Best PS1 Horror Games

Highlights

• Technological advancements in the gaming industry have made many classic PlayStation 1 games feel outdated, but they still offer unsettling and immersive experiences.
• Games like Fear Effect 2, Clock Tower 2, and Mizzurna Falls showcase unique gameplay mechanics and atmospheric horror that make them worth playing even today.
• The original PlayStation 1 console was a massive success and had a wealth of amazing horror games that fans still love and play, including Fear Effect, Parasite Eve 2, and Nightmare Creatures.

Improvements in game engines and console hardware have allowed developers to create more immersive, realistic, and ultimately more terrifying games than ever before. Sony’s PlayStation 1 was released in 1994 and was the gaming industry’s most popular console until the PlayStation 2 hit stores in 2000. Unsurprisingly, technological advancements in the gaming industry have meant that many of the PlayStation 1’s classic games don’t hold up today.

Although some gameplay mechanics and visuals don’t hold up, these games still manage to provide unsettling experiences that make great use of the PlayStation 1’s limited hardware to strike fear into the players. It’s a testament to the scintillating atmosphere and stellar direction of these games that most players won’t be able to sit through these games without their nerves being rattled multiple times.

Updated on December 6, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: The PS1 is home to some of the greatest video game experiences that fans can get their hands on. The console opened the doors for games to tackle more mature themes, encouraging more developers to appear to older gamers with an array of engaging titles. Horror gaming certainly blew up on the PS1, with many titles on the console being so terrifying that players needed a clean pair of underwear after every run!

25 …Iru!

A First-Person Survival Horror Game

• Initial Release Year: 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 3.5 hours
• Best Feature: A classic combination of chase sequences and puzzle-solving

Many people haven’t really heard of Iru, in no small part because of the fact that this game never really received an official translation. However, fans arrived to save the day and let players enjoy a rather chilling survival horror experience with all the charm one would expect from a classic PlayStation horror title.

The game is considered by many to be similar to Clock Tower, with players exploring a school that is infested with supernatural abnormalities that will chase the player every step of the way. Players need to survive during these intense chase sequences while solving many mind-bending puzzles along the way.

24 Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix

A Stylistic Game That Can Get Nerve-Wracking Really Fast

• Initial Release Date: February 21, 2001
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 8 hours
• Best Feature: A puzzle-focused adventure game with tense moments

The Fear Effect titles are some of the most unique adventure games that fans can check out, and it’s a shame that this series never really took off and evolved over the course of the console generation. The cel-shaded graphics make this title look way better than most other titles on the platform that have aged terribly in comparison.

The focus on tense scenarios, instant death sequences, and mind-bending puzzles gives Fear Effect 2 a unique vibe and genuinely rattles players who don’t want their favorite characters to die horrible deaths. The horror is simple and works pretty well, making Retro Helix a must-play for fans of unique action-adventure games that try something different.

23 Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within

A Tense Horror Game With Intense Chase Sequences

• Initial Release Date: March 12, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 4.5 hours
• Best Feature: Classic point-and-click horror adventure game

The Clock Tower series is one of the most beloved horror game franchises that has churned out many great games and helped other titles like Haunting Ground come to life too. The idea of exploring a haunted mansion and solving puzzles while being chased by a horrifying figure is a trope that may not seem original, but it’s the manner in which Clock Tower pulls off this concept that makes each title great in its own way… barring some poor attempts here and there.

Clock Tower 2 is a game that didn’t receive the greatest reviews when it launched, with most of the complaints being about its dated interface. However, in modern times, this game is a great classic horror game that fans can have a great time with as long as they forgive it for a few missteps.

22 Mizzurna Falls

A Unique, Quirky Horror-Adventure That is Arguably One Of The First Open-World Games

• Initial Release Date: December 23, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 16.5 hours
• Best Feature: One of the first open-world games ever made

Most people aren’t aware of Mizzurna Falls, which is a shame. This quirky adventure game is one of the first open-world titles to ever be made… but it was only released in Japan. It was only in 2021 that the game was localized by fans, allowing English-speaking players to finally check it out.

This odd title focuses on the disappearance of a classmate and how his friend tries to investigate over the course of seven days to figure out what happened. This time limit forces players to not stray from an established path, adding to the game’s replay value. The game’s oppressive atmosphere and unique sim-like elements make it a truly unique game that feels like Deadly Premonition with tank controls.

21 Fear Effect

A Unique Game With Both Charming And Eerie Elements

• Best Feature: A fun story and unique cel-shaded graphics

Fear Effect is an action-adventure game with survival horror elements that kickstarted a beloved and underrated series, with many people considering this title to be a cult classic. The game follows three mercenaries who are tasked with rescuing the daughter of a powerful Hong Kong businessman, although their actual motives end up being completely different.

The game was notable for its cel-shaded graphics that gave it a unique and distinctive look, along with a story that was surprisingly riveting and well-acted. Fear Effect also incorporated a variety of puzzle-solving elements into its gameplay that required players to use their wits to progress through the game’s various environments, which helped change up the flow of gameplay from the usual action set-pieces and the like that most people would expect from such games.

20 Parasite Eve 2

The Addition Of Tank Controls Makes Combat More Harrowing Than Ever Before

• Initial Release Date: December 16, 1999
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 11.5 hours
• Best Feature: A fun combination of RPG mechanics and survival horror

Set three years after the first game, Parasite Eve 2 is a sequel that many players didn’t really check out, which is a shame. Many people faulted the game’s clunky tank controls and lack of proper JRPG elements for its obsolescence, but players who gave this game a shot and got past its faults actually enjoyed what was on offer.

Aya Brea, now working for the FBI under the Mitochondrial Investigation and Suppression Team — also known as MIST — is sent to investigate the town of Dryfield. The events that ensue are scary, riveting, and classic Parasite Eve goodness that fans of the first game will have a great time with.

19 Martian Gothic: Unification

A Horrifying Title Set In A Desolate Research Station On Mars

• Initial Release Date: May 4, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, PC
• Main Story Completion Time: 8.5 hours
• Best Feature: The unique setting of Mars and the ability to control three different protagonists

Martian Gothic: Unification uses the isolation of space to make for an effective horror setting that is bound to scare players to their very core. The game takes place on a remote research station on Mars, where players must uncover the truth behind a mysterious alien artifact, dubbed the Pandora’s Box.

Martian Gothic: Unification is notable for its emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving, as players must navigate the station’s various environments and solve complex puzzles to progress through the game. Players control three protagonists and control can be switched around at will, making for a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience that is fun despite the frustrating and unresponsive combat.

18 Resident Evil 2

One Of The Greatest Survival Horror Games On The PS1

• Best Feature: The delightfully horrifying combination of eerie audio, visuals, and sound effects provides an unsettling atmosphere throughout

Following the enormous success of the revolutionary Resident Evil, Capcom released a sequel just under two years later. Resident Evil 2 introduced a ton of iconic characters to the franchise, including Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, and the horrifying antagonist T-00, also known as Mr. X.

The critically acclaimed remake may seem like the best option for modern gamers to play Resident Evil 2, but the original PlayStation 1 iteration offers an irreplaceable level of nostalgia for past players, and the horror still holds up for those experiencing the classic game for the first time.

17 Evil Dead: Hail To The King

Claustrophobic Level Design Adds To The Tension

• Initial Release Date: December 5, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, Dreamcast, PC
• Main Story Completion Time: 8 hours
• Best Feature: The wide range of enemy types that keep the combat and horror fresh

Evil Dead: Hail to the King is the second video game based on the Evil Dead film franchise, following The Evil Dead from 1984. Evil Dead: Hail to the King was the first game developed by Heavy Iron Studios, a California-based studio that has released numerous other movie tie-in video games over the years, including The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Incredibles, and WALL-E.

Evil Dead: Hail to the King struggled to impress fans and critics, exemplified by its lackluster 51 Metascore. However, its fear factor didn’t disappoint, as the game’s Resident Evil-like semi-fixed camera angles led to some terrifying and claustrophobic encounters.

16 Nightmare Creatures

A Touch Action Game Dripping With Atmosphere

• Best Feature: The excellent gothic horror atmosphere

Nightmare Creatures features elements of gothic horror and takes players back to London in 1666, a very appropriate year as a devil-worshipping cult is trying to take over the city.

Nightmare Creatures is an excellent example of what talented developers can do with restricted hardware, as Kalisto Entertainment was able to create an incredibly atmospheric experience despite the PlayStation 1’s limitations. The game was published by Activision, although the company was replaced with Konami for Nightmare Creatures 2.

15 Hellnight

An Unsettling Title With Scares At Every Corner

• Initial Release Date: June 11, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 6 hours
• Best Feature: The fully 3D environments, which look fantastic for a mid-1998 release

Hellnight certainly deserves recognition for being one of the PlayStation 1’s scariest games, though unfortunately, its quality doesn’t quite stack up. The game was released in Japan and Europe in 1998 and 1999, respectively but didn’t release elsewhere, contributing to a lackluster commercial performance.

Despite its poor critical and commercial reception, Hellnight does succeed in providing an unsettling experience. So it’s still worth checking out for fans of the horror genre.

14 Galerians

A Sci-Fi Horror Game Heavily Inspired By Resident Evil

• Initial Release Date: August 26, 1999
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 5 hours
• Best Feature: The well-written, thought-provoking story

Galerians differentiates itself from most horror games which tend to feature fairly mundane and nondescript leading characters, with the more charismatic and interesting roles going to allies and enemies.

Galerians’ protagonist begins the game with amnesia and soon discovers that he has psychokinetic powers; if that wasn’t enough, Rion then discovers that he is the last hope to save humanity from the Galerians, a race of genetically enhanced humans. As for the gameplay, Galerians is one of many horror games from the late 90s to take inspiration from Resident Evil, fit with fixed camera angles and tank controls.

13 Echo Night

The First-Person Perspective Really Makes The Horror Stand Out

• Initial Release Date: August 13, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 5 hours
• Best Feature: The mysterious story that encourages players to progress and reach one of the four endings

1998’s Echo Night was developed by FromSoftware, which was a little-known studio at the time but is now one of the gaming industry’s most esteemed teams thanks to games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the Dark Souls trilogy. Echo Night puts players in a first-person perspective, which was rare for horror games at the time, and tasks the players with investigating the disappearance of a ship.

Echo Night received a sequel in 1999 titled Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares, though unfortunately for Western gamers, it was only released in Japan.

12 Resident Evil

The First In A Long Line Of Quality Survival-Horror Games

• Best Feature: The revolutionary survival horror gameplay that pioneered the genre

It’s not too much of a stretch to say that if Resident Evil had never been released, then most of the games on this list wouldn’t have either. The game didn’t just spawn one of the gaming industry’s most iconic franchises; it was also a pioneer of the survival horror genre as a whole.

Many other horror games have improved upon the gameplay mechanics that Resident Evil innovated, consequently making it rough in spots to revisit. Still, the game offers a great trip down memory lane, and the iconic sight of the first zombie will still send shivers down the spine.

11 OverBlood

One Of The First Horror Games To Use A Fully-3D Environment

• Initial Release Date: August 2, 1996
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Main Story Completion Time: 5 hours
• Best Feature: The need to switch between characters to solve puzzles is well-integrated and reminiscent of the classic Day of the Tentacle

Published outside of Japan by industry giants Electronic Arts, OverBlood is a science fiction horror game that is remembered today for being the first survival horror title to use a fully three-dimensional virtual environment.

Along with the environmental innovations, OverBlood was unique for its time for blending fighting and puzzle mechanics, as well as allowing players to seamlessly switch between third and first-person perspectives. A sequel, OverBlood 2, was released in 1998 to a lackluster reception.

10 D

A Great, Cinematic Horror Experience

• Best Feature: Fantastic FMV sequences that help provide an engaging, cinematic adventure

Released in 1995, D is an interactive movie that puts players in the shoes of famous digital actress Laura Harris, who is tasked with investigating a hospital that her father has locked himself inside after a killing spree; it soon becomes clear that things aren’t as they seem though, as the hospital transforms into an eery castle once Laura arrives. Befitting of the interactive movie genre, players cannot save the game and must complete it within two hours.

9 Clock Tower

A Confusingly-Titled Sequel To One Of The Best Horror Games Ever Made

• Best Feature: Scissorman, who is an all-time great horror villain

Clock Tower (1996) was developed by Human Entertainment and is a point-and-click survival horror game; it is the sequel to a Japanese exclusive that was also titled Clock Tower (1995).

The point-and-click game raises the stakes from most others in the genre by having players be hunted down by the game’s terrifying antagonist Scissorman. Scissorman is undoubtedly one of the gaming industry’s scariest, most intimidating villains of all time and is likely the key reason why X-Play listed Clock Tower as the eighth scariest game of all time in 2006.

8 Parasite Eve

A Great Mix Of JRPG And Horror Elements

• Best Feature: The visuals, which are some of the PlayStation 1 era’s very best

One of the better-known names on this list, Parasite Eve, was developed by Square (who merged with Enix in 2003 to create Square Enix) and was released in 1998. The action role-playing game is based on the horror book of the same name, which also inspired a 1997 film.

The game’s horror themes, fixed perspective, and the story that is centered around police unsurprisingly caused the game to be frequently compared, sometimes unfairly, to the revolutionary Resident Evil. Despite having to deal with comparisons to the iconic Resident Evil, Parasite Eve was well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 81 Metascore and 9.0 User Score, which is one of the highest user scores on the entire site.

7 Koudelka

Dungeon-Crawling Goodness With A Lovecraftian Twist

• Best Feature: The strong range of charismatic and interesting main characters

Developed by Sacnoth, Koudelka is a Japanese role-playing game from the Shadows Hearts series. The game is set in Wales and has a nice blend of puzzle-solving and turn-based combat. Like many games on this list, Koudelka draws inspiration from Capcom’s Resident Evil series through its fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, and exploration-heavy gameplay.

6 Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare

A Horror Game That Will Certainly Unnerve The Player

• Best Feature: The eerie atmosphere that produces a constant sense of foreboding

Also known as Alone in the Dark 4, Infogrames’ PlayStation 1 classic Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare was developed by Darkworks and was initially released in 2001. Releasing on the PlayStation 1 over a year after the release of the PlayStation 2 understandably hurt initial sales, though they soon picked up when the game came to PC and the second generation of Sony console a short while later.

Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare was released on Steam in 2013, though the lackluster port earned the game an All Reviews rating of Mixed.