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 the Resident Evil franchise — the Xbox Series X and PS5 seemed primed to usher in a new era of excellent horror games, with fresh IP like Quantum Error bringing 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 the Blair Witch Project to Friday the 13th.
For the most part, many of the most iconic horror villains have already made their way to games like Dead by Daylight or Mortal 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 is Child’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 like Outlast feature massive enemies to 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 unlike Alien: 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 movie The Descent checks all the boxes for a horror game similar to Until 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 in The 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 Woods would 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. In Cabin 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 to Dead By Daylight, considering some of the other recent additions. However, a game dedicated to It would 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, It is in the public eye now more than ever, with the recent releases of the two It movies renewing interest in the iconic horror novel. Of course, there are some challenges that would come from a video game adaptation of It, 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’s The Evil Dead. For a long time, rumors circulated that Ash Williams from Evil Dead was headed to Mortal Kombat 11, but that no longer seems to be the case. However, there’s a lot about The Evil Dead that would translate into a video game, including, of course, Ash Williams’ chainsaw hand.
Better yet, an Evil Dead game may come to fruition. Last year, Bruce Campbell, who plays Ash, teased that an Evil Dead video 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 to Mortal 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.
