbox Series X and PS5 seemed primed to usher in a new era of excellent horror games, withfresh IP likeQuantum Errorbringing something new to the table.
But there are plenty of longstanding horror franchises that could be adapted for next-gen consoles, with each horror subgenre offering something unique. This isn’t outside of the realm of possibility, either. The last few years have seen a steady rise in iconic horror properties becoming full-fledged games, from theBlair Witch ProjecttoFriday the 13th.
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For the most part, many of themost iconic horror villainshave already made their way to games likeDead by DaylightorMortal Kombat,where they appear as guest characters. But horror is one of the richest genres out there, with a wide variety of characters to choose from. Some, however, would be especially capable of making the jump to video games.
Child’s Play
Slasher movies are particularly loved by horror fans, but most involve a large, foreboding menace terrorizing the streets. On the other end of the spectrum isChild’s Play,featuring Chucky, a doll containing the soul of a serial killer. Chucky has had next to no presence in video games besides an endless runner released on mobile platforms back in 2013. However, his size presents an opportunity to flip the typical horror game antagonist formula on its head.
Where games likeOutlastfeature massive enemiesto hunt players down, Chucky can be equally vicious while his size opens up more avenues for horror. That creates the possibility for a horror experience not unlikeAlien: Isolation,but perhaps taking place in an apartment building or a retail store, with Chucky capable of navigating through tight spaces, store shelves, or any other unconventional space. That ups the horror while providing a different take on the typical monstrosities, which have stagnated in some of the more popular horror games out there.
The Descent
The 2005 British horror movieThe Descentchecks all the boxes for a horror game similar toUntil Dawn.It features a group of friends delving into the unknown, with tense, claustrophobic moments waiting around every corner. Not to mention, it takes place in a sprawling cave system, which few horror games feature. Time spent in the caves would likely feel similar to time spent in caves inThe Forest,which tends to be incredibly jumpy.
With limited supplies and the potential for injured teammates to shift the dynamic of the group, players could get a survival horror experience unlike any other. Not to mention the possibility of alternate endings, which could be based around which party members survive, or any other choices players have to make throughout the game.
The Cabin in the Woods
While it may not be the best horror movie out there,The Cabin in the Woodswould be surprisingly workable for a roguelike video game. For those unaware, the movie follows a group of friends on a weekend stay at a lakehouse. Except, the cabin is part of a secret government conspiracy involving an ancient ritual and all manner of horror tropes.
What makes the film unique — and by extension, a potential game — is which monster the characters face. InCabin in the Woods,the characters choose their own fate by fiddling with artifacts located in the cabin’s basement. In the movie, that results in a “redneck zombie torture squad” terrorizing the cast, but there are dozens of other potential horrors. Allowing players to choose which creatures they’ll be going up against, or assigning it at random, would be an interesting twist on the horror genre, which typically emphasizes one hostile creature as a big bad.
It
Truly, it seems like only a matter of time before Pennywise makes his way toDead By Daylight,considering some of the other recent additions. However, a game dedicated toItwould work surprisingly well. Having Derry as a sprawling town full of iconic locations to visit and a sewer system to explore could make for an interesting world. Plus, switching back and forth between grown-up and child versions of the Losers Club could be particularly interesting.
Not to mention,Itis in the public eye now more than ever, with the recent releases of the twoItmovies renewing interest in the iconic horror novel. Of course, there are some challenges that would come from a video game adaptation ofIt,and some of the source material might be a bit too out there to appear in a mainstream game, but it would be exciting to see nonetheless.
The Evil Dead
If there’s one horror franchise gamers want to see adapted into a video game, it’sThe Evil Dead.For a long time, rumors circulated thatAsh Williams fromEvil Deadwas headed toMortal Kombat 11,but that no longer seems to be the case. However, there’s a lot aboutThe Evil Deadthat would translate into a video game, including, of course, Ash Williams' chainsaw hand.
Better yet, anEvil Deadgame may come to fruition. Last year, Bruce Campbell, who plays Ash, teased that anEvil Deadvideo game was being worked on. Unfortunately, nothing has surfaced about the rumored title since then, but it’s still something that fans the world over would like to see happen, especially if Ash Williams won’t be coming toMortal Kombat 11.
Horror is a difficult genre to get right, mostly because it’s a delicate balancing act to build tension then successfully pay that tension off. Of course, there are plenty of horror movies that could potentially work as games, and considering how many horror games are currently slated for next-gen consoles, there’s a good chance that fans will see more video game adaptations in the future.
