Scariest PlayStation 1 Games

Key Takeaways

• Technological advancements in the gaming industry have made many classic PlayStation 1 games feel outdated, but they still offer unsettling and immersive experiences.
• Games like
  Clock Tower 2
  and
  Mizzurna Falls
  showcase unique gameplay mechanics and atmospheric horror that make them worth playing even today.
• The original PlayStation 1 console was a massive success and had a wealth of amazing horror games that fans still love and play, including
  Parasite Eve 2
  and
  Nightmare Creatures
  .

Improvements in game engines and console hardware have allowed developers to create more immersive, realistic, and ultimately more terrifying games than ever before. Unsurprisingly, technological advancements in the gaming industry have meant that many of the PlayStation 1’s classic games don’t hold up today.

Although some gameplay mechanics and visuals show their age, many PS1 horror games still manage to provide unsettling experiences that make great use of the limited hardware to strike fear into players. It’s a testament to the scintillating atmosphere and stellar direction of these games that most players won’t be able to sit through them without their nerves being tested.

Updated on October 15, 2024, by Jason Wojnar: Horror gaming existed before the PlayStation, but the arrival of 3D gaming and polygonal models gave developers a whole new playground with which to scare gamers. This list hopefully shows just how many influential titles came from the console. The update adds a few more games to the list. Some of these new entries are not as well known – one never officially came out – but they still deserve respect, attention, and admiration. This list might even inspire some to dust off their old PS1 console, head to a retro gaming store, and try out some of these titles for themselves.

26 Alien: Resurrection

Alien Horror With A Control Scheme Ahead Of Its Time

This game famously features the dual-stick aiming and movement control scheme that would become commonplace in the genre after a couple of years. At the time, however, it was derided by some. Alien: Resurrection is a difficult game and has some rough edges, but the atmosphere captures the series’ vibe.

It scared people back then and it still has the power to do so now. Some might call it more frightening than the movie it is based on. Resurrection is also quite difficult, and the aged gameplay makes it even harder for modern players visiting it for the first time.

25 Shadow Tower

A Mysterious First-Person RPG

Shadow Tower might not be billed as a horror game, but its esoteric atmosphere is still creepy. This is a FromSoftware game coming years before Hidetaka Miyazaki made the studio into a household name. There is still some DNA here that travels through to the studio today, though.

The mysterious world, difficulty, and obtuse progression are all here in Shadow Tower. Unlike the game’s following Demon’s Souls, players get stronger by using abilities repeatedly, similar to The Elder Scrolls. Explore these dark dungeons and see what creepy monsters lie in wait.

24 Thrill Kill

Nearly Complete, And Then Shelved Forever

Being as grotesque as possible is passe these days, but it was right in tune with ’90s gaming. Thrill Kill is a fighting game that allows four people to fight in a 3D environment. The shtick here is the extreme violence and morose characters. Unfortunately, the game’s content caused it to be shelved by the publisher.

The game was scheduled to be released in 1998. It is difficult to imagine publishers being scared of backlash for violent content now with Grand Theft Auto 5 being one of the most popular things in existence, but back then some considered scrapping a nearly completed game worth it to avoid controversy. A virtually complete build floats around on the Internet now.

Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style is a fighting game centered around the legendary group built on
Thrill Kill’s
engine, so all that hard work did not go to waste.

23 Clock Tower: The First Fear

A Classic Point-And-Click Horror Game Where Players Run From The Sinister Scissorman

Point-and-click horror games are pretty effective at unnerving players, and Clock Tower is a great example of the same. Players control an orphan called Jennifer who finds herself in the manor of her adoptive parents, only to see everyone be hunted down and killed by the horrifying Scissorman. This entity chases down Jennifer as she tries to solve puzzles and uncover the mystery surrounding her harrowing adventures in the Barrows family manor.

The Scissorman is a harrowing antagonist who will kill Jennifer in a brutal manner if players fail to avoid him. There are numerous endings in this game that players can achieve, but they must complete certain obtuse objectives if they wish to check out this unnerving narrative all the way to completion across its many ending paths. It’s easily one of the best PS1 horror games players can get their hands on.

22 Dino Crisis 2

Fight Off Various Types Of Harrowing Dinosaurs In A Beloved Action-Horror Game

Dino Crisis is a more action-heavy game that uses the Resident Evil engine to great effect. Capcom wanted to use the engine that helped them establish one of the most popular survival-horror games of all time and develop a title where players could shoot down dinosaurs that could devour them in a flash. This game was a decent success for them, prompting them to greenlight a sequel that focused a lot more on letting players enjoy fun action set-pieces.

However, don’t let that take away from Dino Crisis 2‘s impact on players whenever they have to face down sinister dinosaurs that can take them out at a moment’s notice. These dinosaurs are no joke, and players must have their wits about them if they don’t want to be taken out by these raptors after a momentary lapse in judgment.

21 Alone In The Dark: One-Eyed Jack’s Revenge

A Sequel To One Of The Most Important Horror Games Ever Made

Alone in the Dark is considered by many to be one of the first survival horror games ever made, with the title’s controls instilling a sense of nervousness in the player when they’re unable to control their character freely as the tension ramps up. This amazing PS1 horror game was bound to receive a sequel, and it’s a shame that more people don’t talk about One-Eyed Jack’s Revenge in the same appreciative light.

While the horror elements of the first game have been toned down in the sequel, that shouldn’t take anything away from the sequel’s ability to scare the player senseless as they scramble to use their weapons and take out zombies, gangsters, pirates, and other such enemies standing in their way. The game gets even scarier if players control Grace, a child who can be instantly captured by enemies if she’s spotted.

20 …Iru!

A First-Person Survival Horror Game

• Initial Release Year: 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Soft Machine

Many people haven’t really heard of Iru, in no small part because of the fact that this game never really received an official translation. However, fans arrived to save the day and let players enjoy a rather chilling survival horror experience with all the charm one would expect from a classic PlayStation horror title.

The game is considered by many to be similar to Clock Tower, with players exploring a school that is infested with supernatural abnormalities that will chase the player every step of the way. Players need to survive during these intense chase sequences while solving many mind-bending puzzles along the way.

19 Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within

A Tense Horror Game With Intense Chase Sequences

• Initial Release Date: March 12, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Human Entertainment

The Clock Tower series is one of the most beloved horror game franchises that has churned out many great games and helped other titles like Haunting Ground come to life too. The idea of exploring a haunted mansion and solving puzzles while being chased by a horrifying figure is a trope that may not seem original, but it’s the manner in which Clock Tower pulls off this concept that makes each title great in its own way, barring some poor attempts here and there.

Clock Tower 2 is a game that didn’t receive the greatest reviews when it launched, with most of the complaints being about its dated interface. However, in modern times, this game is a great classic horror game that fans can have a great time with as long as they forgive it for a few missteps.

18 Mizzurna Falls

A Unique, Quirky Horror-Adventure That is Arguably One Of The First Open-World Games

• Initial Release Date: December 23, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Human Entertainment

Most people aren’t aware of Mizzurna Falls, which is a shame. This quirky adventure game is one of the first open-world titles to ever be made, but it was only released in Japan. It was only in 2021 that the game was localized by fans, allowing English-speaking players to finally check it out.

This odd title focuses on the disappearance of a classmate and how his friend tries to investigate over the course of seven days to figure out what happened. This time limit forces players to not stray from an established path, adding to the game’s replay value. The game’s oppressive atmosphere and unique sim-like elements make it a truly unique game that feels like Deadly Premonition with tank controls.

17 Parasite Eve 2

The Addition Of Tank Controls Makes Combat More Harrowing Than Ever Before

Set three years after the first game, Parasite Eve 2 is a sequel that many players didn’t really check out, which is a shame. Many people faulted the game’s clunky tank controls and lack of proper JRPG elements for its obsolescence, but players who gave this game a shot and got past its faults actually enjoyed what was on offer.

Aya Brea, now working for the FBI under the Mitochondrial Investigation and Suppression Team — also known as MIST — is sent to investigate the town of Dryfield. The events that ensue are scary, riveting, and classic Parasite Eve goodness that fans of the first game will have a great time with. While its attempts to emulate what made Resident Evil such a success may have been misplaced, fans of Aya Brea’s original adventure will find a lot to love in the game’s many shocking moments and instances of gross body horror.

16 Martian Gothic: Unification

A Horrifying Title Set In A Desolate Research Station On Mars

• Initial Release Date: May 4, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, PC
• Developer: Creative Reality

Martian Gothic: Unification uses the isolation of space to make for an effective horror setting that is bound to scare players to their very core. The game takes place on a remote research station on Mars, where players must uncover the truth behind a mysterious alien artifact, dubbed the Pandora’s Box.

Martian Gothic: Unification is notable for its emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving, as players must navigate the station’s various environments and solve complex puzzles to progress through the game. Players control three protagonists and control can be switched around at will, making for a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience that is fun despite the frustrating and unresponsive combat.

15 Resident Evil 2

One Of The Greatest Survival Horror Games On The PS1

Following the enormous success of the revolutionary Resident Evil, Capcom released a sequel just under two years later. Resident Evil 2 introduced a ton of iconic characters to the franchise, including Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, and the horrifying antagonist T-00, also known as Mr. X.

The critically acclaimed remake may seem like the best option for modern gamers to play Resident Evil 2, but the original PlayStation 1 version offers an irreplaceable level of nostalgia for past players, and the horror still holds up for those experiencing the classic game for the first time.

Though the game is short, there are subtle and not-so-subtle changes depending on which order one plays the campaign. Leon A, Claire B and vice versa means there are four variants to go through.

14 Evil Dead: Hail To The King

Claustrophobic Level Design Adds To The Tension

• Initial Release Date: December 5, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, Dreamcast, PC
• Developer: Heavy Iron Studios

Evil Dead: Hail to the King is the second video game based on the Evil Dead film franchise, following The Evil Dead from 1984. Evil Dead: Hail to the King was the first game developed by Heavy Iron Studios, a California-based studio that has released numerous other movie tie-in video games over the years, including The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Incredibles, and WALL-E.

Evil Dead: Hail to the King struggled to impress fans and critics, exemplified by its lackluster 51 Metascore. However, its fear factor didn’t disappoint, as the game’s Resident Evil-like semi-fixed camera angles led to some terrifying and claustrophobic encounters.

13 Nightmare Creatures

A Touch Action Game Dripping With Atmosphere

Nightmare Creatures features elements of gothic horror and takes players back to London in 1666, an appropriate year as a devil-worshipping cult is trying to take over the city.

Nightmare Creatures is an excellent example of what talented developers can do with restricted hardware, as Kalisto Entertainment was able to create a frighteningly atmospheric experience despite the PlayStation 1’s limitations. The game was published by Activision, although the company was replaced with Konami for Nightmare Creatures 2.

12 Galerians

A Sci-Fi Horror Game Heavily Inspired By Resident Evil

Galerians differentiates itself from most horror games, which tend to feature fairly mundane and nondescript leading characters, with the more charismatic and interesting roles going to allies and enemies.

Galerians’ protagonist begins the game with amnesia and soon discovers that he has psychokinetic powers; if that wasn’t enough, Rion then discovers he is the last hope to save humanity from the Galerians, a race of genetically enhanced humans. As for the gameplay, Galerians is one of many horror games from the late 90s to take inspiration from Resident Evil, fit with fixed camera angles and tank controls.

11 Echo Night

The First-Person Perspective Really Makes The Horror Stand Out

• Initial Release Date: August 13, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: FromSoftware

1998’s Echo Night was developed by FromSoftware, which was a little-known studio at the time but is now one of the gaming industry’s most esteemed teams thanks to games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the Dark Souls trilogy. Echo Night puts players in a first-person perspective, which was rare for horror games at the time, and tasks the players with investigating the disappearance of a ship.

Echo Night received a sequel in 1999 titled Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares, though unfortunately for Western gamers, it was only released in Japan.

10 Resident Evil

The First In A Long Line Of Quality Survival-Horror Games

It’s not too much of a stretch to say that if Resident Evil had never been released, then most of the games on this list wouldn’t have either. The game didn’t just spawn one of the gaming industry’s most iconic franchises; it was also a pioneer of the survival horror genre as a whole.

Many other horror games have improved upon the gameplay mechanics that Resident Evil innovated, consequently making it rough in spots to revisit. Still, the game offers a great trip down memory lane, and the iconic sight of the first zombie will still send shivers down the spine. This is just one of the many sights that will scare players out of nowhere, making it important to keep a cool and calm head while tackling the many monstrosities in this game.

9 D

A Great, Cinematic Horror Experience

Released in 1995 in Japan but arriving in 1996 in North America on the PS1, D is an interactive movie that puts players in the shoes of famous digital actress Laura Harris, who is tasked with investigating a hospital where her father has locked himself inside after a killing spree.

It soon becomes clear that things aren’t as they seem though, as the hospital transforms into an eery castle once Laura arrives. Befitting of the interactive movie genre, players cannot save the game and must complete it within two hours. The cinematic aspect made D uniquely frightening for gamers at the time.

8 Clock Tower

A Confusingly-Titled Sequel To One Of The Best Horror Games Ever Made

• Initial Release Date: December 13, 1996
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Human Entertainment

Clock Tower was developed by Human Entertainment and is a point-and-click survival horror game; it is the sequel to a Japanese exclusive that was also titled Clock Tower (1995).

The point-and-click adventure raises the stakes from most others in the genre by having players be hunted down by the game’s terrifying antagonist, Scissorman. Scissorman is one of the gaming industry’s scariest, most intimidating villains of all time and is likely the key reason why X-Play listed Clock Tower as the eighth scariest game of all time in 2006.

7 Parasite Eve

A Great Mix Of JRPG And Horror Elements

One of the better-known names on this list, Parasite Eve was developed by Square (which merged with Enix in 2003 to create Square Enix) and was released in 1998. The action role-playing game is based on the horror book of the same name, which also inspired a 1997 film.

The game’s horror themes, fixed perspective, and the story that is centered around police unsurprisingly caused the game to be frequently compared, sometimes unfairly, to the revolutionary Resident Evil. Despite having to deal with comparisons to the iconic Resident Evil, Parasite Eve was well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 81 Metascore and 9.0 User Score, which is one of the highest user scores on the entire site.