[Commlist] CFP: Horror Videogames - A Companion

*Call for Papers:* /Horror Videogames: A Companion/

*Editors:* Connor Jackson and Ewan Kirkland

This publication – which is planned for submission to Peter Lang’s Genre 
Fiction and Film Companions <https://www.peterlang.com/series/gffc> 
series – aims to provide readers with an accessible yet scholarly 
overview of the historical, cultural, technological and aesthetic 
dimensions of the horror videogame, organised around an extensive series 
of short case studies. Accordingly, we are seeking abstracts for a 
series of shorter chapters presenting critical analyses of key titles in 
the genre’s history.

Videogames should be chosen for their popular cultural impacts, 
uniqueness and innovative contributions to the horror genre and 
videogame medium. The collection will cover a variety of time periods, 
platforms, development contexts, countries of origin and sub-genres. It 
will also feature various manifestations of horrific content; from 
monsters, zombies, ghosts, and eldritch abominations to psychological 
horror, jump scares, and fourth wall-breaking cult games. Each chapter 
will justify its selected case study as a noteworthy horror videogame, 
while also embedding its chosen text within academic discussions of 
genre, storytelling, design and/or affect.

The collection will be divided into several sections, which are detailed 
below alongside suggested entries. We welcome submission on the 
suggested videogames, as well as submissions on videogames that are not 
on our list of suggested entries. Please note that we do not require 
submissions on Left 4 Dead (2008) or Five Night’s at Freddy’s (2014), as 
these titles will be covered by the editors.

*Sections and Suggested Entries*

*Early Horror Videogames:* /3D Monster Maze/ (1981), /Haunted House/ 
(1982), /Carmageddon /(1997), /Clock Tower/ (1995), /Alone in the Dark/ 
(1992), /Doom/ (1993)

*Canonical Horror Videogames:* /Resident Evil/ (1996), /Silent Hill/ 
(1999), /Fatal Frame/ (2001), /Dead Space/ (2008), /Eternal Darkness: 
Sanity’s Requiem/ (2002)

*Horror Videogame Sequels:* /Silent Hill 2/ (2002), /Alan Wake 2/ 
(2023), /Little Nightmares II /(2021), /Amnesia: Rebirth/ (2020), 
/Resident Evil 4/ (2005)

*Adaptation in Horror Videogames: */Alien: Isolation/ (2014), /Resident 
Evil 7: Biohazard/ (2017), /The Walking Dead/ (2012), /Dead Rising/ 
(2006), /American McGee’s Alice/ (2000)

*Multiplayer Horror Videogames:* /The Outlast Trials/ (2024), /Dead by 
Daylight/ (2016), /Phasmophobia/ (2020)

*Indie Horror Videogames:* /Mouthwashing/ (2024), /Carrion/ (2020), 
/Signalis/ (2022), /Mundaun/ (2021), /Murder House/ (2020)

Please send chapter abstracts of around 200 words (excluding references) 
alongside bios of up to 100 words to Connor Jackson ((jacksoc1 /at/ hope.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(jacksoc1 /at/ hope.ac.uk)>) and Ewan Kirkland ((ewan.kirkland /at/ uca.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(ewan.kirkland /at/ uca.ac.uk)>) by Sunday 31st August 2025 with the 
subject heading: “Horror Videogames Abstract”.

Abstract titles should follow the same format, with the game title and a 
subheading indicating the area/focus of horror to be addressed. For 
example, “/Left 4 Dead/ (2008) – The Horror of Abandonment” and “/Five 
Nights at Freddy’s/ (2014) – Service Industry Horror.”

If you are interested in covering more than one videogame, feel free to 
add a list of up to 3 other titles alongside your submission. Should 
your submission entry be in high demand, the editors may contact you to 
discuss your secondary options.

Also, if you have any questions, please send them to the above-mentioned 
email addresses. Full chapters should be 2,500-3,000 words (excluding 
references).

*Provisional Timeframe*

CFP Deadline: Sunday 31st August 2025

CFP Feedback by end of September 2025

Completed Chapters by end of January 2026

Feedback with potential edits by end of April 2026

Chapters returned by end of June 2026

Submission of final draft to editors by end of August 2026

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