2023: The Year Of Remakes And Sequels
Many impressive survival horror games are set to release in the coming months, from brand-new titles to highly anticipated reboots. But of all the upcoming releases in the survival horror genre, the most awaited are either remakes or sequels of popular franchises. Dead Space, Silent Hill, and Alan Wake are all back from their prolonged slumbers to wow the gaming world with their new visuals, story, and gameplay. And the unanticipated hit, The Forest, is finally ready to drop to its sequel.
Here is our list of the top upcoming survival horror releases for 2023.
Issac Clarke makes his triumphant return with the remake of the original Dead Space. While some gamers may wonder why Dead Space, released in 2008, is getting a remake out of all the other titles, others are frothing at the mouth for this release. With new graphics, mechanics, levels, and cutscenes, it seems the Dead Space remake will follow in the footsteps of the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes. That amounts to a total overhaul of every single level in the game. Not to mention Issac talks in the remake!
The Dead Space remake attempts to retell the story with all the updated tools developers have at their disposal today. Ray tracing, surface scattering, and all the other features that make a game gorgeous to behold are giving Dead Space the VIP treatment. Fans, both new and old, can experience the groundbreaking horror of the original Dead Space when it releases on January 27, 2023.
Resident Evil continues its remake run with another: Resident Evil 4 Remake. And considering the wide success of their past two remakes, this one shouldn’t be ignored. Not only does it feature improved graphics and controls, but there are also several new cutscenes and enemies for gamers to experience. The trailer showcases all the original iconic characters, from Ramone Salazar to Luis Sera. This upcoming release was announced at the Capcom State of Play event in 2022 to rabid reactions from fans.
Resident Evil 4, originally released in 2004, is widely regarded as one of the best survival horror games ever made. It defined the genre in its early days and is still used as the benchmark for other survival horror titles today.
The Resident Evil 4 Remake is coming to all consoles and PC early 2023.
Alan Wake was a terrifying experience when it was first released in 2010, and it earned the number one spot on Time’s list of 10 best games from that year. It was a story grounded more in reality than most other survival horror titles, and it used that foundation to lay the bedrock of impressive, memorable, mind-bending horror.
Alan Wake, a best-selling novelist, found himself walking a blurred line between fiction and reality in the odd little town of Bright Falls during the events of the first game. His wife was kidnapped, his book was stolen, and he was tossed into a shadow realm. Thoughts that become reality and fiction that’s actually true make the experience of Alan Wake feel upside down.
The cliffhanger at the end of Alan Wake left fans with many questions. Now those questions will finally be answered. Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind Alan Wake, has been hard at work since 2010. Control, a Remedy Entertainment hit released in 2019, takes place in the same universe as Alan Wake, and players can even interact with the trapped novelist.
But now fans will get to enjoy the wild conclusion to Alan Wake’s twisted story when it releases for all consoles and PC sometime in 2023.
Fatal Frame Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse
Fatal Frame is unlike the other upcoming releases on this list for several reasons. Not only is it set in the 80s and is only in Japanese, but it also lacks any combat.
The Fatal Frame series first started on the Playstation 2 after the success of the Silent Hill series. It’s a collection of survival horror titles focusing on storytelling and classic Japanese ghost tales rather than flickering lights and gory monsters.
In Fatal Frame, players take control of a character searching for answers to questions from their traumatized past. They have no weapons or combat skills to speak of and rely on a supernatural camera to ward off and capture hostile spirits. And the latest installment, Fatal Frame: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse, is no different. Players will take control of three friends who were all part of a traumatic incident during a lunar eclipse festival when they were younger. Now, ten years after the controversial festival, the friends are returning to the scene of the crime to regain their fractured memories and put a stop to the violent hauntings in the area.
Fatal Frame: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse is technically a remake, but as everything else mentioned so far, it is getting an upgraded treatment of extra cutscenes and gameplay mechanics.
Fatal Frame: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse drops for Playstation 5 in early 2023.
The Forest managed to captivate gamers with its intense survival horror experience. The journey Eric takes in search of his son is one that still haunts many players the world over. Cannibals, mutants, and unforgiving elements kept players on their toes in The Forest. Gamers had to adapt to their new environment if they didn’t want to die. Scavenge supplies, build a shelter, and explore for answers--that’s what The Forest boiled down to.
Now, five years after The Forest was released, Sons Of The Forest makes its debut. Endnight Games, the studio behind The Forest, has been diligent in the continuation and progress of The Forest’s themes and lore.
Players can explore all Sons Of The Forest offers when it releases in February 2023.
While these are far from the only titles set to release soon, they have the largest hype built up around them. These upcoming releases have big studios and passionate fans behind them, and some have been a long time coming. Survival horror fans have plenty of games to anticipate in the coming months.