Best Horror Games of 2023 (so far)

Another year, another batch of horror games. So far, mid-2023 hasn’t really disappointed us with its offerings to those who want to be scared while holding a controller. The catch, however, is that these new titles aren’t exactly new.

Some are sequels to some prolific horror franchises while others are remakes to classic horror games. Nevertheless, these titles do a fantastic job of scaring us as we make our way through the remaining half of 2023. Take a look at what is scary around the corner…

Dead Island 2

After twelve years of anticipation, passing from studio to studio in what seemed like a never-ending development cycle, the sequel to Deep Silver’s critically acclaimed zombie shooter has finally arrived. Dead Island 2 drops four players into a new city full of zombies just waiting to be mowed down with whatever is at their disposal.

The first game was notorious for its approach to zombie slaying complete with a patented visible damage system that displayed some of the most visceral gore on screen. As a proper sequel, DS2 merely refines this with even more extremely detailed gore. On the other hand, DS2 also brings its own tricks like a deck-building system that replaces the skill tree system of its predecessor. Ultimately, the wait was worth it.

Amnesia: The Bunker

Amnesia: The Bunker had a lot to prove despite being the fourth entry in one of the most revolutionary horror franchises out there. Not all is well in today’s climate given some highly influential game companies are releasing uninteresting entries in their franchises–Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs being one of them. Fortunately, the new chapter of horror manages to succeed where its predecessor had failed.

Players take on the role of a French soldier during the Great War who must escape the creepy confines of a bunker while being stalked by an unstoppable monstrosity. Amnesia’s patented claustrophobic level design, stealth, puzzle solving, and eerie storytelling are all accounted for here and with splendid results. So fans disappointed with the last romp should feel refreshed with this new horror.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

True to a fault, Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 is by far the most persistent entry in its zombie-infested survival horror franchise. Since its release on the Gamecube back in 2003, the title has been available on just about every console since. But there’s a reason for that: It was just that damn good. Now, an ever-opportunistic Capcom has returned to the classic title one more time to remake it from the ground up for modern platforms.

Resident Evil 4 Remake isn’t just a rehash; it's practically a new chapter in the zombie horror. Almost everything that made the original a roaring success, from the “living zombies” or “Ganados” in their European countryside backdrop to the mechanics used to exterminate them, have been expertly refined for modern horror enthusiasts. And while that isn’t meant to sully the original, its remake has firmly placed itself well above its predecessor with these advancements.

Diablo IV

Amidst the controversies surrounding the Diablo series and its publisher, Diablo IV stands tall as one of this year’s best horror games. Like its predecessors, this isometric action-RPG thrusts players into a dark and moody fantasy world that’s being consumed by a demonic horde. Everything that made the franchise into a juggernaut, from the graphics to the class system, is here and has been refined.

Though most of Activision Blizzard’s live service shenanigans are also present, they’re not so much of a buzzkill that would prevent players who just want to boldly dive deep into the darkened depths of this world. Hence, Diablo IV does its community proud despite the many things that stand in its way.

Dead Space Remake

Cosmic horror media is considered a dime a dozen these days, though there aren’t that many gaming franchises that can effectively invoke the sheer terror lurking in the vast sea of darkness. The original Dead Space from the defunct Visceral Games made its stamp in cosmic horror history as the best in the business–and its remake more than reaffirms that fact.

Back in the shoes of space engineer Isaac Clark, players reexperience the brutal odds of being trapped on a space rig while surrounded by an unrelenting alien horror. The title’s isolating atmosphere, macabre enemies, and cleverly gory combat were all done better than any other title that had come before and after it. Even its current competitor The Calisto Protocol, another survival horror title and would-be spiritual successor, doesn’t come close to dethroning it.