The Most Popular Horror Game Franchise, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the horror game franchise you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 19, 2024 06:41
Horror games have always had a special place in the hearts of gamers, invoking a blend of excitement, fear, and adrenaline with every playthrough. Each horror game franchise offers a unique atmosphere and storyline, drawing in different groups of fans. Some prefer psychological thrills, while others opt for jumpscares and gore.
By voting for your preferred horror game franchises, you contribute to a community-sourced ranking that reflects current trends and player preferences. Your participation helps newcomers choose their next thrilling adventure based on the collective opinion of seasoned enthusiasts. This actively updated lineup serves as a guide to what's currently most loved in the world of horror gaming.
What Is the Most Popular Horror Game Franchise?
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166votes
Resident Evil
Shinji MikamiThis franchise has been around since 1996 and has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. It has also spawned numerous spin-offs, movies, and merchandise.Resident Evil is a highly popular game franchise that belongs to the survival horror genre. It consists of a series of video games characterized by intense gameplay, exploration, puzzle-solving, and engaging stories. The franchise is well-known for its emphasis on horror elements, including zombies, monsters, and supernatural occurrences. The games are often set in a post-apocalyptic world where players navigate through dangerous environments while facing various challenges and enemies.- Genre: Survival Horror
- Platform(s): Various (PlayStation, Xbox, PC)
- First Release: March 22, 1996
- Main Protagonists: Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy
- Main Antagonists: Albert Wesker, Umbrella Corporation
Resident Evil in other rankings- Position 10 of 10 in Most popular game franchise
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238votes
Silent Hill
Keiichiro ToyamaThis franchise has a cult following and is known for its psychological horror elements. It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide and has inspired several movies.Silent Hill is a highly acclaimed horror game franchise known for its atmospheric and psychological elements. It plunges players into a nightmarish world where they must confront their fears and unravel the dark mysteries surrounding the town of Silent Hill. The franchise has been praised for its immersive storytelling, unsettling atmospheres, and memorable characters.- Release Date: First game released in 1999
- Gameplay Perspective: Third-person
- Genre: Survival horror
- Setting: Haunted town of Silent Hill
- Themes: Psychological horror, surrealism, occultism
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318votesThis franchise is known for its intense jump scares and graphic violence. It has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and has a loyal fanbase.Outlast is a popular horror game franchise known for its intense and terrifying gameplay. The game series is developed and published by Red Barrels, an independent Canadian video game company. Outlast takes players on a thrilling journey through dark and eerie environments, where they often find themselves defenseless against terrifying enemies. The franchise focuses on survival horror elements, emphasizing stealth and exploration to progress through the chilling storyline. The game features realistic graphics, a haunting atmosphere, and a unique found-footage style presentation that adds to the sense of immersion. With its intense gameplay and psychological horror elements, Outlast has gained a strong following among horror game enthusiasts.
- Genre: Survival horror
- Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- First Release: Outlast (September 4, 2013)
- Latest Release: Outlast Trials (TBA)
- Game Engine: Unreal Engine
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414votesThis franchise is known for its unique blend of horror and sci-fi elements. It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide and has won numerous awards for its gameplay and storytelling.Dead Space is a critically acclaimed and highly popular horror game franchise set in a sci-fi survival-horror universe. It was created by Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey, and published by Electronic Arts. The franchise takes place in the 26th century aboard spaceship settings, where players take on the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer battling against malicious alien creatures known as Necromorphs. The game is known for its immersive atmosphere, intense gameplay, and psychological scares.
- Genre: Survival Horror
- Setting: Sci-Fi, Spaceship
- Main Character: Isaac Clarke
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- First Release: Dead Space (2008)
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513votesThis franchise is known for its focus on atmospheric horror and puzzles. It has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and has influenced other horror games.Amnesia is a popular horror game franchise known for its intense and atmospheric gameplay. The player is thrust into terrifying situations and must navigate through dark and eerie environments while solving puzzles and evading supernatural threats. The franchise offers a unique and immersive experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats.
- Spin-off: Amnesia: Rebirth (2020)
- Genre: Survival horror
- First Release: Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)
- Main Protagonist: Various, depending on the game
- Game Engine: HPL Engine 2
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616votes
Five Nights at Freddy's
Scott CawthonThis franchise is known for its jump scares and unique premise of being a security guard at a haunted pizza restaurant. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and has spawned several sequels and merchandise.Five Nights at Freddy's is a popular indie horror game that revolves around surviving in a haunted pizzeria filled with animatronic characters during night shifts. The game takes place from the perspective of a security guard who must use surveillance cameras and limited resources to defend against these animatronics, which become increasingly aggressive as the nights progress. Players must monitor the animatronics' movements and react accordingly to avoid being caught and killed.- Release Date: August 8, 2014
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android
- Game Genre: Indie, Horror
- Game Perspective: First-person
- Number of Nights: There are five main nights, with additional challenging nights available.
Five Nights at Freddy's in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular song by Living Tombstone
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular mobile horror game
- Position 6 of 10 in Most difficult FNAF game
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75votes
Until Dawn
Supermassive GamesThis franchise is known for its branching storytelling and decision-making mechanics. It has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and has won numerous awards for its innovation.Until Dawn is an interactive survival horror video game franchise that incorporates elements of adventure and choice-based storytelling. The franchise revolves around a group of teenagers who find themselves trapped on a remote mountain retreat, haunted by a sinister presence. The game focuses on decision-making and consequences, where player choices can determine the survival of characters and shape the outcome of the story.- Genre: Survival horror
- Platform: PlayStation 4
- Release Date: August 25, 2015
- Number of Games: 1 (Until Dawn)
- Single Player: Yes
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86votes
Fatal Frame
Keisuke KikuchiThis franchise is known for its use of photography as a gameplay mechanic and its Japanese horror influences. It has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and has inspired several movies.Fatal Frame is a popular horror game franchise known for its intense and atmospheric gameplay experience. The series centers around supernatural occurrences and haunted locations, where players have to unravel mysteries and confront vengeful spirits using a unique camera known as the Camera Obscura.- Genre: Survival Horror
- First Release: Fatal Frame (Project Zero) - December 13, 2001
- Developer: Tecmo
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Wii, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
- Number of Games: 10
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97votes
The Evil Within
Shinji MikamiThis franchise is known for its blend of survival horror and action elements. It has sold over 4 million copies worldwide and has a loyal fanbase.The Evil Within is a popular horror game franchise known for its intense and atmospheric gameplay. It is a survival horror video game series that takes players on thrilling and terrifying journeys through dark and twisted worlds.- Genre: Survival horror
- First Release Date: October 14, 2014
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
- Developer: Tango Gameworks
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
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1010votesThis franchise is known for its focus on psychological horror and surrealism. It has sold over 1 million copies worldwide and has won several awards for its storytelling and visual design.Layers of Fear is a first-person psychological horror game franchise that features a deeply immersive and atmospheric experience. The game focuses on storytelling, exploration, and psychological torment, creating a captivating narrative that unfolds as players delve deeper into the unfolding madness of a tortured artist's mind.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: February 16, 2016
- Genre: Psychological horror, exploration
- Game Modes: Single-player
- Perspective: First-person
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Ranking factors for popular horror game franchise
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Number of copies soldThis factor helps determine the commercial success of a horror game franchise and reflects its popularity among gamers.
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Longevity of the franchiseThe more sustained success a franchise has, the greater its influence and popularity within the gaming community.
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Critical receptionReview scores, awards, or recognition from critics and industry insiders can help gauge the success and overall quality of a game franchise.
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Fan communityA strong and devoted fanbase contributes to the ongoing popularity of a franchise, as fans engage in discussions, fan art, fan fiction, and other activities that keep the hype alive.
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Influence on the gaming industryA popular horror game franchise may leave a significant impact on the genre and other games, inspiring future game developers and contributing to game design trends.
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InnovationA franchise that consistently introduces new gameplay mechanics, storylines, or technological advances can maintain its popularity as it evolves and stays fresh for players.
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ReplayabilityGames that have high replay value due to multiple endings, branching storylines, or various difficulty levels can contribute to a franchise's popularity, as players may be more likely to return to them over time.
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Cultural impactA game franchise that resonates with players on a deeper level or creates a significant cultural phenomenon can contribute to its long-term popularity.
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Media adaptationsFilms, TV series, novels, or comic books based on a game franchise can help expand its audience and reach, contributing to its overall popularity.
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Merchandise and brandingThe sale of merchandise related to a game franchise, such as clothing and collectibles, can help gauge its popularity and fan engagement, as it becomes a larger part of pop culture.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular horror game franchise. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Franchise is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2498 views
- 194 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Franchise once every 24 hours. The rank of each Franchise is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular horror game franchise
Horror games have been a staple in the gaming industry for decades. From jump scares to psychological horror, horror games have the power to make players feel as though they are in the game themselves. With so many horror game franchises available, it can be difficult to determine which one is the most popular. However, if we look at the numbers, it's clear that certain franchises have a larger fan base than others. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the most popular horror game franchise and what makes it stand out from the rest.
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