7 Classic Horror Games That Deserve a Remake

There are some truly amazing and terrifying video games in the world. Most of them are, unfortunately, of an older variety.

Horror lovers crave that sinful adrenaline that comes from a good scare, and as time passes, it seems that feeling is getting harder to come by.

With the success of the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes, it appears to be as good a time as any to mention some of the horror games that made the genre what it is today. These are the games that paved the way for the games like Amnesia, Outlast, and Dead Space.

Here is a list of seven classic horror games that could use a remake. The best-case scenario would be to update them, not only change what is necessary. Staying true to what they were but doling out graphics, lighting, audio, and console updates.

There is a significant difference between a remake and a remaster.

A remastered version of a game is basically keeping the original game, including the source code and engine, but updating and modernizing the rest.

• The Last of Us Remastered
• The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A remake uses a new engine and completely recreates the game from scratch. This feat is usually performed by maintaining the story, characters, and specific events.

• Final Fantasy VII
• Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
• Resident Evil 2

What I feel these games would all benefit from is being remade, just using the same base story and characters. Strip away the flesh and build them new on the original bones. Keep them true to what they were, what made them great, but change the parts that weren’t so good and modernize them.

In general, many of these titles need to be modernized rather than overhauled. Some of them could use a bit more work than the others, but I believe they would all do fantastic polished up and given a fresh run.

Clive Barker’s Undying

♦ Released in 2001
♦ Survival Horror
♦ Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
♦ Single Player

Undying is still one of the best horror games I have played to date. Sure, the graphics wouldn’t hold up by today’s standards, and the story would probably be a bit tedious for some, but the game had everything.

There was an intricate story, honor-bound friendship, intriguing characters, frightening monsters, a huge mystery, and a twist you did not see coming.

I like long games, and this one did not disappoint. You become Patrick Galloway, a paranormal investigator, and a World War I veteran banished from his homeland of Ireland for a murder he didn’t commit.

Years after the war, he finds himself sneaking back into Ireland under a false name at the behest of Jeremiah Covenant, his former commanding officer.

Patrick arrives to find his old comrade in a dire situation. His family has been besieged by the terrible Undying Curse, which his nemesis, Otto Keisinger, has been working to help bring about.

Otto is the true murderer and reason for Patrick’s banishment, so it’s personal in more than one way.

Jeremiah’s siblings have all perished, leaving only him as the head of the Covenant family, but they haven’t stayed dead. They have become warped, blood-thirsty creatures that Jeremiah begs Patrick to help him stop and put to rest.

Patrick pursues the siblings and uncovers far more than he ever bargained for, including the real reason he was summoned to the Covenant Mansion and who the family truly is.

The entire game is an exciting mystery that unravels slowly as you make progress.

Why it deserves a remake:

The story was solid and interesting, and the characters were vibrant and memorable. I still remember specific scenes and difficult fights even though I haven’t played the game in over fifteen years.

Undying appeared to be ahead of its time and fell short on a few aspects.

The first half of the game was superior to the second half, leading one to believe that the creators ran out of steam before making it there. The story was there; it just wasn’t executed perfectly.

With an upgrade to the graphics and such and new vigor to make the game what it could have been, Undying could potentially soar in the horror game genre.

Other games that Giant Bomb finds similar, like Dead Space, Wolfenstein, and F.E.A.R., and IGN finds similar, like Dishonored, Dying Light, and Amnesia, have all done remarkably well, indicating a remake could also perform wonderfully.

While Clive Barker’s Undying didn’t sell extremely well, likely in part due to it only being a computer game during a time console gaming was booming, it did still rack up some accolades.

It took PC Gamer’s “Best Atmosphere” prize in 2001 and was nominated for Computer Games Magazine’s and Computer Gaming World’s “Best Action Game of 2001” and Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences’ “PC Action/Adventure Game of the Year” in 2002.

Fatal Frame

♦ Released in 2001
♦ Survival Horror
♦ PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox
♦ Single Player

Fatal Frame teleports players back to 1986, where Mafuyu Hinasaki visits the famous Himuro Mansion in search of novelist Junsei Takamine. Mafuyu is already aware of the mansion’s dark history and surrounding rumors, but he is determined to investigate the place.

He brings with him the Camera Obscura, an old family heirloom capable of photographing the dead. Before we can become too attached, Mafuyu is struck with the knowledge that something is behind him. As he turns to face whatever lurks there, we are transported away, leaving his ultimate fate an unknown factor.

Players then take on the role of Mafuyu’s little sister, Miku, as she goes in search of her brother. Following his lead, She enters the mansion and finds the camera. From there, she learns the fates of all the people, including her brother, that entered before her.

Why it deserves a remake:

Miku’s investigation and ordeal are the stuff of legend.

For its time, Fatal Frame was one of the most genuinely frightening games on the market. Players were unfamiliar with using such a weapon as a camera to defeat enemies. Having no ability to get close and fight or shoot projectiles or magic was a bit shocking. It made the game all the more terrifying. Even if it wasn’t the first of its kind, it revolutionized the concept.

The storyline and overall design were well thought out and immersive. The game wasn’t too easy, and it followed a path, but still gave players the ability to explore and make decisions. The fact that it was good enough to spawn four sequels and two spin-offs should be enough to garner support for a remake.

The first game in the series produced the lowest sales yet is considered a cult classic. Likely the reason is that there was a clunkiness to the game that made it somewhat difficult to play. It also may have had something to do with the newness of the fighting style. Gamers are more accustomed to such things now and would likely be more receptive.

Cleaning up the game, modernizing the fight sequences, and updating the graphics, audio, etc., could breathe new life into the whole series.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

♦ Released in 2002
♦ Psychological Horror
♦ GameCube
♦ Single Player

You start the game as Alexandra Roivas investigating the murder of her grandfather Edward Roivas in his mysterious mansion. The police have all but given up, but Alex refuses to allow the murder to become a cold case.

In her search, Alex uncovers the Tome of Eternal Darkness and begins her psychological, historically-based adventure through time. Was this the reason her grandfather was killed?

There are twelve characters’ lives to live through, Eldritch horrors to encounter, spells to be cast, and a mystery to solve if you survive.

Why it deserves a remake:

Eternal Darkness is a deep, rich journey through time and investigation to learn the truth.

The story is solid. The plot is thick. The only problem with this game is that it is old and severely outdated. A remake could make this title huge.

Eternal Darkness was the first game published by Nintendo to receive an M for Mature rating by the ESRB, drawing in an older audience. While it isn’t critically acclaimed, it did garner praise from fans and critics, earning high scores from several sources, including Metacritic.

It won the “Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development” award at the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards in 2003. Then, it was nominated for four other awards, including “Innovation in Console Gaming,” “Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design,” “Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction,” and “Console Game of the Year.”

Those weren’t the only wins and nominations, though. Eternal Darkness also won “Best Graphics (Artistic) on GameCube,” “Best Sound on GameCube,” and “Best Story on GameCube” at GameSpot’s Best and Worst of 2002.

It was also nominated for “Best Action-Adventure Game on GameCube,” “Game of the Year on GameCube,” and “Best Music on GameCube.”

Nightmare Creatures

♦ Released in 1997
♦ Survival Horror
♦ Nintendo 64, Playstation, Microsoft Windows
♦ Single Player

Nightmare Creatures was one of those games that had extreme potential that it never fully lived up to. It was fun and scary but had issues with the camera and controls. Overall, the biggest issue seemed to be the repetitiveness of the fighting.

On a lighter note, the story was pretty solid, featuring real events, such as the first Great Fire of London, and real people like Samuel Pepys.

In 1666, the Brotherhood of Hecate perform a series of experiments to create superhumans, but all does not go as planned. The Brotherhood ends up with hideous monsters they call Nightmare Creatures.

Choosing to see their failure as a blessing in disguise, the Brotherhood unleashes the beasts on London. Samuel, mentioned above, sets fire to their facility and causes the great fire.

Samuel stops them for a time. Unfortunately, in 1834, the Brotherhood returns, and London is besieged by incomprehensible horrors.

A priest, Ignatius Blackward, receives Samuel’s diary, entailing the Brotherhood’s secrets. Determined, he enlists the aid of an American doctor, Jean Franciscus. The doctor is murdered, however, and his daughter Nadia joins Blackward in the fight against the Brotherhood and their Nightmare Creatures.

Why it deserves a remake:

While the reception for Nightmare Creatures varied greatly, there were still a lot of fans. It didn’t receive any awards, but it did get a sequel, proving there was interest in the title. There was even a film adaptation in the works, but it ended up going nowhere.

Usually, I advocate for remakes to simply update games and make them more suitable for modern gaming. Sometimes, however, an overhaul is what’s needed. In the case of Nightmare Creatures, a complete overhaul would be appropriate.

To make the game a success would require a bit of trickery on the game designers’ part. They could take the original story and outline and modernize them. This would include updating the graphics, audio, and gameplay. They would also need to fix the tedious fighting.

It doesn’t need a new story or characters, just some tweaks to the actual play. The monsters were already interesting, and the location and lore were great.

It might not have succeeded in its first run, but nowadays, with all the new technology and understanding of human psychology, a newly remade version of Nightmare Creatures would likely go over much better.

Obscure

♦ Released in 2004
♦ Survival Horror
♦ Microsoft Windows, PS2, & Xbox
♦ 2 Player Couch Co-op

Obscure is an over-looked game featuring an intense story and five playable characters with their own skills and abilities. The fact that they all have unique reactions to scenes makes it a replayable title.

Obscure begins with one of the five playable characters and a friend exploring Leafmore High, the school they all attend. After a traumatic event, you switch to three other characters searching for their now-missing friend.

During their search, they encounter another friend, and the gang has all been introduced. The remaining members group up and agree to search until they find their missing friend. They believe he is still somewhere within the walls of Leafmore High.

They have noticed a pattern of disappearing students and are determined to make sure their friend isn’t another victim. What they discover is a massive conspiracy and horror beyond their imagination.

Why it deserves a remake:

The story and plot were there and were executed fairly well, so updating the graphics and audio would be a great way to make the game playable for a new generation.

The combining items system was a pretty revolutionary thing at the time because you could do such things as tape a flashlight to any one of your firearms.

Each character is important, but they can still die, leaving the game to be finished without them. More games implement a system like this now, but it wasn’t a popular mechanic beforehand.

It seems like a shame for a game with so much potential to fade away into obscurity, pun intended.

Obscure did receive a remaster in 2016 that is available on Steam, but I believe a remake would be better.

Resident Evil Outbreak

♦ Released in 2003
♦ Survival Horror
♦ PlayStation 2
♦ Single Player, Multiplayer

In Outbreak, players control one of eight characters trapped in Raccoon City when the dead start rising. Each character boasted unique abilities and skills to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles.

The playable characters:

• Alyssa Ashcroft — A reporter with dark ties to Umbrella with a lockpicking ability that allows her access to hidden areas and treasures.
• Cindy Lennox — A waitress with extra herb space. She starts with considerably lower stats than most of the other characters.
• David King — A handyman with a knack for fixing, creating, and modifying weapons with the right materials.
• George Hamilton — A doctor that can turn herbs and other ingredients into medicine.
• Jim Chapman — A subway worker with an odd luck ability that can change the tide of his immediate destiny. He does have a super quick infection rate, though.
• Kevin Ryman — A Raccoon City cop who starts with a weapon and has a potshot ability that causes extra damage.
• Mark Wilkins — A security guard and Vietnam vet with the highest HP of all characters and the ability to block enemy attacks.
• Yoko Suzuki — A college student with similar ties to Umbrella as Alyssa. Yoko can hold double the items of the other characters but has the lowest HP and has to be protected often.

The player must navigate through the dark city while avoiding or fighting off zombies and other enemies to uncover the truth behind the outbreak and find a way to escape.

There is a variety of weapons and items that can be collected, modified, and used to survive. Depending on the chosen characters, these can be used in various ways.

The game featured a unique online multiplayer mode where players could work together to survive and complete missions.

Why it deserves a remake:

Outbreak received positive reviews for its innovative multiplayer mode, intense and suspenseful gameplay, and well-designed environments. It does appear to have jumped the shark just a bit on the online features.

The servers were shut down in the US in 2007 and in Japan in 2011, bringing the mode to a halt.

It is considered a cult classic among fans of the Resident Evil franchise.

With a bit of tweaking to the gameplay and updated graphics and audio, Outbreak could be a complete hit in the current era. Designing the multiplayer to be couch co-op, rather than just online, would also be a fantastic option.

Haunting Ground

♦ Released in 2005
♦ Survival Horror
♦ PlayStation 2
♦ Single Player

Players are submerged into the world and drama surrounding eighteen-year-old Fiona Belli as she survives a car crash only to wake up caged in a castle dungeon. Confused, with only vague memories of her previous ordeal, Fiona finds the cage unlocked and quickly makes her way upstairs.

Before she can ascend the steps, she is met with a hostile white dog that jumps over her and runs away. It is a seemingly meaningless encounter that becomes integral as the story progresses.

She meets the strange and slightly robotic housemaid, Daniella, who gives her some clothes and an odd reception before leaving her alone again. Fiona dresses and begins her exploration and, thus, her nightmare.

She soon runs into the developmentally disabled groundskeeper, Debilitas, roughly playing with a doll. Once he sees her, Debilitas chucks the non-living object to the side and decides that Fiona will be his new doll.

This run-in begins the first enemy encounter. Soon after, she finds the dog from before tied to a tree and releases him. Instead of running away again, he chooses to stay with Fiona and become her full-time companion.

Fiona faces four major enemies, all of which she garners unusual and unexpected information. This leads to her learning a terrible family secret and the reason she was brought to this castle.

Some of this information is incredibly disturbing and painful.

She learns she is in the Belli Castle, where she is the sole heir. It was her father’s home, one he hadn’t told her about. It isn’t empty of family, however.

Instead, a variety of deranged and incestuous members pursue Fiona because of an alchemical creation known as an Azoth. Something she inherited from her father and carries within her. No other family members contain it, making Fiona incredibly important to them.

The remaining members of the Belli family are looking for immortality. Not all enemies want to live forever, though. Some simply want to live.

Daniella, the maid, covets the Azoth because she, like Debilitas and others, is likely a homunculus, or man-made-human, though it is never confirmed. It seems even she is unsure of exactly what she is.

Enemies like Debilitas and Daniella are quite sad. Both are mentally damaged and unstable, very likely from years of abuse and torture, and both seem to have no free will.

Daniella is either man-made or kidnapped and forced to believe that she wasn’t a real human. This leads to both characters being unjustly made into villains.

Exploring the beautiful castle and learning the disconcerting story is part of a unique horror experience.

Why it deserves a remake:

While there was a vast and intricate plot and storyline, the composition was a little off. It was fun and different to have a hide-and-chase type of fighting system that also incorporated a helpful companion.

Many players truly enjoyed having Hewie by their side and having the system of using him to fight while they fled or having to hide to survive. Coming off the success of the Clock Tower series, also a branch of the series, some people found the system to be overdone at the time.

Recreating the atmosphere, which was already very reminiscent of Resident Evil by today’s standards, could make for a wonderful experience. Also, the tired system isn’t as used today as it was then, so giving it a fresh coat of paint, so to speak, could make all the difference.

Polishing up the story and giving the game updated graphics and audio would likely create a new sensation in the survival horror community.

In conclusion:

Every game on this list is in some way worthy of a remake. They were all good games that have the potential to be great by today’s standards. Personally, I would like to see each one remade. I would buy and play all of them again given the option.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree with the games I’ve listed here, or do you have other titles you feel are more deserving? I would love to hear your thoughts.