Improvements in game engines and console hardware have allowed developers to create more immersive, realistic, and ultimately more terrifying games than ever before. Unsurprisingly, technological advancements in the gaming industry have meant that many of the PlayStation 1's classic games don't hold up today.

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Although some gameplay mechanics and visuals show their age, many PlayStation 1 games still manage to provide unsettling experiences that make great use of the limited hardware to strike fear into players. It's a testament to the scintillating atmosphere and stellar direction of these games that most players won't be able to sit through them without their nerves being tested.

Updated on March 21, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The original PlayStation is one of the most legendary consoles of all time. Sony's foray into gaming with an emphasis on mature titles ended up being quite successful, with the platform being graced with games for all manners of players. Fans of horror titles will be glad to know that the PlayStation was rife with several excellent video games that can still send chills down a player's spine, even if they take into account the dated nature of this console and how the graphics of most titles haven't aged well. This doesn't stop some of the PS1's best horror games from terrifying players, making it hard to pick up the controller and play a game that has the ability to shock players at a moment's notice.

20 ...Iru!

A First-Person Survival Horror Game

• Initial Release Year: 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Soft Machine

Many people haven't really heard of Iru, in no small part because of the fact that this game never really received an official translation. However, fans arrived to save the day and let players enjoy a rather chilling survival horror experience with all the charm one would expect from a classic PlayStation horror title.

The game is considered by many to be similar to Clock Tower, with players exploring a school that is infested with supernatural abnormalities that will chase the player every step of the way. Players need to survive during these intense chase sequences while solving many mind-bending puzzles along the way.

19 Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within

A Tense Horror Game With Intense Chase Sequences

• Initial Release Date: March 12, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Human Entertainment

The Clock Tower series is one of the most beloved horror game franchises that has churned out many great games and helped other titles like Haunting Ground come to life too. The idea of exploring a haunted mansion and solving puzzles while being chased by a horrifying figure is a trope that may not seem original, but it's the manner in which Clock Tower pulls off this concept that makes each title great in its own way... barring some poor attempts here and there.

Clock Tower 2 is a game that didn't receive the greatest reviews when it launched, with most of the complaints being about its dated interface. However, in modern times, this game is a great classic horror game that fans can have a great time with as long as they forgive it for a few missteps.

18 Mizzurna Falls

A Unique, Quirky Horror-Adventure That is Arguably One Of The First Open-World Games

• Initial Release Date: December 23, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Human Entertainment

Most people aren't aware of Mizzurna Falls, which is a shame. This quirky adventure game is one of the first open-world titles to ever be made, but it was only released in Japan. It was only in 2021 that the game was localized by fans, allowing English-speaking players to finally check it out.

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This odd title focuses on the disappearance of a classmate and how his friend tries to investigate over the course of seven days to figure out what happened. This time limit forces players to not stray from an established path, adding to the game's replay value. The game's oppressive atmosphere and unique sim-like elements make it a truly unique game that feels like Deadly Premonition with tank controls.

17 Parasite Eve 2

The Addition Of Tank Controls Makes Combat More Harrowing Than Ever Before

Set three years after the first game, Parasite Eve 2 is a sequel that many players didn't really check out, which is a shame. Many people faulted the game's clunky tank controls and lack of proper JRPG elements for its obsolescence, but players who gave this game a shot and got past its faults actually enjoyed what was on offer.

Aya Brea, now working for the FBI under the Mitochondrial Investigation and Suppression Team — also known as MIST — is sent to investigate the town of Dryfield. The events that ensue are scary, riveting, and classic Parasite Eve goodness that fans of the first game will have a great time with. While its attempts to emulate what made Resident Evil such a success may have been misplaced, fans of Aya Brea's original adventure will find a lot to love in the game's many shocking moments and instances of gross body horror.

16 Martian Gothic: Unification

A Horrifying Title Set In A Desolate Research Station On Mars

• Initial Release Date: May 4, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, PC
• Developer: Creative Reality

Martian Gothic: Unification uses the isolation of space to make for an effective horror setting that is bound to scare players to their very core. The game takes place on a remote research station on Mars, where players must uncover the truth behind a mysterious alien artifact, dubbed the Pandora's Box.

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Martian Gothic: Unification is notable for its emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving, as players must navigate the station's various environments and solve complex puzzles to progress through the game. Players control three protagonists and control can be switched around at will, making for a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience that is fun despite the frustrating and unresponsive combat.

15 Resident Evil 2

One Of The Greatest Survival Horror Games On The PS1

Following the enormous success of the revolutionary Resident Evil, Capcom released a sequel just under two years later. Resident Evil 2 introduced a ton of iconic characters to the franchise, including Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, and the horrifying antagonist T-00, also known as Mr. X.

The critically acclaimed remake may seem like the best option for modern gamers to play Resident Evil 2, but the original PlayStation 1 version offers an irreplaceable level of nostalgia for past players, and the horror still holds up for those experiencing the classic game for the first time.

14 Evil Dead: Hail To The King

Claustrophobic Level Design Adds To The Tension

• Initial Release Date: December 5, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, Dreamcast, PC
• Developer: Heavy Iron Studios

Evil Dead: Hail to the King is the second video game based on the Evil Dead film franchise, following The Evil Dead from 1984. Evil Dead: Hail to the King was the first game developed by Heavy Iron Studios, a California-based studio that has released numerous other movie tie-in video games over the years, including The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Incredibles, and WALL-E.

Evil Dead: Hail to the King struggled to impress fans and critics, exemplified by its lackluster 51 Metascore. However, its fear factor didn't disappoint, as the game's Resident Evil-like semi-fixed camera angles led to some terrifying and claustrophobic encounters.

13 Nightmare Creatures

A Touch Action Game Dripping With Atmosphere

Nightmare Creatures features elements of gothic horror and takes players back to London in 1666, an appropriate year as a devil-worshipping cult is trying to take over the city.

Nightmare Creatures is an excellent example of what talented developers can do with restricted hardware, as Kalisto Entertainment was able to create a freightingly atmospheric experience despite the PlayStation 1's limitations. The game was published by Activision, although the company was replaced with Konami for Nightmare Creatures 2.

12 Galerians

A Sci-Fi Horror Game Heavily Inspired By Resident Evil

Galerians differentiates itself from most horror games, which tend to feature fairly mundane and nondescript leading characters, with the more charismatic and interesting roles going to allies and enemies.

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Galerians' protagonist begins the game with amnesia and soon discovers that he has psychokinetic powers; if that wasn't enough, Rion then discovers he is the last hope to save humanity from the Galerians, a race of genetically enhanced humans. As for the gameplay, Galerians is one of many horror games from the late 90s to take inspiration from Resident Evil, fit with fixed camera angles and tank controls.

11 Echo Night

The First-Person Perspective Really Makes The Horror Stand Out

• Initial Release Date: August 13, 1998
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: FromSoftware

1998's Echo Night was developed by FromSoftware, which was a little-known studio at the time but is now one of the gaming industry's most esteemed teams thanks to games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the Dark Souls trilogy. Echo Night puts players in a first-person perspective, which was rare for horror games at the time, and tasks the players with investigating the disappearance of a ship.

Echo Night received a sequel in 1999 titled Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares, though unfortunately for Western gamers, it was only released in Japan.

10 Resident Evil

The First In A Long Line Of Quality Survival-Horror Games

It's not too much of a stretch to say that if Resident Evil had never been released, then most of the games on this list wouldn't have either. The game didn't just spawn one of the gaming industry's most iconic franchises; it was also a pioneer of the survival horror genre as a whole.

Many other horror games have improved upon the gameplay mechanics that Resident Evil innovated, consequently making it rough in spots to revisit. Still, the game offers a great trip down memory lane, and the iconic sight of the first zombie will still send shivers down the spine. This is just one of the many sights that will scare players out of nowhere, making it important to keep a cool and calm head while tackling the many monstrosities in this game.

9 D

A Great, Cinematic Horror Experience

Released in 1995 in Japan but arriving in 1996 in North America on the PS1, D is an interactive movie that puts players in the shoes of famous digital actress Laura Harris, who is tasked with investigating a hospital where her father has locked himself inside after a killing spree; it soon becomes clear that things aren't as they seem though, as the hospital transforms into an eery castle once Laura arrives. Befitting of the interactive movie genre, players cannot save the game and must complete it within two hours. The cinematic aspect made D uniquely frightening for gamers at the time.

8 Clock Tower

A Confusingly-Titled Sequel To One Of The Best Horror Games Ever Made

• Initial Release Date: December 13, 1996
• Available Platforms: PlayStation
• Developer: Human Entertainment

Clock Tower was developed by Human Entertainment and is a point-and-click survival horror game; it is the sequel to a Japanese exclusive that was also titled Clock Tower (1995).

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The point-and-click adventure raises the stakes from most others in the genre by having players be hunted down by the game's terrifying antagonist, Scissorman. Scissorman is one of the gaming industry's scariest, most intimidating villains of all time and is likely the key reason why X-Play listed Clock Tower as the eighth scariest game of all time in 2006.

7 Parasite Eve

A Great Mix Of JRPG And Horror Elements

One of the better-known names on this list, Parasite Eve was developed by Square (which merged with Enix in 2003 to create Square Enix) and was released in 1998. The action role-playing game is based on the horror book of the same name, which also inspired a 1997 film.

The game's horror themes, fixed perspective, and the story that is centered around police unsurprisingly caused the game to be frequently compared, sometimes unfairly, to the revolutionary Resident Evil. Despite having to deal with comparisons to the iconic Resident Evil, Parasite Eve was well-received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 81 Metascore and 9.0 User Score, which is one of the highest user scores on the entire site.

6 Koudelka

Dungeon-Crawling Goodness With A Lovecraftian Twist

Developed by Sacnoth, Koudelka is a Japanese role-playing game from the Shadows Hearts series. The game is set in Wales and has a nice blend of puzzle-solving and turn-based combat. Like many games on this list, Koudelka draws inspiration from Capcom's Resident Evil series through its fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, and exploration-heavy gameplay.

The game manages to scare players with its exploration, story, and gameplay, all in one fell swoop. Combat is brutal and requires a lot of preparation for players to succeed, while the game's claustrophobic environments are dripping in a Gothic atmosphere that makes each and every step a test of the player's willpower.

5 Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare

A Horror Game That Will Certainly Unnerve The Player

Also known as Alone in the Dark 4, Infogrames' PlayStation 1 classic Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare was developed by Darkworks and was initially released in 2001. Releasing on the PlayStation 1 over a year after the release of the PlayStation 2 understandably hurt initial sales, though they soon picked up when the game came to PC and the second generation of Sony console a short while later.

Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare was released on Steam in 2013, though the lackluster port earned the game an All Reviews rating of Mixed. Still, that shouldn't take away from the understated brilliance of this game, with its survival horror trappings making for a tough yet rewarding time as players try to brave the many scares in this memorable journey.

4 Dino Crisis

Action-Focused Game With Some Very Horrifying Elements

The first entry into the series of the same name, Dino Crisis was released in 1999 by the era's horror specialist, Capcom. The game has numerous similarities to the Japanese company's early Resident Evil titles, such as the save room mechanic, camera perspective, and influx of puzzles. Although the dinosaurs don't hold up visually today, they're still frightening to come up against.

Dino Crisis is more action-oriented than most other horror games on the PlayStation, but that doesn't take away from the game's scare factor. Dinosaurs that tower over humans and can rip them apart with their jaws in no time have always been scary to behold, and the fact that the rudimentary graphics of Dino Crisis don't stop these reptilian monstrosities from striking fear in a player's heart is proof enough of how effective they can be in a horror game.

3 Silent Hill

One Of The Greatest Horror Games Of All Time

Of all the Resident Evil-inspired horror games that were released on PlayStation 1, few would disagree that Konami's Silent Hill is the best. Konami's Silent Hill was a pioneer in the implementation of intricate and branching storytelling in video games. The game's narrative features five different endings, including one secret ending where the game's protagonist, Harry Mason, is bizarrely abducted by aliens. Along with the terrifying and unique enemies, the game's unique murky, musty atmosphere is what makes it so unsettling to play even today.

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2 Nightmare Creatures 2

A Great Sequel With Amazing Visuals For The Time

• Initial Release Date: May 23, 2000
• Available Platforms: PlayStation, Dreamcast
• Developer: Kalisto Entertainment

Nightmare Creatures 2 was developed by Kalisto Entertainment and released in May 2000, making it one of the PlayStation 1's final major releases not to appear on the PlayStation 2. Befitting of being released so late in the PlayStation 1's lifecycle, it has some of the most unsettlingly realistic visuals on the console.

Konami's Nightmare Creatures 2 is far from being this list's most critically acclaimed entry, though it does have a strong argument for being the scariest entry to play today with its adrenaline-pumping action-gameplay.

1 Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

The Addition Of The Titular Antagonist Makes The Game Scarier Than Ever

There's a reason why Capcom's Resident Evil series has been mentioned so frequently throughout this list; the series' initial 1996 game is one of, if not the most influential survival horror game of all time. The series' third installment, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, was released in September 1999 and cranked the fear factor up a notch, predominantly due to the inclusion of Nemesis, who is one of the most terrifying villains in gaming history.

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