Summary
The horror genre has historically been a perfect breeding ground for storytelling, as its ability to examine the darkest side of the human condition and its complicated problems has been paramount to some of the most incredible video game narratives of all time. And the PS2 was home to some of the genre’s most outstanding tales of terror, as Sony’s impeccable next-gen hardware granted new ways for developers to create intimate, deeply frightening escapades.
Thanks to thePlayStation 2’s outstanding advancementsin detail and character modeling, the complexity and range of human emotions were more impressive than ever. It allowed horror stories to thrive, to use the combination of technology and art in order to create some of the genre’s most fascinating narratives, driven by excellent writing and voice acting. These games have been ranked based on their writing, performances, world building, and art direction, as these elements are crucial to outstanding horror experiences.
The 1982 horror filmThe Thing, directed by John Carpenter, was based on a short story known asWho Goes There,and in 2002, Vivendi Universal teamed up with Computer Artworks to create a video game sequel that took place three months after the events of the movie. Pulling from the paranoia and isolation that the classic Carpenter film crafted,The Thingtells the tale of J.F. Blake as he attempts to uncover the horrifying truth about what happened to Outpost 31.
With a focus on subtle writing and strong performances,The Thingperfectly captures the eerie toneand atmosphere of the film. The cast is a charming collection of characters, and their distinct personalities both clash and mesh in some excellent ways.The Thingwas recently remastered for modern hardware by Nightdive Studios, making it easier than ever to experience this outstanding tale of obsession and body horror.
Designed as a way to introduce Sega players to the franchise,Resident Evil CODE: Veronicacontinued the tale of Claire Redfieldand her brother Chris, as their ongoing quest to take out Umbrella takes the duo to an isolated prison on Rockfort Island. Swapping between the two characters,CODE: Veronicasees the siblings attempting to survive a t-virus outbreak and find each other all at the same time.
Chris and Claire’s loving brother-sister bond is in sharp contrast to antagonists Alfred and Alexia Ashford, whose twisted tale of identity does an incredible job of solidifying the relationship between the Redfield siblings. It is one ofResident Evil’smost incredible stories, with some outstanding voice acting and genuinely fascinating writing. It would be perfect for a reboot akin to the recentResident Evilremakes, but it is currently available on PlayStation and Xbox platforms, where it is absolutely worth jumping into today.
Set in the ultra-violent Carcer City, which is located somewhere in the darkest parts of theGrand Theft Autouniverse,Rockstar’sManhuntveered offinto some pretty twisted territory when it launched in 2003. Telling the tale of James Earl Cash, a man sentenced to death row, it explores the dark side of the American prison system and is still one of the most fantastic video game stories ever told.
Abducted by a deranged man named Lionel Starkweather, who goes by an alias known as The Director, James is forced to take part in a snuff film and kill gang members on camera. Featuring an absolutely incredible performance by Brian Cox as Starkweather and the trademark dark humor that Rockstar is known for,Manhuntremains one of the console’s most riveting explorations of humanity’s most sinister traits.
Following the events ofResident Evil CODE: Veronica, it seemed like the good guys were well on their way to eliminating Umbrella once and for all. ButResident Evil 4, which was directed by series creator Shinji Mikami, took the series into a sharp left turn and sees Leon Kennedy in an isolated village in rural Spain as he attempts to protect the President’s daughter, Ashley.
Umbrella is no more, and Leon’s new mission is one far removed from the previous events of the game, creating a new, much more dangerous atmosphere.Resident Evil 4leans intothe outright absurdity of the franchise’s past, crafting a story built around Leon and Ashley’s mutual understanding of each other. Their relationship matures and grows over the course of the game, as their bond forms the basis of the game’s outrageous story. It was recently remade by Capcom, proving that this story of survival and friendship is one that is still well worth experiencing.
While the firstSilent Hillgame explored the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter, the sequel took the series into a bold new direction. Chronicling the disturbing tale of James Sunderland as he travels to the mysterious town in search of his wife, who passed away years prior,Silent Hill 2examines the themes of guilt and trauma in some truly profound ways.
James' quest to find his wife is wrought with some of the most intense, visceral fear that one can find in the genre, asSilent Hill 2sees its protagonist put to the ultimate test on multiple occasions. His encounters with characters like Eddie, a man on the brink of madness, as well as a fragile girl named Angela, form some of the game’s most haunting moments. Its voice acting and writing has a sort of otherworldly quality to it that still resonates to this day, which was something that Bloober Team took to heart when they remadeSilent Hill 2in 2024. This landmark horror release is still worth playing today and is anexcellent place to start theSilent Hillseries.
Wanting to explore darker themes of childhood, developers Punchline teamed up with Atlus to produceRule of Rose, an absolutelyincredible PS2 survival horror gamethat tells the story of a girl named Jennifer who becomes trapped in a mysterious orphanage with a sinister purpose. Discovering a hierarchy that is ruled over by the Red Crayon Aristocrats, Jennifer and her dog Brown find themselves in the middle of something much darker.
Rule of Roseis one of the console’s most incredible games, as its fabulous writing and rich, detailed world come together effortlessly. Featuring one of the most chilling endings of all time and a terrific twist ending, Rule of Rose is an absolutely stellar horror experience that is worth diving into today. Unfortunately, due to its dark tone and controversial story, it has remained without a remaster for the past twenty years. It’s a shame, as this twisted tale of corruption and childhood is a prime example of what great horror video games can accomplish.
