Some horror franchises are hard to forget. It could be the villain, or just how the movie made you feel when you first watched it. Many horror movies have built loyal fan bases over the years and their stories haven’t stopped at the cinema. Some have made their way into video games and online slots, giving fans another way to enjoy the worlds and characters they already know.
Video Games That Bring Horror Franchises to Life
Video games let horror fans do something movies can’t: be part of the story. Instead of watching someone else run from a monster, players have to deal with the danger themselves. And knowing what’s coming based on the movies doesn’t really make things any easier.
Alien: Isolation
Released in 2014, Alien: Isolation follows Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she investigates a distress signal from Sevastopol station. Her search brings her face to face with the Xenomorph, one of the most famous creatures in horror movies. The game does a great job of building tension. The alien doesn’t constantly attack, but that doesn’t mean players can relax. It’s always nearby, and you never know when it might show up. Moving through the station is just as nerve-racking as an actual encounter.
Friday the 13th: The Game
Anyone who’s seen the Friday the 13th movies knows that spending time around Camp Crystal Lake isn’t the best idea. In the 2017 game, players get to find out just how bad it can be. It’s a multiplayer game where one person plays as Jason Voorhees, while the others try to escape. Players need to find machine and engine parts to repair a car and get away. Supplies are placed randomly, which means matches don’t always go the same way. Players that take control of Jason get to use the gory kills that fans of the movies will recognise.
Saw
Jigsaw’s traps are a big part of what made the Saw movies so popular, and the 2009 video game puts them at the centre of the action. Players take control of a police detective who wakes up inside an old, abandoned asylum. Getting out means solving puzzles, avoiding traps, choosing routes which lead to different obstacles, and a few combat sections as well. But the traps are what really make the game feel like Saw.
Horror Slots That Keep the Franchises Going
Video games aren’t the only way horror fans can revisit their favourite franchises. Online slots have also borrowed from well-known horror movies, using familiar characters, movie footage and spooky settings. The gameplay’s different, but it’s another way to enjoy some of those classic horror themes.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street slot machine is based on the 1984 movie and uses some of its footage and audio. Freddy Krueger’s glove and sweater appear as symbols, along with the boiler-room setting. The game has been around for years, but it still shows up in horror slot selections. This title has always been a favourite online slots game for not just horror fans but slots players in general. And it’s easy to see why. Freddy is one of the most recognisable horror villains around, and the game brings plenty of familiar details from the movie to the reels.
Halloween
Microgaming’s Halloween slot is based on the original 1978 movie, with Michael Myers in the spotlight. The game uses gritty colours that fit the movie, and has five reels and 50 paylines, along with expanding symbols. The gameplay is pretty straightforward, but the familiar character and setting make it interesting for Halloween fans. Seeing Michael Myers on the reels is a nice change from the usual slot symbols.
Circus of Horror
GameArt released Circus of Horror in February 2019. The game takes some inspiration from a 1960 British movie, but most of its appeal comes from the creepy-clown theme. There’s something unsettling about clowns and big tops, and the game makes use of that. Bonus rounds and multipliers are the main features, and the high volatility means wins can vary. The setting also makes it stand out from the usual vampire and slasher-themed slots. It’s a good option for anyone who enjoys the creepier side of a circus.
Why Horror Franchises Work So Well in Games
It’s not hard to see why developers keep coming back to horror franchises. Fans already know the characters and the stories. Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger don’t need much of an introduction.
Of course, putting a famous character in a game doesn’t automatically make it good. The game still has to give players something worth their time. Alien: Isolation gets the tension of the original movie right, while Friday the 13th: The Game lets players experience what it’s like to be hunted by Jason. And the slots are a more casual way to spend time with familiar horror characters, using scenes, characters and sounds to add something extra to regular slot games.
