Horror has always been one of the most visceral, pulse-raising, and culturally resonant genres in entertainment. But what happens when one of the biggest names in cinematic horror—Blumhouse—decides to step into the world of games? The latest Playable Futures feature on gamesindustry.biz explores exactly that: how horror’s biggest name in film is bringing its expertise to gaming, and what that means for the evolution of interactive scares.
Blumhouse Games isn’t just dipping a toe into the industry—it’s diving in headfirst. The article unpacks how the company is leaning into its strengths: crafting stories that thrive on atmosphere, tension, and creative constraints. Unlike big-budget horror games that often rely on sheer spectacle, Blumhouse is focusing on smaller, independent horror titles—projects that harness limited resources to create maximum fear. This mirrors the way Blumhouse revolutionised horror in film: by proving that you don’t need a blockbuster budget to make something truly terrifying.
It’s a smart move, and one that speaks to the way gaming continues to evolve as a storytelling medium. Horror games, in particular, have long been at the forefront of innovation—whether through psychological tension (Silent Hill), immersive first-person experiences (Resident Evil 7), or even social-driven scares (Phasmophobia). Blumhouse’s entry into this space isn’t just about making good horror games; it’s about shaping the future of interactive storytelling, where fear is felt in the hands of the player, not just on the screen.
So what does this mean for the industry at large? The crossover between film and games is growing stronger, but success isn’t just about big IPs crossing mediums. It’s about understanding the unique strengths of each format. Horror thrives on control—or, more accurately, the lack of it. And no medium makes you feel that loss of control quite like gaming.
With Blumhouse entering the gaming sphere, we’re seeing yet another moment where traditional entertainment giants recognise that games aren’t just an extension of their industry—they are an industry all their own. And if anyone understands how to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, it’s Blumhouse.
Read the full playable futures article here
