Horror-themed casino games are among the most popular in the U.S., Canada, and around the world for some very good reasons.
Horror is making a killing at the box office and dominating many aspects of the entertainment industry. Along with the significant profits, the genre is attracting some of the finest filmmaking talent, resulting in films that are often critically lauded and well-respected. That’s great news for horror fans because it means we can expect to see even more interesting, original, and truly terrifying horror stories that keep us on the edge of our seats.
The popularity of the horror genre has resulted in an explosion of horror-themed content even outside of movies and television. And the world of online gaming is no exception.
Depending on where you live, you may have to do some digging to find a reputable online casino with a large selection of horror-themed titles. For example, Canadians coo about Casino Classic thanks to its easy-to-use interface and the fact that it’s one of the few Canadian websites where users can find a great selection of top-tier, horror-themed casino games. Most of them are in the slot section, but there are also exclusive versions of other games, such as blackjack or roulette.
However, as iGaming platforms continue to realize how lucrative horror gaming is, how loyal the horror fan base is, and how hungry for new content they are, it’s a sure bet that more and more platforms will expand their horror-gaming offering while more and more developers focus on creating games that have wide appeal among both genre fans and online casino devotees.
Horror is Big Business
It may be odd, or even frustrating, for a lifelong horror fan to hear the mainstream media buzzing over the “sudden” popularity of the horror genre. While most of us have been riding the horror train for as long as we can remember, the once-beleaguered genre — reserved for the weirdos and outcasts — has now found considerable mainstream appeal and is one of the most popular and profitable genres in all forms of media.
In 2022, horror movies accounted for around $700 million in domestic ticket sales. That was down compared to pre-pandemic levels, but it indicated persistent demand for spooky entertainment. In fact, as the box office first began to recover from the huge hit it took during the pandemic, two genres continued to stay strong in theaters amid box office bombs and simultaneous streaming releases: Superhero movies and horror movies. Though horror movies didn’t produce billion-dollar earnings like those big-budget superhero films, most were made on a super lean (sometimes shoestring) budget and ended up making several times their budget in profit.
Widely considered a crucial sector for studios’ box office success, horror continues to dominate and provide significant profit margins for investors. Further, based on the early success of several major horror franchise sequels, 2023 is shaping up to be the genre’s highest-grossing box office year since 2019.
Universal’s surprise sensation M3GAN kicked off the year — during what used to be considered a box office wasteland — by grossing over $178 million against a $12 million budget when it was released in January 2023.
This was quickly followed by another heavy hitter, Cocaine Bear, released in February, alongside Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, which earned a whopping 50 times its paltry $100,000 budget. Thanks to the success of returning genre favorites like Scream, Evil Dead, and Insidious raking in substantial box office hauls, horror fans are proving they turn up for their favorites and to support their beloved genre.
Several other heavyweights are making a comeback this year with the upcoming release of Saw X, The Exorcist: Believer, and a film favored to become the highest-grossing horror movie of 2023, The Nun 2.
And it’s not just horror movies that are popular. For example, the horror genre is the fifth most popular fiction genre, raking in about $79.6 million in the last year, with those numbers also on the rise.
There are many theories as to why fans are flocking to horror in record numbers. One theory is that we simply need horror more than ever. As the real world gives us more reasons to feel anxious and afraid, many of us turn to horror for a healthy escape and a much-needed reprieve.
As Ph.D. student Coltan Scrivner explored in his online research article Why Horror Films Are More Popular Than Ever for Nautilus, horror “can provide a distraction from anxiety in the real world, clarity when the source of your anxiety is unidentifiable, and control over your anxiety when you feel like you have none.”
Everyone’s Getting in On the Action
Given the considerable and growing appeal of the horror genre, it makes sense to see the genre take hold in other forms of media.
One place you may not have expected to find so much great horror content is the world of online casino games. We’ve talked a lot before about why there is so much synergy between those who love horror films and those who love online gambling. The biggest reason is that they both offer a huge thrill to adrenaline junkies. Simulating that feeling of danger gets the blood pumping and releases adrenaline, which can feel great, help elevate our moods, and even help us combat real-world anxieties.
Horror fans are often drawn to anything that can help provide them with that rush of heart-pounding endorphins. This includes movies, of course, but it also extends to video games, haunted houses, roller coasters, thrill-seeking activities like skydiving, and, yes, even online casinos.
Horror-themed slots have been around since the beginning of online casinos. But as the genre has continued to experience a box office boom, more and more top-tier developers are spending more time and resources creating exciting and innovative horror-themed slots to lure in more horror movie fans.
There’s also a huge market of horror movie fans who can’t play traditional horror video games because the scares are often too intense. There’s a world of difference between passively watching horror on the screen and becoming immersed in that horror while playing a video game. While the interactive and immersive nature of these games can make them significantly more thrilling, this kind of gameplay may also be far too anxiety-inducing for many.
And that’s where horror-themed slots come in. Most of these games focus on great atmosphere and stunning gothic visuals rather than intense scares. Thus, you can enjoy the look and feel of horror without worrying about the games ever becoming too terrifying or stress-inducing.
Horror Games Offer Killer Graphics
While all casino games have some effects to make the game more visually interesting and engaging, those offered by horror games are on another level.
Many of the most respected developers have put in considerable time and effort to elevate these games and offer players something far more exciting than what they’ve come to expect. These games look and sound so good and offer such immersive visuals that the industry has attracted many new players who otherwise may not have been drawn to casino gaming.
It’s not just those who love slots and hope to replicate the in-person casino thrill.
Many avid horror fans and traditional horror gamers find that, combined with a creepy aesthetic, the adrenaline rush these games provide is often comparable to the rush of fear and excitement that their favorite horror films deliver.
Players can expect to find familiar horror aesthetics like creepy crawlies, graveyards, ghosts, monsters, intense music, spine-tingling sound effects, and other elements pulled right from the world of horror cinema. You’ll find various popular creatures usually found in your favorite horror movies, including werewolves, vampires, witches, and spooky specters.
The best casino games combine these creatures with special sound effects and animations when something happens. For example, some slots may try to scare you with a few ghosts and loud, intense music when you hit the jackpot. This helps amplify the built-in thrill of winning big by giving you a little extra adrenaline boost.
What’s more, many horror games currently being developed are heavily inspired by popular horror movies, old and new, and you can find some killer titles boasting characters, visual elements, music, and even video clips from your favorite films. Some of the most popular titles include Halloween, Psycho, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist, Friday the 13th, and The Shining.
In Conclusion
Thanks to the rise of the horror genre, many leading developers are focusing on creating enticing, award-winning online casino games designed to appeal to a wide audience.
Those who already love iGaming are excited to try out something new and often find that horror games offer a more visually interesting, engaging, and exciting alternative to traditional games that often start to feel a bit dull after a short bit of initial gameplay. Thanks to the top-tier visuals and stellar sound design, as well as the enormous creativity that’s gone into making recent horror-themed casino games, even non-horror fans are flocking to these genre releases.
On the flip side, many horror fans who had never considered iGaming are finding these horror-themed casino games offer much more than meets the eye.
Of course, not all horror casino games are real winners, and it’s important to do your homework so that a bad experience doesn’t turn you off from discovering some of the truly exceptional titles out there that are well worth your time and, if you so choose, money. Some of the games you’ll come across are not developed by industry leaders. So you’ll want to do a bit of homework to learn which brands you can trust and which games get rave reviews. We’re continuously sharing our favorite trusted titles on this site, so right here is a great place to start!
Be sure to look for reputable casinos that work with industry leaders with a proven track record — those companies that develop horror games guaranteed to keep you entertained and provide maximum, adrenaline-fueled thrills.
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