I spent an embarrassing amount of time during the 2000s just sifting through video game bargain bins in search of hidden gems. That’s why I’m fairly certain that I dealt with more licensed shovelware than your average gamer, as I would usually play through two or three movie tie-ins for every “real” title in my collection simply because they’d hit the clearance shelf a little sooner.
Thankfully, despite hundreds of frustrating hours spent trying to complete rushed cash-grabs just because they happened to feature beloved characters like Buffy and the T-1000, I’d occasionally stumble onto legitimately fun gaming experiences that had largely been dismissed as part of the larger pile of marketing slop. That’s why I never stopped giving licensed games a chance, a habit that’s finally paying off now that we’re living in the golden age of movie tie-in games – especially when it comes to the horror genre.
Titles like Retrorealms Arcade or Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game have repeatedly proven that nearly any horror movie can be turned into a fun video game if handled by talented developers, and that’s why it’s a shame that so many gamers still dismiss licensed titles that don’t come from major studios. With that in mind, I thought it might be fun to shine a light on the lesser-known gems of the movie tie-in world by recommending six obscure licensed games that horror fans might enjoy!
For the purposes of this list, we’ll only be considering standalone releases (that means no Dead by Daylight DLC) that never got the marketing push they deserved, but feel free to comment below with your own obscure favorites if you think we missed a particularly fun tie-in game.
With that out of the way, onto the list!
6. Sweet Home (1989)
Also known as The Mamiya House in some territories, 1989’s Sweet Home may not be the most impressive horror flick in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s filmography, but the movie’s video game tie-in is actually responsible for revolutionizing the industry despite not being as popular as its spiritual successors.
Directed by Tokuro Fujiwara, this bizarre combination of retro RPG and Adventure title ended up laying the groundwork for what we now know as the Survival Horror genre. And while Capcom’s Sweet Home was never officially localized for Western audiences, easily available online translations mean that there’s no excuse for genre fans to avoid checking out the godfather of modern horror gaming.
5. Manos: The Hands of Fate (2015)
Hal Warren’s “so bad it’s good” classic may not be the first horror movie that comes to mind when thinking of genre films that could be adapted into good videogames, but I think the sheer absurdity of choosing to adapt this movie in particular is precisely the point when it comes to Freakzone Games’ hilarious 8-bit rendition of Manos: The Hands of Fate.
This brutally difficult retro platformer somewhat faithfully recreates the major events of the film it’s based on (something that the 80s licensed titles that inspired it rarely did), but Manos also features a slew of humorous references to Mystery Science Theater 3000 that are sure to satisfy genre fans in the mood for pixelized laughs.
4. The X-Files: Resist or Serve (2004)
Chris Carter’s The X-Files became such a massive hit that the TV show itself was eventually relegated to the background of an expanded universe comprised of comics, novels, and even video games. However, out of all this extra media, my personal favorite contribution to the extended X-Files mythology has to be the franchise’s third video game adaptation, Resist or Serve.
A Resident Evil clone presented as three playable cases taking place during the show’s seventh season, the game features the voice talents of both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in interwoven campaigns that see you managing resources, shooting down monsters, and investigating alien viruses. Though the title is about as janky as you might expect from an early 2000s Survival Horror project developed by a smaller studio, it’s still a must-play for both fans of the series and atmospheric horror in general.
3. The Mummy Demastered (2017)
Alex Kurtzman’s The Mummy reboot became an online punching bag before the movie was even released, with the flick’s botched trailer resulting in countless memes making fun of the ill-advised start to Universal’s “Dark Universe” project. And yet, this disastrous Tom Cruise vehicle still managed to set up a handful of interesting ideas in between boring action sequences, with the best thing to come out of the film being a ridiculously fun video game that ditches any pretense of this being a serious story.
A retro Metroidvania title that tasks you with hunting down Princess Ahmanet and her supernatural minions by taking control of expendable Prodigium Operatives (unless you somehow manage to clear the entire game without dying once, in which case you play as a single badass soldier), The Mummy Demastered improves on its source material by exaggerating its best traits to the point of ridiculousness.
In fact, this criminally underrated side-scroller makes me wish that the proposed Dark Universe had lived on as a series of retro videogames culminating in a horrific crossover event!
2. Van Helsing (2004)
I find it curious how even infamous flops like Stephen Sommers’ Van Helsing can develop a cult following if given enough time without any similar movies to scratch that cheesy horror crossover itch. And while I personally like the idea behind this 2004 genre mash-up more than the film itself, I have a soft spot for edgy 2000s videogames featuring over-the-top action – so how could I not love a game where you play as a goth Hugh Jackman as he battles classic horror monsters with the aid of anachronistic weaponry?
If you ask me, this brief video game tie-in is the superior version of this story despite having originally been dismissed as a mindless Devil May Cry clone. And while I’ll admit that the game’s simplified combat can get rather repetitive, it’s precisely the laid-back nature of this breezy experience that makes it such a fun time two decades later. After all, sometimes you’re in the mood for the interactive equivalent of a silly B-movie where you’re meant to turn off your brain and have a good time, and that’s exactly what Van Helsing is there for.
1. The Rocky Horror Show Videogame (2024)
Freakzone’s second attempt at adapting a cult classic story into a retro videogame is also its most ambitious, with this feature-length platformer boasting a charming chip-tune rendition of Rocky Horror’s iconic soundtrack as well as some seriously polished gameplay and visuals.
While the title is technically an adaptation of the original stage show rather than the 1977 film, the 8-bit graphics make it easy to imagine that these blocky characters are, in fact, played by the likes of Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon – which is why I still consider this a movie tie-in, and a great one at that!
If you like this one, I’d also recommend checking out 1999’s Rocky Interactive Horror Show, a point-and-click adventure game that actually adds to the RHPS mythology by including new footage shot exclusively for the game.
The post Six Obscure Licensed Horror Video Games That Are Still Worth Your Time appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
