The Gothic genre employs themes of degradation, horror, emotionalism over objectivity, and the supernatural to elicit wonder, suspense, and terror in audiences. From Ann Radcliffe to Mary Shelley, from Edgar Allen Poe to H.P. Lovecraft, from Bram Stoker to Tim Burton. Elements of the Gothic genre have fascinated creators and their audiences for two centuries, and video game creators are no different.

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From these sensations, a distinct aesthetic and cast of reoccurring villains have emerged. Dracula in his Gothic castle, the werewolf prowling under the moonlight, the occult creeping up in isolated villages, the witch in her hut, the living scarecrow, and the zombie plague are all staples in the genre.

Updated on December 18, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Dark, gothic worlds have always been a blast to explore in video games that do justice to this backdrop. Most of these titles are atmospheric, leading to them being highly encapsulating experiences that fans can't get enough of. It can be pretty easy to mess up a gothic game if certain things aren't executed with great panache, so the ones that do manage to nail this atmosphere should be given the credit they deserve.

15 Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Metascore: N/A

Ghosts n Ghouls game screen
Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Platform(s)
Arcade , PS2 , Master System , Genesis , TurboGrafx-16 , iOS
Released
October 29, 1988
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Action , Platformer

Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a side-scrolling Gothic arcade game that introduced many players to the genre, as well as being the first game to do the genre justice. In Ghouls 'n Ghosts, players take on the role of Prince Arthur as he hacks down demons and monsters to save Princess Prin Prin from the devil. What most gamers will remember about this game is its insane difficulty.

Players get one life to beat the game. No saves, no resets, and two hits will kill them. And to top it all off, just when players think they've slain Lucifer, he laughs it off and sends players back to a revised version of Level 1 to do it all again. From its landscape to its plot, to its characters, Ghouls 'n Ghosts was the first to do it right and undoubtedly directly or indirectly inspired all those that came after it.

14 MediEvil 1 / MediEvil Remake

Metascore: 67

Sir Dan from MediEvil Remake
MediEvil

Platform(s)
PS1
Released
October 21, 1998
Developer(s)
SCE Cambridge Studio
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure , Hack and Slash

It is right there in the name: MediEvil is just about as Medieval as it can get. The entire game is a cacophony of Gothic everything: Pumpkin Kings, dark sorcerers, witches and cauldrons, vampires, talking gargoyle heads, imps, mind-controlled villagers, zombies, demons, a monster-slaying skeleton knight, and the list goes on. This Tim Burton-inspired game somehow manages to fit it all into one cohesive story. Despite the dark content, the game is full of humor and never takes itself too seriously.

MediEvil incorporates nearly every Gothic monster that comes to mind when people say the word "Gothic." One leap into the world of Gallowmere will show any gamer just about everything they need to know about the genre and its symbolism and creatures.

13 Dante's Inferno

Metascore: 73

Dante from Dante's Inferno
Dante's Inferno

Platform(s)
PSP , PS3 , Xbox 360
Released
February 9, 2010
Developer(s)
Visceral Games
Genre(s)
Hack and Slash

No Gothic's games list would be complete without some reference to the best virtual adaptation of the quintessential epic that so much of the genre takes its inspiration. The game is based on the first book in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and does its best to include as much from the source material as possible.

In this action-adventure RPG, players take on the role of the crusader Dante as he willingly claws his way down the nine circles of Hell to save his beloved Beatrice from Satan. Filled with demons, the damned, and epic boss battles, Dante's Inferno is a must for Gothic lovers looking for a fast-paced challenge.

12 Blasphemous

Metascore: 77

Blasphemous Game Cover
Blasphemous

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , Switch , Xbox One
Released
September 10, 2019
Developer(s)
The Game Kitchen
Genre(s)
Metroidvania , Soulslike

Blasphemous shows that Gothic settings still have just as much grit as ever — even if it is a pixelated, Metroidvania side-scroller. In Blasphemous, The Penitent One must end the Miracle to reverse the world's corruption and simultaneously end his hellish cycle of death and rebirth.

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The game is filled with Christian theology and incorporates biblical narrative elements to set up a plot that seems like something straight out of Revelations. Possibly the most liberal with its use of gore, each boss battle is a brutal catastrophe in its own right. The graphics team pushes the medium to its visual limits, and the result is a sight to see.

11 Lies Of P

Metascore: 80

lies of p pinocchio
Lies of P

Platform(s)
PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One
Released
September 19, 2023
Developer(s)
Round8 Studio , Neowiz
Genre(s)
Soulslike

Lies of P was a game that many people were anticipating, especially with Bloodborne being stuck on last-gen consoles to this day. The title's gothic art style and combat that was reminiscent of FromSoftware's Lovecraftian love letter was something that fans adored.

Upon release, most people loved what Lies of P brought to the table, even if the spectacle of the boss fights became rather tiresome towards the end of the experience. Still, the hard-as-nails gameplay coupled with the game's distinct art style helped it stand out as one of the better Soulslikes for players to sink their teeth into.

10 Darkwood

Metascore: 80

Darkwood monsters chasing player
Darkwood

Platform(s)
Xbox One , PS4 , PC , Switch
Released
August 18, 2017
Developer(s)
Acid Wizard Studio
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Darkwood's survival horror is truly unique and something that could only be achieved with the rise of indie gaming. The title is unforgiving in its difficulty, with every corner either hiding a valuable resource or an enemy that can rip the player to shreds.

The game's story takes some wild twists and turns that most players won't expect. Surviving by the skin of one's teeth is a regular occurrence in the title, with the sound design elevating its horror to new heights.

9 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Metascore: 80

Nines outside if a mansion, looking off to one side with a guilty expression.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Platform(s)
PC
Released
November 16, 2004
Developer
Troika Games
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is considered by many to be one of the best RPGs of all time. It was a game destined for failure after being released on the same day as Half-Life 2.

It took some time and a lot of fan patches for players to finally recognize this game for the masterpiece it rightfully is. Bloodlines' role-playing mechanics are in a class of their own, and the voice acting continues to be quite impressive to this day.

8 Sunless Sea

Metascore: 81

sunless sea
Sunless Sea

Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch , PC , PlayStation 4 , Linux , iOS , Android , Xbox One
Released
February 6, 2015
Developer
Failbetter Games
Genre(s)
RPG , Adventure , Indie Games , Shooter

Exploring the unterzee in Sunless Sea makes for an exciting yet scary proposition. Players control a captain of a ship as they roam around these dark and desolate waters to try and create a name for themselves.

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Each death in Sunless Sea serves as a learning experience. The game may seem rather unforgiving at times, but the individual narratives are so compelling that players will inevitably get better at the game before effortlessly taking out enemies who were giving them a hard time early on.

7 Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Metascore: 85

Amnesia The Dark Descent Enemy Image
Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Platform(s)
PlayStation 4 , Nintendo Switch , Android , Xbox One , Microsoft Windows , macOS
Released
September 8, 2010
Developer(s)
Frictional Games
Genre(s)
Survival Horror , Indie Games , Adventure , Action , Puzzle

The Gothic genre often incorporates elements of mental degradation, showcasing the slow breakdown of a person's psyche as they fail to grasp the often unimaginable supernatural forces that beset them. Amnesia: The Dark Descent use of one innovative mechanic encapsulates this motif: the "Sanity Meter."

Armed with nothing, Daniel must navigate the monster-infested castle while managing his sanity. To do this, players will have to avert their eyes from the many disturbing scenarios and images waiting around each turn. Furthermore, the lack of weapons makes for a heart-wrenching endeavor. It has since been incorporated many times in games, with the most notable being Outlast.

6 Thief 2: The Metal Age

Metascore: 87

Thief II The Metal Age artwork
Thief 2: The Metal Age

Platform(s)
PC
Released
March 21, 2000
Developer
Looking Glass Studios
Genre(s)
Action , Simulation , Stealth

Looking Glass Studios were pioneers of the immersive sim genre, with the first Thief game being a great example of what a title can achieve with stellar level design and reactive gameplay. It helped that Garrett's immaculate voice breathed new life into every part of the game too.

However, the first game had some issues of its own that were sorted out in its sequel. Not only was Thief 2 a natural evolution of this winning formula, but it leaned harder on its steampunk influences and ushered in a metal age that forced players to deal with new and improved threats.

5 Diablo 2

Metascore: 88

Diablo 2 Werewolf Fight Scene
Diablo 2

Platform(s)
PC , macOS
Released
June 28, 2000
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Descent into the depths of Hell, whether real or imagined, has become a staple plot element for the Gothic genre. Diablo 2 is one of the best ever to execute this concept while using the video game medium — not to mention being one of the greatest computer games ever made. Of course, each major installment of the Diablo franchise features this plot in one way or another.

However, it would be hard to deny that the second installment did it better than the first and the third installment, while graphically fantastic, was a dull, 3-hour cakewalk in terms of difficulty. Players know exactly what kind of experience they are getting from the first moment of Act I: a dark and lonely descent into Hell.

4 Dark Souls 2

Metascore: 89

Dark Soul 2 Promotional Image
Dark Souls 2

Platform(s)
PS4 , PS3 , Xbox 360 , PC , Xbox One
Released
March 11, 2014
Developer(s)
From Software
Genre(s)
Action RPG

In Dark Souls 2, players occupy the role of a nameless human who has become Undead. To prevent his transformation into a Hollow (a mindless zombie without free will), players must traverse a dark, unforgiving, Medieval landscape to collect the Great Souls of four Old Ones.

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Each of the Souls games is a worthy contender, but Dark Souls 2 occupies a special place in most gamers' hearts for its rich plot and perfected difficulty, for which the series is renowned. In blending Lovecraft with the creators' unique take on dark Medieval and Japanese lore, Dark Souls 2 is a must-play experience for any gamer and fan of the Gothic genre.

3 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

Metascore: 89

Alucard in Castelvania Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Platform(s)
PS1 , PS3 , PS4 , PSP , PS Vita , Sega Saturn , Xbox 360
Released
October 2, 1997
Developer(s)
Konami
Genre(s)
Metroidvania , Action RPG

This Stoker-inspired cult classic is considered by many as one of the best Metroidvanias of all time and one of the most aesthetically pleasing side-scrollers in history. Playing as Alucard, the half-vampire son of Dracula, players must explore Dracula's castle and slay the returned vampire king.

With a simple but excellent plot, wicked gameplay, tasteful aesthetics, and one of the most memorable soundtracks of all time, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night had to be included. Additionally, it has aged amazingly, still being as fun to play as it ever was.

2 Bloodborne

Metascore: 92

Bloodborne First Boss Battle
Bloodborne

Platform(s)
PS4
Released
March 24, 2015
Developer(s)
From Software
Genre(s)
Action , RPG

When a game begins with a dialogue regarding the importance of blood, players know they're in for one hell of an experience. Out of all the games on this list, Bloodborne has the most well-thought-out plot. Practically an homage to Lovecraft, Bloodborne seamlessly incorporates all the best ideas from the Cosmic Horror writer. As a Hunter of the Dream, players must uncover the secrets of Yarnham by going back and forth between Yharnam, which has been overtaken by beasts, and the Hunter's Dream which acts as a sanctuary for those on the hunt.

Throughout the game, players learn more about the source of the miraculous blood which acts as both a miracle cure and a curse in the world, as well as the dark origins of the University which set off the events in the game.

1 Resident Evil 4

Metascore: 93

Leon Kennedy fighting against Dr. Salvador in the Resident Evil 4 Remake Demo
Resident Evil 4 Remake

Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
March 24, 2023
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

Beginning in rural Europe, Resident Evil 4 instantly taps into a sense of mystery and dread when Leon Kennedy comes upon an entire village bewitched by some unknown force. As the game progresses, players are pushed further into the depths of a vicious, science-wielding cult with plans of unleashing a plague to enslave the planet.

While Resident Evil 1 was also a top contender for the top Gothic games, Resident Evil 4's inclusion of religious symbolism, pervading dreariness, and, of course, the mesmerizing Gothic castle where much of the game takes place.

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