Top 10 Best Horror Franchises in Gaming

We begin with the series that laid the foundation for other entries on this list. This series was influential for the survival horror genre, being hailed as an inspiration for “Silent Hill” and “Resident Evil,” which we’ll get to soon. It follows Edward Carnby, who, throughout the series, develops a name for himself as a “Supernatural Private Investigator,” as he deals with mysteries that pertain to the metaphysical. Many of the themes and imagery of the game take inspiration from both Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, giving the games an old-style horror feel. Though the newer games don’t have quite the charisma of the original four, the early games will always be downright iconic.

Hard to believe that in 2 years since it’s inception, this series has already spawned six titles made by one man. The original title started a viral trend of freaking out YouTube Let’s Players, and with its newfound popularity, we’ve seen Freddy Fazbear and friends become household names. While its popularity has also brought its fair share of critics whom are quick to point out the games low production value and lack of free movement, its also brought up a large following of sleuths whom frequently theorise about the franchise’s backstory. Sure its RPG spinoff was a flop, but with a dedicated fan base and a new movie deal, this series is only going to get bigger.

We had to bend the criteria a little bit with this one, since there’s technically only one game currently, with another coming down the pike. However, in addition to the original game, there’s an add-on entitled “Whistleblower,” which tells a new story in Mount Massive Asylum. A first-person survival horror inspired by the found footage subgenre, the player characters are mostly defenseless, armed with a camera that can allow them to see in the dark. They must avoid the deranged asylum patients as they try to unearth the clinic’s many mysteries. Featuring some of horror’s most disturbing enemies and intense chase scenes, this series has made a name for itself among the best in a relatively short amount of time, and we’re excited to see where the fledgling series is headed.

Some of the best horror video games take cues from their parallel cinematic genre, and none do so quite as well as “Left 4 Dead.” The games are cooperative first-person shooters that follow various survivors in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse in various places in the United States. Nothing get the tension than with the sudden barrage of zombies coming at you from all directions and you constantly shoot to survive. But the real fun in the game comes from its various gameplay modes, which feature some of the best co-op shooting to be found, and, let’s be honest, it’s more fun when you’re shooting zombies. Especially that damn witch.

Many fans of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” find themselves shouting at characters that they’re making a stupid choice. Well, Telltale Games provided those fans with an opportunity to see exactly how they would fare in a zombie apocalypse. This point-and-click adventure is loosely related to the television series, existing in the same universe but features a whole new cast of characters. In this series, the story progression is decided based on choices the player makes, often in split-second, life-or-death situations. You’ll really never feel like you made the right choice, and often there is no right choice, though there are certainly wrong ones. If you end up causing the death of one of your friends, there’s no second chance-they are gone. No pressure, though.

Likely one of the most little-known series on this list, all entries feature the Scissorman, a horrifying villain that stalks each protagonist. It differentiates itself from other survival horror games by making the player characters relatively defenseless and forcing them to hide from the dangerous antagonist while solving puzzles to progress the story. Though the series technically ended with “Clock Tower 3,” the game’s presence is still felt, as two spiritual successors, entitled “Haunting Ground” and “NightCry” were released in 2005 and 2016, respectively. (Although the latter wasn’t very good) Quite possibly the most underrated, yet still influential game series in the horror genre, it may be a bit dated now, but no list of horror series would be complete without it.