Horror Games That Took Big Risks That Paid Off

Summary

• Resident Evil 4 revolutionized third-person shooters.
• Doki Doki Literature Club! lures players with a dating sim facade.
• P.T. created a viral sensation with unique horror elements.

Horror gaming has become all the rage in modern times, with some of the most popular franchises steeped in this genre. While the genre had attained an unfair reputation for jumpscares and cheap thrills, it didn’t take long for detractors to slowly discover why horror gaming is all the rage.

It helps that some of the best games in the genre are as innovative as possible, impressing fans with their creativity. This leads to some games taking huge risks to stand out in the sea of horror video games. Many of these bets have been largely successful, judging by the impact these games have had.

8 Resident Evil 4

Ushered In The Age Of Over-The-Shoulder Third-Person Shooters

The first three Resident Evil games were great in their own right, but everyone could see that tank controls and fixed cameras were going out of fashion. With the genre evolving, Resident Evil 4 decided to take a bold new approach that established this title as one of the best video games ever made.

The over-the-shoulder third-person camera has become a staple of the genre. Players love how great it feels even now, despite all the years that have passed. Sure, Resident Evil 4‘s remake may be a great way to enjoy this title, but there’s something about the campiness of the original title’s story coupled with its revolutionary gameplay mechanics that keep fans coming back for more.

7 Doki Doki Literature Club!

Lulls Players Into A False Sense Of Security

Doki Doki Literature Club! took a huge gamble by releasing as a free title, marketed as a run-of-the-mill dating sim. Barring a content warning for heavy themes, fans had no hint about the true nature of this video game.

It was only after a turning point in the story that Doki Doki Literature Club! revealed its true horror trappings, captivating players as they were led through a meta experience where they had to delete game files to reach the ending. It’s a masterful horror visual novel that makes the most of the video game medium to intrigue players.

6 P.T.

A Unique Horror Experience That Became A Phenomenon

Only Kojima could be bold enough to announce a new Silent Hill game with a revolutionary playable teaser, which is now better known by its iconic abbreviation. P.T. scared players out of their wits when they checked out this title for the first time. It employed everything from a looping hallway to obtuse puzzles, leading to the formation of a community for players to share their solutions.

Lisa’s terrifying presence became more and more apparent as players pieced together the tragedy that occurred in this unnerving apartment. The immaculate horror vibes turned P.T. into a viral sensation. It even led to a spike in prices for used PS4s when Kojima parted ways with Konami and this amazing horror game was delisted.

5 Parasite Eve

Body Horror That Doesn’t Waste The Player’s Time

Parasite Eve is an odd gem. The game was released around a time when JRPGs took a ton of time to complete, featured numerous party members, and tried to keep the experience as wholesome as possible. In contrast, Parasite Eve wastes no time in showing off its grotesque body horror as Aya Brea fights hideous mutated enemies in her pursuit of Eve.

It was a huge risk to release a short JRPG with onlyone playable party member during the PS1 era, but SquareSoft was at the peak of its creative powers around this time. As a result, Parasite Eve gained popularity and is now hailed by many as one of the best JRPGs released during the golden era of this genre.

4 Alien: Isolation

An Exemplary Immersive Sim

This immersive sim wastes no time in establishing just how weak Amanda Ripley is in the face of the Xenomorph’s horrific threat. Most people assumed that Alien: Isolation would be nothing more than a soulless cash-in. And with the Alien franchise’s fame, it can be argued that the publisher didn’t need to put anything more than the bare minimum required to help this title serve as an average experience.

Instead, Alien: Isolation set a benchmark for enemy AI, with the Xenomorph slowly learning the player’s patterns and preventing them from utilizing the same escape routes over and over again. It’s an amazing stealth-action video game. Players must use the tools at their disposal and the environment to fool human enemies, only to run for their lives when the Xenomorph catches a whiff of their scent.

3 Alan Wake 2

Unique Moments Make It A Weird, Yet Engaging Offering

Alan Wake 2 is one of the most ambitious AAA games ever made. Props should be given to Remedy Entertainment for refusing to compromise on their vision as they developed a beautiful, sinister survival-horror game full of bizarre moments and an immaculate atmosphere.

Given how most modern AAA games follow a cookie-cutter mold to maximize sales, games like Alan Wake 2 should be praised for bucking this trend. It showed how magical a video game can be when it uses its budget to make a game for players, instead of shareholders.

2 Phasmophobia

A Horror Game With Friends That Succeeds In Scaring Players

The idea of hunting down ghosts with friends doesn’t sound like a scary time, since players can just goof off and laugh at their deaths even if they get shocked by the sudden appearance of an enemy. However, Phasmophobia circumvents this problem in a creative manner.

For starters, proximity chat ensures that players will start panicking when they can’t hear their friends anymore. Along with this, the unpredictable pattern of every ghost means that players will either face their doom in no time, or have to coerce a shy ghost to reveal itself before the exorcism begins.

1 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

The Second Time Resident Evil Successfully Reinvented Itself

Resident Evil 7 is one of the best horror games players can get their hands on, capitalizing on Konami’s fumble with P.T. and Silent Hills. The franchise had stagnated for a long time, which is why it was surprising to see this series shake off its influences once again and focus on a first-person viewpoint, this time for their new protagonist, Ethan Winters.

This ensured that Resident Evil 7 would be one of the scariest games in the series. The Baker family is full of psychotic villains who will tear Ethan apart in no time. Navigating cramped environments while outrunning the threat of these pursuers is a huge part of what makes Resident Evil 7‘s gameplay feel so effective.