Resident Evil Village,the latest game in the massive horror franchise, released in May 2021. TheResident Evilseries is probably one of the most famous inhorror gaming history, spanning almost three decades and 28 titles. There hasn’t been more than a few years since 1996 in which a newResident Evilwasn’t released.
However, whileResident Evilhas remained consistent, some horror series have not been as lucky. There are a fewclassic horror titlesthat are due a comeback, and with the resurgent popularity of the genre now might be the best time.
Fatal Frame
Gone, but not forgotten, may be the best way to describe theFatal Framehorror series. It’s been seven years since the last trueFatal Frametitle, though spin-offs, remakes, and even a pachinko machine are helping to keep the brand alive.
The strength ofFatal Frame, and the reason the series deserves a comeback, is its unique gameplay mechanics. Players are sent into a world filled with all kinds of hostile and passive spirits, and must protect themselves with just a camera. Damaging, capturing, and pacifying ghosts by taking pictures isFatal Frame’s unique selling point, and provides a fun alternative to traditional survival-horror combat.
Clock Tower
Anotherclassic Japanese horrorseries in need of a comeback isClock Tower. First released in 1995, the series combines classic point-and-click gameplay with survival horror elements.
Clock Tower’s heroine is relentlessly pursued by monstrous enemies that she can’t take on in a fight. Instead, players must run and hide to stay alive, a theme shared bymodern horror hits likeAmnesiaandOutlast. Beyond this,Clock Tower’s gameplay revolves around solving puzzles to advance the plot, not unlike the small puzzles that can be found in games likeResident Evil.
System Shock
Unlike the other games on this list,System Shockis theoretically about to make its comeback. A third game for the classic sci-fi horror series was announced in 2015, although information on its development remains thin. In May 2020 it was reported Tencent had taken control of the franchise, and would be “taking it forward.”
System Shockis a first-person cyberpunk horrorseries set at the end of the 21st century, in which players battle the malevolent AI SHODAN. Unlike a lot of horror titles,System Shockembraces its RPG side, with a variety of weapons and upgrades for players to enhance their character. It was this aspect of the game that directly inspiredBioshock, which moved away from the horror roots into more of an adventure title.
Phantasmagoria
Not to be confused with ghost hunting gamePhasmaphobia,Phantasmagoriais an FMV horrorfrom 1995. With its real actors, sexual content, and sometimes brutal violence,Phantasmagoriacaused quite a stir when it first released.
The game combined a point-and-click system with FMV and cinematic footage to tell the story of Adrienne Delaney, a mystery writer threatened by unnatural forces. Although FMV still hasn’t hit the mainstream, the recent success of indie titles likeContradictionandThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekkerindicate that the time may finally be right forPhantasmagoriato make a comeback.
