Going into 2023, it seemed like the year was poised to be a landmark one for the horror genre, and it mostly delivered the goods. Some games expected for 2023, like the Silent Hill revival, didn’t materialize, but we still got rock-solid remakes of games like Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 and some terrifying new nightmares like Alan Wake 2. So, summon up your courage for Wccftech’s Best Horror Games of 2023…
Also in Wccftech’s Best Games of 2023 lists: Shooter, Fighting, and RPG, Action, Indie, and Adventure
Dead Space (8)
After years of neglect from parent company EA, the Dead Space franchise finally returned this year with this Motive-Studios-developed remake and mostly showed why the series is remembered so fondly. In my full review, I found the game to be a bit glitchy and dated in some respects, but overall, still a grisly, intense experience that will leave your heart pumping just like it did 15 years ago…
“The new Dead Space is a mostly-successful revival of a survival horror landmark, offering atmospheric new visuals and a series of precision updates to combat, level layouts, and the game’s scary bits that ought to surprise and excite veteran engineers. That said, there was room for Motive Studio to push ever further, as some game elements still feel a bit dated. Dead Space should satisfy long-suffering fans of the franchise, but compared to the latest, greatest AAA horror competition, it’s no longer a cut above.”
System Shock (8)
And the remake train rolls on! After a number of delays, Nightdive Studios finally delivered their new version of the groundbreaking System Shock this year. While Nightdive could have pushed a bit harder with their remake, they managed to recapture that unique System Shock atmosphere very well. Wccftech’s Ule Lopez agreed in his full review…
“The System Shock remake offers a lot of great graphical enhancements and beautiful stylistic choices that make for an overall enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, it’s dragged back by several aspects that haven’t aged well over the years and have become more accentuated after the advancements that gaming has made in all these years.”
Resident Evil 4 (8.5)
The final remake on this list, and perhaps the most anticipated horror revamp ever – Resident Evil 4. Did Capcom’s remake live up to every expectation? Perhaps not quite, but to many fans’ surprise and delight, they stuck surprisingly close to the source material delivering a gorgeous, modern grindhouse rollercoaster. While I had a few reservations, I couldn’t deny the overall quality of the Resident Evil 4 remake, particularly once you add the excellent Separate Ways DLC to the mix…
“Resident Evil 4 was the ultimate test of Capcom’s remake skills, and unfortunately, they buckled a bit under the pressure. The game suffers from minor mechanical issues and doesn’t reinvent or elevate the original material as boldly as some might have hoped it would. That said, Capcom hasn’t broken anything either as this is still a fun, inventive thrill ride that has been brought up to modern technical standards in striking fashion. The new Resident Evil 4 is well worth it for fans of the series, just keep your hopes slightly in check and you won’t be spin-kicked by inflated expectations.”
Amnesia: The Bunker (9)
Frictional Games’ Amnesia series has been delivering its unique brand of creeping dread and jump scares for years, but with Amnesia: The Bunker they tried something a little different, adding procedural-generation and roguelike elements to the mix. The result was a game that was more replayable, yet still just as scary, as past entries in the series. Wccftech’s Ule Lopez had a bloody good time with the game…
“Amnesia: The Bunker has become one of the best horror games in an ever-changing landscape on par with titles like Resident Evil 7 and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. This game not only is a return to form for Frictional Games but it also paves the way forward thanks to its systems that encourage creative solutions to problems and an ever-changing nature that will keep players on the edge of their seats as they face off against the supernatural threat that’s roaming the halls of the bomb shelter.”
Alan Wake 2 (9)
After years of hinting they wanted to make it, and building up an entire shared universe to support it, Remedy Entertainment finally delivered Alan Wake 2, and it might have been the most creatively-ambitious game of any type to come out this year. Delivering a wild, mind-bending, dual-narrative story that can jump from legitimately terrifying sequences to a neon-lit dance number the next, Remedy held nothing back. Even if every moment wasn’t perfect, the overall experience was unforgettable, a sentiment Wccftech’s Francesco De Meo definitely agreed with in his full review…
“With its excellent trippy horror story, memorable characters, amazing atmosphere, and some of the best visuals in gaming to date, Alan Wake 2 is a game like few others and Remedy Entertainment’s best to date. It took 13 years for the acclaimed writer to come back, but the long wait was worth it. We could have hardly wished for a better sequel, despite the sometimes-derivative survival horror gameplay holding the experience back a bit.”
Honorable Mentions
Beyond the horror heavy-hitters, there were other worthwhile scary games this year, including Bloober Team’s visually-impressive UE5 remake Layers of Fear and the creepy fishing game (yes, that’s a real genre now I guess) Dredge. The parade of licensed asymmetric multiplayer horror games also continued, with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre arguably being the best of the bunch this year.
So yeah, 2023 was a scary good year for those of us who like being scared. Any good horror games I missed? Don’t agree with Wccftech’s top five? Hit the comments and hash out your own horror favorites.
