Players will apparently battle within a movie studio lot while contending against a “deranged film director” who wants to create the “perfect movie.” Other survivors are involved, and they must cooperate to survive. You can also allegedly expect the return of the Psychopaths as the director’s minions, though there’s at least one who’s doing so against his will.

Saddled with a bomb, he’s the cameraman for this whole ordeal and is saved by Frank early on. The survivors allegedly include actors and at least one returning character, Isabela Keyes from Dead Rising 2: Case West and Dead Rising 3. A new zombie virus is also seemingly amok, though details are scant.

Otherwise, many tenets of previous titles allegedly return, like taking pictures and the time limit, which manifest as the director doling out orders that must be prioritizied.

You’re probably thinking a reveal at The Game Awards is possible, and that may end up being the case, but the release date is still apparently a “considerable distance away.” Not that this has stopped similar titles from appearing at the show, so take that as you will.

Mejerwall worked on the NPC team during the development of Dead Rising 5, and she spoke about how one of her favourite things about the project was the sheer variety of enemies that players would get to fight. These enemies would include regular zombies and even more intelligent variants, among other things.

“What I loved about Dead Rising 5, as it was canceled, I was on the NPC team, so I made all the boss fights,” said Mejerwall. “And I loved the variation, the tiers of the enemies. So we both had the typical kind of zombies that are not very intelligent, that will grab you. But then we also have a little bit more advanced, semi-more advanced enemies.”

Comparing the tiers of enemies in Dead Rising 5 to what a player might see in a typical Batman game, Mejerwall noted that there would be regular enemies, as well as stronger variants with more armour, for example. These enemies would have gradually gone up in tiers, eventually culminating in entire mini-bosses.

“So the ones for Batman, for example, would be a typical thug. We had the equivalent also in Dead Rising, what we would call that,” she explained. “And then we had the armored version of that. And then what Dead Rising does really well, that I really love, is they have the mini-bosses. And it becomes a kind of tenant unit.”

“It’s not as common to have it that pronounced in games as we do in Dead Rising. And they were a ton of fun to do, and the way that we designed them was that you should be able to drop them almost anywhere. So they shouldn’t be dependent on what kind of terrain or map that you were having, because they could move around.”

Mejerwall also spoke about how Dead Rising 5 was going to have epic boss fights that could be experienced in their own specially-designed arenas. One of these fights, she said, would take place in a temple environment that she had designed, with the temple breaking down around the player as the fight progressed. Bosses would also get angrier over the course of a fight, which would eventually lead to it using different moves.

“Whereas the biggest bosses that I also worked on, they already had their very unique arenas,” Mejerwall continued. “And it could be stuff like one boss fight that I designed was in a temple environment, where over the course of the fight, the temple breaks down more and more.”

“And it gets more and more intense. And the boss gets more and more angry doing more and more stuff. So we really had a wide range of different enemy types. And richer variation. It was really fun to work on that game, and I’m really sad that it never got to see the light of day.”

Ultimately, however, Dead Rising 5 would get cancelled. Capcom had instead released Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster last year on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review.

Dying Light

Dying Light taps into what makes horror games so irresistible. It’s got a scarcity of resources, infected humans transforming into zombies, and the fear of nighttime adding anxiety on top of it all. And while most gamers would argue the best horror games are linear curated experiences in nature, Dying Light uses its open-world to ramp up the horror in ways only it could. Threats aren’t fully scripted and can come from pretty much any direction in the map. Similarly, scrounging for resources takes on a new life given the large dynamic environments. Dying Light 2 would take the parkour of the first one and really polish it up while adding a paraglider for faster traversal. Though fans still largely prefer the darker tone of the first game over the more colorful style of the sequel.

Days Gone

Want to simulate what it would be like to outrun and outgun an ocean of zombies out in an open field? Well, Days Gone is the closest thing to that experience on the gaming market – yet nothing could prepare us for the sheer size of hordes that the game would bless us with. While it would have been amazing to mow down zombie hordes using pick-up trucks or even a combine harvester, Days Gone limits its vehicles to primarily bikes. Still, the bike controls are quite smooth and ramming into zombies is a fun, though less ideal, way to squash their huge numbers. The icing on the horror cake are the stealth sequences, which make for some terrifying moments when swarms get alerted. Now if only we could finally get a sequel that gives us more vehicles to mow zombies down with.

The Evil Within 2

The world design of The Evil Within 2 may not be as open-ended as the previous games on this list, but it makes up for it in its tightly crafted narrative. Sebastian Castellanos’ mind is still reeling from the events of the first game, but he still has to rescue his daughter, Lily within the surreal Union labyrinth. The stakes are more personal here than in the first game, amplifying the psychological aspect tenfold. The semi-open world design adds some interesting side stories and secrets to discover, nicely contrasting the more claustrophobic sequences. Oh, and the bizarre, surreal world can even be experienced in first-person thanks to a 2018 update to the game.

Sons of the Forest

Being stranded on an island full of cannibals has to be one of the more harrowing concepts in horror, and Sons of the Forest executes it frighteningly well. The size of the island and its predominant forest biome is four times larger than the first game. The larger layout both helps the player and hinders them with helpful NPCs and a host of new terrors lurking in hidden corners of the map.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

After developing The Evil Within, Tango opted to go fully first-person with Ghostwire: Tokyo. The more intimate perspective combined with a supernaturally shifting environment enveloped in fog gave it a unique brand of horror. The game’s developer describes battles with the phrase ‘karate meets magic’. You’d think being adorned with such supernatural abilities neuters the sensation of helplessness a bit, but no, the many occultic monstrosities populating the possessed Tokyo are enhanced with even more terrifying abilities than the player character, making for an unpredictable and haunting journey.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Stalker 2, actually the fourth game in the series, was first announced way back in 2010. Typically, games with development hell history turn out poorly, but Stalker 2 nailed the post-apocalyptic premise and gameplay the series had been celebrated for prior. The limited inventory space and sparse resources within the Exclusion Zone make for a true survival experience. Add on a hunger and sleep meter and some reality-altering anomalies within the open-world and you’ve got a game sure to raise players’ blood pressure.

Dead Rising

This 2006 game may be the oldest on this list, but it’s also one of the most iconic in terms of open-world horror. Willamette Parkview Mall makes for a fantastic locale to combat hordes of flesh-hungry zombies. Part of the endless charm of the series is the sheer variety of weapons available to smash zombie brains with. The first Dead Rising hosts 250 weapons ranging from useful shotguns to fun props such as Mega Man’s Megabuster. The horror aspect, while less severe than others on this list, still comes into play when dozens of zombies close in on a defenseless and unaware Frank.

State of Decay 2

The State of Decay series has quickly become one of gaming’s most immersive zombie survival experiences. There’s few games that can match the feeling of building outposts and combating zombies together with other co-op partners quite like State of Decay 2. The series has always been primed for co-op, yet the first game lacked any multiplayer, being a purely solo affair. Besides the four-player co-op, the additional facilities and utilities, as well as a far more diverse map made for an improved gameplay loop. The improved open-world may have sacrificed some of the memorable story moments the first had, but the series is certainly headed in the right direction, giving us optimism for State of Decay 3.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus is another game that uses its semi-open world structure well. The Volga, Caspian Desert, and Taiga regions feel so distinct from each other, as opposed to the largely monotonous regions of previous games. But the game still hones in on those narrow tunnel corridors that the original did so well. The Metro series also evokes a peculiar sensation of dread with the semi-frequent hallucinations and horrific mutant creatures aptly named The Dark Ones.

Dead Island 2

Dead Island takes a more arcady and fun approach to its horror, though getting overwhelmed by zombies still provides some tense jump scare moments. The sequel partitions up its open world into regions, helping to make each area distinct. What really makes Dead Island 2 stand out from the rest is the environmental interactions. Most objects lying around can be used as weapons, and a number of hazards such as electric and fire can be used against zombie hordes.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Combining a spaghetti western wild west setting with a zombie apocalypse probably hasn’t been done in games before Red Dead did it with Undead Nightmare. It’s such a unique fusion of disparate elements, yet feels so satisfying and fun to experience. The addition of classic folklore monsters, from Chupacabras to Sasquatches, is just the cherry on top of a well blended horror-tinged desert of the Red Dead franchise.

Project Zomboid

Project Zomboid takes a unique twist on survival horror. It’s not about how you survive, but how you die in this game. Players are fated to get eliminated by a single slow zombie bite, yet the game manages to make this process rewarding and, above all, fun. The unlimited nature of sandbox mode puts all the tools in the player’s hands, giving control of the zombie population, weather patterns, and loot. It’s a top-down 2D game though, so if you’re just in the mood for a cinematic and graphically intensive horror experience, others on this list will have to substitute.

Once Human

One of the most recent entries on the list, Once Human prides itself on its community-focused gameplay. Players can craft and build base camps meant to serve as a home base within the game world. Hunger and sanity needs to be kept in check lest players lose their loot with a respawn. What helps separate Once Human from other multiplayer survival games is the wild creature design. I mean, there’s a walking bus monster that players can use for transportation for crying out loud. Once Human isn’t lacking in creative  charm.

Beyond Hanwell

Surprisingly overlooked despite its quality, Beyond Hanwell lets players loose in the rainy streets of Westminster London amid an outbreak of mutant anomalies. The sound and music in particular really create an unsettling atmosphere, which is further aided by the environmental details of within the first-person perspective. Your primary source of self-defense is a pistol and some other light weapons, but a bigger aspect of the game is simply exploring the old buildings for notes and objects that help uncover the mystery.

The Sinking City Remastered

Fans of Lovecraftian horror should check out The Sinking City if they haven’t already. It’s filled with a variety of weird monsters beyond the familiar mortal coil, and even features a mental stability meter that diminishes as you learn new truths. The semi-open environments help fill out the background lore of Oakmont well, and the motorboat is just plain fun to traverse the waters with.

It features many quality-of-life changes, visual improvements, a new control style, and some much-needed features for a better experience. But how does it compare to the original? Check out 15 of the biggest differences between Dead Rising and the Deluxe Remaster.

RE Engine vs NT Framework

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is built on RE Engine. It’s a big step up from the original’s NT Framework and allows for all the updated visuals, enhancements, new features, and more while retaining the original’s essence. However, if it’s rebuilt from the ground up with RE Engine, doesn’t that make it a remake?

Not a Straight Remaster

One of the more intriguing – and somewhat confounding – parts about Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is that it’s not a full remake, yet also not a simple remaster. The distinction is due to the story and core gameplay remaining the same, right down to the 72-hour Mode, the ability to use anything in Willamette as a weapon to slay zombies by the hundreds, and more.

Frank West’s Voice

Of course, the Deluxe Remaster has been notable for casting Jas Patrick as the voice of Frank West and not going with the original’s actor TJ Rotolo (who wasn’t contacted for the project). In an interview with IGN, the development team expressed regret at not getting him for the project, though it didn’t specifically clarify why. Why didn’t it reuse voiceovers from the original? “The contract for the 18-year-old game was outdated,” said the developer.

Visual Enhancements

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster supports 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, but its visual improvements go beyond that. Character models and environments have been revamped, sporting more detail and realistic textures. Furthermore, facial expressions have improved significantly, lending some more realism, even when confronted with over-the-top Psychopaths.

Auto-Save, Survivor Improvements, and More

The user interface has undergone some changes in the remaster, and while your mileage may vary, auto-save is a huge boon. Furthermore, the survivors’ AI has improved, which means less frustrating rescue attempts like the original, especially when dealing with hundreds of hungry zombies. The development team also confirmed in an interview with IGN that you can now save and exit from Infinity Mode and return to resume progress, making it more approachable.

Combat Improvements

While its combat and gameplay loop remains the same, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is changing several aspects to ensure a smoother experience. Headshots with firearms are lethal against lower-level zombies, and all items have seen adjustments to have “special uses.” The books from the original game return and can enhance items in different ways (like improving durability), but there are several new additions. Even if you’re well-versed in the original, the remaster has enough nuances to change the gameplay significantly.

Item Durability Bar

Yes, item durability is still a thing, just like in the original. However, the Deluxe Remaster now indicates how much durability remains before an item breaks, courtesy of a blue bar in your inventory. Contrast this to the original, where you had to remember how many hits remained for a weapon before inevitability ditching it for something else.

Standard and Classic Controls

For those who like the original Dead Rising but can’t imagine dealing with its controls, the Deluxe Remaster offers a new Standard option. Escaping zombie grabs and using moves like the Flying Dodge is easier with this, and it also allows for moving while aiming. You can also remap buttons as you see fit. The original controls are still here for purists and fall under the Classic category. You won’t get any of the benefits of Standard controls, but it will control just like the original for the truest experience.

Visually Revamped Areas

While the overall layout of Willamette Parkview Mall seemingly remains the same in the remaster (barring any surprises), some sections have a revamped look and feel. The Director’s Report from last month revealed that Paradise Plaza looks more like a beachfront, fitting the overall vibe of the area without completely overhauling it. It’s a nice touch and helps freshen things up for fans of the original.

Full Voice Acting

The original Dead Rising had several unvoiced sections, and you had to read through the characters’ dialogue. The Deluxe Remaster implements full voice acting, thus offering a new dimension to several conversations with characters (like Otis, who doles out the side missions). Of course, alongside outdated contracts for the original, this means characters like Brad and Jessie have also been recast.

Nine Voice Languages, 14 Subtitle Languages

It’s impressive enough to have full voice acting in English, but Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster features the same in eight additional languages. Furthermore, while you can experience the original in seven subtitle languages on Steam, the remaster bumps it up to 14 on all platforms.

Fast-Forward Through Time

There are several endings to discover in the original, with many dependent on completing cases and fulfilling specific objectives. Of course, you would have to play through the 72 hours again and again to unlock these. To address this, the Deluxe Remaster adds a new fast-forward feature, letting you skip ahead. Whether this proves more effective for unlocking all the endings faster or not, it’s at least ideal for getting to the default ending quickly and deriving more enjoyment out of Infinity Mode.

Speed-up Dialogue and Uninterrupted Calls

Speaking of fast-forwarding, the Deluxe Remaster features an option to speed up dialogue with survivors, making it even easier to endure multiple playthroughs for those additional endings. Another underrated change is Otis’s calls, which can now be played without interruption, compared to the original, where Frank would be wide open and disconnected when attacked.

New Photography Features

For all of Frank’s accolades as a photojournalist, it only makes sense to have more photography features. The remaster features new upgrade options and parts for the camera while incorporating features like auto-focus and tilt.

Prestige Point Changes

Prestige Points or PP are part of the leveling system in Dead Rising and serve as XP for Frank to level up, thus unlocking new skills, increasing max health and inventory space, and more. You earn them by killing zombies, completing cases and scoops, rescuing survivors, photography, and specific actions (like heating a frying pan on a stove).

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster retains the system but tweaks certain aspects to make it more rewarding. For example, there are 100 PP Stickers found throughout the mall, and you can earn Prestige Points by snapping them with the camera. As IGN revealed in its hands-on impressions from last month, these will now award 5,000 Points at max accuracy. Other tweaks have yet to be revealed, but at least leveling up is possible through multiple avenues.

For starters, in case you’ve been wondering whether Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a remaster or closer to a full-blown remake, as per its developers, it’s very much the latter. The upcoming release will keep the original game’s core structure and mechanics intact, while also preserving the combat animations of the original game, though you can expect changes, tweaks, and enhancements in a number of other areas.

That will include the visuals being completely overhauled in RE Engine, while on top of that, you can also expect various quality-of-life improvements, changes to NPC behaviour, and improvements to playability in various other ways. The game is also going to be fully voiced, and will feature autosaves, support for 4K and 3D audio, and more. Check out the trailer below for more details.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will launch on September 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

A remaster of the beloved 2006 title was, of course, released in 2016 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and Capcom says the Deluxe Remaster will release for “the newest generation of platforms”. The game will feature a “brand new look”, which you can see glimpses of in the trailer below.

It’s certainly looking like quite a thorough visual upgrade- much more than what you’d expect from an ordinary remaster, at the very least. Interestingly, the one voice line heard in the teaser also suggests that Terence J. Rotolo isn’t coming back to play the role of protagonist Frank West. Capcom has yet to officially confirm the same.

There’s no word yet on when exactly Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will release, or what platforms it will hit. Stay tuned for more details.

Silent Hill 2 

Konami’s Silent Hill 2 continues to be a benchmark for survival horror games even after all these years later, and that legendary status can largely be attributed to the excellent atmosphere that never fails to keep you guessing. The fog-infested town of Silent Hill is brimming with horrors that would give you nightmares for weeks to come, and everything from the story to the music and puzzle design works in symphony to support the central themes of uneasiness and inducing a sense of fear of the unknown. 

Capcom has recently sent out a survey to fans, in which it asks ten questions, a few of which are focused on potential new instalments (or remakes) for older, inactive Capcom properties. One question asks, “are there any Capcom game series (including spinoff games) that you would like to see get a sequel or new game?” Among many other franchises, some notable ones that are listed include Dino Crisis, Onimusha, Okami, Dead Rising, Darkstalkers, Breath of Fire, and Lost Planet.

Another question asks, “is there a game that you would like to see completely remade with the latest technology, including character design and story direction?” Some of the available options include Onimusha 1, 2, and 3; Ace Attorney 1, 2, and 3; Breath of Fire 1, 2, and 3; Mega Man 1, 2, and 3; and Final Fight.

Interestingly enough, the survey’s penultimate question asks about any other complaints that you would like to share with the company, with one of the options provided being “reboot old IPs already!” At the same time, another option reads “release more original titles, not sequels!”, so there’s that.

Capcom is, of course, no stranger to sending out surveys to gauge fan opinion on a number of things, and the company has been known to actually take results for such surveys into consideration- though how heavily they might influence decisions on, say, whether or not we’ll see a new Dino Crisis or Breath of Fire game is an altogether different question.

If nothing else, Capcom has confirmed that it intends to keep making more Resident Evil remakes, so the company does very much intend to plumb the depths of its rich back catalog to bolster its future output in some capacity.

Block Your Shots

In some shooters, like Left 4 Dead, the AI is intelligent enough to move out of the way of your shots. In others, like the infamous Daikatana, your companions, Superfly Johnson and Mikiko, will run in front of your shots. Friendly fire is also enabled, so they can take damage and fall amid their stupidity, which is probably their least annoying trait.

According to journalist Jez Corden, Dead Rising is gearing up to make a comeback. Taking recently to Twitter, Corden claimed that a reboot of the zombie-slaying franchise is currently in the works at Capcom. Though he’s unsure about what platforms it’s in development for, one would presume that it will be a multiplatform release (assuming the leak is accurate).

Of course, until such time we hear something concrete from Capcom in an official capacity, it’s best to take this with a grain of salt. Dead Rising was, of course, one of the company’s more popular and successful franchises while it was still around, especially with its early instalments, so there’s little doubt that there will be many who’ll want to see it make a comeback.

If you're a Dead Rising fan there might be something on the horizon for you too…

— Jez (@JezCorden) May 7, 2023

Heard its a reboot, capcom been on a solid keel lately.

— Jez (@JezCorden) May 7, 2023

Not sure on platforms, just heard the franchise might be coming back.

— Jez (@JezCorden) May 7, 2023