Boss Team Games Reveals Two New Games Based on Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead!

In a surprise announcement yesterday, Boss Team Games unveiled their upcoming projects, set to release this October. In a press release, the studio introduced RetroRealms, a new series of console and PC games. The first two titles in this series are based on the iconic horror franchise Halloween by John Carpenter and the Starz original series Ash vs Evil Dead.

What is Halloween?

The Halloween franchise is a series of slasher films that began in 1978 with the release of the original movie directed by John Carpenter. The story follows Michael Myers, a masked killer who escapes from a mental institution and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, to stalk and kill unsuspecting teenagers. The film is credited with popularizing the slasher genre and has since become one of the most enduring and influential horror franchises in cinema history.

The series has spawned numerous sequels, reboots, and spin-offs, with Michael Myers becoming an iconic figure in horror. His relentless pursuit of victims, coupled with the eerie score composed by Carpenter himself, has cemented Halloween as a cornerstone of horror cinema.

What is Ash vs Evil Dead?

Ash vs Evil Dead is a horror-comedy TV series that serves as a continuation of the Evil Dead film franchise, which began in the early 1980s. The show, created by Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, and Tom Spezialy, originally aired on Starz from 2015 to 2018.

The series picks up decades after the events of the original films, following Ash Williams, the chainsaw-wielding anti-hero played by Bruce Campbell. Ash is older and still working as a stock boy at a department store, living a seemingly mundane life. However, he is soon forced back into action when the evil forces of the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis—an ancient, cursed book that can summon demons—are unleashed once again.

Throughout the series, Ash teams up with new allies, including Pablo Simon Bolivar (played by Ray Santiago) and Kelly Maxwell (played by Dana DeLorenzo), as they battle Deadites (possessed, zombie-like creatures) and other supernatural threats. The show is known for its blend of horror, dark humor, and over-the-top gore, much like the original films.

Ash vs Evil Dead was praised for staying true to the spirit of the Evil Dead franchise while expanding on its mythology and providing fans with more of the humor and horror they loved. The series has since gained a cult following, much like the movies that preceded it.

“Everyone at Boss Team Games is a huge fan of horror, and working with these legendary properties is a dream come true,” said Steve Harris, CEO of Boss Team Games, in the press release. “It’s been an incredible experience collaborating with WayForward and our licensors to create not one, but two fast-paced 90s-style arcade games while staying true to the original Halloween film and the Ash vs Evil Dead series. The trailer released today gives fans a glimpse of the blood-soaked gameplay and frenetic action, and we can’t wait to show more!”

Both RetroRealms: Halloween and RetroRealms: Ash vs Evil Dead, as depicted in the announcement trailer, are 16-bit platformers. The games will be released on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox on October 18th. Each game can be purchased separately through a digital storefront for $24.99, or you can opt for a physical Double Feature bundle, retailing at $49.99.

While the games can be purchased and played independently, Boss Team Games is encouraging fans to buy both. The studio notes in the press release that owning both titles will unlock additional features for players.

The announcement of these two games is just one of many projects Boss Team Games currently has in the works. Yesterday, IGN exclusively revealed that the studio is also developing another game based on John Carpenter’s Halloween IP. This game, which doesn’t yet have a release date, will run on Unreal Engine 5, with franchise creator John Carpenter “intimately involved” in the project.

With these exciting new releases, Boss Team Games is set to bring retro horror gaming to a new level, blending nostalgic gameplay with beloved horror franchises. Fans of both Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead have plenty to look forward to this October.