Despite many games’ efforts, a cancellation is unavoidable. As a result, a lot of outstanding horror titles are frequently forgotten about and no longer receive new releases. But, game reboots like Resident Evil and Dead Space show that, in the right hands, long-dead horror titles may come back for new frights.
And this list is created for the games that deserve to get their own reboot as well, so now it’s time to take a look at 15 Horror Games that need a reboot.
15. Dino Crisis (1999)
Dino Crisis follows Regina, a special operations agent sent with a team to investigate a secluded island research facility. Finding the place overrun with dinosaurs, Regina must fight through the facility to discover its secrets and ultimately escape alive with her team.
The Resident Evil franchise may have dominated the survival horror market back in the late 90s, however, there is also one franchise released during that era that is so unique yet is so underrated at the same time, and that’s Capcom’s classic Dino Crisis. Taking the gameplay features of the RE games but replacing the zombies with dinosaurs.
Seeing how Capcom has remade all of the early numbered RE entries now, a remake or maybe even a reboot of the Dino Crisis would simply be a miracle. As it brings back the tense and memorable encounters with the horrific dinos.
14. Obscure (2004)
Obscure’s story focuses on five teenagers stuck within the confines of their high school, Leafmore High. Soon after they discover that this school may not be as innocent as it seems.
Long before Resident Evil 5 popularized co-op gameplay in horror games, there was Obscure. A game that’s so ahead of its time yet at the same time largely sticks to what makes the game that had come before it, good. With it taking inspiration from the late 90s to early 2000s horror flicks and survival horror games, Obscure is set to provide a cheesy good time.
While tropes of the past may have died out in today’s times, it would be incredible to see Obscure take a satirical approach to contemporary teen horror flicks, while still delivering a moody and atmospheric game that you soon won’t forget.
13. Corpse Party (2008)
In this cult classic RPG maker horror game, a group of high school students is trapped in a dilapidated school in an alternate dimension, after unknowingly participating in a ritual that’s connected to the death of four young children.
Corpse Party is a game like no other on the list, it isn’t survival horror nor is it a blend of action and horror, instead, it’s a visual horror game that describes its frights instead of showing them. The Corpse Party franchise has 7 entries in its belt, unfortunately, the game seems to dip with its quality and somehow digs its own grave with its ever-confusing lore with each installment.
And considering how its most recent installment hasn’t received a continuation of its story yet, it’s easy to say that the franchise might be dead. However, with a possible reboot, not only could it revive the interest in the franchise but also bring its terror into full force.
12. F.E.A.R. (2005)
You play as an elite commando for a unique covert operations unit hunting for a mysterious fugitive who commands a clone army while mysterious things occur around you.
F.E.A.R. is one of the most memorable games in the 2000s yet for some reason, after its 3rd entry, we’ve never really gotten anything beyond it. And it’s a shame because the game is full of potential, and what is already there is fantastic on its own right.
A satisfying gunplay, memorable scares, and an amazing atmosphere, what else could you ask for? Well, maybe a modern reboot of the franchise that will take advantage of modern technologies, creating a more terrifying and blood-pumping game in the process.
11. Condemned: Criminal Origins (2005)
FBI Agent Ethan Thomas is framed for the murder of a detective and officer. In order to uncover who murdered the two officers with his gun, he has to do whatever it takes and fight his way through violent, psychotic individuals.
Like F.E.A.R. Condemned is also a highly remembered game but immediately died out after its second entry. We’ve only ever received two games from the franchise, and it’s some of the most unforgettable gaming experiences we’ve ever encountered.
It’s terrifying, action-packed, and blood-curdling, all of these and more makes Condemned such an iconic game that we simply want to see more of.
10. The Last of Us (2013)
Set 20 years after a pandemic caused chaos within society by controlling people like a mindless undead. You play as Joel, tasked to deliver a young girl named Ellie, in order to find a cure to save the world.
A controversial choice for a controversial game. The Last of Us provides some of the strongest storytelling pieces ever found in a video game, however, its second entry does somehow split its audience’s opinion, due to many baffling creative decisions, including the death of one significant character.
Just because we said that the game may need a reboot that doesn’t simply mean that everything that had come before it has to be retconned, it’s just that maybe we could simply follow a different set of characters on a different adventure but with equally riveting story set within the same universe where Ellie and Joel’s adventure took place, to keep the franchise going.
9. Fatal Frame (2001)
Armed with only a camera at hand that’s capable of fighting ghosts, teenage girl, Miku, searches a haunted house in search of her brother, Mafuyu.
Despite seeing recent re-releases with its previous two titles, we’ve never really gotten any new entry in the Fatal Frame franchise. And its most recent title, Maiden of the Black Water, was released back in 2014. Seeing how new technologies are being invented that make use of motion controls, it would be incredible to see the franchise return in full force, using contemporary gimmicks.
A game that would not only take advantage of modern controls but also a reboot of the franchise feels the most necessary. A game that’s a return to basics of sorts where scares and innovative combat are the priority and not its sexualized nature unlike in its previous entry.
8. Haunting Ground (2005)
A young woman wakes up in the dungeon of a castle after being involved in a car accident. With the help of a White Shepherd, Hewie, she begins to explore the castle to escape and unravel the mysteries of it and its inhabitants.
Haunting Ground started as a sequel to Clock Tower, a game that also desperately needs a reboot, before being turned into its own standalone game. And on its own, Haunting Ground is an effective survival horror game with an exceptional atmosphere and many eccentric and memorable villains that will hunt you throughout.
Like other games on the list, a reboot just seems perfect for Haunting Ground. Something that would not only give traction to the original game but also resurrect it, giving us another great game in the slew of other games in the genre.
7. Rule of Rose (2006)
Rule of Rose focuses on a nineteen-year-old orphan named Jennifer as she recovers the forgotten memories of her childhood and remembers the people she knew at the Rose Garden Orphanage.
Controversial as it may be, Rule of Rose is still a fantastic survival horror that seems to have been forgotten over time. Featuring a myriad of unimaginable horrific events one after another that will push your sanity. Unfortunately, playing the game does prove to be a difficult task considering how rare to find the game is, and it isn’t really ported anywhere else.
With a proper reboot, not only will it ignite interest in the controversial game once again, but we might just see a more polished-up version of the game that doesn’t shy away from anything that made its original so infamous in the first place.
6. Parasite Eve (1998)
The game puts you into the shoes of a New York City police officer named Aya Brea, and her struggle against an ancient evil called "Eve" threatening humanity, animals, and all life on Earth. The horrifying bond between Aya and Eve will continue until one of them dies.
No other game combines RPG with horror elements, better than Square Enix’s Parasite Eve. A purely odd and bizarre franchise full of grotesque imagery and a fierce combat system for its time. Along with following a strong protagonist, Aya on a mesmerizing adventure.
The franchise’s final entry was 3rd Birthday on the PSP, oddly though, the game doesn’t even connect heavily to its predecessors, making its conclusion feel pretty underwhelming by franchise standards. But now, we may just get the opportunity to see Aya again with a possible reboot of the franchise, retaining everything that made its original great with the inclusion of modern RPG mechanics.
5. The Suffering (2004)
The Suffering centers on the story of Torque, a prisoner on death row for murdering his ex-wife and two children, a crime that he possesses no memory of committing. And after arriving at the prison, he and others in it are attacked by unspeakable demons.
The Suffering is one of those horror games that seem to not only be forgotten by time but by many gamers as well. And if you’re one of those gamers, then let me remind you how the Suffering truly is an insufferable game, in a good way. As it displays many nightmarish imageries that will make you want to look away.
Just imagine the game being resurrected in this new generation and how modern graphics could make the already terrifying monster design and atmosphere of the past game even more disturbing. This is a game that would greatly benefit a return.
4. The Thing (2002)
Based on the movie of the same name, you play the part of a military team sent to investigate what happened at U.S. Outpost 31, and must face the Thing yourself.
The Thing franchise has proven itself to be one of the genre’s best, whether it be in movie or video game format, every single entry that it delivers is executed well, even its 2011 reboot film. And this video game adaptation that serves as a sequel to the film is no exception.
It’s an innovative game with an incredible trust mechanic that will make you suspicious of everyone around you, adapting the film’s most significant themes. Add in the grotesque creatures that you encounter and you’ve got yourself a classic. We won’t stop wishing for a reboot of this game anytime soon.
3. Siren (2003)
A group of people are trapped in the mysterious mountain village of Hanuda, and swept up in a plot to resurrect/resummon an Eldritch Abomination into this universe.
Siren is a game so disturbing that even the sight of its gameplay can already make one shiver. The foggy atmosphere, strict combat, and ever-so-uncanny visuals all perfectly blend together to create an unforgettable survival horror experience.
However, despite the game’s efforts, it never really grew big like Silent Hill. Well, with a reboot, this might all just change, considering how survival horror games have been succeeding lately. This is a game that will easily make you scared shitless.
2. Clock Tower (1995)
Clock Tower’s story follows orphan Jennifer Simpson after she is adopted by the Barrows family along with other orphaned girls. But not long after they arrive in their adopter’s mansion, they are attacked by a stalker named Scissorman.
Many of the slasher games seen in today’s generation are often multiplayer games, with the indie scene being some of the few developers to make use of one of the most classic horror genres. However, before multiplayer games like Dead By Daylight and Friday the 13th, there was Clock Tower. An eerie slasher game that focuses on pure survival and cinematic presentation.
The first two games in the franchise are an effective introduction to the slasher genre, and gave us the ever-so-creepy Scissorman, however, after this though, the franchise had taken a completely different approach and genre. This would simply be the perfect time to create a proper reboot of the franchise, one that harkens back to its earlier entries, and running away from the slasher villain is a priority.
1. Silent Hill (1999)
In Silent Hill’s first entry, we follow Harry Mason as he searches for his missing adopted daughter in the eponymous fictional American town of Silent Hill; stumbling upon a cult conducting a ritual to revive a deity it worships, he discovers her true origin.
The Silent Hill franchise is one of the most beloved horror franchises out there, behind or even equally to Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise, however, despite this though, the franchise hasn’t seen a new entry since 2012’s Downpour.
Silent Hill desperately needs a reboot now, and it’s a shame that no other developers have managed to recapture what made the first three games such a refreshing and haunting journey in the first place. It’s a franchise full of untapped potential just waiting to be re-explored.
