The House of the Dead
Also known as House of the Dead 1, HOTD
The House of the Dead is a 1996 light-gun arcade game developed by Sega AM1, a Sega arcade studio. It sends players blasting through a mansion and its grounds overrun with zombies and grotesque bio-engineered creatures.
Using a light gun on rails, you shoot advancing enemies while the game branches into alternate routes depending on your accuracy and whether you rescue trapped civilians along the way, encouraging repeat play to see every path. Multi-hit bosses, hidden bonuses, and a schlocky horror B-movie tone made it a standout in arcades and a foundational zombie shooter. The series helped cement the on-rails light-gun genre in the public consciousness and influenced later zombie games, even inspiring the comedic spin-off Typing of the Dead.
It was ported to home consoles, spawned numerous sequels, and was later remade, with its enduring popularity keeping the franchise going across arcades and home platforms for decades.
Where can you play The House of the Dead today?
Device by device, which of the 2 alternatives below you can play on it.
- PC
- The House of the Dead 2: Remake (€ 24,99) and Zombie Shooter Arcade (€ 7,99).
- Mac
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on Mac.
- Linux
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on Linux.
- iPhone
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on iPhone.
- iPad
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on iPad.
- Android phone
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on Android phone.
- Android tablet
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on Android tablet.
- PlayStation
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on PlayStation.
- Xbox
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on Xbox.
- Switch
- None of the alternatives to The House of the Dead runs on Switch.
- Steam Deck
- The House of the Dead 2: Remake (€ 24,99).
Games like The House of the Dead
Modern alternatives to The House of the Dead, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
The House of the Dead 2: Remake
€ 24,99A faithful remake of the beloved arcade zombie light-gun sequel.
The House of the Dead 2: Remake runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Zombie Shooter Arcade Indie
€ 7,99An indie on-rails zombie blaster echoing classic light-gun arcade design.
Zombie Shooter Arcade runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Untested.
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