Summary
Horror movieshave always been a source of bone-chilling thrills. To provide fans with an even more immersive experience, a ton of these movies have been adapted into video games. Pitting players against themost iconic horror characters, these games do an incredible job of providing an adrenaline rush.
From going up against the mighty Freddy Krueger to being stalked by a Xenomorph, these horror adaptations capture the true essence of their movies. While the movies themselves get the adrenaline pumping, these games make the experience all the more terrifying. Here arethe best horror games based on horror movies.
Genre
Platformer, Beat ‘Em Up
While it has some flaws, the 1990 NES version ofANightmare on Elm Streetis a horror classic. Taking control of one of four teenagers, players have to gather Freddy Krueger’s bones while staying awake. If they fall asleep, the nightmares begin.
This nightmare mechanic adds to the gameplay, making it interesting. To stay awake, players have to gather coffee beans scattered across the map. Despite complaints about the design and repetitive gameplay, this adaptation captures the truly unsettling nature of Freddy Krueger’s world.
Based on theAlienfranchise,Alien: Isolationexpands on the story of the 1979 horror classic. Released in 2014, this game has its players take control of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, who is stuck on a space station with a Xenomorph. The game’s design and atmosphere create the feeling of isolation, nailing the movie’s vibe.
On top of the creepy atmosphere, theXenomorph’s AI system allows it to learn the patterns of the player, making it unpredictable and all the more terrifying. When paired with the unsettling environment of theSevastopolspace station, this game becomes chilling enough to give anyone goosebumps.
Survival Horror, Puzzle
Released in 2009,Saw: The Video Gamebrought theSawuniverse into the video game industry. Set betweenSawandSaw 2, this game allows players to step into the shoes of Detective David Tapp, exploring a creepy old asylum filled withJigsaw’s deadly traps. The game is all about solving puzzles and staying alive, creating a dark vibe similar to the movies.
Throughout the game’s missions, players have to tackle gruesome traps and the tough choices that come with them. While it received mixed reviews for its fighting system and story, it brings in fantastic elements from the movies, making it a joy for horror fans.
Jaws Unleashedwas a fun release back in 2006. In this game, players take control of the infamous Great White Shark from Steven Spielberg’s filmJaws. The game is set thirty years after the movie, adding to the franchise’s lore. While the game doesn’t have much story to it, it’s great for casually wreaking havoc.
Players move around different locations, such as beaches and amusement parks, where they cause mayhem for unsuspecting swimmers and boats alike. In the game, there are various kinds of tasks, including those that are driven by stories and others that allow players to move around freely and explore the open world. That said, there are a few bugs and camera problems that make the experience a bit less enjoyable.
In 2022,Evil Dead: The Gamewas launched, merging some parts of Sam Raimi’s famousEvil Dead serieswith cooperative gameplay. Several roles are available for gamers to take on, each from different timelines. For instance, Ash Williams and his friends, as they battle with the Deadites to get the Necronomicon back.
The game has a story mode as well as a multiplayer mode, where players can work together to fight against enemies. By using the weapons and abilities that are specific to each character and all taken from the films, players can make the game’s combat more exciting and employ various strategies during battles.
This psychological horror was released in 2019, taking inspiration fromThe Blair Witch Project, a film that changed the horror genre completely by introducing the concept of “found footage.”. Players take on the role of a former police officer, Ellis Lynch, who has to find a missing child. To do so, he has to go into an ominous and strange area of the woods.
Players explorecreepy supernatural environmentswith the help of Bullet, their faithful canine companion. Bullet, the AI dog, is super important to the game. He helps find items and warns about potential dangers — all of which make for some affecting moments as players bond with him throughout the game.Blair Witchhas different endings that depend on the choices made with Bullet. Overall, the game does a great job of adapting one of the best horror movies of the modern era into an enjoyable gaming experience.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacreis an online multiplayer horror game released in 2023. As in the original film, one group of players takes on the role of the killers, while another tries to survive. On top of that, players can decide whether they want to play as members of the Sawyer family or as one of their victims.
The game does a great job of creating an unsettling environment like the one seen in the movie. From an anxiety-inducing atmosphere to the cat-and-mouse gameplay, this adaptation truly captures the essence of the movies. While it was met with mixed reviews upon release, the game offers a unique experience for fans looking to immerse themselves in the eerie universe of the franchise.
Friday the 13th: The Gameis a multiplayer survival horror game that was released in 2017. In this game, players can choose to be a camp counselor trying to survive, or Jason Voorhees himself. The developers did a great job of creating an immersive experience that will appeal to all slasher fans.
Players need to work together to live through Jason’s never-ending attacks by hiding and using different items found around the camp. The game has more than one map, and each one is based on the movies. Players also get to play as many different versions of Jason from different movie installments. Even though it was taken down from digital stores due to some legal issues, the game is still regarded asone of the best slashersin the horror genre.
