Horror is one of gaming’s most popular genres, even though it was established relatively late in the medium’s history. With the introduction of 3D and Alone In The Dark’s pioneering survival horror template, the genre entered a golden age where titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill reigned supreme.
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These days, there’s no shortage of indie horror games – however, the AAA horror landscape is comparatively barren. Many horror series have died out or suffered from hiatuses, and the rising cost of video game development hinders the possibility of established series. Here are the horror stalwarts that have stuck around the longest.
8
Amnesia
Debut: 2010
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Released
-
September 8, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
Frictional Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Frictional Games
- Engine
-
HPL Engine, HPL 2 Engine
Amnesia is the standard-bearer for hide-and-seek horror. Its debut entry, The Dark Descent, became a viral YouTube sensation that helped popularize both indie horror and YouTube Lets Plays. Although the series has since been superseded by competitors like Outlast, it still makes a sporadic splash.
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The 2023 offering, Amnesia: The Bunker, was positively received and kept the series alive and kicking. This makes Amnesia a bit of an outlier: the series has never been retro, and yet is already one of the longest-running in the horror genre.
7
Dead Space
Debut: 2008
Dead Space should have been a very short-lived series, as Visceral Games was shut down by EA after the third game ended on a cliffhanger. The decision wasn’t surprising, due to the series’ high production budgets and lack of potential in the monetization department, but it came as a blow to fans nonetheless. Starting in 2008, the series lasted all of five years.
However, the remake trend starting in the late 2010s swung the pendulum in Dead Space’s favour, as the 2023 remake of the first title proved to be very successful. It remains to be seen if there will be a Dead Space 4, but maybe the series isn’t so dead after all.
6
Fatal Frame
Debut: 2001
- Released
-
December 13, 2001
- Engine
-
unity
Known as Project Zero in PAL regions, Fatal Frame deserves props for escaping the sixth-generation curse. A lot of horror game series rose and fell on the PS2. Fatal Frame seemed like it was headed that way: despite a Wii entry and a 3DS spin-off, the series’ recognition was waning.
A last-ditch effort was made on the Wii U with Maiden of Black Water, but for most people, the series’ essential era started in 2001 and ended in 2005. What really saved Fatal Frame was its ports: in 2021, Maiden Of Black Water came to PC. It was successful enough for Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse to receive a 2023 remaster.
5
Silent Hill
Debut: 1999
- Released
-
January 31, 1999
- Engine
-
Unreal Engine
If Resident Evil is the champion of horror gaming, Silent Hill is the number-one contender. The two series are the first to be cited when speaking of the genre. But where Resident Evil has enjoyed a relatively smooth ride due to its penchant for reinvention, Silent Hill has been traversing a rocky road. After a successful period of Team Silent-led titles from 1999 to 2004, the series started getting shopped around to different publishers to steadily worsening reception.
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In 2023, Konami announced a smorgasbord of Silent Hill projects, signaling a long-awaited revival. There was Silent Hill f, Silent Hill: The Short Message, Silent Hill: Townfall and more. The most successful endeavour was a remake of Silent Hill 2. Oh, and Silent Hill: Ascension happened, but we don’t talk about that.
4
The House of the Dead
Debut: 1997
- Platform(s)
-
Arcade
, PC
, Sega Saturn - Released
-
October 15, 1996
- Developer
-
Wow Entertainment
- Engine
-
Unity
The House of the Dead has outlived its own genre. Although rail shooters are no longer in vogue, this series still ekes out an existence in Dave & Buster’s locations across the United States. There was also a remake of the 1997 original, released for PC and home consoles in 2022.
It’s a pity that one of the trendiest horror series is now largely an arcade exclusive. Barring the remake, the latest mainline entry, Scarlet Dawn, has yet to see a home release. But given its genre, it’s impressive that The House of the Dead is still alive at all.
3
Corpse Party
Debut: 1996
Though not as well-known as its contemporaries, the Corpse Party series has enjoyed a surprisingly long run as well as an anime OVA adaptation. The first game was released for the NEC PC-98 in 1996, but it wasn’t until its 2008 PSP remake that the series caught on with its classroom horror setting.
Although still a niche series in the West, Corpse Party has a dedicated fanbase. With the latest entry slated for 2025, Team GrisGris is close to celebrating three decades of blood-covered repeated fear.
2
Resident Evil
Debut: 1996
- Released
-
March 22, 1996
- Engine
-
RE Engine
Resident Evil’s enduring popularity is admirable not just in the realm of video games, but in horror media at large. The series has amassed a wealth of mainline entries, spin-offs and tie-ins. Starting in 1996, Resident Evil served as an introduction to horror for many.
Now on the cusp of thirty years of success, Resident Evil is the only series on this list whose survival has never been in doubt. Given its second golden age starting with 2017’s Biohazard, as well as how successful the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 was, it’s safe to say this series isn’t going anywhere.
1
Alone In The Dark
Debut: 1992
Survival horror as we know it did not start with Resident Evil. It started with 1992’s Alone In The Dark. Developed by Infogrames, the series introduced conventions that would define the genre for the next decade. In the indie space, many titles still copy its template.
So why is this series so lonely and dark? Why does it rarely get mentioned? One word: mismanagement. Throughout its history, Alone In The Dark has switched developers and publishers unable to capitalize on the popularity of its cousin, Resident Evil. It has received remakes, reboots and reimaginings – all to no avail. Regardless, the series’ 2024 entry makes Alone In The Dark the longest-running horror series there is.
