TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming

We explore the survival horror genre, examining the early titles like 3D Monster Maze and Project Firestart, its explosive popularity in the 90s – where titles like Alone in the Dark, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill captured the imagination of the masses – and its legacy and enduring popularity today.

We explore the good, the bad, and the ugly, including early Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre games, bizarre obscurities like Ringu: Infinity, and successes like the brilliant Alien: Isolation, as well as the growing popularity of licensed characters in games like Dead by Daylight.

From the surreal and unique to the kitsch and campy, we celebrate and explore cinematic horror games and the now-obscure world of full motion video horror games, exploring "so-bad-it's-good" games like Night Trap, Sierra Online classics like Phantasmagoria, and the unusual use of CG tech in titles like D, among many others.

We shine a light on indie development in horror gaming, from breakout hits like Five Nights at Freddy’s and Amnesia to the many unique and one-of-a-kind experiences like Yume Nikki, Papa Sangre, and FAITH: The Unholy Trinity.

We dive down the rabbit hole of controversy and explore the games - like Doom, Manhunt, and Saw - that people wanted banned. Along the way, we'll also take a look at the unusual world of "cursed" games, including urban legends like Polybius, Petscop, and Crow 64.