With its jump scares and nightmarish enemies, horror games have long been a staple of the video game genre. But in 2023, the genre looks to have an even more spooky year ahead of it.
From remakes of classic titles to new survival horrors, here are the biggest and most exciting horror games coming out next year. Whether you’re looking for a gruesome horror game to play alone or a multiplayer experience with a chilling atmosphere, there’s something here for you.
Dead Space Remake
One of the most iconic survival horror games of all time is getting a major revamp. Dead Space Remake, from EA Motive Studios, is a modern-day remake of the 2008 third-person sci-fi title that breathes new life into the harrowing tale of the USG Ishimura and all who boarded it.
We’ve reached an age of gaming when remakes of well-loved classics are commonplace, and Dead Space Remake is no exception. Rebuilt on the Frostbite Engine, it doesn’t stray far from the original while still providing some tweaks and gameplay upgrades here and there.
The remake retains the original’s dark corridors and a ton of fearsome enemies, although there are some physics changes that affect how enemies react to damage. This is a smart move, as it should help make exploration and mission structure more fluid.
In addition, the game also features a reworked map that’s presented in 2D rather than 3D. This makes it easier to navigate the Ishimura, and should help future games on the platform.
Another major change to the game is the introduction of side quests, which shed further details about the apocalyptic events that happened on the USG Ishimura. They also add a new layer of depth to the characters aboard the ship.
Characters like Elizabeth Cross, who had a small role in the original game’s Hydroponics section, are fully fleshed out and have more interactions with Clarke. They’re also able to relay messages through holographic logs that can be found throughout the Ishimura.
Necromorphs, meanwhile, remain the same, with each one bringing the series’ mix of extreme body horror and extraterrestrial terror to life. These mutated creatures are designed with the player in mind, and they’re more terrifying than ever.
Combat is as intense and satisfying as it always has been in the series. Using a wide range of guns, you can slash through any enemies that appear on your path. Most weapons can shorten their limbs by a few inches, but some fill more niche roles, such as the flamethrower and Pulse Rifle.
Overall, Dead Space Remake is a great way to celebrate one of the best horror titles of all time. Its modern-day reworking is sure to please fans of the series, and it’s also a great entry into the genre for anyone looking for a fresh, modern take on the genre.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is a PS VR2 horror game that takes players on a roller coaster ride through different locations from Supermassive Games’ Dark Pictures Anthology series. The game reportedly uses PlayStation VR 2’s new eye-tracking technology to enhance scares, as well as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for an immersive experience.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback is set to launch on March 16, 2023 as a PS VR2 exclusive. It is a similar game to the Until Dawn: Rush of Blood VR tie-in, but instead of focusing on a specific Until Dawn event, it takes place in the events of the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology.
Switchback is a VR rail shooter, and like Until Dawn, it will feature multiple routes through each map. It will also have different endings based on player choice.
Supermassive Games announced the game last week, saying it’s an “unprecedented VR project” and will offer “a faced-paced action shooter unlike any other”. It will use PlayStation VR2’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for a scary experience on a rollercoaster from hell.
It will take you for a ride through ghost-ships, witch-hunts, vampire nests and the lair of a sadistic killer. It will be your own personal nightmare where no two runs are the same, and every path will test your reactions.
In the blog post, Supermassive Games said it will use PlayStation VR 2’s new eye-tracking capabilities to make the game more terrifying. According to the blog, this system will track where you’re looking and if you blink. The game will then use this information to teleport enemies closer when you’re scared.
If you want to play The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, it will cost you $49.99. This is a great price for a VR game, and one of the lowest prices we’ve seen so far.
The game was initially scheduled to release on February 16, but it has been delayed by three weeks due to extra time needed to polish the title. The delay will see Switchback release on March 16 instead.
If you’re excited about the upcoming game, we recommend getting it on pre-order. You’ll receive a bonus in-game item for pre-ordering the game.
Alone in the Dark Remake
One of the most influential survival horror games of the 1990s is finally coming back to life. Developer Pieces Interactive (Magicka 2, Titan Quest: Atlantis) and publisher THQ Nordic have teamed up to bring a reimagined Alone in the Dark Remake to PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.
The original 1992 game was an incredible melding of horror and adventure and launched the survival horror genre on a whole new level, with players able to explore an expansive, rich world filled with strange creatures and terrifying locations. Although the game has been reimagined in recent years by Resident Evil franchise and Silent Hill, THQ Nordic is hoping to get back to the roots of Alone in the Dark with its new version.
During its THQ Nordic 2022 digital showcase event, the publisher revealed that developer Pieces Interactive is working on an Alone in the Dark Remake for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Developed with help from Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent writer Mikael Hedberg, this latest reimagining of the cult classic will send players back to 1920s New Orleans, allowing them to explore the Derceto Mansion in a Lovecraftian-inspired tale.
It will also feature two playable characters: Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood. As they delve into the Derceto mansion and its surroundings, they’ll face new threats – but it appears as though these new enemies are more of a nod to the horrors of the original than anything else.
As for gameplay, it’ll feature a tense, claustrophobic experience that’ll keep players on the edge of their seat, with a reimagined and more modernized take on the classic survivor horror. With two distinct characters and a story penned by Hedberg, the upcoming remake should prove to be an incredibly memorable and immersive experience.
In addition to this, THQ Nordic has also opted to release a playable teaser, dubbed Grace in the Dark, on the show floor at Gamescom this year. It’s a prequel story that won’t appear in the main game, but will give fans a taste of what to expect.
The Devil in Me
The Devil in Me is a slasher-style horror game with an emphasis on interactive drama. Players control a group of people who are trying to film a TV show about serial killers. But their production company has run out of money, and the team is at each other’s throats.
It’s a well-told story that draws a lot of inspiration from the “torture porn” genre. It’s also very reminiscent of Saw and The Collector, and it has a lot of the trap rooms and taxidermy-obsessed antagonists from those movies.
While the story itself isn’t quite as exciting as it could have been, the game still manages to deliver some very chilling moments. One of the most genuinely scary scenes involved a power outage that your character was following with her directional microphone.
Another legit moment was when your character used her inhaler to fight off a lung infection and felt the effects of it on her Dualsense haptic feedback system, generating a heartbeat effect that made your blood pump and your adrenaline surge. The game also has some jump scares that are genuinely scary, but many of them are unnecessarily repeated throughout the game.
Aside from the gimmicks, there’s a lot to enjoy about The Devil in Me. It’s an excellent slasher-style horror game with some of the best writing Supermassive has put out so far.
This is a stand-alone game that you can play alone or with friends, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a horror experience in short bursts. There are a number of different gameplay elements to keep things interesting, including Quick Time Events, exploration, and environmental puzzles.
The game also introduces new characters with different abilities that can come in handy during certain situations. For example, Charlie can unlock doors with his business cards, Mark can use a monopod to reach high objects, Erin has a microphone, and Jamie has a torch.
These additions aren’t essential to the overall game, but they can make it easier to find collectibles or solve certain tasks. The inventory system is a good addition to the gameplay, as it allows you to carry around things that can help you out when you need them.
