2023 promises to be a golden year in horror, as masters of the genre and new rising stars are already teasing projects that promise to terrifying fans. And for those who love a good nostalgic spook (or are experiencing it for the first time) there are plenty of remakes and remasters slated to be released as well. Even those not generally a fan of the genre are likely to find something that appeals to them, from the chaos of co-op modes to gritty, head-splitting gore.
Here are our most anticipated horror games of 2023.
The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2023
Eresys
- Release Date: TBD 2023
- Platforms: PC
Eresys is a co-op game with horror elements inspired by H. P. Lovecraft, focusing mainly on teamwork. The premise might sound familiar for fans of Dead by Daylight and Phasmophobia. But Eresys is a PvE game that promises to pit players against vicious, Lovecraftian-inspired AI monsters as you and your three closest friends (or complete strangers) attempt to unravel a mystery in the island you find yourselves in.
Silent Hill Townfall, Ascension, Silent Hill F, and Silent Hill 2 Remake
- Release Date: TBA 2023
- Platforms: TBA
“Why are you here? You’re here to be punished.”
Fans of the horror genre lost their proverbial shit when Konami announced that not one but four Silent Hill games were slated for release in 2023. Discords and Twitter accounts had been in fierce debate for months over whether a handful of leaked images were legitimate, and many Hyper Fans had been stalking Trademark Registries, searching for even the slightest whiff that a Silent Hill game was in the pipeline.
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But no one could anticipate the sheer diversity of the Silent Hill games Konami would announce. Silent Hill Townfall is anticipated to be a more traditional installment, focusing on guilt and punishment. Ascension and its tagline, “Face Your Trauma Together” will be a community-based story. Silent Hill f is set, somehow, in Japan in the 1960’s but is stunning in its visuals. And Silent Hill 2, of course, is a remake of one of the kings of horror games, featuring a tortured James Sunderland and his quest to find his presumed dead wife, Mary.
Each of these games is being worked on by a host of different studios, which likely means a diverse array of stories, play styles, and visuals. But personally, I’m excited about the Silent Hill gang wars that will invariably develop across Discord, Twitter, and Reddit.
Layers of Fear
- Release Date: TBA 2023
- Platforms: TBA
Layers of Fear might not have the big-name recognition of Silent Hill, but it’s established itself in the horror community through YouTubers, streamers, and an incredibly dedicated fanbase. Described as a first-person psychedelic horror, Layers of Fear 2023 will stretch across generations.
Layers of Fear has, in the past, followed the stories of artists driven to madness by their obsession with their art. This latest installment promises to shine more light on these narratives while moving in surprising new story directions with all new content.
Slitterhead
- Release Date: TBA 2023
- Platforms: TBA
Set in a fictionalized Hong Kong, Slitterhead combines an environment that is at once claustrophobic and sprawling with body horror and interesting (blood-based??) combat. The trailer, showcased during the Game Awards 2021, demonstrated some truly unique monster designs and fast-paced action, but much of this game remains a mystery. And that includes its release date and what platforms it will be on.
But it does come from the mind of the creator of Silent Hill, who established his own Game Studio. And while this studio seems to be working with a smaller budget, our hopes are high.
The Outlast Trials
- Release Date: TBA 2023
- Platforms: PC and PlayStation
There are few horror series that did action horror as well as Outlast. Outlast has remained one of the best and most recent horror franchises with fantastic pacing, terrifying environments, and memorable characters. But with Outlast Trials, the series will move in a new direction.
The Outlast Trials is set in the era of the Cold War; the Murkoff Corporation involuntarily recruits human guinea pigs to test methods of brainwashing and mind control. You play as a prisoner in the Murkoff facility, set on escaping the Trials Murkoff sets in front of you.
You can choose to play by yourself or in teams of 2 to 4 players. Like previous installments of Outlast, The Outlast Trials is focused on stealth and escaping your enemies once they spot you. But unlike previous games, you’ll have to unlock and upgrade those tools and perks if you want to survive.
Post Trauma
- Release Date: TBD 2023
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Revealed at The Game of the Year awards in December 2022, Post Traumatic demonstrated surreal environments, enclosed spaces, strange silhouettes, and alien monstrosities. Permeating through all of this was a sense of overwhelming melancholy that was immediately reminiscent of some of Silent Hill’s older installments.
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While we have nothing to take from it but the short trailer, we know that Post Trauma is both a tribute to and a modern take on classic horror games that follows Roman, a middle-aged train conductor, as he tries to understand and escape the surreal world he’s trapped in.
Dead Space (Remaster)
- Release Date: January 27, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
When you think of sci-fi horror games, you think of Dead Space. The two are practically synonymous. Even players who don’t like horror games found themselves fascinated by the plot, unique combat, and enemies. But the 2008 original is getting a remake in 2023, and many fans have stated how excited they are to see their favorite game in higher definition with some much-needed quality-of-life updates.
Players who have previously completed the game will find that there’s new ground to tread and new lore and story that encompasses the comics and books. The combat system has also been reimagined and promises to be both more brutal and visceral.
Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
- Release Date: March 24, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Is it even a list of the most anticipated horror games for 2023 if it doesn’t include the Resident Evil 4 remake? Probably not. Resident Evil is one of the most tenacious and beloved horror franchises in gaming history. Something about zombie outbreaks, wise-cracking cops seems to speak to people. Resident Evil 4 will come with improved graphics, quality-of-life upgrades, and improved combat and stealth. But will it keep Leon’s campy charm that players love? Fans can only hope.
Alone In the Dark
- Release Date: TBA 2023
- Platforms: Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5, PC
Written by the writer of Amnesia and SOMA, Alone in the Dark promises to be an atmospheric Southern Gothic with plenty of supernatural influence. But fans might find the name familiar, and that’s for good reason. Alone in the Dark is a reboot of the horror series initially released in the early 1990s.
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Fans of the cult classic game will be pleased to learn that they’ll return to Derceto Manor as Emily goes to look for her missing uncle with the help of private investigator Edward Carnby. Derceto Manor is a home for the “mentally fatigued”, and it’s there that the duo will encounter strange residents, portals to nightmarish worlds, dangerous monsters—and ultimately a plot of rising evil.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (Remake)
- Release Date: March 2023
- Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam on March 9, 2023, worldwide
Fatal Frame is a cult classic that truly came into its own in with Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly in 2003. And while this is practically prehistoric when it comes to games, this was one of the first Japanese horror ports that made it big in international markets, in conjunction with other releases like The Ring in 2002.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse follows a group of young teenagers who once took part in a moonlight ritual on an isolated island a decade ago. They’ve lost their memories of that event. But now, one by one, they’re being called to that island where each of the vanish or dies. You are now being called to this island, and you must unravel the mystery of what happened a decade ago before the same fate that took your friends comes for you, too.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2008 and is one of the lesser-known games in the series. But with its unique rituals and terrifying environments, it promises to be a hit or Japanese horror fans. Which is me. I’m a huge fan.
