# Haunted PS1

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Series of video game compilations

This article is about a game compilation based on PlayStation console. For First PlayStation, see [PlayStation (console)](/source/PlayStation_(console)).

Video game series

Haunted PS1 Logo Genre Horror Developer Various Creator Breogán Hackett First release Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2020 6 February 2020 Latest release Haunted PS1 Demo Disc: Flipside Frights 11 January 2025

***Haunted PS1*** is a community of video game developers, known for their [compilations](/source/Bundled_software) in collaboration with independent developers on the [indie games](/source/Indie_game) website [itch.io](/source/Itch.io). The most notable releases, *Demo Discs*, are annual compilations of independent games from various genres influenced by the graphics and visual presentation of the [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)) as well as menus inspired by actual PS1 demo discs or other PlayStation games such as [Namco Museum](/source/Namco_Museum) releases on the platform. The *Demo Discs* series received praise from several websites for their niche theme, variety of titles and novel method of distribution, with a number of games from the releases receiving sufficient attention to lead to further development and commercial release on their own merit.

## History

Irish independent developer Breogán Hackett initially established *Haunted PS1* on [itch.io](/source/Itch.io) in March 2018.[1] Hackett stated the desire to establish *Haunted PS1* was influenced by the absence of a community for independent developers at the time, stating "there's a whole load of horror games being made, but very little community around it."[2] Hackett initially created the community as a [Discord](/source/Discord) server to talk and collaborate with "a few developers working on low-res horror games...I just wanted to be able to talk to other developers about things that were relevant to small-scale indie devs making that sort of game."[3] Hackett hosted a series of [game jams](/source/Game_jams) regularly from October 2018, with the first, *The Haunted PS1 Halloween Jam*, encouraging "spooky" and "low-res" entries.[4] Hackett cites the growth of participation in the [game jams](/source/Game_jam) as the primary reason for the expansion of the *Haunted PS1* community and *Demo Disc* compilations.[3]

## Games

### Haunted PS1 Demo Disc

The *Haunted PS1 Demo Disc* is an annual series of compilations released through the *Haunted PS1* brand, with the first released in February 2020. *Demo Discs* are releases that imitate the design of [demo](/source/Game_demo) discs commonly distributed by publications during the era of the [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)), with a visual presentation "evoking the feeling and aesthetic of late nineties games",[5] in particular the graphics of [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)) [horror games](/source/Horror_game) including *[Resident Evil](/source/Resident_Evil)* and *[Silent Hill](/source/Silent_Hill)*.[6] The games span genres with a focus on [horror](/source/Horror_game) and [exploration](/source/Walking_simulator) games.[7]

Reception of the *Demo Disc* series has been positive, with praise directed at the variety of titles offered. Writing for *[Giant Bomb](/source/Giant_Bomb)*, [Nina Freeman](/source/Nina_Freeman) praised the initial compilation as one of the best games of 2020, highlighting them as a "good source of discovery" through "hand-done curation" in contrast to algorithm-based recommendations.[8] Heather Alexandra of *[Kotaku](/source/Kotaku)* praised the variety of the compilation, stating the game was "packed to the brim with tons of different approaches to horror and tension."[7] Fraser Brown of *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)* similarly stated that the compilation showcased "broad range of styles and interpretations of the PS1 aesthetic."[9] *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)* named the 2020 *Demo Disc* as one of the best games of 2020, stating that each title in the compilation "comes with surprises, whether a twist on an old formula or something new altogether," stating the series provided "precious reminders that there's still place in the medium for new, unfamiliar directions."[10]

### List of compilations

See also: [List of Haunted PS1 games](/source/List_of_Haunted_PS1_games)

Compilation Date Number of games Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2020 6 February 2020 17 EEK3 2020: Virtual Show Floor 20 June 2020 40 C.H.A.I.N. 31 October 2020 20 The Madvent Calendar 2020 1 December 2020 24 Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2021 25 March 2021 25 The Madvent Calendar 2 1 December 2021 24 Haunted PS1 Demo Disc: Spectral Mall 28 August 2022 18 The Madvent Calendar 3: Necrosis 1 December 2022 30 C.H.A.I.N.G.E.D. 6 June 2023 39 The Madvent Calendar 4: End Of The Line 1 December 2023 24 Haunted PS1 Demo Disc: Flipside Frights 11 January 2025 24 The Overlook Rehaunted TBA 15 Untitled Madvent Collaboration TBD TBD C.H.A.I.N. 3 (Working Title) TBD TBD

## Influence

The *Demo Disc* series has been noted for its role in bringing attention to an emerging genre of independent [horror games](/source/Horror_game) influenced by the graphics of the [PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)).[11] Writing for *SUPERJUMP*, Anthony Wright noted the *Demo Disc* series was a "great platform for (developers) to gain attention towards their efforts" and "showcase their talents to the industry", as well as "encouraging an increasing number of players to dip their feet into the retro-styled horror landscape."[12] Fraser Brown of *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)* similarly remarked that the series "(shone) a spotlight on indie dev projects, which might normally fall through the cracks."[9] Writing for *[The Verge](/source/The_Verge)*, Alexander Chatziioannou, in a review of the resurgence of the "retro horror" genre, stated that the series "(has) revitalized a format oddly neglected in the medium".[13] *[Vulture](/source/Vulture_(website))* said that *Haunted PS1* is probably the best entry point into the low-res horror scene.[14]

Several games that have previously appeared on the *Demo Disc* releases have been continued by their developers into full commercial releases, including *[Toree 3D](/source/Toree_3D)*, *[Dread Delusion](/source/Dread_Delusion)*, and *[Fatum Betula](/source/Fatum_Betula)*.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-PCGInt_1-0)** Clayton, Natalie (23 March 2022). ["Retro horror games are preparing to go beyond the PS1"](https://www.pcgamer.com/retro-horror-games-are-preparing-to-go-beyond-the-ps1/). *PC Gamer*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230320165356/https://www.pcgamer.com/retro-horror-games-are-preparing-to-go-beyond-the-ps1/) from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WF_2-0)** Clayton, Natalie (24 October 2019). ["Fright-Teen Ninety-Nine: The horror games harking back to the PSone era"](https://wireframe.raspberrypi.com/issues/25). *Wireframe*: 18–21. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084849/https://wireframe.raspberrypi.com/issues/25) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KQ_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KQ_3-1) Kiernan, Nate (7 November 2021). ["Moving beyond nostalgia ghosts with Breogán Hackett"](https://kritiqal.com/articles/kritiqal-care-ep-53-breogan-hackett). *Kritiqal*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084852/https://kritiqal.com/articles/kritiqal-care-ep-53-breogan-hackett) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Hackett, Breogan (October 2018). ["The Haunted PS1 Halloween Jam"](https://itch.io/jam/the-haunted-ps1-halloween-jam). *itch.io*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084852/https://itch.io/jam/the-haunted-ps1-halloween-jam) from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-01-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DD2020_5-0)** Hackett, Breogan (6 February 2020). ["Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2020"](https://hauntedps1.itch.io/demodisc2020). *itch.io*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230203000745/https://hauntedps1.itch.io/demodisc2020) from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Klepek, Patrick (8 February 2020). ["There's Nothing Scarier Than Horror Games With Crude PlayStation 1 Graphics"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/theres-nothing-scarier-than-horror-games-with-crude-playstation-1-graphics/). *Vice*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084850/https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7q78p/theres-nothing-scarier-than-horror-games-with-crude-playstation-1-graphics) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Kotaku_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Kotaku_7-1) Alexandra, Heather (13 February 2020). ["PlayStation Inspired 'Haunted Demo Disc' Is A Glorious Throwback to Old-School Horror Games"](https://kotaku.com/playstation-inspired-haunted-demo-disc-is-a-glorious-th-1841672771). *Kotaku*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084903/https://kotaku.com/playstation-inspired-haunted-demo-disc-is-a-glorious-th-1841672771) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Freeman, Nina (19 January 2021). ["Nina Freeman's Top 10 Games of 2020"](https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/nina-freemans-top-10-games-of-2020/1100-6066/). *Giant Bomb*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084903/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/nina-freemans-top-10-games-of-2020/1100-6066/) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PCG2_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PCG2_9-1) Brown, Fraser (8 February 2020). ["Haunted PS1 Demo Disc is a free anthology of ominous oddities, out now"](https://www.pcgamer.com/haunted-ps1-demo-disc-is-a-free-anthology-of-ominous-oddities-out-now/). *PC Gamer*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084903/https://www.pcgamer.com/haunted-ps1-demo-disc-is-a-free-anthology-of-ominous-oddities-out-now/) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AVC_10-0)** Chatziioannou, Alexander (18 December 2020). ["The A.V. Club's favorite games of 2020"](https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-s-favorite-games-of-2020-1845891514/slides/8). *The A.V. Club*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084904/https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-s-favorite-games-of-2020-1845891514/slides/8) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Walker-Emig, Paul (31 December 2021). ["Exploring the resurgence of the low-fi 3D visual style of the PS1 era"](https://www.gamesradar.com/exploring-the-resurgence-of-the-low-fi-3d-visual-style-of-the-ps1-era/). *Retro Gamer*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084850/https://www.gamesradar.com/exploring-the-resurgence-of-the-low-fi-3d-visual-style-of-the-ps1-era/) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Wright, Anthony (1 January 2023). ["Retro Horror Has Returned to Scare a New Generation"](https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/retro-horror-has-returned-to-scare-a-new-generation/). *SUPERJUMP*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084848/https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/retro-horror-has-returned-to-scare-a-new-generation/) from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Chatziioannou, Alexander (30 October 2021). ["A new wave of lo-fi games is reshaping horror"](https://www.theverge.com/22750586/lo-fi-retro-horror-games). *The Verge*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221209210335/https://www.theverge.com/22750586/lo-fi-retro-horror-games) from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Vulture_14-0)** Winkie, Luke (15 October 2021). ["When Video Games Feel Haunted: Inside the Low-Res Horror Boom"](https://www.vulture.com/2021/10/inside-the-low-res-indie-horror-boom.html). *[Vulture](/source/Vulture_(website))*. [Vox Media](/source/Vox_Media). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211015203331/https://www.vulture.com/2021/10/inside-the-low-res-indie-horror-boom.html) from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2026.

v t e Haunted PS1 List of games Demo Disc 2020 Dread Delusion Fatum Betula FILTHBREED Heartworm Ode to a Moon Orange County Sauna2000 Demo Disc 2021 Chasing Static Janitor Bleeds Toree 3D

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Haunted PS1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_PS1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_PS1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.