3 Chilling Horror Franchises Ripe for Asymmetrical Thrills
We’re still reeling from the news that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre game will no longer receive content updates. And honestly, it’s a tough blow—the game gave us brutal gameplay, iconic characters, and a chilling multiplayer experience few other horror titles have replicated. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that the horror genre is filled with untapped potential just waiting to be adapted into the asymmetrical format.
Given the void that’s being left, it’s only a matter of time before we start to crave more heart-pounding cat-and-mouse terror. From silent stalkers to masked killers and isolated mayhem, here are our top three horror franchises that are practically begging developers for the asymmetrical spotlight.
Scream
Scream | Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group
When it comes to Scream, the franchise is tailor-made for asymmetrical gameplay. Not only does it feature one of the most iconic horror villains in Ghostface, but it thrives on mystery, betrayal, and shocking reveals. Sounds like a perfect match for multiplayer survival.
Imagine a match starts with 8–10 players, one or two are secretly Ghostface. The rest are potential victims with unique backstories and objectives. As people start dying, suspicion spreads. The goal: survive, work together (or not), and force the killer into a final showdown before the numbers shift in their favor.
No need to bring in the entire Scream cast either—just give us Ghostface, a new town, and a fresh group of friends with dark secrets. A potentially perfect whodunit meets survival horror—with Ghostface at the center.
Halloween
Halloween | Universal Pictures and Blumhouse
Yes, a game is in development—but let’s talk about the version we want to play. For starters, we only need one killer: Michael Myers. Then, of course, we would have a group of babysitters/teenagers. In terms of the setting? One quiet suburban neighborhood. It literally writes itself.
Players could step into the shoes of Laurie Strode-type characters trying to survive a single terrifying night while gathering tools, locking windows, protecting each other’s homes, and ideally, even confronting The Shape. The killer? Silent, methodical, and increasingly powerful with each successful attack. And if you add dynamic lighting, weather, and audio cues (those piano notes!), you’ve got a game that practically plays like a Carpenter film in real time.
As we stated earlier, it’s been confirmed that a Halloween game is in the works, but with little information, we’re holding out hope it leans hard into the slasher genre’s roots and gives fans a true survival challenge.
The Strangers
The Strangers | Lionsgate
The Strangers may not have the loud, chaotic energy of other slashers, but it delivers pure terror in silence and simplicity. That’s exactly what could make it stand out as a tense, atmospheric, asymmetrical game.
Three masked killers. A single house (or isolated location). A couple of victims. And to switch things up—maybe the killers can’t attack right away—instead, they stalk, taunt, isolate, and find ways to reduce the victims’ sense of security. Lights flicker. Phones ring. Doors creak open. Meanwhile, survivors must reinforce barricades, find hiding spots, or attempt dangerous escapes into the pitch-black woods outside.
This game wouldn’t rely on jump scares—it would make you feel unsafe all the time. With small maps, sound-based mechanics, and real-time dread, The Strangers could deliver a deeply psychological take on the asymmetrical genre without losing the slasher core. Though we’ll take whatever we can get at this point as long as it has a cinematic, TCSM, or F13-esque vibe.
