Pre-Resident Evil Horror Games

Resident Evil is often seen as the series that popularized horror in video games beyond just beating up ghosts and vampires. However, there are plenty of horror and horror-themed games that predate RE1. This list aims to compile most of them, along with a few that released the same year and thus didn't have time to take influence from RE. Few might actually be considered scary by modern terms, but it's an interesting look to see how the genre started before achieving mainstream acceptance. Plus, if you're looking for something spooky and retro, this could be a good resource!

Any recommendations are welcome, so long as they are from 1996 or earlier!

Games not featured on Backloggd:
Destruction (PC-88)

Considering Including:
- Metroid (early entries)

315 Games

Haunted House
Haunted House
Hunt the Wumpus
Hunt the Wumpus
Shark Jaws
Shark Jaws
Death Race
Death Race
The Count
The Count
Mystery House
Mystery House
Berzerk
Berzerk
Not horror really, but Evil Otto is the great-granddaddy of Scissorman, Mr. X, and every other "pursuer" villain in horror games.
Deathmaze 5000
Deathmaze 5000
The Curse of Crowley Manor
The Curse of Crowley Manor
House of Usher
House of Usher
Despite what it says in the listing, House of Usher was first released in 1980 for Apple II/Atari 8-Bit.
The Institute
The Institute
AX-2: Uchuu Yusousen Nostromo
AX-2: Uchuu Yusousen Nostromo
Crush, Crumble and Chomp!
Crush, Crumble and Chomp!
Haunted House
Haunted House
Monster Mansion
Monster Mansion
3D Monster Maze
3D Monster Maze
Monster Bash
Monster Bash
Alien
Alien
Terror House
Terror House
The Phantom's Revenge
The Phantom's Revenge
Transylvania
Transylvania
Halloween
Halloween
Ant Attack
Ant Attack
Corridors of Genon
Corridors of Genon
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Forbidden Forest
Forbidden Forest
Ghost Manor
Ghost Manor
Frankenstein's Monster
Frankenstein's Monster
Monster Smash
Monster Smash
Caverns of Khafka
Caverns of Khafka
Castle Elsinore
Atic Atac
Atic Atac
Nightmare
Nightmare
Demons Ring
Demons Ring
Ijigen Kara no Dasshutsu: Escape from Twilight Zone
Ijigen Kara no Dasshutsu: Escape from Twilight Zone
Devil World
Devil World
Crypt of Medea
Crypt of Medea
Yokai Tantei Chima Chima
Yokai Tantei Chima Chima
Maxwell Manor
Maxwell Manor
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead
Mad Doctor
Mad Doctor
Monster Trivia
Monster Trivia
The Rats
The Rats
The Screamer
The Screamer
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Rinne Tensei-Hen
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Rinne Tensei-Hen
Gremlins: The Adventure
Gremlins: The Adventure
The Alien Island: 3D-Version
The Alien Island: 3D-Version
The Crimson Crown
The Crimson Crown
Go to Hell
Go to Hell
Rescue on Fractalus!
Rescue on Fractalus!
The Rocky Horror Show Computer Game
The Rocky Horror Show Computer Game
Beyond the Forbidden Forest
Beyond the Forbidden Forest
Pacific
Pacific
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Hyakki-Hen
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Hyakki-Hen
Carmine
Ghost House
Ghost House
GeGeGe no Kitaro: Yokai Daimakyou
GeGeGe no Kitaro: Yokai Daimakyou
Castlevania
Castlevania
The Genji and the Heike Clans
The Genji and the Heike Clans
Genpei ToumaDen
Genpei ToumaDen
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Asuka-Hen
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Asuka-Hen
Nosferatu the Vampyre
Nosferatu the Vampyre
Uninvited
Uninvited
Dracula
Dracula
Alien Syndrome
Alien Syndrome
Zombi
Zombi
The Movie Monster Game
The Movie Monster Game
Friday the 13th: The Computer Game
Friday the 13th: The Computer Game
Chiller
Chiller
Yokai Yashiki
Yokai Yashiki
Seikima II: Akuma no Gyakushuu!
Seikima II: Akuma no Gyakushuu!
Mashou no Yakata Gabalin
Mashou no Yakata Gabalin
Dwelling
Dwelling
Youkai Douchuuki
Youkai Douchuuki
War of the Dead
War of the Dead
Dr. Chaos
Dr. Chaos
Produce
Produce
Yokai Club
Yokai Club
Laplace no Ma
Laplace no Ma
Shadowgate
Shadowgate
Getsu Fuuma Den
Getsu Fuuma Den
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Soft & Cuddly
Soft & Cuddly
Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion
The Lurking Horror
The Lurking Horror
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
Xenophobe
Xenophobe
Makai Fukkatsu
Makai Fukkatsu
Peur Sur Amityville
Peur Sur Amityville
The Astonishing Adventures of Mr. Weems and the She Vampires
Arazok's Tomb
Arazok's Tomb
Bride of Frankenstein
Bride of Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Jaws
Jaws
Mutants
Mutants
Where Time Stood Still
Where Time Stood Still
War of the Dead Part 2
War of the Dead Part 2
Haunted Castle
Haunted Castle

6 Comments

ListMaster909k

2 years ago

Added The Alien Island 3D, Peur Sur Amityville, Hurlements and Infernal House to database

MendelPalace

2 years ago

Much appreciated, thanks!

ListMaster909k

2 years ago

Here's some pre-Resident Evil horror games that i've found.
Hunt the Wumpus (1973)
Shark Jaws (1975)
Deathmaze 5000 (1980)
Mystery House (1980)
Asylum (1982)
Monster Mansion (1982)
Terror House (1982)
Ijigen Kara no Dasshutsu: Escape from Twilight Zone (1984)
Demons Ring (1984)
Mashou no Yakata Gabalin (1987)
Laplace no Ma (1987)

ListMaster909k

2 years ago

This comment was deleted

ListMaster909k

2 years ago

And a few more
Monster Mansion (1980)
Rescue on Fractalus! (1985) Not a horror game, but it first game with Jump Scare
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Hyakki-hen (1985)
Seikima 2: Akuma no Gyakushuu (1987)
Shiro to Kuro no Densetsu: Asuka-Hen (1986)
Makai Fukkatsu (1987)
Dr. Chaos: Jigoku no Tobira (1987)
Last Armageddon (1988)
Weird Dreams (1988)
Night Trap (1992)
Dark Seed II (1995)
Linda3 (1995)
Gakkou de atta Kowai Hanashi (1995)

MendelPalace

2 years ago

Again, much appreciated. Although Darkseed II and Dr. Chaos were already on the list (they have multiple entries on Backloggd for some reason). I'll also be adding a bunch of your recs for the Art Games playlist soon as well.
MendelPalace

6 Comments

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