The Quarry
Developer
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Supermassive Games
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Publisher
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2K
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Release Date
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June 10, 2022
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Metacritic Rating
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74
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Supermassive Games is a studio that has thoroughly perfected the concept of interactive storytelling, earning them a unique place in the modern gaming world. Its games are the closest thing to playing a horror film, with The Quarry possibly being the best representation of what the British company is genuinely capable of.
Some may not like the game’s hands-off approach to action, but fans of branching tales and player freedom will enjoy what’s on offer. The game may also be legitimately frightening at moments, with its summer camp setting hauntingly similar to that of Friday the 13th. The game is infinitely replayable and supports up to eight players, with around 200 possible endings.
Resident Evil Village
Developer
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Capcom
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Publisher
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Capcom
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Release Date
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May 7, 2021
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Metacritic Rating
|
84
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Lady Dimitrescu is probably the first thing that comes to mind when most people think about Resident Evil Village. However, the eighth mainstream edition of the series is much more than just a freakishly big vampire lady with extendible digits. In reality, some of the game’s other boss fights end up being far more memorable and terrifying.
Whether or not Resident Evil can still be classified as a zombie series is debatable, but few would argue that it is at the forefront of the survival horror gaming arena. After playing such an important role in creating and popularising the genre in the late 1990s, it continues to push limits even now, replacing the mindless zombies of yesteryear with far more deadly opponents.
Returnal
Developer
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Housemarque
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Publisher
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
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Release Date
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April 30, 2021
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Metacritic Rating
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86
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Returnal is one of those psychological horror games where the environment does most of the work. With this in mind, it certainly helps that the game’s gorgeous sci-fi environment is beautifully drawn, with everything on planet Atropos looking really spectacular and adding to the sense of impending doom that accompanies Selene like a terrible odour throughout her voyage.
Those unfamiliar with the roguelike game idea may struggle with Returnal at first, as the game can feel extremely unrewarding when players are still learning the ropes. However, after a few hours of getting the hang of things, they’ll uncover a one-of-a-kind experience that solidifies Returnal’s spot as one of the best horror games on the PS5.
Dredge
Developer
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Black Salt Games
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Publisher
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Team17
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Release Date
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March 30, 2023
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Metacritic Rating
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81
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Dredge is not your typical horror game, instead taking the style of an open-world fishing game. Instead of mackerels and herrings, the player will encounter a slew of awful sea creatures at the end of their queue, as well as even more horrific animals hiding in the depths under their boat.
It’s one of a rising number of games that draw heavily on H. P. Lovecraft’s work, with the cosmic horror author’s work having a notable influence on different areas of the Dredge’s environment. Players will be startled not just by how frightening this indie title can be at times, but also by how enjoyable and addictive its fishing sim components can be.
Resident Evil 2
Developer
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Capcom
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Publisher
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Capcom
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Release Date
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June 13, 2022
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Metacritic Rating
|
91
|
Despite the fact that Resident Evil 2 has been out for more than a quarter-century, it is still considered a classic. The 2019 remake, on the other hand, did an outstanding job of recreating the title for modern consumers, with several technological upgrades allowing the team to do things that the original developers could only dream of.
The PS5 version of the remake, due out in mid-2022, runs at a higher resolution, with improved texturing and filtering resulting in a considerably clearer visual. Drive Mad game now supports ray tracing, which can make a significant difference in regions that rely heavily on lighting to create suspense or dramatic tension. As a result, this is now the definitive way to play Resident Evil 2 and is a must-play for every horror game lover who has yet to play it.
Dead Space
Developer
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Motive Studio
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Publisher
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Electronic Arts
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Release Date
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January 27, 2023
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Metacritic Rating
|
89
|
Resident Evil isn’t the only legendary horror game series worthy of a reboot, as demonstrated by EA’s decision to bring the Dead Space title back after a decade layoff. Given the series’ previous effect on the genre, it would be an understatement to say that expectations for the remake were high, and EA did not disappoint for the first time in a long time.
The remake of Dead Space is everything a modern-day horror game should be, with dark and scary surroundings, fantastic sound design, and some truly terrifying monsters all contributing to one of the horror genre’s all-time greats. The bulk of Motive’s adjustments were unquestionably for the better, but even those that weren’t were insignificant in comparison to the game’s overall brilliance.
Resident Evil 4
Developer
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Capcom
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Publisher
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Capcom
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Release Date
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March 24, 2023
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Metacritic Rating
|
93
|
Given Capcom’s excellent work in reproducing the first three Resident Evil games, the Resident Evil 4 remake seemed destined to be one of the best horror titles on the PS5. However, because the original game differed significantly from many that came before it, there were many questions about how the studio planned to handle the task of bringing the influential horror game up to modern-day standards.
Capcom eventually released a game that seemed like a hybrid of the original title and the previous two remakes. The plot remains mostly unchanged, albeit characters such as Leon, Luis, and Ashley have received significantly improved characterization, as has the latter’s AI. Granted, there were a few problematic alterations in the RE4 remake, such as the attempt to cram in side quests, but the majority appear to have been centred on improving the user experience and do so admirably.