Top 11: Amstrad Horror Games

Halloween for 2018 is done and dusted, and hopefully a good and safe time had by all. Horror is a genre which feeds into many media albeit movies, books or video games. In fact, some of the best selling games over the years have been Horror based. The 8 bit system's didn't miss out this these types of games either, and often produced some of the very best titles on the platform. The Amstrad is case-in-point, with at least 4 of the games in the following list considered to be some of the finest work made on the system. Influenced by reviews and personal experience, here is my Top 11 Amstrad Horror Games.

Zombie Calavera Prologue - Mojon Twins ZX Spectrum game will be ported to the C64

Got a ZX Spectrum and a C64 and looking forward to Halloween? Then you might be pleased to know Digital Monastery will be bringing The Mojon Twins speccy game of ' Zombie Calavera Prologue ', to the C64 within the next couple of weeks. This game originally released in 2010 puts you in control of Santos blinded with rage on a quest to chase Skinny to purgatory and if necessary, retrieve his beloved from the clutches of evil!

Return of the Obra Dinn - First person adventure from Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope

Welcome to "Return of the Obra Dinn", a first person ghost ship adventure game from Lucas Pope, creator of that fine Indie title "Papers, Please". Developed through a very unique art style of which I haven't seen since the old Mac days, you play as an insurance adjuster for the East India Company and must board the Obra Dinn,  recover the Roll Book and find out what actually happened on that creepy ship!

Inmost - Dark and foreboding atmospheric, story-driven puzzle platformer is announced

Even more dark and creepy games to look forward to, as we've just learnt from the publisher and developer Chuckle Fish games, that they have announced the atmospheric, story-driven puzzle platformer ' Inmost ' from from Lithuania-based developers Hidden Layer Games. Set partly in an old abandoned castle, you’ll need to explore every nook and cranny, avoid detection, slice your way through enemies and spring deadly traps in order to escape the evil that lurks within…

Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure with upwards of 70 voiced characters! ( Coming soon to Steam )

My love of adventure games is strong, from The Secret of Monkey Island, to The Legend of Kyrandia or even the Black Mirror, there's not an adventure game I would not put aside ( Unless it has too many riddles and puzzles ). So you can see why I was just that little bit excited when I saw Stuck In Attic's upcoming game of ' Gibbous - A Cthulhu Adventure ''; a game that looks so bloody good, it's at the top of my most wanted list.

Mary Skelter: Nightmares - Dark fairy tale-themed Japanese dungeon crawler

When I think of dungeon crawlers I think of the classic kind, the ones like Eye of the Beholder or Lands of Lore. Basically mighty knights and mages fighting against the undead or rats! Well to my surprise there's one game that peaked my interest and is not my usual style of game, is the Japanese dungeon crawler ' Mary Skelter: Nightmares '. A new game on GOG and Steam as a dark fairy tale crawler set in a mysterious tower inspired by twisted fairy tales.

Hellbound - Early preview of a work in progress action platformer on the C64

Even more C64 games to get through today and no this isn't another Speedball spectacular, as we've just come across a new video on Facebook showing the very latest footage of a work in progress C64 game called ' Hellbound ', which is in development by Marvin Hardy as an early test of an action platformer with horror overtones such as the skulls, that may or may not come out this year.

Lust for Darkness - Occult and Erotic based horror now on Steam with a new launch trailer

Another release update for you all Steam users, as after many months of banging on about this game with its perverse horror overtones. We are pleased to announce as from today ' Lust for Darkness '; a horror game with an intriguing plot based around erotic and occult themes by Movie Games Lunarium, is finally available to buy on Steam for PC.

Lust for Darkness - Occult and Erotic based horror coming 12th June

We've certainly featured our fair share of horror games on Indie Retro News, but a horror game with an intriguing plot based around erotic and occult themes is almost pushing the boundaries on the website. But still after being a Kickstarter success and our recent play test ' Lust for Darkness ', we think this game is very much worth a mention and more especially that it is going to be released on Steam June 12th

3D Monster Maze - 1981/2 Sinclair ZX81 game arrives on the ZX Spectrum in full colour

Glorious news this morning especially if you were a Sinclair ZX81 owner in the 1980's, as Malcolm Evans and an idea by J.K.Greye game of ' 3D Monster Maze ', has been released on the ZX Spectrum as a full colour port. This game which was released in 1982 by J. K. Greye Software puts you in control of a character in a first person viewpoint and must traverse a 3D maze to reach the exit while avoiding a hostile monster the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Horns of Fear - Third-person psychological horror coming to Steam 7th June, 2018

Lovecraft's Untold Stories isn't the only upcoming horror game to grace our screens this year, as we've recently been informed by Pixoala that they are soon to launch their third-person psychological horror ' Horns of Fear ', which will be available for PC as from 7th June. Now unlike the other game in this one you play as Jim Sonrimor, a journalist fascinated by the paranormal that upon a caller invite has found himself on a terrifying journey to unravel the mysteries hidden within a dark mansion.

Agony - Survival horror set in Hell gets a release with mixed reviews

Put the kids to bed and get ready for untold horror, as Madmind Studio have recently released their gory filled first person survival horror game ' Agony ', which is now available to buy through Steam and also available for Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Featuring bloody visuals in the horrific depths of hell, you begin your journey as a tormented soul without any memories of your past, and must explore, and interact with other damned people and possess simple minded demons to find a way to escape, or forever suffer the ultimate torment.

Crypt of Dracula - Action/crawler coming to the Sega Megadrive/Genesis

The Sega Megadrive/Genesis hasn't had many news updates lately so to change all that, here's a new game that's still in development ' Crypt of Dracula ' by MatteusBeus and team. According to the creator behind the game, this one is going to be an action/slash crawler developed using SGDK and what was originally a small project, has since blossomed into a much bigger and more impressive game.

Lust for Darkness - Occult and Erotic based horror is a Kickstarter success

We've certainly featured our fair share of horror games on Indie Retro News, but a horror game with an intriguing plot based around erotic and occult themes is something we certainly haven't featured before. So to change all that we've recently been told that Lust for Darkness, which is exactly that , was not only a Kickstarter success raising CA$ 52,944 of a CA$ 8,000 goal but it's also going to appear on Steam Q2 2018.

The Long Reach - Horror filled Adventure on Steam today with a demo

Gamers who prefer a more horror oriented adventure will be pleased with this news, as we've recently found out the thriller horror game of ' The Long Reach ' will be released on Steam today between now and the next 5 hours, ( Depending on when you read this article ). The Long Reach is flavoured with sci-fi ideology, psychological context and a sceptical view on the human psyche. For anyone wanting to play the game early, the developers have released a small demo for you to try.

The Beast Inside - Photorealistic horror game aims for a Kickstarter success

Our good friends PlayWay have contacted us regarding a brand new horror experience that has been launched on Kickstarter and is already at 75% of the required goal. Called 'The Beast Inside' and developed by ILLUSION RAY STUDIO with publishing rights by MOVIE GAMES, this is a photorealistic horror game as a twist on the thriller and survival horror genres telling a multilayered story!

Carrion - A bloody game revealed by BUTCHER devs!

Put away your fluffy toys and tell your children it's time for bed, as BUTCHER devs Transhuman Design have announced a very gory game called ' Carrion '. Now if the previous game was anything to go by this one has gone up a notch in blood, as according to the developers this is going to be a gory reverse horror game, in which you assume the role of an amorphous alien being and have the ability to rip the insides out of anything human you come across!

WORLD OF HORROR - Classic Macintosh inspired horror game you might enjoy

What do you get if you load up a classic 90's Macintosh and infuse it with the darkest of horror games? Possibly this one 'WORLD OF HORROR'; an Adventure RPG lover letter to the horror work of Junji Ito. This game pits you against old gods with all the evil and chaos they bring, you'll have to solve clues, use spells and investigate mysteries all over the city ­and in the realms beyond.

Petunia Pickles Pumpkin Peril - A Halloween C64 game coming from Pond Software!

Pond Software are certainly no strangers to the C64 community, especially with their very popular game The Bear Essentials having been released and liked by many. But this new game isn't going all cute and cuddly as not only will it involve lots of pumpkins, witches and bats, but it's going to be a Halloween playable demo and is going to be called ' Petunia Pickles Pumpkin Peril ' for the C64!

PRECINCT 20 Dead Strange - A not so secret C64 project is revealed!

It was only just yesterday we announced a new project was in development by Alf Yngve and Richard Bayliss which looked to be a mash of Death Wish with a dab of horror thrown in for good measure. That game which was just a secret C64 project at first, has now been revealed as 'PRECINCT 20: Dead Strange' , and is based on a series of short stories under the same title with you in control of a police detective hunting for clues in a series of murders with possibly supernatural causes.