5 Triple-A Horror Games to Scare Yourself with this Halloween

Horror games are great, and you should play them; need I say more? I should? Not only that, but you want me to go into extravagant detail about some upcoming and newly released horror games to play this Halloween? Well, if you insist!

Horror is by far my favorite genre of media. It excites the senses, engages the mind, and challenges you to examine the world around you in a way you may find uncomfortable. Nothing quite compares to the silent dread of hearing the floorboards creak at night or the whisper of a voice behind your door when you previously thought you were alone.

But all these things can be chocked-up to an overactive imagination. A good scary movie will linger in your mind, but at the end of the day, it’s just a movie. At any point, you could just look away and cover your ears. However, you can’t do that with video games.

Horror in gaming is forceful. They won’t let you hide from your fears; they will make you face them. In the end, after fighting tooth and nail and conquering overwhelming dread, you feel ready to take on anything. They are empowering in a way no other game can compare.

So, for this Halloween, let’s look at some Triple-A horror games to look out for this spooky season. A triple-A (AAA) game is a type of video game produced and distributed by a large company like Nintendo or Sega. These games usually have large budgets and promotional material behind them. These games will be more than an excuse to put off your homework; they will test your willpower and endurance to stay up all night!

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (Remake)

Zombies! Zombies everywhere!

It’s been far too long since we had a good zombie game. Although the current biggest zombie game on the market is only a remake, we are long overdue for some quality brain-rotting content.

The Dead Rising series is an absolute classic in the zombie genre, having cemented itself in 2006 with its addictive, fast-paced, slice-and-dice gameplay.

Players jump into the shoes of Frank West, a freelance photojournalist investigating a zombie outbreak in Willamette, Colorado. Always willing to scoop out stories other journalists wouldn’t dare look into, Frank dives head-first into the heart of the apocalypse within the Parkview Mall, determined to uncover the truth.

However, what truly made Dead Rising unique among its peers was that it did what no other zombie game has done before—it was a comedy. It was a game that never took itself seriously, and for that, it is fondly remembered as a classic not only in horror but the zombie genre. I challenge you to find another zombie game where you can dress your character in nothing but a mankini and a Lego head and kill zombies with cactuses, ketchup bottles, and lawnmowers. Admittedly, Dead Rising is a lot more funny than scary, but it is no less entertaining to play!

That being said, the game has certainly gotten up there in age, having just turned 18 years old. Its graphical quality was the biggest sign of wear, not at all keeping up with the current gen graphics. Certain gameplay sections are also less than optimal, with the dreaded escort missions being the biggest contender of this.

To reboot the series anew, Capcom, the original creators of Dead Rising, announced earlier this year that they will be working to remake the first game with updated graphics and game mechanics.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster was released on September 19, 2024, and has been met with glowing reception. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.

SILENT HILL 2 (Remake)

Now we come to the game I personally could not wait to release: the Silent Hill 2 remake. Silent Hill 2 is another reboot of a classic horror game, but this one is particularly special because it is the first mainline Silent Hill game to come out since 2012. Granted, it is only a remake, but it still counts! That, coupled with the controversial reception of those latest games and the devastating loss of Silent Hill: P.T. (something gamers are still in mourning over), saying that fans have been starved for quality Silent Hill content would be an understatement.

The original version of Silent Hill 2, released in 2001, is often regarded as the best in the series; a masterpiece in psychological horror with its chilling atmosphere, compelling story, and iconic monsters. Creatures like Pyramid Head and the Bubble Head Nurse live on in infamy for scaring the hell out of gamers around the world.

In Silent Hill 2, we play the role of James Sunderland, a recently widowed man who finds himself lost in the twisting streets of Silent Hill, haunted by foggy apparitions of his past as he tries to escape the ghost town before its icy grasp fully engulfs him.

The biggest change coming to Silent Hill 2 is the perspective and controls; the original used fixed camera angles and tank controls, while the remake will be third-person. Older Silent Hill games like this one have always used this control style. This method of character mobility is clunky and hard to use but has long been a staple of survival horror games because of its cinematic, movie-like shots. This is a welcome change for most gamers, as modern survival horror games use third-person perspectives and are much more flexible and easy to use.

That said, no big release like this comes out without controversy. The main worry Silent Hill fans have concerns with is the development team. The game is being remade by Blooper Team, the creators of Layers of Fear.

Blooper Team has a strenuous track record with horror games; most of their gameplay can be summed up as walking simulators with the occasional jumpscare sprinkled between loading screens. To their credit, the team is very good at crafting psychological horror and excels in building oppressive atmospheres.

Hopefully, with Konami, the original developers of Silent Hill, overseeing development, it will be another quality remake of a classic horror game. Speaking of Konami, the original composer of the Silent Hill series, Akira Yamaoka, will also return to write the game's music!

Silent Hill 2 was released on October 8, 2024, and is available on the PlayStation 5 and Windows.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead

Usually, when it comes to video games about already existing media, they are mediocre at best and boring at worst. We all remember the failure of Blair Witch, and we try to forget the catastrophe of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

However, this particular game shows a lot of promise, not only for being faithful to the original source material but also for adding its own spin.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is an upcoming horror game based on the titular movie trilogy A Quiet Place, one of the highest-rated horror movies in recent years, being both a suspenseful monster flic and a compelling family drama. The Road Ahead borrows elements from the original script of the first movie, and the developers have been in close contact with the series’ creator, John Krasinski, to ensure the authenticity of the setting.

It is a first-person stealth game where the player must navigate the remnants of civilization while being hunted by the fandubbed “Death Angels.” Narratively, the game will take place before the first movie but after the prequel third movie.

We play as Alex Taylor, an asthmatic college student and a soon-to-be mother on the road searching for a safe place to give birth to her child.

From what we’ve seen in the trailer footage and demo, Alex’s asthma will play a crucial role in the game’s main mechanic: staying quiet. Although extremely deadly, Death Angels are completely blind; however, their enhanced hearing more than makes up for this. So long as you don’t make too much noise, you can sneak right past them.

That task becomes much harder when you have to worry about controlling your breathing while traversing society's dusty, derelict remains. To combat this, players are encouraged to use the inhaler to steady their breathing, but this means noise will always be unavoidable and force close encounters with the Death Angels, so use it sparingly!

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is being developed by newcomer Italian studio Stormind Games and published by Saber Interactive. It is scheduled for release on October 17, 2024, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Hopefully, this game will follow in the movie’s footsteps and become another iconic horror masterpiece. 

Slitterhead

Here’s an unusual but intriguing game on the horizon!

Slitterhead is the first game developed and published by Boleh Game Studio, a new gaming studio founded by Keiichiro Toyama, director of the first Silent Hill game and the Siren series. With such a renowned developer at the head of the project, gamers are excited to see what Toyama has been cooking– probably nightmares.

Slitterhead is an action-adventure, body horror game set in the densely populated streets of Kowlong, a neo-Tokyo-inspired city in the 1990s.

Players take on the role of the Hyoki, a disembodied spirit with only one goal in mind: to eradicate the Slitterheads. Slitterheads are parasitic, alien-like monsters that devour the brains of their human hosts and wear their skin like suits to blend in with society and claim more victims.

Because of Hyoki’s lack of corporeal form, the gameplay involves possessing the bodies of citizens and animals to fight back against the Slitterhead menace. Hyoki can manipulate the blood of whatever they possess and use it to create weapons. These weapons can be anything, ranging from massive reaper scythes, Wolverine claws, and even a freaking Gatling gun! Hyoki can also use this ability to traverse the city rapidly by using veins as grappling hooks like some kind of gorey rendition of Spiderman!

However, what makes Slitterhead truly stand out is its aesthetic. The game’s visual, thematic, and monster designs are all heavily inspired by Asian culture. In a way, this game seems like the next Ghostwire: Tokyo, another similar horror game that celebrates Japanese heritage and its unique brand of horror. So, if you are a connoisseur of Asian culture, you’ll want to look out for this one.

Slitterhead will be released on November 8, 2024, for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.

Alien: Rogue Incursion

The return of another cult classic comes in the form of Alien: Rogue Incursion.

2014’s Alien: Isolation is one of the most memorable horror games in recent years. An authentic, faithful to its source material, Alien video game based on the classic horror movie from Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, with legendary monster designs created by the late artist H.R. Giger.

The Alien horror series, not to be confused with the much more action-orientated Colonial Marines Alien series, hasn’t seen a new entry since 2019 in the mobile game Alien: Blackout. This time, we are getting our first look into a virtual reality (VR) Alien game. The game is being developed and produced by Survios, a gaming company specializing in VR games.

Alien: Rogue Incursion occurs after the events of Alien: Isolation when Amanda Ripley (Ellen Ripley’s daughter) first encounters the perfect organism, the Xenomorph.

We play the role of Zula Hendricks, an ex-Colonial Marine, on a dangerous mission that brings her to the uncharted planet, Purdan. Unlike its predecessor, Rogue Incursion seems more action-packed than Isolation, judging by the teaser footage showing Zula equipped with various weapons like guns and attacking the Xenomorph head-on. Assumadly, the game will still have a stealth mechanic, but there will be more defensive options if you are caught face to face with any of the Alien’s many rows of teeth.

With the success of Alien: Romulus (the latest Alien film), fans of the series are excited to see what is to come next in the Alien series. Just be sure to watch out for those pesky facehuggers while you explore Purdan; otherwise, it will be game over, man! Game over!

Alien: Rogue Incursion is scheduled for release on December 19, 2024, and will be available on PlayStation 5 and Windows, with VR support for all consoles.

So there you have it: five Triple-A horror games I found to be the most interesting this season. But maybe you still aren’t satisfied. Maybe your tastes are more acquired, you don’t care much for mainstream horror, or perhaps you are just looking for something different.

In that case, look forward to another list of upcoming and newly released horror games, but this time in the indie variety. Some horrors are so gut-wrenching that Triple-A wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.

Stay tuned for more, and have a happy Halloween!