As Motive Studio brings back the Survival Horror Game icon that is Dead Space. With its remake of the original game released January 27th, 2023. Let us take a look back at all of the Dead Space Games by order of release. With some that are easily forgettable, others that stand out above the rest. With heavy inspiration of the classics: Silent Hill, Dino Crisis and Resident Evil. The Developers at Motive and Visceral brought force a new horror that would later inspire countless Horror Games, the sci-fi action, horror adventure. Now is the time to look back at what made Dead Space stand out above the rest in a time of Condemned, F.E.A.R, Alone in the Dark and BioShock.
All Dead Space Games in Release Order
Dead Space (2008)
The first Dead Space was a huge hit when it came out and still is. The fact that this game has been remade and released as of January 27th, 2023 shows how beloved this game is inside the Horror Game industry. This game was nothing particularly unique in its approach in the Survival Horror Genre. However its terrifying atmosphere, excellent monster designs, combined with the great survival genre done correctly made for a horror game to be remembered forever. Isaac Clarke would return time and time again faced with new fears and impossible missions to complete. At the time of its release, Dead Space did incredibly well in providing a good narrative with great combat and horror to make people not want to pick up the controller and continue playing.
Related: Should you Get the Dead Space Remake for PC or PS5?
Dead Space: Extraction (2009)
Extraction released shortly after the well received first game. However this time, followed the route of Horror Games such as Ju-On: The Grudge which released the same year. It was tough to go up against a Wii powerhouse of The Grudge game which perfectly used the Wii Remote function to create a first-person horror experience similar to that of VR games today. Extraction feels more like a Crisis game than the usual gameplay we experienced in Dead Space. After all, they cannot do much gameplay wise with a controller that works just like a gun in an arcade game. Point and shoot after watching the cutscenes and repeat. This is one of the forgotten installments of the franchise, likely due to the quick decline of the Wii.
Dead Space: Ignition (2010)
This is another attempt in the franchise to move away from the Survival Horror Genre and into something new. Following on from the Wii game of Extraction, Ignition came to the Xbox 360 and PS3. Unfortunately it sits as one of the forgettable installments in the franchise. Perhaps due to it straying away from what made the original excel as a Horror Game. Being developed by different Developers, just like Extraction, the game follows a completely different gameplay and art style. Ignition is an action puzzle game, bringing in the fanbase from the 2009 Dead Space but disappointing them with its final product. The game plays as if you are watching a comic book come to life, however its stark contrast with gameplay of puzzles in the standard PS3/Xbox design did not translate well.
Dead Space 2 (2011)
Dead Space 2 continued the legacy that the previous had created for Survival Horror Games. Bringing back the story of Isaac Clarke with some of the best moments of horror we have ever experienced. The atmosphere is significantly better than the original. Feeling like a more polished version of the original. Similar to how Resident Evil improved with its sequel. The second installment continues the third-person Survival Horror design, with great combat, even better horror than the original and a prologue that would traumatise and inspire many games to come. With the perfect balance of action and horror for all fans of both genres to try their luck against the twisted abominations of Dead Space 2.
Dead Space (2011)
Alongside the release of the highly anticipated sequel, Dead Space was remade on Mobile by a different Developer than Visceral Games. With graphics looking more like The Thing (2002) than the original, this game took the same narrative but switched up the gameplay. For it being a Mobile game, it had to switch to handle touchscreen controls. However it kept the horror that we all grew to love, alongside the third-person action of shooting and using stasis against enemies. It is a faithful remake to the original in the form of a Mobile Game. Where not many flaws can be found within the game. It is a shame that Mobile Games like this do not exist in 2023.
Dead Space 3 (2013)
The long awaited return of Dead Space fell short after its release due to the change in genre. Moving away from a third-person Survival Horror Game and more into an Action Sci-Fi Adventure. Dead Space 3 lost what made the trilogy stand out to both action and horror fans. The removal of the horror turned it more into what happened with both Resident Evil 5 and 6. Feeling like the end of what could have been a fantastic trilogy. As the original has been remade for the newest generation of consoles, we hope that this will be remade and faithful to the third-person horror experience which we know can be delivered. Dead Space 3 offered an interesting end to Isaac Clarke, unknowing of what fate awaits him. If the game stayed within its original genre, we might have seen a fourth installment instead of a remake.
Dead Space (2023)
The second and final remake to Dead Space (2008) released as of January 27th, 2023. Being a faithful remake to the original, we see the return of one of the best Horror Game protagonists. Being 15 years since its original release, those who grew up playing the original Dead Space can revisit their youth in playing through the horrifying outer space experience. With memorable monsters, excellent use of the survival gameplay elements such as limited inventory space, Dead Space returns for fans of the genre. As a faithful remake for new fans to experience as the original will not be played for the newer audiences on PS5/ Xbox Series X.
We hope your enjoyed our list of all Dead Space Games in order of their release. As you can see, the franchise has moved away from its original genre time and time again. However its success lies within the first and second game, keeping within and creating a fantastic horror game with action elements. For more Dead Space content, take a look at: How to Manage Inventory Effectively in Dead Space or How to Hide Disturbing Scenes in Dead Space. You can also follow us on Facebook for more Horror Game content, including more Dead Space Remake guides coming soon.
