With the recent remakes of the Resident Evil games selling incredibly well, it's likely that game companies famous for producing horror games will be taking notes. While fans are clamoring for the likes of RE and Silent Hill to get remakes, many other horror games aren't getting the same love.
For every AAA horror game franchise, there are ten underappreciated games that have dedicated fanbases but have been forgotten by most of their publishers. With many vocal fans and YouTubers sharing their love for these games, perhaps it's time for their owners to give them a much-needed remaster or remake.
Sanitarium (1998)
Video games don't often comment on mental health nowadays, but it was rare to find one that dealt with it in 1998. After a car accident, the amnesiac hero known as Max is placed in a psychiatric hospital that hides a dark secret.
Does Sanitarium's depiction of mental health fully hold up? No but that does mean the game deserves a remake that could potentially improve its depiction of mental health whilst also refining its point-and-click gameplay.
Illbleed (2001)
To call Illbleed "good" may be very generous, but it's a fun time from beginning to end. Following a group of friends trying to survive the night in a haunted amusement park, the game follows 6 different narratives that have a real B-movie feel.
That's what Illbleed is, a funny sci-fi horror B-movie, something that is desperately needed when the horror games nowadays take themselves uber-seriously. With bleak horror games being common, it'd be nice to have a game that knows exactly what it is, which is a fun spooky romp.
Clock Tower 2 (1996)
Known only as Clock Tower outside of Japan, the PS1-exclusive sequel to the original Clock Tower sees heroine Jennifer Simpson return, once again being chased by the evil Scissorman. Sadly, of the initial Clock Tower duology, it's Clock Tower 2 that has aged the worst.
While its rudimentary PS1 graphics and poor voice acting don't really hurt the game's initial scare factor, its numerous Scissorman copycats and late-game gameplay restrictions certainly hurt the fear factor towards the story's end. A remake of Clock Tower 2 could fix the game's sillier elements and deliver a horror experience akin to the SNES original.
Clive Barker's Undying (2001)
It's certain that Clive Barker is a horror icon, but few seem to know that he, apparently, is a pretty big fan of video games. Though the creator of Hellraiser and Candyman has dabbled in the medium many times, even coming to its defense once, Clive Barker's Undying is by far the most well-loved.
Following occult investigator, as he investigates the haunting of the estate of his friend Jerimiah Covenant, the game balances the shooting with the scares and has Barker's fingerprints all over it. With Barker's most famous creations now more popular than ever, perhaps it's time for a developer to give one of his more obscure creations a fresh coat of paint.
Nocturne (1999)
Nocturne is a tricky game to put in a box, as it has a bit of everything in it. Set in the early 20th century, Nocturne follows a Spookhouse agent known as The Stranger who goes around on various missions investigating paranormal and supernatural activity.
Very much akin to Men In Black, only feeling more like a horror movie, Nocturne is a tad more serious with lore that's implied rather than outright said. It's high time that this vastly underrated game gets a remake, especially with a remake of System Shock coming soon.
Siren (2003)
Siren turned some heads back in 2003, as the Sony exclusive was handled by some of the developers behind the original Silent Hill. But while Silent Hill is still famous today, Siren has been more or less forgotten about, which is a shame as the series has far more hits than misses.
The first game is split up into several different stories that all revolve around the mysterious emergence of demonic zombies known as The Shibito in a rural Japanese town. A reboot of sorts known as Siren: Blood Curse was released but doesn't truly live up to the original, something a more faithful remake that could refine and experiment with the game's ambitious structure and gameplay could have a chance to.
Haunting Ground (2005)
Haunting Ground is, in many ways, an evolution of the Clock Tower formula, with the game taking the run-and-hide mechanics of that series and blending with a Resident Evil-style camera. After waking up in a foreboding castle, Fiona Belli must find a way to fight back against a group of people who have dark intentions for her.
The game's themes of voyeurism and female empowerment are even more relevant today, which makes Capcom's decision to not remake the game baffling. Haunting Ground is an expensive game now, so a remake could allow new players to experience this story without having to go broke.
Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth (2005/2006)
Even though the man himself was a known racist, H.P. Lovecraft's works have inspired many video games. The themes of cosmic horror and uncanny terror that he more or less pioneered and present in many horror games, but Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of The Earth is the best game that's directly based on the author's work.
Blending the plots of The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Shadow Out of Time, and, of course, Call of Cthulhu, the game follows private investigator Jack Walters as he investigates an Eldritch cult in the dreaded city of Innsmouth. With its commercial failure and problematic re-releases, the only way to truly recapture the magic of Dark Corners of The Earth is to simply remake it.
Rule Of Rose (2006)
Rule of Rose is a game of two halves. On the one hand, it has a tremendous, Lord of The Flies-esque story, as well as a phenomenal horror score. On the other hand, it features frustrating controls and gameplay mechanics that don't live up to the story's promise.
It follows a woman named Jennifer as she becomes entrapped in a sinister world of horrific creatures, class issues, and some really mean little girls. Yet another expensive game, Rule of Rose would have to have a gameplay overhaul in order to fully justify a remake, but its story, score, and emotional resonance would make it worth it.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (2002)
Another Lovecraft-inspired game, this time published by Nintendo of all things, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is a hidden gem on the Gamecube, still holding up to this day. When her grandfather is murdered in his home, Alexandra Roivas must uncover an Eldritch mystery that spans the centuries and expands far beyond the stars.
Instead of directly adapting the works of Lovecraft, the game creates its own mythology which is actually rather fascinating. As Nintendo still owns the rights to the franchise and isn't afraid to dabble in dark subject matter anymore, perhaps it's time for fans to revisit a bold new version of Eternal Darkness.