October 30th 2024.
When we think of survival horror games, the first title that comes to mind is usually Resident Evil. But did you know that this genre has been around for much longer than that? If you're feeling nostalgic and want to experience some retro scares, look no further than the 90s. This was the golden era for horror games, when developers began to focus on making players too scared to continue and publishers realized the potential of this new genre.
Of course, with every successful game comes a flood of imitators. The release of Resident Evil in 1996 led to a wave of poor quality knock-offs. And since the concept of games being on discs instead of cartridges was still relatively new, we also saw a lot of FMV horror games with live action footage and less-than-stellar acting.
But fear not, dear reader. We have compiled a list of the best and most influential horror games from the 90s that still hold up today. Many of these franchises are still going strong, with new sequels or remakes being released recently. (Except for Dino Crisis, which we've sadly had to ignore, just like Capcom. Let's pretend it's at number 11.)
10. Dark Seed
While consoles and Japanese developers may have dominated the survival horror scene, the roots of this genre can be found on the PC. And one of the early titles that paved the way for future horror games was Dark Seed. This point-and-click adventure game was the only one to be authorized by the famous Alien designer, H.R. Giger. However, the visuals may look a bit outdated nowadays, with digitized live action actors awkwardly interacting with the virtual world.
But don't let the graphics fool you, the story is actually quite good. It has a Lovecraftian feel, with an otherworldly alien presence that creates a genuinely creepy atmosphere. However, the game's logic and puzzles can be a bit strained, and many of them have to be completed within a certain time limit, requiring a lot of trial and error. Unfortunately, the game is not currently available for purchase anywhere, not even on GOG.
9. Clock Tower
Clock Tower may not have been released in the West until recently, but this late-era SNES game was hugely influential in Japan and has gained a cult following elsewhere. Similar to Resident Evil 2 and 3, the game has you controlling an orphaned girl trying to escape a creepy figure known as the "Scissorman". With no way to fight back, your only option is to run and hide, making for a tense and terrifying experience. This game set the stage for many future survival horror games to come.
8. Parasite Eve
What happens when you combine Resident Evil with Final Fantasy 7? You get Parasite Eve, Square Enix's attempt to break into the survival horror genre. Technically a sequel to a Japanese novel of the same name, this game features elements from both franchises. The scares and creepy environments are reminiscent of Resident Evil, while the combat is turn-based like Final Fantasy. It may be an awkward mix, but the game still manages to be quite creepy, with some truly terrifying monsters. Sadly, it has never been re-released or remastered since its original release on the PlayStation.
7. I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream
Based on Harlan Ellison's disturbing short story, this game delves into dark and mature themes such as the Holocaust, rape, and mental illness. Developed in collaboration with Ellison himself, the game follows five survivors as they are psychologically tortured by a supercomputer named AM in their own personal nightmares. Despite being heavily censored in many countries, the game is available for purchase on Steam at a very affordable price.
6. Aliens Versus Predator
It's easy to get confused with all the Aliens vs. Predator games out there, but the one we're talking about here is the best use of the license by far. This first-person shooter is a quasi-remake of the Atari Jaguar game from 1994. With the ability to play as an alien, predator, or Colonial Marine, each with their own unique abilities and weapons, this game is a terrifying experience. The facehuggers, in particular, are truly horrifying. Thankfully, it's available on Steam for a low price.
5. Alone In The Dark
Last but certainly not least, we have Alone In The Dark, a game that revolutionized the survival horror genre. It was the first 3D survival horror game and set the standard for future games in the genre. With its Lovecraftian atmosphere and terrifying enemies, this game will keep you on the edge of your seat. And with the remastered version available on Steam, there's no excuse not to experience this classic horror game.
Survival horror has been around for much longer than you might think. If you're feeling nostalgic and want to experience some retro scares, then look no further than the best horror games of the 90s. While the term "survival horror" wasn't coined until the release of Resident Evil in 1996, horror-based video games have been around since the early 80s, with titles like Haunted House on the Atari VCS. However, it was the 90s and early 2000s that truly brought the genre to its golden era, with game publishers realizing the potential for scaring players and creating a whole new genre to explore.
As with any popular trend, there were a lot of copycat games that tried to imitate the success of Resident Evil. Unfortunately, many of these were of poor quality. But there were also some unique gems that emerged during this time, such as FMV horror games that used live-action footage of terrible actors against a green screen. However, none of these games made our list of the best and most influential horror games of the 1990s. Most of these franchises are still going strong today, with new sequels and remakes being released. Except for one tragic exception: Dino Crisis, which even we have to admit has been ignored by Capcom. But let's just pretend it's at number 11.
Now, let's take a trip down memory lane and explore the top 10 horror games of the 90s, starting with Dark Seed. While the survival horror craze was mainly led by consoles and Japanese developers, its roots can be traced back to the PC. Dark Seed, a point-and-click adventure game, was the only video game authorized by the legendary Alien designer H. R. Giger. He only agreed to work on the game if it ran at the unusually high resolution of 640 x 350. However, the visuals may appear outdated now, with its use of digitized live-action actors awkwardly interacting with the virtual world.
But what Dark Seed lacked in graphics, it made up for in its gripping story. Drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft, the game follows a tale of extradimensional aliens that creates a truly creepy atmosphere. Unfortunately, the game's logic is a bit strained and some of the puzzles have to be completed within a certain time limit, leading to a lot of trial and error and replays. Sadly, the game is not currently available legally anywhere, not even on GOG.
Clock Tower, on the other hand, has gained a cult following despite not being released in the West until its recent remaster. This SNES game from the late 90s was highly influential in Japan and is essentially a point-and-click adventure. In the game, you control an orphaned girl trying to escape from the infamous "Scissorman." Similar to Resident Evil 2 and 3, Scissorman can follow you around the mansion you're exploring, and your only option is to run and hide since there is no direct combat. This element became a staple in many subsequent survival horror games and is a testament to Clock Tower's lasting impact.
Next up is Parasite Eve, Square Enix's attempt to merge the horror elements of Resident Evil with the turn-based combat of Final Fantasy 7. Technically a sequel to a Japanese novel, the game features plenty of Resident Evil-style scares and creepy locations, but combat is based on an ATB turn-based system similar to Final Fantasy games of the time. The result is a slightly awkward mix, but the game's creepy atmosphere and shocking CGI cut scenes make it a must-play for horror fans. Unfortunately, it has only ever been available on the original PlayStation and has never been re-released or remastered.
I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream is another game based on an existing story, this time from Harlan Ellison's disturbing short story about survivors of a nuclear apocalypse being tortured by a supercomputer called AM. Developer Cyberdreams, who also worked on Dark Seed, collaborated with Ellison himself to expand the story. In the game, AM tortures each of the five survivors individually with their own nightmare scenarios, tackling themes such as the Holocaust, rape, and mental illness. Heavily censored in many countries, the game is notable for its mature content and is available on Steam for a very low price.
Aliens Versus Predator is another game that uses an existing story as its inspiration, this time from the popular Alien vs. Predator franchise. This first-person shooter, developed by Sniper Elite developer Rebellion, allows players to take control of an alien, predator, or Colonial Marine. Each character has unique abilities and weapons, but the game is most notable for its terrifying atmosphere, making the alien creatures truly scary. It's available on Steam for a low price, making it a must-play for horror and sci-fi fans alike.
Finally, we have Alone in the Dark, a game that truly set the standard for survival horror. While it may not have been the first of its kind, it was the first to use 3D graphics and cinematic camera angles, creating a truly immersive experience. The game follows the story of supernatural investigator Edward Carnby, who must explore a haunted mansion and unravel its mysteries. Despite its clunky controls, Alone in the Dark remains a classic and is available on Steam for those who want to relive the horror.
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