You win some, you lose some. As 2024 draws to a close, the age-old adage could not be more true in the realm of horror games. Past years have seen us ushering in the survival horror renaissance, with 2023's Resident Evil 4 and Alan Wake 2 being the triple-A evidence markers that stand out in particular. But this year, the bloodsoaked battlefield that is the horror genre is looking a little different, and it's down to the immense risks developers and publishers are willing to take.
Granted, some of these landed better than others. But following a year where major remakes were king, I've seen a lot more going on in the realm of new horror IPs, daring sequels, and retro indies that have me most excited for the upcoming horror games of 2025. It all comes down to the fact that risk is the secret sauce that keeps the genre in a constant state of growth. The need to "play it safe" can throttle horror, keeping it rooted in time instead of evolving with the people who play it. My top three horror games of the year – Slitterhead, Silent Hill 2, and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 – prove this point in very different ways.
