Looking Back at 2023: The Year Horror Remakes Took Over My Console

I still remember the spring of 2023. I had just finished the Dead Space remake, my hands still tense from stomping necromorphs, when I realized I had already pre-ordered Resident Evil 4 and was eyeing System Shock. Three remakes of classic horror games in less than six months? As a longtime survival horror fan, I felt spoiled. Now, sitting here in 2026, I can look back and say that 2023 really was a landmark year for horror game remakes — even if a couple of the biggest names slipped into 2024.

Let me start with the two heavy hitters. Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 both launched in early 2023, and both were massive successes with critics and fans. I remember the online debates: which remake was better? For me, Dead Space felt like a haunted-house ride in space, while RE4 was a chaotic action-horror carnival. What struck me most was how much they owed to the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake. The Dead Space team reportedly took inspiration from RE2's gameplay, and you could feel it in the tight corridors and resource scarcity. Even RE4 borrowed from its predecessor by bringing back breakable knives. Capcom's hit had changed the industry, and now I was experiencing the results firsthand.

Survival horror with heavy resource management had been creeping back into the mainstream since Resident Evil 7 in 2017 and the RE2 remake in 2019. But 2023 felt like the culmination. I spent hours hoarding ammo, crafting healing items, and debating whether to fight or run. Indie titles like Tormented Souls had kept the old-school flame alive with fixed camera angles and optional tank controls, but the AAA space was suddenly full of faithful modernizations. It was a great time to be a horror fan.

Then there was System Shock. I'll be honest: I backed the Kickstarter in 2016 and almost forgot about it after years of delays. When Nightdive finally released it in May 2023, I was surprised by how much it stood out from the other remakes. Its gameplay leaned more toward immersive sim than pure horror — fewer jump scares, more hacking and crawling through cyberspace. It wasn't trying to be Resident Evil; it was honoring the original's foundations. And that was fine. Not every remake needs to be a horror rollercoaster.

But the year wasn't perfect. I was hyped for the Alone in the Dark remake, which was slated for October 25, 2023. The new camera angle and combat trailers reminded me of the RE2 remake, and I hoped it would solidify 2023 as the year of horror remakes. Instead, it got delayed to 2024. When it finally arrived, the reception was mixed — not the triumph I wanted. The Silent Hill 2 remake was another unknown factor. No release date had been announced in 2023, and many of us guessed it would slip to 2024. It did, and thankfully it turned out excellent. But that means 2023's crown was slightly incomplete.

Still, I can't complain. Here's how I'd rank my personal experience with the major horror remakes and remasters that year:

I also appreciated the smaller releases. The Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse remaster gave me a taste of Japan-exclusive horror I'd never played before, and System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition was a pure nostalgia trip. These weren't full remakes, but they scratched the same itch for authentic old-school experiences.

Looking back from 2026, I think 2023 was a turning point. It proved that faithful remakes of classic horror games could be both critical and commercial hits. It inspired more dead franchises to return — some good, some less so. And it showed that resource management, exploration, and slow-burn tension still have a place in modern gaming. The Alone in the Dark remake didn't quite land, but the trend it represented did. I'm still playing these games, still arguing about which remake is best, and still hoping for more. If you missed 2023, do yourself a favor: fire up one of these remakes and turn off the lights. Just make sure you have enough ammo. 🎮