Slasher is a rare sub-genre when it comes to video games, and it’s a shame because the premise of a stalker killing a bunch of characters could actually make for an excellent game. What does exist though, is an effective experience.
For a game to be classified as a slasher, the villain must be a regular person or a supernatural entity, as long as they take the form of a human and wield a sharp or blunt weapon, such as a knife or a giant pair of scissors, which they use to slash you with, hence the name.
And now that you know the rules, it’s time to take a look at the Top 10 Best Slasher Games.
10. Friday the 13th: The Game (PC, PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH)
Friday the 13th: The Game is an asymmetric survival horror game set on the grounds of Camp Crystal Lake, in which the iconic Jason stalks and brutally murders the camp counselors.
No, I’m not talking about the 1989 NES game, but rather the multiplayer game developed by IllFonic and published by Gun Media. It's a game that successfully adapts the classic slasher franchise's formula and turns it into an immersive playable experience. Making each player feel in control, whether they're playing as the unstoppable Jason or the frightened counselors.
Although the game isn't as active as it once was, it still has a few players on the Nintendo Switch version, so it's not completely dead yet. I'd even go as far as to say that Jason's take on the asymmetric horror subgenre is significantly superior to Dead By Daylight. Unfortunately, the game is a victim of the franchise's lawsuit, ending the game's life instantly.
9. Murder House (PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X|S, NINTENDO SWITCH)
Murder House is a throwback to classic survival horror games and slasher movies of the past. Following a news crew as they break into an old abandoned house, home of the infamous Easter Ripper, for a news coverage, only to discover that the killer is still lurking within the walls, killing them one by one.
If you want a slasher game that harkens back to sleazy yet bloody movies of the 80s, then make sure to check out Murder House. The game will get under your skin despite its simplistic graphics, thanks to an eerie villain and buckets of blood that will cover your screen.
Puppetcombo also has a few other slasher games under their belt, such as the Powerdrill Massacre and Babysitter Bloodbath, so check out each of their games if you want a retro throwback to classic games and slasher flicks.
8. Clock Tower (PS1)
Clock Tower, also known as Clock Tower 2 in Japan, is a point-and-click survival horror game and is a direct sequel to the First Fear, following the story of Jennifer and other characters as they investigate the origins of the infamous Scissorman.
Whenever the game Clock Tower is mentioned, many people immediately think of its SNES predecessor from 1995; however, what many people do not know is that it actually received a sequel for the Playstation back in 1996, and it was a pretty good one at that.
It takes a more cinematic approach to its storytelling and gameplay as it put emphasis on dialogue, well-executed scare scenes, and multiple playable characters making it a precursor to games like Heavy Rain and Until Dawn. And as for Scissorman, he has a more constant presence in the game because he can now appear at any point in the game to scare you, as opposed to the original where he could only appear for scripted events.
Clock Tower 1996 is an underrated sequel to a classic slasher game worth every minute of your time.
7. Deadly Premonition (XBOX 360, PS3, PC, NINTENDO SWITCH)
Deadly Premonition is an open-world survival horror game where you take control of FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan as he investigates the murder of a young girl named Anna Graham in the fictional town of Greenvale.
It may not be the most polished game on the list, but it certainly provides an interesting whacky story that will never fail to entertain you. It shares a few similarities to the show Twin Peaks, and, like that show, it features a large cast of characters who you will quickly come to love because of their unique and oddball personalities.
While the majority of enemy encounters are with the creepy ghost-like creatures that roam the town, there is also a slasher element in the form of the raincoat killer, who will relentlessly pursue you and kill everyone connected to Anna's death.
If you haven’t played this game yet then what are you waiting for? Grab this game right now and be pulled into one of the most bizarre worlds you’ll ever get to experience.
6. GMOD Murder (PC, MAC, LINUX)
Murder is a game mode to one of the most entertaining game, GMOD. It places a group of players on a map, with one of them potentially being a serial killer.
While slashers often typically reveal their killer’s identity pretty early on, GMOD instead is a “whodunnit” mystery. This means that every single match is a chaotically fun guessing game full of murders. Even its numerous iterations like the Prop Hunt mode or even the Roblox version, provide an exciting yet thrilling experience, which speaks value for the game’s concept.
Although it may not provide any scares, GMOD Murder is still a fun game that you should check out with your friends.
5. Remothered: Tormented Fathers (PC, PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH)
Remothered: Tormented Fathers is a survival horror game that pays homage to the genre. It follows Rosemary Reed who investigates the disappearance of a young girl, only to be confronted by psychopathic maniacs hiding secrets in their own home.
From the moment you enter the game, it's clear that the creators are fans of the genre since the game is heavily influenced by the Clock Tower franchise and the film Silence of the Lambs. The game's setting is drenched in atmosphere, and the fantastic music will make you shudder with horror.
It’s a gripping game that will have you by the throat as you strive to overcome the numerous challenges it throws at you. Simply put, if you love Clock Tower and classic slashers, then Remothered and its sequel is a must.
4. Outlast (PC, PS4, XBOX ONE, LINUX, MAC, NINTENDO SWITCH)
Considered one of the most terrifying games of all time, Outlast puts you in the shoes of Miles Upshur, a freelance investigative journalist who visits the remote Mount Massive Asylum to investigate, only to discover that the inmates have taken over the entire facility.
Many players often shrug off games that have no combat mechanics, and if you’re one of them, then you are definitely missing out on one of the best horror games to date. It’s a game that strips you of any power to create one of the most exhilarating experiences you’ll ever have, which will have you shaking throughout.
Outlast will pit you against numerous craze maniacs rather than just one, and will place you through nonstop chase sequences in its stunning yet grim setting. It takes the basic idea of survival horror where resources are limited, but in this case, the only thing you have to worry about is the camera's battery to see in the many dark drenched corners.
You'll die a lot in the world of Outlast, but surviving its many encounters provides a satisfying relief that will make you want to keep going even if you're cowering in fear.
3. Until Dawn (PS4)
Until Dawn is an interactive horror video game that revolves around a group of young friends that reunited in Blackwood Mountain a year after their friends disappeared. They soon find themselves terrorized by an unseen stalker, now they must try to survive until dawn.
If you love cheesy slasher movies of the past, then you will surely love Until Dawn. It’s a love letter to the slasher sub-genre, with every cliche and stereotypical characters, as well as other ridiculous themes, resulting in one of the most charming horror games made by fans for fans.
Everything that makes a slasher film such a delightful watch is here: a cabin in the woods, teenagers making dumb decisions, and a stalker watching from afar. The game's choice mechanic is also an impressive addition that makes replaying the game such an enjoyable experience. The game also boasts incredible graphics that are still impressive today.
Until Dawn manages to understand the slasher subgenre so well that it's easy to see why it's so beloved.
2. Dead by Daylight (PC, PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES X|S, NINTENDO SWITCH, ANDROID, IOS, STADIA)
Dead by Daylight is an asymmetric horror game in which five survivors are thrown into a dark realm tasked to repair five generators while a rootless killer hunts them to sacrifice them with the intent of sacrificing them to the entity.
It’s a game that manages to capture what makes a slasher so captivating in the first place, whether you’re in the shoes of a defenseless survivor or a killer, the game is always intense and keeps you on your toes the entire duration. Each match in the game requires team cooperation and the use of all available resources in order to survive. While it may appear stressful at first, it's got a pretty easy-to-learn mechanics that make it accessible even to non-gamers looking for an exciting slasher game.
It also includes characters and killers from iconic horror films such as Michael Myers, Freddy Kruger, and Ash Williams, as well as non-slasher characters such as Sadako from the Ringu franchise, making it the ultimate horror movie game ever. Although the game's unbalanced nature and numerous game-breaking bugs that have yet to be fixed kind of hampers the otherwise fantastic game, which prevents it from taking the number one spot.
1. Clock Tower: The First Fear (SNES, PS1, WONDERSWAN, PC)
In this slasher classic, we step into the shoes of Jennifer Simpson, an orphan set to be adopted by a wealthy man named Simon Barrows in a secluded mansion, along with her friends. But as soon as they enter, they are attacked by a murderous boy wielding a giant pair of scissors. Now, Jennifer must try to make it through the night.
This was one of the first slasher games to be released at the time, and as a result, it stays fairly true to the genre while still adding a few twists, such as a supernatural element to the mix. It takes inspiration from 80s slasher Giallo films like Dario Argento’s Suspiria and Phenomena, with the latter even being the game’s main inspiration for its story and killer.
Despite being a very old game, it nevertheless gives an effective slasher experience thanks to its gloomy atmosphere heightened by a beautiful setting and an ominous sound work where oftentimes, the only thing you'll hear is the echoes of your footsteps. Every chase feels exciting, even though everything takes place in a 2D plain due to the great and iconic villain, Scissorman.
It may be a game that’s forgotten by time, but Clock Tower remains to be one of the best slasher games out there.
