The recent release of games like Resident Evil Village just goes to show that the 1990s was truly one of the best decades for horror gaming, and many of the scariest franchises live on today. With technology expanding in the '90s, game designers were given more tools to scare the wits out of unsuspecting gamers.
From action-horror classics like Silent Hill, games took a decidedly darker turn in the 1990s. Though there are plenty of classic spooky games to choose from, s on Ranker took to the site to vote for the games that still keep them up at night.
Clock Tower (1996)
Developed as an enhanced remake of the original game from Japan, Clock Tower brought its point-and-click chills to the Playstation. The takes control of a young girl named Jennifer who has moved to Norway after her encounter with the Scissorman. However, a gruesome series of murders shows that the demented killer is still on the loose, and Jennifer must discover the secret of his immortality.
Though it may seem primitive today, Clock Tower was nonetheless terrifying in the mid-90s. The game does an excellent job of establishing a creepy tone, and it builds suspense surprisingly well. The point-and-click nature of the game allows for more focus on the story, and though it lacks action, it is quite addicting because of its multitudes of possible story decisions.
Alone In The Dark (1992)
Generally regarded as one of the best '90s survival horror games, Alone in the Dark is actually often credited as the first of its kind. The player is tasked with escaping a spooky old mansion in Louisiana while dodging a myriad of ghouls and ghosts.
Utilizing early 3d graphics technology, Alone in the Dark went for the gusto and delivered a truly creepy thrill ride. The gameplay is engaging, and the key to advancing in the game is through the solving of various puzzles that allow the to move forward. Ambitious in nearly every aspect, the game also presented a pseudo-non-linear map, which only added to the challenge.
DOOM (1993)
The blending of action and horror has been a perfect recipe for video game success, and DOOM was one of the earliest to capitalize on that thrilling union. Taking control of a space marine, the player must navigate a series of levels that are infested with demons and possessed enemies.
Not only did DOOM revolutionize the horror gaming industry, but it is also one of the earliest and best first person shooter games of all time. Despite its technological limitations, the game still delivers smooth gameplay and a wide variety of amazing weapons to choose from. The FPS style only makes the game scarier as players come face-to-face with their enemies.
Dino Crisis (1999)
The unbelievable success of Jurassic Park brought dinosaurs to the forefront of pop culture, and it didn't take long for them to creep into the horror game genre. Dino Crisis casts the as a special investigations operative who is sent to investigate a mysterious island that has been infested with dinosaurs.
Similar to its predecessor, Resident Evil, the game is in a third-person view and utilizes elements of action and puzzle-solving as well. Unlike the older game though, Dino Crisis featured more advanced graphical capabilities and more sophisticated enemies.
Splatterhouse 3 (1993)
With more puritanical video game censorship rules in the '80s and '90s, anomalies like Splatterhouse 3 are all the more fascinating considering the time that they were made. Rick must once again don the Terror Mask in order to defeat the evil forces that have invaded his mansion and stolen his wife.
Usually ed for being one of the most violent games of its time, Splatterhouse 3 nonetheless improved on its predecessors' gameplay. Eschewing the normal side-scrolling of the previous two, instead, the is tasked with navigating non-linear levels in order to win the game. Gory to an almost comical extent, the game also featured some truly creepy villains that are fun to dispatch with classic beat-em-up moves.
Parasite Eve (1998)
Based on the novel of the same name, Parasite Eve was a truly unique addition to the '90s horror gaming experience. Taking control of a New York City police officer, the player must stop a strange being known as Eve from causing all of humanity to spontaneously combust.
Utilizing an RPG gameplay style, the action is different from most other horror games at the time. Even though it is less startling than games like Resident Evil, Parasite Eve's chilling plot is enough to get the player's blood pumping. Also, the addition of sci-fi elements helped it stand out from the crowded horror gaming market of the late '90s.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)
If any franchise defined the '90s horror gaming ecosystem it was Resident Evil, and by the last year of the decade, three games had already been released. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis follows agent Jill Valentine as she attempts to escape Raccoon City after an outbreak of the T-Virus.
Still utilizing the fixed position camera of its predecessors, Nemesis added more emphasis on the action than ever before. Introducing a new villain was a nice touch, and the constant threat of Nemesis' arrival keeps the on their toes. As with most other games in the series, the world-building in Nemesis is one of its strongest aspects, and it keeps fans wanting to come back for more.
Resident Evil (1996)
Though the franchise would eventually move into bigger and better territory, many gamers still look back fondly on the game that started it all. Resident Evil puts the player in control of a special task force officer who is sent to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at a mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City.
Utilizing a fixed camera view, and the ever-controversial "tank controls," Resident Evil is shockingly primitive considering where horror games have gone since. Nevertheless, the game's fascinating story and abundance of legitimate scares are enough to keep any type of gamer entertained.
Resident Evil 2 (1998)
If the original game started the franchise off, Resident Evil 2 kicked the series into high gear. Set two months after the events of the first game, the controls an officer who must escape from Raccoon City after the population has been infected with the T-Virus.
By expanding its scope to an entire city, the game had a much larger sense of dread, and the urban environments came with their own unique chills. Though the actual gameplay was largely the same as the first, the game's branching story paths added another layer of replay value that also served to flesh out the Resident Evil universe.
Silent Hill (1999)
While many of its contemporaries went for an in-your-face style of horror action, Silent Hill instead chose to frighten its audience with psychological terror. When Harry Mason's adopted daughter Cheryl goes missing, he must explore the strange town of Silent Hill in order to find her and get to the bottom of her disappearance.
Fog-drenched and unbelievably spooky, Silent Hill captures common fears and brings them to life with amazing subtly for a game from the '90s. With a wide variety of scary monsters to encounter, the is never quite sure what lurks behind every corner of the game. Like Resident Evil, the Silent Hill franchise has lived on and further expanded into a juggernaut of horror gaming excellence.
