Haunted PS1

{{Short description|Series of video game compilations}}{{about|a game compilation based on PlayStation console|First PlayStation|PlayStation (console)}}{{Infobox video game series | title = Haunted PS1 | image = HPS1 Logo.jpg | caption = Logo | creator = Breogán Hackett | developer = Various | genre = [[Horror game|Horror]] | first release version = ''Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2020'' | first release date = 6 February 2020 | latest release version = ''Haunted PS1 Demo Disc: Flipside Frights'' | latest release date = 11 January 2025 }}'''''Haunted PS1''''' is a community of video game developers, known for their [[bundled software|compilations]] in collaboration with independent developers on the [[indie game|indie games]] website [[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 (console)|PlayStation]] as well as menus inspired by actual PS1 demo discs or other PlayStation games such as [[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]] in March 2018.<ref name=PCGInt>{{cite web|website=PC Gamer|title=Retro horror games are preparing to go beyond the PS1|last=Clayton|first=Natalie|date=23 March 2022|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/retro-horror-games-are-preparing-to-go-beyond-the-ps1/|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320165356/https://www.pcgamer.com/retro-horror-games-are-preparing-to-go-beyond-the-ps1/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref name=WF>{{cite journal|journal=Wireframe|last=Clayton|first=Natalie|title=Fright-Teen Ninety-Nine: The horror games harking back to the PSone era|pages=18–21|date=24 October 2019|url=https://wireframe.raspberrypi.com/issues/25|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084849/https://wireframe.raspberrypi.com/issues/25|url-status=live}}</ref> Hackett initially created the community as a [[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."<ref name=KQ>{{cite web|website=Kritiqal|last=Kiernan|first=Nate|title=Moving beyond nostalgia ghosts with Breogán Hackett|date=7 November 2021|url=https://kritiqal.com/articles/kritiqal-care-ep-53-breogan-hackett|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084852/https://kritiqal.com/articles/kritiqal-care-ep-53-breogan-hackett|url-status=live}}</ref> Hackett hosted a series of [[game jams]] regularly from October 2018, with the first, ''The Haunted PS1 Halloween Jam'', encouraging "spooky" and "low-res" entries.<ref>{{cite web|website=itch.io|last=Hackett|first=Breogan|date=October 2018|title=The Haunted PS1 Halloween Jam|url=https://itch.io/jam/the-haunted-ps1-halloween-jam|access-date=2023-01-31|archive-date=2023-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084852/https://itch.io/jam/the-haunted-ps1-halloween-jam|url-status=live}}</ref> Hackett cites the growth of participation in the [[game jam|game jams]] as the primary reason for the expansion of the ''Haunted PS1'' community and ''Demo Disc'' compilations.<ref name=KQ/>

== 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 [[game demo|demo]] discs commonly distributed by publications during the era of the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], with a visual presentation "evoking the feeling and aesthetic of late nineties games",<ref name=DD2020>{{cite web|website=itch.io|last=Hackett|first=Breogan|title=Haunted PS1 Demo Disc 2020|date=6 February 2020|url=https://hauntedps1.itch.io/demodisc2020|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203000745/https://hauntedps1.itch.io/demodisc2020|url-status=live}}</ref> in particular the graphics of [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] [[horror game|horror games]] including ''[[Resident Evil]]'' and ''[[Silent Hill]]''.<ref>{{cite web|website=Vice|last=Klepek|first=Patrick|title=There's Nothing Scarier Than Horror Games With Crude PlayStation 1 Graphics|date=8 February 2020|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/theres-nothing-scarier-than-horror-games-with-crude-playstation-1-graphics/|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084850/https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7q78p/theres-nothing-scarier-than-horror-games-with-crude-playstation-1-graphics|url-status=live}}</ref> The games span genres with a focus on [[horror game|horror]] and [[walking simulator|exploration]] games.<ref name=Kotaku>{{cite web|website=Kotaku|title=PlayStation Inspired 'Haunted Demo Disc' Is A Glorious Throwback to Old-School Horror Games|last=Alexandra|first=Heather|date=13 February 2020|url=https://kotaku.com/playstation-inspired-haunted-demo-disc-is-a-glorious-th-1841672771|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084903/https://kotaku.com/playstation-inspired-haunted-demo-disc-is-a-glorious-th-1841672771|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reception of the ''Demo Disc'' series has been positive, with praise directed at the variety of titles offered. Writing for ''[[Giant Bomb]]'', [[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.<ref>{{cite web|website=Giant Bomb|last=Freeman|first=Nina|title=Nina Freeman's Top 10 Games of 2020|date=19 January 2021|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/nina-freemans-top-10-games-of-2020/1100-6066/|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084903/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/nina-freemans-top-10-games-of-2020/1100-6066/|url-status=live}}</ref> Heather Alexandra of ''[[Kotaku]]'' praised the variety of the compilation, stating the game was "packed to the brim with tons of different approaches to horror and tension."<ref name=Kotaku/> Fraser Brown of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' similarly stated that the compilation showcased "broad range of styles and interpretations of the PS1 aesthetic."<ref name=PCG2>{{cite web|website=PC Gamer|title=Haunted PS1 Demo Disc is a free anthology of ominous oddities, out now|last=Brown|first=Fraser|date=8 February 2020|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/haunted-ps1-demo-disc-is-a-free-anthology-of-ominous-oddities-out-now/|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084903/https://www.pcgamer.com/haunted-ps1-demo-disc-is-a-free-anthology-of-ominous-oddities-out-now/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[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."<ref name=AVC>{{cite web|website=The A.V. Club|title=The A.V. Club's favorite games of 2020|last=Chatziioannou|first=Alexander|date=18 December 2020|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-s-favorite-games-of-2020-1845891514/slides/8|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084904/https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-s-favorite-games-of-2020-1845891514/slides/8|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== List of compilations ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! scope="col" |Compilation ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |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 game|horror games]] influenced by the graphics of the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref>{{cite web|website=Retro Gamer|title=Exploring the resurgence of the low-fi 3D visual style of the PS1 era|last=Walker-Emig|first=Paul|date=31 December 2021|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/exploring-the-resurgence-of-the-low-fi-3d-visual-style-of-the-ps1-era/|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084850/https://www.gamesradar.com/exploring-the-resurgence-of-the-low-fi-3d-visual-style-of-the-ps1-era/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|website=SUPERJUMP|last=Wright|first=Anthony|title=Retro Horror Has Returned to Scare a New Generation|date=1 January 2023|url=https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/retro-horror-has-returned-to-scare-a-new-generation/|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=31 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131084848/https://www.superjumpmagazine.com/retro-horror-has-returned-to-scare-a-new-generation/|url-status=live}}</ref> Fraser Brown of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' similarly remarked that the series "(shone) a spotlight on indie dev projects, which might normally fall through the cracks."<ref name=PCG2/> Writing for ''[[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".<ref>{{cite web|website=The Verge|title=A new wave of lo-fi games is reshaping horror|last=Chatziioannou|first=Alexander|date=30 October 2021|url=https://www.theverge.com/22750586/lo-fi-retro-horror-games|access-date=31 January 2023|archive-date=9 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209210335/https://www.theverge.com/22750586/lo-fi-retro-horror-games|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' said that ''Haunted PS1'' is probably the best entry point into the low-res horror scene.<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web |last1=Winkie |first1=Luke |title=When Video Games Feel Haunted: Inside the Low-Res Horror Boom |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/10/inside-the-low-res-indie-horror-boom.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=13 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015203331/https://www.vulture.com/2021/10/inside-the-low-res-indie-horror-boom.html |archive-date=15 October 2021 |date=15 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Several games that have previously appeared on the ''Demo Disc'' releases have been continued by their developers into full commercial releases, including ''[[Toree 3D]]'', ''[[Dread Delusion]]'', and ''[[Fatum Betula]]''.

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Haunted PS1 games| ]] [[Category:2020s horror video games]] [[Category:Music video games]] [[Category:Retro-style video games]] [[Category:Video game compilations]] [[Category:Video game franchises]] [[Category:Video games developed in Ireland]] [[Category:Video games with low poly graphics]] [[Category:Windows games]]