Great Horror Games You Can’t Buy Anymore

Great Horror Games You Can't Buy Anymore

As a seasoned horror enthusiast with decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when reflecting upon these forgotten gems that have been left to gather dust in the annals of video game history. Each one of these titles represents a unique and chilling experience, a testament to the creativity and innovation of their developers, and a reminder of the fleeting nature of the gaming industry.


Some individuals derive pleasure from experiencing fear, and this is often fulfilled through engaging with terrifying horror video games. There’s no dearth of influential games to pick from, whether they belong to the Resident Evil series or more recent hits like Dead By Daylight. A multitude of excellent horror games are accessible online or in physical format. However, due to the evolving landscape of video game distribution, some titles have unfortunately vanished permanently from circulation.

In today’s world, it can be quite challenging to come across certain legendary horror games due to various reasons. Some have been removed from distribution (delisted), others ceased to exist following a server closure, and some have vanished due to the relentless march of time. Here are seven exceptional horror games that prove nearly impossible to find nowadays.

7 P.T. (Silent Hills’ Playable Teaser)

Hideo Kojima’s Unmade Masterpiece Was Killed In Cold Blood

One of the great what-could-have-beens in video gaming history, Silent Hills was intended to be a bold reboot of the Silent Hill franchise, overseen by Metal Gear mastermind and rock star creator, Hideo Kojima. That was a tantalizing prospect in itself, and it would be co-directed by Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro, with Norman Reedus in the starring role.

The excitement surrounding the game reached its peak when a playable preview called “Playable Teaser (P.T.)” was launched online in 2015. This teaser placed players as a man stuck in a spooky sequence of repeated rooms within a house, observing terrifying events unravel. The conclusion of the teaser offered a sneak peek into “Silent Hills,” but a significant disagreement between game creator Kojima and publisher Konami led to the project’s cancellation. Now, “P.T.” can only be found on pre-owned PlayStation 4 consoles that already have it installed.

6 Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

A Gamecube Exclusive That Has Been Left For Dead

Eternal Darkness, a compelling fusion of gothic terror, Lovecraftian narrative, and mystical undertones, was a standout game for Nintendo’s Gamecube console. It offered a cosmic twist on the survival horror genre, weaving an expansive tale that spanned various time periods, allowing players to command characters in 19th-century London, investigating and combating The Brotherhood of Hecate.

In the game “Eternal Darkness,” there was an intriguing mechanic that made the gameplay challenging in a unique way. It included various intentional bugs or barriers designed to confuse players, giving them the feeling of losing their sanity. Although it’s considered a cult classic, since the Gamecube has stopped production, no efforts have been taken to keep the game alive.

5 Kuon

A Lost Shocker That Can’t Be Brought Back To Life

In the realm of gaming, I’ve found myself utterly captivated by “Kuon,” a masterpiece crafted by the esteemed FromSoftware. This game elegantly weaves together Japan’s rich feudal heritage and iconic J-horror films such as “Onibaba” and “Kwaidan.” It employs age-old folklore to narrate the chilling tale of Utsuki and Sakuya, who venture into a mansion shrouded in supernatural dread. Here, they encounter terrifying spirits, grotesque monsters, and eerie dolls that send a shiver down my spine. As the story unfolds, they uncover a tangled web of dark sorcery, ritualistic practices, and malevolent curses, leading up to an utterly horrifying climax.

Kuon was one of numerous PlayStation 2 games that saw a limited release outside Japan, similar to Eternal Darkness. Unfortunately, neither of these games can be found in any digital versions currently available online. If you come across a physical copy, hold onto it tightly, as it has become a highly sought-after collector’s item due to its rarity.

4 Master Of Darkness

This Master System Monster Mash Lies In Its Grave

  • Released: June 1993
  • Platforms: Sega Master System, Game Gear
  • Developer: SIMS

Game Titled “Master Of Darkness” represented Sega’s endeavor to develop a game similar to the legendary Castlevania. Unlike the NES classic that positioned a vampire hunter against Dracula in a gothic European backdrop, this game shifted the scenario to Victorian London. Instead of Simon Belmont as the protagonist, players controlled Dr. Ferdinand Social (yes, his actual name), an occult scholar who embarks on a mission to apprehend and vanquish Dracula. During his journey, he encounters various eerie adversaries, such as Jack The Ripper among others.

The game was warmly accepted at its launch and managed to compete effectively with its sources of inspiration. Regrettably, neither the Sega Master System nor Game Gear sold particularly well as gaming platforms, and “Master Of Darkness” was among the last titles produced before they were discontinued entirely. Unfortunately, unlike the NES, their game libraries have not been comprehensively archived online, leaving “Master Of Darkness” in relative obscurity forevermore.

3 Clive Barker’s Undying

A Horror GOAT Couldn’t Save This First-Person Chiller

The chilling PC game titled “Undying” was born from the imaginative mind of horror maestro Clive Barker, renowned for creating “Hellraiser”. This title stood out in the survival horror genre at the time by presenting a first-person perspective, an approach that predated games like “Bioshock” and the more recent “Resident Evil 7”. In this game, players assume the role of paranormal investigator Patrick Galloway, who journeys to the eerie estate of a friend who seems to have been dabbling in some very unnatural activities.

The blend of shooting, exploration, and Barker’s distinctive narrative style was met with tremendous acclaim. However, despite its critical success, the game never saw a release or remaster. Tracking down physical copies is challenging, and they often fail to work with contemporary PCs. As a result, modern gamers have to put in considerable effort to enjoy this classic title.

2 Deep Fear

A Vintage Game That’s Dead In The Water

Back in 1998, I got hooked on this thrilling Dreamcast game titled “Deep Fear,” marketed as if it was a spin-off from the “Resident Evil” series set underwater. Just like its horror counterparts, this game plunged me into a chilling deep-sea research facility named Big Table. As rescue specialist John Mayor, I found myself investigating a string of eerie occurrences within this structure, battling horrific mutants and unraveling the mystery behind an ominous infection.

In “Deep Fear,” the player isn’t just worried about running out of ammo or health, they also need to manage their oxygen supply. This unique mechanic adds an extra layer of challenge. Unfortunately, despite its captivating gameplay and terrifying creature designs, the game wasn’t saved due to the downfall of the Dreamcast console.

1 Friday The 13th: The Game

Licensing Issues Cut This Game’s Potential Short

In the world of horror, Jason Voorhees stands among the top tier legends, making it a fitting choice to construct an asymmetrical survival game around the iconic “Friday The 13th” series. This console and PC game from 2017, however, doesn’t delve into any storyline other than the basic goal of surviving. Players can either embody Jason or his hapless victims, who must dodge gory demise and outmaneuver their masked tormentor armed with a hockey mask.

In “Friday The 13th: The Game”, players took on the role of Jason Voorhees, stalking and eliminating victims in various gruesome ways. However, developers Illfonic lost the rights to the “Friday The 13th” franchise, which meant they could no longer provide online updates for the game. As a result, it was eventually removed from digital storefronts, but dedicated collectors can still find physical copies of the game.

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2024-09-21 09:04