A bunch of horror games have been announced this year, so I thought I’d take a step back and see what we can look forward to in the near future. I think this list is pretty complete, but please post information about upcoming games that I miss. Also, until the titles actually ship it will be pretty hard to tell if these games are really horror games or just some other genre in gothic trappings. With that, here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Condemned 2: Bloodshot – Q1 2008 – Xbox360, PS3

  The sequel to the CSI-vs-demons Xbox360 launch title. Official site

• Left 4 Dead – Q2 2008 – Xbox360, PC

  Annoyingly named online horror-themed shooter; this one may not be Quest material, but I’ll keep it on the radar. Here’s the official site.

• Dead Space – Q3 2008 – Xbox360, PS3

  Dead things in space, with a pretty Bioshocky aesthetic. Official site.

• Dead Island – 2008 – Xbox360, PC

  Zombies on a tropical island. Sounds like the House of the Dead move, though this game is guaranteed to be better than that film. Official site.

• Hydrophobia – 2008 – Xbox360

  Mercenaries vs something scary in perpetually flooded environments. I think there is a pretty good chance that this is less of a game and more of a vehicle for water graphics, but we’ll have to wait for it to come out. Official site.

• Silent Hill: 0rigins – Release Date Unknown – PS2 (already out on PSP)

  The PS2 version of this game was recently announced. I recently reviewed the PSP version.

• Resident Evil 5 – 2009 – Xbox360, PS3

  Yes, it’s Chris Redfield vs zombie villagers in Africa or maybe Haiti. Official site.

• Alan Wake – Release Date Unknown – Xbox360, PC

  A fascinating-sounding title that bills itself as a “psychological action thriller.” Details are still sparse on this one, but I have pretty high hopes. Official site.

• Alone in the Dark 5 – Release Date Unknown – Xbox360, PS3, Wii, PS2

  As I posted about before, Alone in the Dark 5 is now coming to the Wii and PS2 thanks to Hydravision. I think we’ll see this game in 2008, but no firm release date has been announced yet. There’s a sort of official site, but it’s also one of these marketing countdown things and doesn’t actually have any game info. According to the countdown the “truth will be revealed” in a couple of days. Shockingly, I suspect the truth to be that Alone in the Dark 5 takes place in central park.

• Silent Hill 5 – Release Date Unknown – Xbox360, PS3

  Another title that will probably make it in 2008. The rumor mill says Q3 2008, but that’s not official so I’ve left the date open for now. There doesn’t seem to be an official site, so here’s a pretty complete fan site.

It is interesting to note that all of these games except for Resident Evil 5 are being developed by Western developers. Japanese developers haven’t announced any horror games lately, which might have something to do with the absolute dominance of the Nintendo DS and Wii in Japan (those platforms are dominating here as well). I know for sure that there is another as-yet-unannounced popular Japanese horror franchise headed to the Wii (again, via an American developer). On the other hand, it seems like the Wii is particularly suited to horror gaming, as the Wiimote would make a perfect flashlight and Resident Evil 4 for the Wii kicks ass. I’m hoping that we hear about some new games for those platforms early next year.