RetroRealms is the horror mash-up game of your nightmares

At some point, asymmetrical multiplier games became the de facto home of classic horror icons in video games, whether it’s Jason from Friday the 13th or Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That’s a fine trend, and games like Killer Klowns from Outer Space are further proof that the approach is nothing if not fun. If you are craving something different from legendary horror figures, though, RetroRealms is a name you might want to keep an eye on.

RetroRealms is equal parts a platform and a universe. It’s a place where you can play games based on classic horror franchises and, uniquely, mix them up with one another. Want to fight the Evil Dead as Michael Myers, or break out of Smith’s Grove Psychiatric Hospital as Ash? That’s the idea, and Digital Trends went behind closed doors at PAX West find out exactly how that works and, more importantly, how it plays.

Tribute to terror

At PAX, I met up with Tim Hessem, executive producer of RetroRealms for Boss Team Games, and Mike Herbster, game director and designer at WayForward Technologies. The team guides me through a demo and explains that RetroRealms is effectively the universe they are making, and it’s meant to allow them to bring in and play with any horror franchise. At launch, there are two: Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead (they also have a lot of ideas for who they could add next).

The main hub in RetroRealms is basically a haunted Pizza Hut that players explore in a firstperson perspective. It’s a cool setup, evoking an ’80s vibe that fits the subject matter perfectly. There are two arcade cabinets, one for Halloween and one forAsh vs Evil Dead, and an open room populated by rotatable dioramas showing scenes from each game.

Another room further back acts as a museum, with cases holding 3D renders of items from the games. As I inspect Michael Myers’ coveralls, I hear some fun stabbing sounds. A separate wing features an Evil Dead gallery, with things like Ash’s shotgun and chainsaw in view. Hessem tells me