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[IbizaPocholo]

Martian Gothic: Set on a Martian base, players investigate a mysterious silence, facing zombies and solving puzzles. It resembles Resident Evil in gameplay but emphasizes puzzles, featuring strong writing and voice acting.

"Hell Night": Players are trapped in Tokyo’s underground, pursued by a monstrous entity. No combat is available, intensifying the horror experience. Limited running adds tension, though the expansive environment may cause confusion.

Dino Crisis: A Resident Evil-style game with tank controls but set in a dinosaur-infested island. Full 3D environments, scarce resources, and relentless dinosaur enemies create a high-stakes survival horror experience.

Resident Evil 2: Set in Raccoon City, players navigate terrifying scenarios as Claire or Leon, facing iconic creatures like zombies and “Lickers.” Audio design heightens the horror, making it a survival horror landmark.

Silent Hill: As Harry Mason searches for his missing daughter, players navigate the town shrouded in fog. The game emphasizes atmosphere and uses full 3D environments, making it one of the scariest experiences on PS1.

Clock Tower: The Struggle Within: Follows Alyssa and her alter ego, Bates, who emerges in moments of danger. The story is disturbing, with multiple endings, but the point-and-click setup may not appeal to everyone.

"Virus": Players explore an abandoned ship overtaken by aliens, blending third-person shooting with light puzzles. The atmosphere is chilling, but clunky controls might deter some players.

Maerchen Falls: A murder mystery adventure set in a Twin Peaks-inspired American town. Players investigate a disappearance with an open-world design and various gameplay styles, from car chases to shooting sequences.

Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare: Players explore a haunted island filled with monsters. Split between combat and puzzle-solving, it offers replay value through character selection.

This video showcases how PS1 pioneered horror gaming with titles that offered eerie atmospheres, compelling storytelling, and unique mechanics.

 

[coffinbirth]

Having just completed Silent Hill (via DuckStation) I must say...I understand why Konami decided to remake SH2 instead of the the first game. Sure, it's creepy, and weird, and I loved it...but it's also largely a just bonkers story where you kill bugs in the end. It kind of set the template for SH2, and SH2 is kinda a remake/re-attempt of SH1 in a lot of ways. I kind of loosely liken it to Evil Dead & Evil Dead 2 in that regard, for those that understand the comparison.

Just kinda wanted to say that before the inevitable "they should remake Silent Hill" comments. And maybe they should, I don't wanna deny anyone that or anything, but I think they made the right call in just going right to SH2.

There are a lot more titles to add to that list too, but I am too lazy rn to go looking through my collection.

I will say I believe your "Maerchen Falls" is supposed to be Mizzurna Falls though.

 

[SweetTooth]

Silent Hill is the only one that really creeps me to this day, the others are great games but not scary.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Having just completed Silent Hill (via DuckStation) I must say...I understand why Konami decided to remake SH2 instead of the the first game. Sure, it's creepy, and weird, and I loved it...but it's also largely a just bonkers story where you kill bugs in the end. It kind of set the template for SH2, and SH2 is kinda a remake/re-attempt of SH1 in a lot of ways. I kind of loosely liken it to Evil Dead & Evil Dead 2 in that regard, for those that understand the comparison.

Strongly disagree.
I played SH1 at launch, and SH 2 circa 15 years after release. SH1 is still a game I have trouble going back to, as it nested in my mind from the very beginning; SH2 I found mostly annoying due to gameplay issues, and way too predictable to be memorable. I barely remember its details, beyond the “twist” that I could see coming from a mile away.

I immediately found SH2 less captivating and less relatable from its very premise. Harry is looking for his child, who he knows to be alive; James is looking for his wife, who he knows to be dead, and who better than him could know that?
I was a teenager when I played SH1, and I was never married, but I could still find the struggles of a desperate father more relatable than the story of James and those other people he meets. The demonish cult horror plot of SH1 I found much more disturbing than SH2’s Freudian undertones, and what happens in the final area of SH1 (especially Lisa’s end) blows any moment from SH2 out of the water.

They remade SH2 for the simple reason that the game has a much bigger fanbase and it’s a much easier sell to nostalgics and new players as well. More cinematic, easier to go along with, with an iconic villain and some good setpieces, and who doesn’t love a sexy lady? But SH1 will forever be the strongest game to me - even better when you consider the technical limitations Konami had to work with in 1999.

I haven’t played half of the games from OP’s list. A couple I had never even heard about. Sounds like stuff I may want to try.

 

[bundylove]

Why no alien trilogy
Or even doom for the soundtrack alone

 

[Mayar]

I don't recommend it to anyone, it has permanently damaged my child's psyche...

 

[coffinbirth]

Strongly disagree.
I played SH1 at launch, and SH 2 circa 15 years after release. SH1 is still a game I have trouble going back to, as it nested in my mind from the very beginning; SH2 I found mostly annoying due to gameplay issues, and way too predictable to be memorable. I barely remember its details, beyond the “twist” that I could see coming from a mile away.

I immediately found SH2 less captivating and less relatable from its very premise. Harry is looking for his child, who he knows to be alive; James is looking for his wife, who he knows to be dead, and who better than him could know that?
I was a teenager when I played SH1, and I was never married, but I could still find the struggles of a desperate father more relatable than the story of James and those other people he meets. The demonish cult horror plot of SH1 I found much more disturbing than SH2’s Freudian undertones, and what happens in the final area of SH1 (especially Lisa’s end) blows any moment from SH2 out of the water.

They remade SH2 for the simple reason that the game has a much bigger fanbase and it’s a much easier sell to nostalgics and new players as well. More cinematic, easier to go along with, with an iconic villain and some good setpieces, and who doesn’t love a sexy lady? But SH1 will forever be the strongest game to me - even better when you consider the technical limitations Konami had to work with in 1999.

I haven’t played half of the games from OP’s list. A couple I had never even heard about. Sounds like stuff I may want to try.

I played it back then, and it was certainly more impactful, considering the time...but I played it again a month ago, and I don't want to spoil a 25 year old game for others here or anything, but if you'll recall the back half of that game is kinda terrible. And I do mean the jarring left turn of the story, the enemies, and especially the obtuse af puzzles. Do you remember how bad the final boss was? I literally laughed. I didn't want to laugh. That game went from amazing to "make it end" by the end, truly. Though, I do still love it, I will NEVER play that game again.

How long has it been since you played it? My 25 year old memories of this game were faaaar kinder than my fresh ones.

Purely as remaking one game vs the other goes, if you're going to be faithful, a Silent Hill 1 remake today would seem abjectly out of place (beyond the setting and character setup)with basically every other game in the franchise without some pretty major alterations to the story and enemies, regardless of your or my personal feelings about SH2. And as far as that goes, there have been multiple variations of the protagonist setup throughout the series.

I didn't say I think they necessarily made a better game with SH2, and in many ways I'd argue SH1 has stronger elements, but as a franchise it makes sense to stick with creepy nurses and Pyramid Head and stuff vs. goofy insects and hackney drug running subplots. And hey, maybe that shit is there in spades in SH2 as well, but I haven't played through that in 20 years either, though the Remake is on my SSD and ready to go. SH1 kinda took the steam out of playing it, haha.

 

[March Climber]

I know some people don’t count it as horror but I feel like Parasite Eve 2 deserves to be an included standout on the PS1 horror list.

 

[Senua]

Nightmare creatures creeped me out big time when I was a nipper, but yea nothing tops Silent Hill. Nightmare fuel throughout

 

[mansoor1980]

really good selection of games , great video

 

[Big Baller]

Terrifying pixels and polygons

 

[sephiroth7x]

Honestly - I was always terrified when I was playing Sentient. I found the atmosphere and the noise permanently ongoing a really creepy experience. Plus, people were honestly terrifying in the game!

 

[Emedan]

No RE1? Guardhouse theme still gives me the biggest of chills,

 

[Team Andromeda]

Alone In the Dark IV simply doesn't get enough credit
Also glad to see M Mayar bring up Alien Resurrection that was one scary game.

 

[Mattyp]

Dino Crisis, RE1 with the fucking dogs man.

Half the people here probably didn’t play any of these on launch to be impressed but.

 

[MasterDerico]

Iru, Galerians, Chaos Break, Echo Night, Clock Tower first Fear, Clock tower 2, Countdown Vampires...

Lacking list, as usual.

 

[Yoshichan]

Strongly disagree.
I played SH1 at launch, and SH 2 circa 15 years after release. SH1 is still a game I have trouble going back to, as it nested in my mind from the very beginning; SH2 I found mostly annoying due to gameplay issues, and way too predictable to be memorable. I barely remember its details, beyond the “twist” that I could see coming from a mile away.

I immediately found SH2 less captivating and less relatable from its very premise. Harry is looking for his child, who he knows to be alive; James is looking for his wife, who he knows to be dead, and who better than him could know that?
I was a teenager when I played SH1, and I was never married, but I could still find the struggles of a desperate father more relatable than the story of James and those other people he meets. The demonish cult horror plot of SH1 I found much more disturbing than SH2’s Freudian undertones, and what happens in the final area of SH1 (especially Lisa’s end) blows any moment from SH2 out of the water.

They remade SH2 for the simple reason that the game has a much bigger fanbase and it’s a much easier sell to nostalgics and new players as well. More cinematic, easier to go along with, with an iconic villain and some good setpieces, and who doesn’t love a sexy lady? But SH1 will forever be the strongest game to me - even better when you consider the technical limitations Konami had to work with in 1999.

I haven’t played half of the games from OP’s list. A couple I had never even heard about. Sounds like stuff I may want to try.

fantastic post, agree with every point

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Resident Evil trilogy
Silent Hill
Deep Fear
Martian Gothic
Carrier

My favorite horror games.

Deep Fear, Silent Hill 1, Martian Gothic, and Carrier could all really use a remake. Deep Fear had the best soundtracks out of the horror games.

 

[MagiusNecros]

I don't recommend it to anyone, it has permanently damaged my child's psyche...

Ah yes the fabled Alien Isolation sequel before Isolation was ever a thing. The atmosphere, lighting, and art design in this game is immaculate. And it's control scheme using the two joysticks ended up being what most FPS use as a baseline today.

 

[diffusionx]

Strongly disagree.
I played SH1 at launch, and SH 2 circa 15 years after release. SH1 is still a game I have trouble going back to, as it nested in my mind from the very beginning; SH2 I found mostly annoying due to gameplay issues, and way too predictable to be memorable. I barely remember its details, beyond the “twist” that I could see coming from a mile away.

I immediately found SH2 less captivating and less relatable from its very premise. Harry is looking for his child, who he knows to be alive; James is looking for his wife, who he knows to be dead, and who better than him could know that?
I was a teenager when I played SH1, and I was never married, but I could still find the struggles of a desperate father more relatable than the story of James and those other people he meets. The demonish cult horror plot of SH1 I found much more disturbing than SH2’s Freudian undertones, and what happens in the final area of SH1 (especially Lisa’s end) blows any moment from SH2 out of the water.

They remade SH2 for the simple reason that the game has a much bigger fanbase and it’s a much easier sell to nostalgics and new players as well. More cinematic, easier to go along with, with an iconic villain and some good setpieces, and who doesn’t love a sexy lady? But SH1 will forever be the strongest game to me - even better when you consider the technical limitations Konami had to work with in 1999.

I haven’t played half of the games from OP’s list. A couple I had never even heard about. Sounds like stuff I may want to try.

Why does SH2 have a bigger fanbase if it is a worse game

 

[Senua]

Strongly disagree.
I played SH1 at launch, and SH 2 circa 15 years after release. SH1 is still a game I have trouble going back to, as it nested in my mind from the very beginning; SH2 I found mostly annoying due to gameplay issues, and way too predictable to be memorable. I barely remember its details, beyond the “twist” that I could see coming from a mile away.

I immediately found SH2 less captivating and less relatable from its very premise. Harry is looking for his child, who he knows to be alive; James is looking for his wife, who he knows to be dead, and who better than him could know that?
I was a teenager when I played SH1, and I was never married, but I could still find the struggles of a desperate father more relatable than the story of James and those other people he meets. The demonish cult horror plot of SH1 I found much more disturbing than SH2’s Freudian undertones, and what happens in the final area of SH1 (especially Lisa’s end) blows any moment from SH2 out of the water.

They remade SH2 for the simple reason that the game has a much bigger fanbase and it’s a much easier sell to nostalgics and new players as well. More cinematic, easier to go along with, with an iconic villain and some good setpieces, and who doesn’t love a sexy lady? But SH1 will forever be the strongest game to me - even better when you consider the technical limitations Konami had to work with in 1999.

I haven’t played half of the games from OP’s list. A couple I had never even heard about. Sounds like stuff I may want to try.

The writing in SH2 is just a lot better, James is such a flawed guy, he has way more depth than Harry Mason. I too love SH1 and think it's the creepiest game in the series but SH2 is just one of the greatest games of all time.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

I know some people don’t count it as horror but I feel like Parasite Eve 2 deserves to be an included standout on the PS1 horror list.

It’s more of an action game, but it does have some chilling moments and the creature design is amazing.
The FMV of the first mutation, that damn first horse in the desert, and the flamethrower boss are all very memorable and horrifying.

Why does SH2 have a bigger fanbase if it is a worse game

Many reasons.

Technically amazing for its time, and very cinematic.
Part of the legendary “fall of 2001” PS2 lineup which basically killed the console war before it even started.
Iconic villain.
Much gorier than SH1.
Played mostly by an audience of late teens / early 20-somethings that were experiencing truly film-like games for the first time and would be easily impressed by the apparent “maturity” of the story.
Much bigger audience, both thanks to the PS2’s absolute dominance and the word of mouth from people who had actually played the first game.

 

[Evil Calvin]

Most PS1 games are not scary.......just atmospheric due to the graphical limitations

 

[March Climber]

It’s more of an action game, but it does have some chilling moments and the creature design is amazing.
The FMV of the first mutation, that damn first horse in the desert, and the flamethrower boss are all very memorable and horrifying.

PE 2 was one of the few Survival Horror RPG games that successfully made me feel like I couldn’t simply relax due to suddenly feeling stronger. You still could die easily and you still had the aspects of survival horror present like item management regardless of where you were within the game.

It was such a one of a kind game, truly.

 

[Soodanim]

I've never seen RE1-3 as horror games. Yes, they're called survival horror, and they're some of my favourite games of all time of any generation. But outside of scarily dangerous enemies (hunters, lickers, etc) quite easily killing you, nothing about the games ever came across as horror to me. RE7 on the other hand felt more like it between the 1st person perspective and the stalker mechanic. But in terms of PS1, Silent Hill and Nightmare Creatures were far better as horror games.

Most PS1 games are not scary.......just atmospheric due to the graphical limitations

If we're doing that, no games are scary. It's all fiction and there's nothing to fear. But they can have great settings and themes, and they can use audio very effectively.

I do agree that the graphical limitations added something, though. Your brain fills in the blanks a bit more and the rough around the edges look to everything does lend itself to the overall experience.