Halloween is here, and while you could settle in with some scary movies, we believe that firing up some retro horror games is the best way to celebrate the holiday. Although the horror genre didn’t really take off in gaming until the late 1990s with titles like Resident Evil (PlayStation, 1996), there are still some ghoulish 8-bit gems to enjoy. We’ve covered a handful of other spooky classic games to play on Halloween, but for this list, only games that were physically released for the Nintendo Entertainment System will be considered. From deadly point ‘n click adventures to supernatural action masterpieces, these are the creepy NES games you should consider playing to celebrate Halloween (listed in no particular order).
1. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
A certified Konami classic, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse was released in 1998 and is arguably the best NES Castlevania game of the bunch. Thoroughly spooky and packed with supernatural foes to slay, you play as the esteemed vampire hunter, Trevor Belmont, called into action as Dracula rampages across Europe. This sequel contains all of the challenging action you’ve come to expect from the franchise, but with multiple playable characters, branching stages, and a notably smoother gameplay flow. With whip in hand and an iconic vampire to hunt, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse is a perfect pick for 8-bit Halloween entertainment.
2. Zombie Nation
Developed by Japanese studio KAZe and released in 1990, Zombie Nation is an extremely weird game that often slips under the radar. In this side-scrolling shoot ’em up, you control a decapitated samurai head who floats across the United States (which is overflowing with zombies), in order to defeat an ancient, evil meteor named Darc Seed. This mostly entails blowing up obstacles and defeating enemies by throwing up fireballs, which is much more fun than it sounds. With only four stages and a final boss to defeat, Zombie Nation can be beaten in a quick sitting, packing in loads of oddball action without wasting your time.
3. Ghosts ‘n Goblins
Originally released in the arcades in 1985 and eventually ported to numerous systems, Ghosts ‘n Goblins is a brutally tough action game from the talented team at Capcom. Guaranteed to push your skill (and possibly your patience), the game stars Arthur, a humble knight whose date is interrupted by the red-winged devil, Astaroth. Swooping off with his beloved princess, Arthur forges a path through seven deadly stages, chopping his way through any monster that may stand in his way until he reaches Astaroth’s lair. This is far easier said than done. Ghosts ‘n Goblins is a timeless test of gaming aptitude that eats players alive with no remorse. If you want to suffer a bit this Halloween but still have a good time, Ghosts ‘n Goblins should be pleasingly painful.
4. Haunted: Halloween ’85
If there’s one NES game that was very obviously made to celebrate the spookiest of seasons, it’s Haunted: Halloween ’85. Unlicensed by Nintendo, this homebrew game was created in 2016 by Retrotainment Games, and has since spawned several sequels. Graphically reminiscent of Kunio-Kun games like River City Ransom (NES, 1989) and Super Dodge Ball (Arcade, 1987), this side-scrolling brawler follows the heroic Donny Johnstown as he purges the haunted town of Possum Hollow. Everything about the adventure screams Halloween; jack-o-lanterns must be dodged, zombies must be defeated, and a slew of creepy locales must be explored. If you’re interested in trying this game out but you don’t have an NES to play it on, worry not, as Haunted: Halloween ’85 and its sequels are available on Steam.
5. Shadowgate
For a more methodical, calculated horror experience this Halloween, look no further than the NES port of Shadowgate, originally developed for the Macintosh in 1987. Part of the “MacVenture” series, Shadowgate is a point ‘n click adventure that blends fantasy and horror, rarely pulling back on descriptions of violence and death. You play as a courageous hero, sent to Castle Shadowgate to confront the vile Warlock Lord. Before you face this villain, however, you’ll have to trek through the exceptionally fatal castle grounds, solving puzzles and evading danger at every turn. Death is all but certain, making Shadowgate a punishing but evocative adventure that hits even harder on Halloween.
