4 Cult Horror Games That Still Hold Up Today

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The horror genre boasts many fantastic games that blend scares with different styles of gameplay. Titles like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Alien: Isolation are just a few examples of the great horror experiences available. Over time, some amazing games become less well-known as players discover new favorites. These ‘cult classics’ are still incredibly frightening, and often even more terrifying than the most popular horror games. Even if you don’t usually play older games, these titles are worth revisiting to appreciate how effectively developers created fear without relying on today’s advanced graphics.

Here are four great cult classic horror games that you need to play.

4) Sanitarium

Sanitarium arrived as part of the wave of point-and-click horror games that became popular in the 1990s, building on the success of titles like Phantasmagoria and The 7th Guest. While it was created by the well-known Roberta Williams, it hasn’t aged as well over time. The 7th Guest, however, is likely too well-remembered to be included here.

Step into Sanitarium, a truly unique point-and-click adventure game from DreamForge Intertainment. You play as Max, who wakes up in a mental institution with no memory of his past. To uncover the truth, you’ll journey through a series of bizarre and fascinating worlds.

Sanitarium is a deeply unsettling psychological horror game with a shocking and memorable ending. Thankfully, DotEmu brought it to iOS and Android in 2015, so it’s now simple to experience on today’s phones and tablets if you’re interested.

3) Condemned: Criminal Origins

Released as one of the first games for the Xbox 360, Condemned: Criminal Origins was the first in a planned series by Monolith Productions. While the developers initially envisioned three sequels, only the first game came to fruition – and it became a classic horror title.

Beyond its frightening moments, Condemned truly excelled at first-person close-quarters combat. This hadn’t been done effectively in games before, so Monolith deserves recognition for creating a combat system that still feels satisfying today.

However, what truly makes this game stand out is its incredibly creepy atmosphere, beautiful and frightening graphics, and perfect sound. While many games aim to scare you, Condemned is unique in how effectively it uses sound to create genuine terror.

2) F.E.A.R.

It’s incredible that Monolith released two of the greatest horror games ever made so close together. Both Condemned and F.E.A.R. are truly outstanding. While F.E.A.R. came to consoles a year later, the PC version was released about a month before Condemned launched with the Xbox 360.

I loved F.E.A.R., and it reminded me a lot of Condemned. It wasn’t just about being scared, though it definitely delivered on that! It was also just a fantastic game to play. Honestly, it’s easily one of the best shooters I’ve experienced, maybe even of the whole generation. What really stood out was how smart the enemies were – you couldn’t just rush in, you had to actually think about how to approach each fight. And the slow-motion effect? Seriously, it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen in a game.

If you want a horror game that offers a bit extra depth, F.E.A.R. is an excellent choice.

1) Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

Eternal Darkness is a truly original horror game. Imagine the mind-bending Psycho Mantis fight from Metal Gear Solid – the one that reads your memory card – and expand that concept into an entire game. That’s what Eternal Darkness does.

The sanity effects in Eternal Darkness are truly remarkable. They brilliantly mess with the player, using everything from subtle distortions like a tilted camera to shocking moments where the game pretends to be a sequel, breaking the fourth wall. These effects are some of the most creative and effective ever seen in a horror game, largely because they acknowledge the game is a game.

Sadly, the developers, Silicon Knights, never released the sequel everyone was hoping for, and no other game has attempted something quite as bold since. It would be great if someone could bring back the game’s unique sanity effects on today’s consoles, but it seems unlikely we’ll ever get a true follow-up to this beloved classic.

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2025-11-01 18:13