2023 was one hell of a year for games. From long-anticipated sequels like Alan Wake II, unexpectedly great remakes like Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space, and killer indies like Amnesia: The Bunker, there was absolutely no shortage in tremendous horror experiences.
What does the future hold? 2024 is already shaping up to be an interesting year with anticipated experiences of its own. These are the games we’re looking forward to next year.
Silent Hill 2: The Remake (PS5)
While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Bloober Team’s Layers of Fear, I can’t help but have some excitement for their upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2, a bona fide survival horror masterpiece that features some of the most iconic imagery in the series. A remake using next-generation hardware seems like a promising prospect. Of course, Konami’s recent handling of their flagship franchises leaves a lot to be desired and Bloober Team has been pretty much radio silent about the status of this remake. Regardless, I’m hoping for the best with this one.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (PS5, Xbox Series, PC)
The sequel to the 2004 RPG masterpiece, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been through some development hell. Announced in 2019 by original developer Hardsuit Labs, the game was quickly delayed into 2020. In 2020, the game’s major writers and directors left the project and in 2021 Hardsuit Labs was taken off the project. Bloodlines 2 didn’t reemerge until this year when it was announced developers The Chinese Room had taken over and fully rebooted the project with a projected 2024 release. Perhaps best known for their work on Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, it’ll be interesting to see the developers’ take on the wildly popular Horror RPG. After all, who doesn’t love a good comeback story?
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, PC)
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of 2023 was the announcement of Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The game seeks to faithfully recreate the cult ’80s hit but in multiplayer video game form, pitting a team of Klowns against a team of survivors in matches of absolute mayhem. With development headed up by Illfonic, the folks behind Friday the 13th and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll be able to deliver an authentic and fun experience. Oh yeah, they also got the rights to use the iconic theme songs by The Dickies, so things are already looking bright for this entry.
Alone in the Dark (PS5, Xbox Series, PC)
Originally set to release in October of 2023, this surprise reboot of the survival horror classic was delayed to give us time to play other releases that month (how generous). Alone in the Dark tells an original story inspired by the first three entries of the original series, but mixes up the gameplay by adopting a third-person perspective similar to the Resident Evil remakes. Not only that but in a surprise reveal it was announced that the game’s lead characters are played by none other than Jodie Comer and David Harbour! Alone in the Dark seems primed to bring the series back in a big way, and with the blessing of the original series creator, this is one game I can’t wait to get my hands on.
Bye Sweet Carole (PS5, Xbox Series, PC)
I only recently discovered the existence of this game and I’m completely blown away by what I’ve seen. Bye Sweet Carole is a horror game that’s heavily inspired by Disney Renaissance films such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. The game’s graphics feature gorgeous hand drawn animation and it looks like it’ll provide a hauntingly twisted take on childhood favorites. With the creator of the Remothered series behind the wheel on this one, Bye Sweet Carole is sure to deliver a healthy dose of scares as well.
Little Nightmares III (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
The third entry into the wildly popular 2D platformer horror series, Little Nightmares III is mixing up the formula by introducing co-op into the mix. I’m curious about this because while there are plenty of multiplayer horror experiences, very few are co-op. The idea of experiencing something horrific with a friend seems like a very untapped market. Little Nightmares III is also a shake up in the fact it’s the first entry from developer Supermassive Games, the makers of Until Dawn and The Quarry.
The Last of Us Part II: Remastered (PS5)
Released in 2020, it may seem a little soon to remaster The Last of Us Part II already. Developers Naughty Dog have already got ahead of everyone’s doubt and revealed the game’s new features such as a commentary, deleted levels, a speedrun mode, and a roguelike mode featuring randomized combat encounters and multiple playable characters. The Last of Us Part II was already one of the best PlayStation exclusive games and with all these new additions, it sure sounds like the remaster will give fans even more to love.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Xbox Series, PC)
Delayed for political reasons involving the ongoing war in the Ukraine, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the long-awaited sequel to a survival horror classic. In it, players will explore the ramifications of a Russian fallout and have to contend with horrific monstrosities in this unique blend of RPG and FPS gameplay. This sequel has had a long and storied development history dating all the way back to 2010. Needless to say, fans have been waiting a while for this one and developers GSC Game World promise that the wait will be over soon.
Any Puppet Combo Game (TBA)
Puppet Combo have built quite the reputation for themselves as of late. The one man development team delivers unique horror experiences inspired by 1980s VHS and early PS1 style games. Their games such as Murder House and Nun Massacre are streamer mainstays, and their cannibal survival game Stay Out of the House ended up being one of the best games of 2023. With numerous games being teased and announced, and regular console releases coming along at a steady clip, I can’t wait to see what Puppet Combo cooks up next.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (PS5, Xbox Series, PC)
Rocksteady’s latest entry in the Arkham series is fighting an uphill battle. Shown off earlier this year, the game received a heavy amount of criticism for its shift to live-service design and addition of a battle pass. Still, given Rocksteady’s storytelling talents and the premise of the Suicide Squad going up against killer brain-washed members of the Justice League, there’s a lot to look forward to with this entry. After all, who wouldn’t want to see the world’s mightiest heroes suddenly become its biggest threat? Sounds pretty horrifying if you ask me.