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You are here: Home / Archives for horror games

horror games

TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming – A Spine-Chilling Journey into Gaming’s Darkest Corners

March 21, 2025 By ausretrogamer

If you’ve ever felt your pulse quicken while creeping through the foggy streets of Silent Hill, or if you still get shivers remembering the first time a zombie turned its head in Resident Evil, then brace yourself—because TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming is about to take you on a deep dive into the genre’s terrifying history.

A Love Letter to Horror Gaming

Horror in gaming has always been about more than just jump scares. It’s an art form—one that thrives on tension, atmosphere, and a creeping sense of dread that lingers long after you put down the controller. TerrorBytes is a five-episode documentary series that explores this unique world, shining a light on the creators, innovations, and eerie legends that have shaped horror gaming into what it is today.

With a stacked cast of over 50 industry legends, including Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka, DOOM co-creator John Romero, and Deadly Premonition director Swery65, this is no ordinary gaming retrospective. Even horror movie icon John Carpenter joins the fray, proving that the love of horror knows no boundaries between mediums.

John Carpenter
Akira Yamaoka

What’s Lurking in the Shadows?

Each episode of TerrorBytes dissects a different aspect of horror gaming’s evolution:

  • Survival Horror – The genre that made you count every bullet and check every shadow.
  • Licensed Horror Games – From Friday the 13th to Alien: Isolation, the best (and worst) horror adaptations.
  • FMV & Interactive Horror – A look at the eerie rise of full-motion video and cinematic storytelling in horror.
  • The Indie Horror Revolution – How small teams and solo developers are redefining terror.
  • Cursed & Controversial Games – The legends, mysteries, and moral panics that have haunted the genre.

From classic franchises like Resident Evil and Clock Tower to modern indie nightmares like Iron Lung and FAITH: The Unholy Trinity, TerrorBytes doesn’t just explore games—it dissects them like a mad scientist in a horror flick.

How to Get Your Hands on TerrorBytes

Ahead of its April release, TerrorBytes has launched a final pre-sale campaign, giving horror fans the chance to score exclusive perks. Pre-ordering grants early digital access to the first two episodes, your name in the credits, a digital copy of FPS: First Person Shooter, and access to the Darkness Unlimited streaming service—a must-have for horror aficionados.

A Documentary Born from Fear and Passion

Richard Moss, writer and director of TerrorBytes, sums it up best: “Horror games provide an incredible breadth of experience, emotion, and catharsis away from the conventional gaming power fantasy.” Producer Daniel Richardson adds, “It has been a dream come true shooting all over the globe with the people that shaped horror gaming history.”

For those brave enough to delve into gaming’s darkest corners, TerrorBytes is shaping up to be an essential watch. Don’t miss out—secure your copy now at terrorbytesdoc.com and prepare to confront the evolution of horror gaming like never before.

image source: TerrorBytes

 

Filed Under: History, Retro Gaming Culture Tagged With: Documentary, DocuSeries, Film, FMV, gamers, gaming, horror games, John Carpenter, retrogaming, Richard Moss, TerrorBytes, TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming, Video Games

Book Review – From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror

November 2, 2023 By Alex Boz

Maniac killers? Vengeful ghosts? Science gone wrong? Discover the most gruesome, grueling and downright scary horror games from the 1970s till now in this horror-themed book!

Just in time for Halloween, Bitmap Books has unleashed their latest and scariest video gaming based book, From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror.

Let us introduce you to From Ants to Zombies, a spine-tingling journey through the captivating world of horror games that spans over six decades, from the funky 1970s to the heart-pounding 2020s. This book is definitely a thrilling rollercoaster ride across more than 70 different gaming platforms, from the vintage ZX Spectrum to the monstrous Xbox Series X.

From Ants to Zombies (FAtZ) has dug up the crypt and unearthed over 130 hair-raising horror video game titles that dissects and puts them into context for the reader. In this monstrous tome, the games are divided into thirteen delightfully eerie chapters, each with its own twisted theme. Whether you’re into rail shooters or open-world RPGs, whether you fancy exploring haunted mansions or venturing into infested space stations, or whether you prefer a slow, creeping existential dread or stomach-churning bursts of violence, FAtZ has you covered!

But that’s not all. FAtZ sprinkles some spine-chilling, exclusive commentary from legendary horror game developers like Keiichiro Toyama (the mastermind behind Silent Hill), Jane Jensen (the brains behind Gabriel Knight), Ken Levine (the genius behind System Shock 2), Sandy White (creator of Ant Attack), David Riordan (the spooky mind behind It Came from the Desert), Paul Norman (the man behind Forbidden Forest), Graeme Devine (the wicked genius behind The 7th Guest), and many more! These legends will give you a peek behind the curtain and share their sinister secrets (no spoilers here!).

From Ants to Zombies spans a whopping 600+ gorgeously illustrated pages, with a lovingly crafted hardback edition with a unique glow-in-the-dark logo and text – perfect for those late-night reading sessions. All the ghastly images are printed lithographically on high-quality paper to showcase the breathtaking visuals these games deserve. Plus, Bitmap Books has used thread-sewn binding for extra durability, so you can lay the book open flat while you dive into the darkest corners of gaming history.

For those of you that want your cake and eat it too, the book’s cover features a one-of-a-kind artwork created by the incredibly talented artist Vasilis Zikos – it’s an unholy marriage of art and horror, just like the games within.

From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror is your golden ticket to revisit the classics you love and discover hidden horror gems you may have overlooked. It’s a deep dive into the inexhaustible well of terror that six decades of video game history has to offer.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of horror gaming like never before and prepare for sleepless nights, heart-pounding scares, and the thrill of a lifetime!

From Ants to Zombies is a showcase for the remarkable range horror gaming has achieved across six decades, from the 1970s to the 2020s, on 70+ gaming platforms, from the ZX Spectrum to the Xbox Series X!

Book Specs:

  • Hardback
  • 664 pages
  • Edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print
  • Sewn binding – for enduring quality and the ability to lay flat for ideal double-page image viewing
  • Glow-in-the-dark logo and text on cover
  • Coloured bookmark ribbon
  • Weight: 2.5kg – it’s hefty!
  • Price: AU$79.99
  • Store: PixelCrib




Disclaimer: From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror book was kindly provided by PixelCrib for this review.

Filed Under: Retro Gaming Culture, Reviews Tagged With: Bitmap Books, Book Review, From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror, From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror book, game book, gamers, gaming, halloween, horror games, horror videogames, PixelCrib, Resident Evil, Retro Gamers, retrogaming, Review, scary games, zombie games

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