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REWIND OR DIE: 5 Spooky VCR Board Games!

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Written by Dr. Jose

This week sees the VOD release of Beyond the Gates, a brand new nostalgia-inducing horror movie starring scream queen Barbara Crampton. In the film, two brothers tasked with selling their missing father’s video store uncover a VCR board game called “Beyond the Gates”. The mysterious game holds clues to their father’s disappearance – but also puts anyone who plays it in danger. We here at iHorror love creepy board games, so we’re totally on board for this one.

For those unaware, video board games did actually exist. Stuck having to compete with the popularity of the burgeoning (and frankly awe-inspiring) home video game craze while simultaneously trying to cash-in on the VCR boom of the ’80s, board game companies came up with the bright idea to start releasing ‘video board games’. They were no different from your regular old board games, except you had to watch a video while playing in order to have any idea of what to do. They were about as time-consuming and clunky as they sound. And could the phrase “watching a VHS while playing a board game” sound anymore more anachronistic and antiquated?

The idea to exploit the current media trend to sell a board game lives on (who hasn’t played Scene It on DVD?), and it’s the archetypes that deserve the credit. Below are some of the original spooktastic titles that made a splash on the video board game scene.

“Nightmare” (released overseas as “Atmosfear”) is clearly the direct inspiration for Beyond the Gates and perhaps the most recognizable and best known horror video board game. Players can assume the identity of either a ghost, witch, werewolf, vampire, zombie, or mummy, and their goal is to defeat “The Gatekeeper”, a shrouded figure who barks commands in a thick, unplaceable accent. Like many a successful horror movie, the makers franchised the hell out of the game and followed it with three “sequels”. And just like how the video boxes for so many old horror films were actually better than the movie itself, the commercial for “Nightmare” is far more exciting than the actual gameplay.

Doorways to Horror came out in 1986 and was not only one of the earliest horror video board games, but one of the earliest video board games in general. Released by Pressman Toys, the game saw players watching clips from old horror films, hitting pause on the VCR, and then rolling a die – which determined the ‘power’ of their ‘spells’ – to (hopefully) defeat whatever monster was onscreen. It’s your basic Dungeons and Dragons-style gameplay. The makers of the game were clearly aware of the hokey vibe of the whole thing and had some fun by filling the video with all sorts of puns and groaners to keep players at least somewhat interested.

xfiles

It wasn’t just original ideas that were thrown into the video board game format – well-known properties were also being given the special treatment. One of those was The X-Files, which, at the time, was at the height of its popularity. The weird thing about The X-Files Trivia Game is how straight-forward it is. You’d think the makers of the game would want to take advantage of the show’s colorful cast of monsters, creatures, and aliens, incorporating them into the gameplay somehow, but no – you just answer some trivia questions about the show. The snooze is out there.

eddie

Video Grin ‘N’ Bear It is technically classified as a humor game, but there’s nothing funny about its absolutely terrifying host, a puppet named Hysterical Eddie. Looking like a mix between Rik Mayall and The Joker, the puppet was designed by the UK creative team, Spitting Image – the same group behind those terrifying celebrity caricature puppets that were so popular in the ’80s. Throughout the game, Eddie makes a chosen player act out ridiculous requests with everyday household objects, while everyone else must sit and watch, but not laugh. The back of the box describes a chainsaw-wielding Eddie as “a bit mental”, so you definitely don’t wanna get on this dummy’s bad side.

agatha

With the participation of several different authors, including Agatha Christie, Behind the Screen and The Scoop were both successful radio serials from the 1930s. Flash forward 50 years and both stories are released as the VCR board games Agatha Christie: Behind the Screen and Agatha Christie: The Scoop. While both games play like your typical Clue-style murder mystery (a murder victim, lots of suspects, and clues that must be gathered to finger the perpetrator), it’s “The Scoop” which stands out due to its modernized look and feel. With its faux news reports and sleek ’80s graphics, players might think they’re instead watching an episode of Forensic Files or America’s Most Wanted.

This list is just a starter: there are plenty more video board games out there! Have a freaky favorite that we missed? Sound off below. Beyond the Gates comes to VOD on December 9th.

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The Best Horror-Themed Casino Games

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Horror Slot

Horror-themed entertainment enjoys significant popularity, captivating audiences with movies, shows, games, and more that delve into the eerie and supernatural. This fascination extends into the world of gaming, particularly in the realm of slot games.

horror casino games

Several standout slot games have successfully incorporated horror themes, drawing inspiration from some of the genre’s most iconic films, to create immersive and thrilling gaming experiences year-round.

Alien

Alien

If you have been looking for an online mobile casino for your horror fix, perhaps the best game to start with is the 1979 sci-fi horror classic. Alien is the kind of movie that has transcended its genre and become a classic to the point that some people don’t immediately remember it as a horror movie.

In 2002, the movie was given official status: it was given an award by the Library of Congress as a historically, culturally, or aesthetically significant piece of media. For that reason, it only stands to reason that it would get its own slot title.

The slot game offers 15 pay lines while paying homage to many of the best original characters. On top of that, there are even little nods to many of the actions that happen throughout the film, making you feel right in the heart of the action. On top of that, the score is quite memorable, creating an immersive experience in one of the greatest movies ever.

Psycho

Tightwad Terror Tuesday – Free Movies for 4-12-22
Psycho (1960), courtesy Paramount Pictures.

Arguably the one that started it all. Dedicated horror fans will no doubt reference this horror classic, which originated in 1960. Created by masterful director Alfred Hitchcock, the movie itself was actually based on a novel of the same name.

As all of the classics were, it was filmed in black and white and can be thought of as quite low-budget, especially compared to many blockbuster horror movies of today. That said, it might be the most memorable of the bunch and that led to the creation of a memorable slot title as well.

The game offers a whopping 25 pay lines, delivering heart-pumping excitement in much the same way that the movie does. It visually captures the look and feel of Psycho in every way, making you feel the suspense of Hitchcock’s creation.

The soundtrack and backdrop add to the chill factor as well. You can even see the most iconic sequence – the knife scene – as one of the symbols. There are plenty of callbacks to enjoy and this game will make even the most critical of Psycho lovers fall in love as they attempt to win big.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

A Nightmare On Elm Street

Fredy Kreuger is one of the most iconic characters in not only horror, but pop culture. The sweater, the hat, and the slashing claws are all trademarks. They come to life in this 1984 classic and the supernatural slasher feels immersive in this slot machine title.

In the movie, the story centers around teenagers who are haunted by the dead serial killer in their dreams. Here, you will have to attempt to win with Freddy haunting the background. He appears in all five reels, providing a win over 30 potential pay lines.

If you get lucky, Freddy can make you pay: up to 10,000x your bet. With huge jackpots, the most recognizable characters from the original film, and the feel of being right there on Elm Street, this is one of those games that you will come back to again and again much like the many sequels that followed.

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‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

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Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

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‘Terminator: Survivors’: Open World Survival Game Releases Trailer And Is Launching This Fall

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This is a game that many gamers will be excited for. It was announced at the Nacon Connect 2024 Event that Terminator: Survivors will be launching early access for PC via Steam on October 24th of this year. It will launch fully on a later date for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Check out the trailer and more about the game below.

Official Trailer for Terminator: Survivors

IGN states, “In this original story taking place after the first two Terminator films, you take control of a group of survivors of Judgment Day, in solo or co-op mode, faced with a multitude of lethal hazards in this post-apocalyptic world. But you’re not alone. Skynet’s machines will hound you relentlessly and rival human factions will fight for the same resources you desperately need.”

First Look Image at Terminator: Survivors (2024)

In related news to the Terminator world, Linda Hamilton stated I’m done. I’m done. I have nothing more to say. The story’s been told, and it’s been done to death. Why anybody would relaunch it is a mystery to me. She claims she doesn’t want to play Sarah Connor anymore. You can check out more of what she said here.

First Look Image at Terminator: Survivors (2024)
First Look Image at Terminator: Survivors (2024)

An open-world game about surviving against Skynet’s machines sounds like an interesting and fun game. Are you excited about this announcement and trailer release from Nacon? Let us know in the comments below. Also, check out this behind-the-scenes clip from the game below.

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