The 2000s, especially the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, were undoubtedly the era of horror games. Most of the greatest horror games of all time were released during this period, along with the three major horror franchises of the time, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Fatal Frame, which quality increased.
Even the early seventh generation hit hard with classic horror games that started their own franchises. In order for a game to count, it must be a general horror game or close to horror. Games like Castlevania count, for example.
10 2000: Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
Resident Evil Like you've never seen it before
Unlike 1999 and 2001, 2000 did not produce any horror games. The biggest and best of the few titles is Resident Evil – Code: Veronica. A big Dreamcast follow-up, Code Veronica was the first RE game to use real 3D environments instead of pre-programmed backgrounds. This is the mainline RE tank controlled title to do this, so it stands out even more.
Code Veronica is a bit longer and a bit tougher than the usual RE fairs, and even though it's one of the bigger RE titles, it's still fun as hell for the players. Alyson Court kills it again when Claire and Code Veronica mark the return of Albert Wesker. The most popular villain of the series is an absolute joy whenever he is on screen and has the best cutscenes in the game.
9 2001: Silent Hill 2
One of the most famous stories in video games
Is there any doubt that Silent Hill 2 will not be the best horror game of the year? His campaign is almost flawless in its storytelling, pacing, predictability and, of course, the scare factor. The sound design is so good that it keeps you going, and the titles are very replayable.
Not only are there multiple endings that can be unlocked, but you can also find all the details and secrets that you ignored before, giving you a greater appreciation for this game. The fight does not hold up well, but all other elements exceed the makeup for him.
8 2002: Resident Evil Remake
A masterpiece of Survival Horror
Video game innovation was a lot different back in the day than it is today. At that time, there was a lot of improvement and complete innovation compared to being completely faithful, and this can be seen in the 2002 Resident Evil Remake. Spencer Mansion is a different beast in this update, with a different layout, more rooms, more strategy needed in terms of routes, and new enemies.
Once you kill zombies, most of them die anyway. They will return as Crimson Heads after a few moments to ruin your day. Going back to the planned backgrounds was a risky move, but it paid off because it's still pretty cool. You'd be hard-pressed to find a diehard RE fan who doesn't put the 2002 RE Remake in the top three of the franchise.
7 2003: Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly
Best Fatal Frame game
2003 had two contenders for the best horror game of the year. Silent Hill 3, arguably the best game in the series, or Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly. The top choice goes to Fatal Frame 2 for being better than the original in every way.
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Best Horror Games for Beginners
If you're new to the horror game scene and aren't sure where to get into this scary genre – look no further.
Making it a town instead of a house was a great way to set this game apart from most survival horror fairs of the time, and it's still cool today. The scares are better, the pacing is better, the camera fights are better, and even the story is more effective because of the dynamic of the twin sisters. Unfortunately, the physical copy goes up in price, but this game is worth the money.
6 2004: Silent Hill 4: The Room
A flawed masterpiece
As in 2000, 2004 did not have much, but the clear winner for the best horror game must be Silent Hill 4: The Room. For the longest time, this game was considered the black sheep of the franchise due to the variety of game changes it offered. Today, the title has gained more recognition because, in itself, it is incredible.
Keep in mind that this is the game itself, because SH4 is still like Silent Hill, especially in terms of lore. The story, like all previous SH games, is amazing, with the best villain, Walter Sullivan. The title is still scary, but it has a few flaws, such as poor plot pacing and generic sound design. Regardless, Silent Hill 4 is a must-play SH game like all its predecessors.
5 2005: Resident Evil 4
This is Not Competing
There were a lot of horror games in 2005, such as Fear, Fatal Frame 3, and Haunting Ground, but unfortunately Resident Evil 4 was also released. The Michael Jordan of horror games that you can't beat to compete with him.
One of the most important games ever created, it revolutionized third-person shooters as you know them today, with a campaign that's still as good, fast, and smart as it was in 2005. war to this day. , pop up heads and buildings around kicking your enemies. In addition to switching weapons on the fly, it's as perfect a game as you can get.
4 2006: Dead Rising
Even Capcom says it feels fresh today
One of the first Xbox 360 exclusives has to be Dead Rising. Another Capcom masterpiece that mixes horror sim elements. In a typical 72-hour campaign, you have about six hours of real time to do whatever you want in the mall. You can do the main story, the side quests, or just kill zombies and have fun until the helicopter comes to pick you up.
This freedom is what makes Dead Rising unique. Not to mention, the graphics are advanced in 2006, and the story is just as amazing. Even the characters are very memorable, especially the main battles. The game has been released and updated many times, so there is no excuse not to play it.
3 2007: BioShock
The Next Evolution of System Shock
BioShock 1 covers many genres, including FPS and adventure games, but it is horror, with many horror elements throughout the world. After all, BioShock is the spiritual successor of the sci-fi horror series System Shock. The story of BioShock is famous and very influential. The actual plot of the paper is not something to take home, but the way the story is told makes it better.
With audio logs, the use of minimal animation, and seamless world building, BioShock's story and world were made even bigger. Gunplay also feels good, but has a few flaws, such as some pacing issues and an over-baked karma system. Overall though, BioShock remains a certified classic to this day.
2 2008: Space Space
The best new horror IP of the seventh generation
When Dead Space was released in 2008, you knew this IP was the next big thing in the horror genre, along with Resident Evil. The title had a clear creative spark, capturing the look and feel of classic sci-fi horror films such as Alien, Event Horizon, and John Carpenter's The Thing, while incorporating an enhanced combat system similar to Resident Evil 4 to create something very special. .
Yes, there have been sci-fi horror games before, like System Shock 2, but nothing with this level of high quality graphics and 80's horror art design. The combat is also a lot of fun with great weapons, and the game is still scary as hell. Dead Space 1 is a classic and, of course, one of the greatest horror games of all time.
1 2009: Left 4 dead 2
Zombie game that will not die online
Many zombie games today have come and gone without much impact, but Left 4 Dead 2 is still going strong despite being released in 2009. Similar to Doom, there are plenty of stellar mods and community-created campaigns that keep the game fresh. It's not hard to see why support is still strong all these years later, because the base game is a masterpiece, plain and simple.
Valve has perfected the cooperative game here with the perfect mix of special types of infections, various weapons, active use of items, and of course, exploiting them all. Like Doom 2, the system here is ripe for mods and replayability, and that's what makes Left 4 Dead 2 the greatest horror game of all time.
