What's more natural to do around Halloween than to seek out some sort of scary entertainment? Thankfully, with handheld gaming you have a portable means to carry on that tradition. You needn't wait for the latest console to come out to find some true scary fun, all you have to do is look at some of the classics for handhelds and you can be sure to find some chills. These 5 games are great choices for those who want some retro horror to go along with their holidays.
A curated list of five spooky titles for Game Boy Color, PlayStation, and WonderSwan
With systems such as the Game Boy Color, PlayStation and the N64 represented, these games have some iconic systems to show off. Both Capcom and Incube8 show up as being either a major developer or publisher of some of these interesting titles. All of these games use the hardware limitations as a way to set the mood instead of needing the graphics and detail.
With 40 Winks, an unreleased 3D platformer finally coming out for Game Boy Color recently, you have another option to consider. There is another type of horror to be had as well with Sweet Home. This is the NES forerunner to Resident Evil and is available with English patch over on Romhacking.net.
Next we have Dracula: Dark Reign which is a homebrew Game Boy Color title that takes some cues from Bram Stoker and Castlevania. These are still available in physical form over at Incube8.
Now with Linda Cube you have some RPG horror to take to the PlayStation. This game focuses on a story about an ark and its crazy inhabitants. Then we have Clock Tower which is a classic point and click title for the WonderSwan that stands out with a stark black and white approach to its visuals. These games really show you that you can have effective horror with limited colors and simple controls.
So, if you're a fan of atmospheric horror or just want to dig into the roots of the genre and play some classics on some retro hardware, then you should consider these games. With some of the patches and physical homebrew copies still around, you can make these experiences easier to have than ever. These games really give you a focused way to celebrate the season with titles made for the handheld era.
Source: RetroHandhelds
Sweet Home is the real deal. It is the ancestor of Resident Evil. Capcom made this before they got huge. It is scary on the NES.
I have a Game Boy Color. Can I buy Dracula Dark Reign in physical form or is it digital only? I need to know if I can hold it.
It is physical. Incube8 sells the cartridges directly. You get the box and manual too. It is not digital only.
I checked the site. The physical copies are not cheap. They cost more than I expected for a homebrew title. I will wait for a sale.
40 winks on gbc looks weird but cool 😅
Clock Tower on WonderSwan is a smart port. The black and white screen fits the horror vibe perfectly. It uses the hardware limits well.
I love the idea of portable horror for Halloween. The limited graphics really help the atmosphere. These titles are perfect for a cozy night in.