The 25 Most Spine-Tingling NES Horror Games

Do you think an old 8-bit console like the NES was incapable of creating terrifying experiences with those pixelated graphics and archaic sound? Well, maybe you need to watch this video to prove otherwise!

There’s no getting around the fact that the NES era isn’t generally considered to be the best time for horror games. While the popular narrative that horror gaming didn’t properly begin until Resident Evil was released in 1996 obviously isn’t accurate, it’s safe to say that the ’80s and early ’90s were a strange time for the genre.

Even back in the classic days of the NES, Nintendo’s primary focus was on family-friendly content for their video games. Still, genre fans had many games to appreciate on the console, as several horror games would be released on the system.

Bits & Beats takes a look at the best horror NES games, perfect for adrenaline-pumping horror experiences for even the bravest hardcore players. Note that this game curation also includes games released for the Famicom as well as a notable unlicensed NES game.

0:00 Intro
0:14 Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti
0:38 Friday the 13th
1:03 Abadox: The Deadly Inner War
1:27 Monster Party
1:51 Werewolf: The Last Warrior
2:15 A Nightmare on Elm Street
2:40 Frankenstein: The Monster Returns
3:04 Uninvited
3:28 Monster in My Pocket
3:53 Zombie Nation
4:17 Sweet Home
4:41 Getsu Fuuma Den
5:06 Contra
5:30 Maniac Mansion
5:55 Metroid
6:20 Bram Stoker Dracula
6:45 Swamp Thing
7:09 Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
7:33 Dr. Chaos
7:57 Faxanadu
8:22 Ghosts n’ Goblins
8:46 Shadowgate
9:10 Ghoul School
9:35 Chiller
9:58 Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
10:41 Outro