Alone in the Dark (1992)
The Forefather of 3D Survival Horror and Fixed-Camera Narrative
Alone in the Dark is a landmark 1992 survival horror video game designed by Frédérick Raynal and published by French company Infogrames for MS-DOS. Establishing the genre template later popularized by Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
The Horrors of Derceto Mansion
Set in a haunted 1920s Louisiana plantation, players investigate as private investigator Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood. Raynal pioneered the technique of superimposing real-time polygonal characters over pre-rendered, fixed-camera backgrounds.
Founding the Survival Horror Formula
With scarce ammunition, resource conservation, physical puzzles, and the tactical ability to barricade doors against eldritch abominations, Alone in the Dark codified modern survival horror four years prior to Capcom's Resident Evil.