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Supermassive Games’ horror games, ranked worst to best

ByKim Snaith
Supermassive Games Horror games ranked

Supermassive Games has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to interactive horror games. It all started with Until Dawn, almost a decade ago, and since then we’ve had a veritable array of excellent narrative-driven horror games. But what have been Supermassive Games’ best horror games? And which ones are the worst? We’ve ranked them all below.

It’s important to note that 2015’s Until Dawn wasn’t Supermassive Games’ first title, but it was its first foray into horror — and seemingly a turning point for the company. Before then, it had made party games for PS3, including Start the Party! and content for LittleBigPlanet 2. Oh, and Walking With Dinosaurs, a game for PS3’s Wonderbook. Remember that?

Nothing remarkable, then, until Until Dawn came along, spawning a wave of narrative-driven games designed to scare us silly – and a few other surprises thrown in. Join us, as we rank every horror game from Supermassive Games, from worst to best.

12. The Dark Pictures Anthology: Switchback VR

Switchback VR Review header (1)

We had high hopes for The Dark Pictures Anthology: Switchback VR. After all, the entirety of the Dark Pictures Anthology was excellent (see below) and Supermassive’s previous VR games, Rush of Blood and The Inpatient, had both been very good indeed. Alas, when Switchback released in March 2023 after a short delay, we were left sorely disappointed.

Switchback was initially technically underwhelming, with basic assets that really broke our immersion. The premise is you’re strapped into a roller coaster that takes you through environments from the Dark Pictures games, recreating some of their scariest moments. But it never quite delivered, relying on jump scares – and poorly executed ones at that – to try and up the horror. It was patched a few months after release, which thankfully improved some of the technical issues, but sadly it still failed to deliver quite what we expected. So, Switchback is the worst ranked game from Supermassive Games – but don’t worry, it’s all uphill from here!

11. Hidden Agenda

Supermassive games Hidden Agenda
  • Release date: October 2017
  • Platforms: PS4

We’d probably say that Hidden Agenda, a title made for PlayLink, is probably one of Supermassive Games’ lesser-known titles. Don’t remember what PlayLink was? We don’t blame you; it was a short-lived PS4 innovation from Sony that was all about multiplayer gaming. Only a handful of PlayLink games were released before Sony gave up on it. Because of that, we don’t think that Hidden Agenda ever got the love it deserved. It’s not a bad game by any means, but it was never marketed in the way that other Supermassive Games was, and as such was largely overlooked.

It’s a shame, because its premise is fantastic. With up to six people being able to play at once via their mobile devices, it’s all about hunting down the infamous ‘Trapper’ killer. Whether you and your friends make the same decisions or not will influence how the story pans out, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

10. Little Hope 

Little Hope

Sorry, Little Hope, you just didn’t cut the mustard for us. The second game in the Dark Pictures Anthology, this narrative-driven spooky horror had us jumping between the present day and the 17th century. With a backdrop of the Salem Witch Trials, it has all the ingredients of a truly spine-tingling tale. And it mostly was. Until the ending. Which absolutely ruined everything.

We won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say the anti-climactic finale of Little Hope was enough to just about ruin the whole game for us and make this one of Supermassive Games’ worst titles yet. It’s a shame, because for so much of its running time, Little Hope absolutely nailed the spooky, unsettling vibe.

9. The Inpatient 

Made exclusively for PSVR, The Inpatient had mixed reviews when it came out, but we thought it was great. It’s set in the universe of Until Dawn, taking us back in time 60 years to the Blackwood Sanatorium in its heyday. Well, that’s if a sanatorium filled with dark secrets can ever really have a ‘heyday’.

Horror in VR is always tricky, because even the steeliest of us start feeling the pressure when we’re thrown headfirst into a creepy environment. But if you’ve got the guts for it, The Inpatient remains one of the best horror experiences on VR. It may not be Supermassive Games’ highest ranked game, but it’s still good enough that it deserves some recognition. We’re just sad it hasn’t had a PSVR 2 remaster so we can enjoy it all over again with improved visuals. But there’s still time!

8. Until Dawn: Rush of Blood

Here’s another PSVR title from Supermassive Games, and again, it’s set in the Until Dawn universe. But it’s something different entirely. It’s actually an on-rails light gun game – one of the most enjoyable genres to tackle in VR. Of course, with ‘Until Dawn’ tacked onto its name, it’s all about the horror too. But it’s more about action than story, making a nice, lighter entry into Supermassive’s catalogue.

It’s not the longest game in the world, with only six levels to work your way through. With a funfair theme, you’ll start out shooting fairground targets before making your way into a haunted house, where the real terror begins. You’ll need a good aim to survive. And a strong disposition to not be fazed by the jump scares.

7. Man of Medan 

The first game in the Dark Pictures Anthology, Man of Medan was a pleasant surprise. It’s a fairly short game – at least compared to Until Dawn, running at around three hours. But it tells a tale that’s hard to put down, of a group of friends who come across a ghost ship while out on a diving trip.

Naturally, things start to go terribly wrong and before long they all end up boarding said ghost ship; a huge, empty warship floating abandoned in the ocean. There’s an interesting twist to be uncovered, and its brevity means you’re more likely than ever to want to jump in and play again, to see what other outcomes you can get for each of the characters. From here on out, we’re solidly in the territory of Supermassive Games’ best ranked titles, for sure.

6. The Quarry 

The Quarry

The Quarry is gripping, adventurous and at times, truly gory. And we’re absolutely here for it. Its summer camp setting gives this a real 80s slasher vibe, but a murderer isn’t the threat here: it’s werewolf-like creatures that live in the woods. When your camp counsellor tells you with no uncertainty to STAY INSIDE, you probably should listen to him. But of course, the cast of characters in The Quarry don’t. And blood-tinged chaos ensues through the night.

While it’s a little slow to get going thanks to a long-winded introduction to the characters, we were thoroughly gripped by The Quarry. Excellent acting from a stellar cast really helps bring it to life. As does the sheer amount of gore on show. It’s not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure, but for true horror fans, you’ll be in your element here.

5. House of Ashes 

House of Ashes

House of Ashes is the third game in the Dark Pictures Anthology, and undoubtedly one of the best. It’s also the most freaky and horrifying thanks to its sinister setting and truly supernatural story. In it, you take on the role of a group of American and Iraqi soldiers who, when a mission goes south, end up trapped in an underground chamber. Filled with ancient structures, it appears to be a temple of sorts – but the most pressing matter is the fact that otherworldly creatures are lurking down there with them. Yikes.

Oh yes, a good old-fashioned creature feature! House of Ashes really does deliver the scares. And while some of its characters may be a little annoying, you’ll still do your best to keep them alive. Well, maybe. Whatever the outcome, though, you’ll be hooked until the credits roll on this one.

4. Directive 8020

Directive 8020 crew

Supermassive Games in space? Yeah, it feels like a bit of a departure from anything that came before it, but the studio’s newest game might be the most ambitious yet. We could have put Directive 8020 anywhere in the top four as it truly is excellent: this is space horror at its best, with tension and scares aplenty.

In Directive 8020, you’ll take control of a group of characters on board colony ship Cassiopeia. They’re meant to orbit the planet Tau Ceti f in order to gather intel – but of course, things don’t go to plan. Much of Directive 8020 will feel familiar to anyone who has played one of Supermassive Games’ horror titles before, with plenty of quick-time events and narrative choices to be made. But there are also new elements here such as stealth, making this the most immersive Dark Pictures game to date. It’s a game that requires more skill than previous entries, so non-gamers joining in a party play might struggle here more than before.

3. The Devil In Me

The Devil in Me H. H. Holmes

It’s a hard call, but we think The Devil in Me wins the spot as the best Dark Pictures game from Supermassive Games. The story here, revolving around a fictionalised version of a real-life serial killer, H. H. Holmes, absolutely gripped us. And in terms of gameplay, we found this to be the most adventurous of the whole series. Indeed, it’s the only game of the Dark Pictures Anthology where we really had to work to keep everyone alive.

You’ll play the role of a documentary film crew making a feature about Holmes. They learn of a man named Granthem Du’Met who, clearly with more money than sense, has recreated Holmes’ infamous ‘Murder Castle’ and, putting common sense to the side, they naturally decide to go there. It seems that Du’Met is recreating more than H. H. Holmes’ surroundings, and it turns out staying alive is much harder than trying to get the perfect shot.

2. The Casting of Frank Stone

The Casting of Frank Stone screenshot

We’re surprised – but thrilled – that we love The Casting of Frank Stone as much as we do. Set in the world of Dead by Daylight, we really didn’t know what to expect when it was first announced. But we needn’t have worried: Supermassive is absolutely on-point here, delivering one of its best tales yet. Sure, there are some multiverse themes that take a while to get your head around (you’ve got Dead by Daylight to thank for that) but otherwise, this is a wholly original, gripping story with a cast that delivers every line perfectly.

There are three timelines in The Casting of Frank Stone: 1963, 1980 and 2024. Each one links together with serial killer Frank Stone being central to them all. In 1963, you’ll play as a police officer as he hunts down Frank Stone; in 1980 you’ll have a group of teens filming a movie about Frank; and in 2024 you’ll find your characters turning up outside a very creepy manor for a reason that’s not immediately obvious. Each story strand is utterly engaging and while the scares don’t exactly come thick and fast, it’s loaded with enough atmosphere that you won’t be able to put this down.

1. Until Dawn 

Deciding on the single best Supermassive Games title is a hard task – any of the top five could have easily taken this spot – but ultimately, it’s Supermassive Games’ original horror adventure that wins out. We’ve ranked Until Dawn as Supermassive Games’ best game so far, and for good reason. This horror-fest shoehorns in so many horror tropes that it’s hard to keep up, but somehow it all works. And no game will keep you on the edge of your seat quite as much.

This was the first game to bring in the real ‘life or death’ stakes that Supermassive Games’ titles have become known for. Any character can die based on the decisions you make, and so the stakes are forever high through the game. And with excellent performances from the likes of Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere, it really is movie quality. Despite being nearly a decade old now, it’s still one of the best horror games out there – and with a remake just around the corner, we can’t wait to get to experience it all over again.

Of course, more recently we’ve had a full remake of Until Dawn, but since Ballistic Moon was in charge of this rather than Supermassive Games, we haven’t included it in our list. It’s a faithful remake with stunning visuals, so we love it almost just as much.

Co-owner and editor-in-chief

Kim's been into video games since playing Dizzy on her brother's Commodore 64 as a nipper. She'll give just about anything a go, but she's got a particular soft spot for indie adventures, roguelikes and puzzle games. If she's not gaming, she's probably got her nose in a book, and you can find her bookish musings on her blog at What The Book. She's also freelanced in several places, writes about Lego at That Brick Site, and is constantly thinking about new projects she'll undoubtedly quickly abandon.

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