Top 10 Best Horror Movie Tie-In Video Games
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VOICE OVER: Geoffrey Martin
WRITTEN BY: Geoffrey Martin
These games built on their respective Horror movies in fantastic ways. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the ten best horror movie tie-in video games. Our countdown of games includes “Alien: Isolation” (2014), “Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick” (2003), “Friday the 13th: The Game” (2017), “The Thing” (2002), and more!
10 Best Horror Movie Tie In Video Games (Sponsored)
More horror equals more fun. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the ten best horror movie tie-in video games.
For this list well be showcasing a bevy of fun and spooky horror games that draw inspiration and creativity from their movie counterparts.
Blair Witch (2019)
Blair Witch is a disorienting and labyrinthian nightmare set in the haunting woods of Burkittsville. While the game does most certainly have some rough edges, as a whole, its held aloft by a vast feeling of isolation, despair, confusion, and utter terror. These attributes are also what made the original Blair Witch Project movie so beloved. War-scarred Ellis and his faithful dog Bullet take to the infamous Burkittsville forest in hopes of figuring out what happened to a missing kid. The way in which this game blends realities while distorting what you think is truly going on, constantly keeps you on edge throughout its short runtime. Sure, the game can get irritating as you continue to get lost, chased by nightmare-inducing visages, only to wind up somewhere you didnt expect; however, its all part of the grand picture at play here: one that aims to isolate you, confuse you, and keep you guessing around every dark and ominous corner.
Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick (2003)
Evil Dead and B-movie camp/quirky comedy horror are synonymous. Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick takes the offbeat, lovable Ash Williams and places him in a town overrun with Deadites. As you might imagine, Ash must use his trusty boomstick along with his chainsaw to deal some over-the-top carnage. This game is set after Army of Darkness and Hail to the King, and Ash is still coming to grips with the death of Jenny. Fortunately, he is able to still spout out goofy one-liners (thanks to Bruce Campbells awesome voice acting chops) as he takes on the zombie-like Deadites in time-warping versions of the same explorable town. A Fistful of Boomstick feels and plays like one of the films, and although it can get repetitive with its arcadey action, theres still plenty to love with this third-person action-adventure game.
Ju-On: The Grudge: Haunted House Simulator (2009)
Talk about a horror hidden gem on the Nintendo Wii. While waggly motion controls might not be everybodys cup of tea, theres no denying that Ju-On: The Grudge: Haunted House Simulator is a downright creepy game, especially if jumpscares are your thing. While the games subtitle might suggest this only takes place in a haunted house, you actually get to explore a seemingly abandoned factory and a derelict hospital as well. 2000s-era long black hair ghost girl movies really knew how to make people jump out of their seats, with the likes of The Ring and The Grudge. This game incorporates all of the horror staples from The Grudge such as the creepy, ghostly kids, the ethereal cat meows, and, who can forget, the off putting guttural throat noises that still haunt many horror hounds nightmares. While this game may be on the short side, its an experience that relishes in spooky ambiance, disturbing audio, and well-placed jumpscares.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2023)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre game is a grimy, dirty, seedy, and deeply unnerving affair, one that perfectly encapsulates the hopelessness and despair seen in the film counterparts. Even for an asymmetrical multiplayer game, theres a certain voyeuristic feeling when playing with others in this maniacal butcher simulator. In this game, you can opt to play as one of the victims as you try to use stealth, various character attributes and skills, environmental distractions, and the like, in order to circumvent the opposing cannibalistic Slaughter family. Or, of course, you can don the likes of Leatherface, Johnny, or Sissy in order to deal out punishment to the trespassers. Its a brutal experience unlike most others in the horror genre. Regardless what side you play on, theres a palpable tension to the cat and mouse matches. Be careful, Grandpa is hungry
Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul (2017)
With the staggering cornucopia of Paranormal Activity movies out there (some better than others), its nice to see at least one video game version of the popular supernatural property. Enter Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul, a bite-sized first-person horror experience that can be played traditionally or in VR for those who want even more spooky immersion. While not up there with the likes of P.T., Infliction, MADiSON, or Visage, The Lost Soul manages to provide plenty of demonically-infested frights in a typical suburban home. This mostly comes down to the games Scare Randomizer system which means no two playthroughs will scare you in the same way. The stark normality of the house juxtaposed with the poltergeist activity and haunting imagery makes for a creepy experience overall, even with some janky animations and laughable character models. With the lights off and headphones plugged in, Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul will seep its way into your horror gaming nightmares.
Friday the 13th: The Game (2017)
If horror is all about creating a mood and a feel then Friday the 13th The Game delivers that in spades. Despite being incredibly janky, rough around the edges, and often just downright broken at times, even across all these years since its release, theres still something charming yet harrowing, campy yet foreboding about this game. This asymmetrical multiplayer horror game pits Jason against a variety of clumsy camp counselors in and around various Camp Crystal Lake locales. Although its not as easy to play as it once was, given that the servers shut down in 2020 and the game was delisted in 2023, those who played it during its heyday remember enjoying match after match of simply outwitting Jason as a counselor or punishing the campers as a variety of Jason archetypes. Playing this game provides the same vibes as watching the classic Friday the 13th films, replete with nostalgic audio, woodsy locations, and buckets of blood and gore.
The Mummy Demastered (2017)
2D action-adventure Metroidvania The Mummy Demastered might not outwardly scream traditional horror in the same way that other games on this list do; however, pixel masters WayForward managed to craft an utterly haunting and mesmerizing game dripping with horror overtones. From the pantheon of monstrous aberrations to the sordid and derelict levels to the Castlevania-esque bosses to the inspirations from The Mummy movies, this game holds its own in the genre while still teetering just on the verge of pure horror, albeit, in a 2D pixel format. As you blast your way through the interconnected stages you will come across mythological beasts, gothic locales, plenty of firepower to wield, and a dastardly mummified villain who watches your every move. Mummy fans should seek out this underappreciated Metroidvania gem, one that has a penchant for lovely horror goodness.
Dead by Daylight (2016)
Dead by Daylight is a true buffet of horror movie iconography, serving up dish after dish of bloody delights from myriad legends of horror cinema. Over the many years Dead by Daylight has been running, its introduced the likes of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode from Halloween, Screams Ghost Face, creepy black-haired ghost girl Sadako from The Ring, Freddy Kreuger from The Nightmare on Elm Street, and even more, including Chucky, Alien, and even the Saw franchise. The third and final asymmetrical multiplayer horror game on this rundown, Dead by Daylight is the true all-encompassing horror juggernaut in this space. Each match feels tense, palpable, and unpredictable, whether you are playing as the killer or as one of the many survivors. While the game certainly has plenty of unique killers/survivors of its own, its really cemented its place as a solid horror movie tie-in game with its strong lineup of horror cinema legends.
Alien: Isolation (2014)
Taking on the posture of the OG Alien film, Alien: Isolation sees Amanda Ripley aboard Sevastopol Station after retrieving the flight recorder from the Nostromo, where Amandas mother, Ellen (yes, from the film), was, but is now missing. Aboard Sevastopol, its very clear that things have gone very, very wrong; not least because a stalking, hulking, terrifying Xenomorph constantly hunts you down to no end. Fighting back against this alien monstrosity is a fools errand since it can shrug off almost any incoming attack. So, its up to you to guide Amanda in and around Sevastopol, uncovering the nefarious goings-on, while just trying to stay alive. The moment-to-moment tension in Isolation is deeply palpable, with you never really truly feeling safe, given the Xenomorphs insidious AI patterns. Beware and stay alert at all times.
The Thing (2002)
John Carpenters The Thing from 1982 is a stone-cold sci-fi horror classic so its no surprise really that a video game counterpart eventually came along. Fortunately for fans of the film, this 2002 sci-fi horror experience is of the highest caliber, one that has managed to stand the test of time, even if the graphics havent aged all that gracefully. Combining third-person action with unique squad-based gameplay mechanics, The Thing manages to capture the cold, isolating feelings that the film evokes, albeit, with a tad more bombastic, over-the-top alien-shooting action. Interestingly, the game also throws in some immersive first-person sequences to keep the gameplay fresh throughout. Add to that, a fear and trust system whereby Blakes various companions act differently depending on the situation at hand, The Thing does so much to provide terrifying alien immersion around every frozen tundra corner.
Which horror movie tie in video games do you think are the best? Be sure to let us know down in the comments.
More horror equals more fun. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the ten best horror movie tie-in video games.
For this list well be showcasing a bevy of fun and spooky horror games that draw inspiration and creativity from their movie counterparts.
Blair Witch (2019)
Blair Witch is a disorienting and labyrinthian nightmare set in the haunting woods of Burkittsville. While the game does most certainly have some rough edges, as a whole, its held aloft by a vast feeling of isolation, despair, confusion, and utter terror. These attributes are also what made the original Blair Witch Project movie so beloved. War-scarred Ellis and his faithful dog Bullet take to the infamous Burkittsville forest in hopes of figuring out what happened to a missing kid. The way in which this game blends realities while distorting what you think is truly going on, constantly keeps you on edge throughout its short runtime. Sure, the game can get irritating as you continue to get lost, chased by nightmare-inducing visages, only to wind up somewhere you didnt expect; however, its all part of the grand picture at play here: one that aims to isolate you, confuse you, and keep you guessing around every dark and ominous corner.
Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick (2003)
Evil Dead and B-movie camp/quirky comedy horror are synonymous. Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick takes the offbeat, lovable Ash Williams and places him in a town overrun with Deadites. As you might imagine, Ash must use his trusty boomstick along with his chainsaw to deal some over-the-top carnage. This game is set after Army of Darkness and Hail to the King, and Ash is still coming to grips with the death of Jenny. Fortunately, he is able to still spout out goofy one-liners (thanks to Bruce Campbells awesome voice acting chops) as he takes on the zombie-like Deadites in time-warping versions of the same explorable town. A Fistful of Boomstick feels and plays like one of the films, and although it can get repetitive with its arcadey action, theres still plenty to love with this third-person action-adventure game.
Ju-On: The Grudge: Haunted House Simulator (2009)
Talk about a horror hidden gem on the Nintendo Wii. While waggly motion controls might not be everybodys cup of tea, theres no denying that Ju-On: The Grudge: Haunted House Simulator is a downright creepy game, especially if jumpscares are your thing. While the games subtitle might suggest this only takes place in a haunted house, you actually get to explore a seemingly abandoned factory and a derelict hospital as well. 2000s-era long black hair ghost girl movies really knew how to make people jump out of their seats, with the likes of The Ring and The Grudge. This game incorporates all of the horror staples from The Grudge such as the creepy, ghostly kids, the ethereal cat meows, and, who can forget, the off putting guttural throat noises that still haunt many horror hounds nightmares. While this game may be on the short side, its an experience that relishes in spooky ambiance, disturbing audio, and well-placed jumpscares.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2023)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre game is a grimy, dirty, seedy, and deeply unnerving affair, one that perfectly encapsulates the hopelessness and despair seen in the film counterparts. Even for an asymmetrical multiplayer game, theres a certain voyeuristic feeling when playing with others in this maniacal butcher simulator. In this game, you can opt to play as one of the victims as you try to use stealth, various character attributes and skills, environmental distractions, and the like, in order to circumvent the opposing cannibalistic Slaughter family. Or, of course, you can don the likes of Leatherface, Johnny, or Sissy in order to deal out punishment to the trespassers. Its a brutal experience unlike most others in the horror genre. Regardless what side you play on, theres a palpable tension to the cat and mouse matches. Be careful, Grandpa is hungry
Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul (2017)
With the staggering cornucopia of Paranormal Activity movies out there (some better than others), its nice to see at least one video game version of the popular supernatural property. Enter Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul, a bite-sized first-person horror experience that can be played traditionally or in VR for those who want even more spooky immersion. While not up there with the likes of P.T., Infliction, MADiSON, or Visage, The Lost Soul manages to provide plenty of demonically-infested frights in a typical suburban home. This mostly comes down to the games Scare Randomizer system which means no two playthroughs will scare you in the same way. The stark normality of the house juxtaposed with the poltergeist activity and haunting imagery makes for a creepy experience overall, even with some janky animations and laughable character models. With the lights off and headphones plugged in, Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul will seep its way into your horror gaming nightmares.
Friday the 13th: The Game (2017)
If horror is all about creating a mood and a feel then Friday the 13th The Game delivers that in spades. Despite being incredibly janky, rough around the edges, and often just downright broken at times, even across all these years since its release, theres still something charming yet harrowing, campy yet foreboding about this game. This asymmetrical multiplayer horror game pits Jason against a variety of clumsy camp counselors in and around various Camp Crystal Lake locales. Although its not as easy to play as it once was, given that the servers shut down in 2020 and the game was delisted in 2023, those who played it during its heyday remember enjoying match after match of simply outwitting Jason as a counselor or punishing the campers as a variety of Jason archetypes. Playing this game provides the same vibes as watching the classic Friday the 13th films, replete with nostalgic audio, woodsy locations, and buckets of blood and gore.
The Mummy Demastered (2017)
2D action-adventure Metroidvania The Mummy Demastered might not outwardly scream traditional horror in the same way that other games on this list do; however, pixel masters WayForward managed to craft an utterly haunting and mesmerizing game dripping with horror overtones. From the pantheon of monstrous aberrations to the sordid and derelict levels to the Castlevania-esque bosses to the inspirations from The Mummy movies, this game holds its own in the genre while still teetering just on the verge of pure horror, albeit, in a 2D pixel format. As you blast your way through the interconnected stages you will come across mythological beasts, gothic locales, plenty of firepower to wield, and a dastardly mummified villain who watches your every move. Mummy fans should seek out this underappreciated Metroidvania gem, one that has a penchant for lovely horror goodness.
Dead by Daylight (2016)
Dead by Daylight is a true buffet of horror movie iconography, serving up dish after dish of bloody delights from myriad legends of horror cinema. Over the many years Dead by Daylight has been running, its introduced the likes of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode from Halloween, Screams Ghost Face, creepy black-haired ghost girl Sadako from The Ring, Freddy Kreuger from The Nightmare on Elm Street, and even more, including Chucky, Alien, and even the Saw franchise. The third and final asymmetrical multiplayer horror game on this rundown, Dead by Daylight is the true all-encompassing horror juggernaut in this space. Each match feels tense, palpable, and unpredictable, whether you are playing as the killer or as one of the many survivors. While the game certainly has plenty of unique killers/survivors of its own, its really cemented its place as a solid horror movie tie-in game with its strong lineup of horror cinema legends.
Alien: Isolation (2014)
Taking on the posture of the OG Alien film, Alien: Isolation sees Amanda Ripley aboard Sevastopol Station after retrieving the flight recorder from the Nostromo, where Amandas mother, Ellen (yes, from the film), was, but is now missing. Aboard Sevastopol, its very clear that things have gone very, very wrong; not least because a stalking, hulking, terrifying Xenomorph constantly hunts you down to no end. Fighting back against this alien monstrosity is a fools errand since it can shrug off almost any incoming attack. So, its up to you to guide Amanda in and around Sevastopol, uncovering the nefarious goings-on, while just trying to stay alive. The moment-to-moment tension in Isolation is deeply palpable, with you never really truly feeling safe, given the Xenomorphs insidious AI patterns. Beware and stay alert at all times.
The Thing (2002)
John Carpenters The Thing from 1982 is a stone-cold sci-fi horror classic so its no surprise really that a video game counterpart eventually came along. Fortunately for fans of the film, this 2002 sci-fi horror experience is of the highest caliber, one that has managed to stand the test of time, even if the graphics havent aged all that gracefully. Combining third-person action with unique squad-based gameplay mechanics, The Thing manages to capture the cold, isolating feelings that the film evokes, albeit, with a tad more bombastic, over-the-top alien-shooting action. Interestingly, the game also throws in some immersive first-person sequences to keep the gameplay fresh throughout. Add to that, a fear and trust system whereby Blakes various companions act differently depending on the situation at hand, The Thing does so much to provide terrifying alien immersion around every frozen tundra corner.
Which horror movie tie in video games do you think are the best? Be sure to let us know down in the comments.
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