Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Saros review
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Best turn-based RPGs
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • Delta Force giveaway
Don't miss these
A close-up shot of Pinhead from Hellraiser
Horror Games Upcoming horror games for 2026 and beyond
A header image for the Best Games 2026 list with a GamesRadar+ logo, showing Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Marathon, and Monster Hunter Stories 3
Games The best games to play in 2026, so far
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 producer launches a bizarre attack over negative reviews despite its 74% Rotten Tomatoes score
Lewis Tan as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 is one of the highest-rated video game movies of all time on Rotten Tomatoes
Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil
Horror Movies Upcoming horror movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Leon exits his Porsche into streets at night in Resident Evil Requiem
Horror Games The 10 best Resident Evil games of all time
A close-up of Leon, frowning in a big black coat, in Resident Evil Requiem
Horror Games The 25 best horror games worth playing in 2026
Close-up of concerned looking Paranormal Activity: Threshold character
Horror Games Paranormal Activity game dead after Paramount refuses to give legendary Mortuary Assistant creator more dev time
Resident Evil 4 Remake screenshot of Leon holding a pistol
Horror Games 10 games like Resident Evil to scare you silly in 2026
Alien: Isolation
Horror Games After 11 years, first Alien Isolation sequel teaser trailer is here, and fans are more than ready
Jurassic Park: Survival announcement screenshot with a woman holding a flare and a roaring T-Rex.
Stealth Games Jurassic Park: Survival – Everything we know so far about the new Jurassic Park game
Michael Myers standing in a doorway during the trailer for Halloween: The Game.
Horror Games Halloween: Everything you need to know about IllFonic's new horror game starring Michael Myers
The best NES games: a screenshot of collection of NES games and a Nintendo console.
Games The 10 best NES games of all time
A screenshot of the upcoming PS5 game, Directive 8020.
Horror Games Until Dawn dev's new sci-fi horror offers "a different, more mature" experience riffing off Alien
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games

A history of Friday the 13th in video games

Features
By David Houghton published 13 May 2011

Horror cinema enthusiast Dave takes you through an in-depth look at a masked machete madman's career in games

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Friday the 13th. Superstitiously the unluckiest day of the year. But in 1980, it proved to be particularly unlucky for a bunch of fictional summer camp councelors at the Crystal Lake resort, as a bloody reign of terror began in the first Friday the 13th movie. That legendary gore rampage has continued through nine sequels, a Nightmare on Elm St. crossover and a more-fun-than-it-had-any-right-to-be remake, and has cemented hockey-masked aficionado of disembowellment Jason Voorhees as one of horror cinema's most iconic antagonists. So, with today itself being Friday the 13th, we thought it was high-time for an in-depth retrospective look at the movie franchise's storied history with our beloved video game medium.

Yeah, basically there were only two Friday the 13th games, one on the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1986, and one on the NES in 1989. Both were utter crap, and the NES version is widely accepted to be one of the worst games of all time.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Friday the 13th:

Latest Videos From
You may like
  • Jason Voorhees lies temporarily defeated as a camp counselor stands before him in Friday the 13th's Game Boy Color fan remake Cult classic NES Friday the 13th game has a fan remake made "from scratch" for Game Boy Color
  • Michael Myers standing in a doorway during the trailer for Halloween: The Game. Halloween: Everything you need to know about IllFonic's new horror game starring Michael Myers
  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre "They're not good enough," joke devs behind "self-feeding" horror giant stuck in the Steam Top 50 while others rot

May 13, 2011

Yeah, basically there were only two Friday the 13th games, one on the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1986, and one on the NES in 1989. Both were utter crap, and the NES version is widely accepted to be one of the worst games of all time.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Friday the 13th:

May 13, 2011

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
David Houghton
David Houghton
Social Links Navigation
Former GamesRadar+ Features Writer

Former (and long-time) GamesRadar+ writer, Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.

Read more
Jason Voorhees lies temporarily defeated as a camp counselor stands before him in Friday the 13th's Game Boy Color fan remake
Horror Games Cult classic NES Friday the 13th game has a fan remake made "from scratch" for Game Boy Color
 
 
Michael Myers standing in a doorway during the trailer for Halloween: The Game.
Horror Games Halloween: Everything you need to know about IllFonic's new horror game starring Michael Myers
 
 
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Survival Horror Games "They're not good enough," joke devs behind "self-feeding" horror giant stuck in the Steam Top 50 while others rot
 
 
A close-up of Leon, frowning in a big black coat, in Resident Evil Requiem
Horror Games The 25 best horror games worth playing in 2026
 
 
The best survival horror games: a screenshot from Resident Evil 7.
Survival Horror Games The 10 best survival horror games to test your endurance skills
 
 
A close-up shot of Pinhead from Hellraiser
Horror Games Upcoming horror games for 2026 and beyond
 
 
Latest in Games
Leon attacks a zombie in the care center using a hatchet in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem gets free roguelike minigame Leon Must Die Forever, which Capcom had been teasing in plain sight
 
 
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 peasants drinking at a table
Action RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead designer says "friction is intentionally" in the RPG
 
 
A sunset over a landscape made up of hexagon tiles
Strategy Games After 3 years of work, GTA 4 dev's sandbox game hits Steam
 
 
Close-up of concerned looking Paranormal Activity: Threshold character
Horror Games Paranormal Activity game dead after Paramount refuses to give legendary Mortuary Assistant creator more dev time
 
 
Old School RuneScape carrying treasure
MMO Games Old School RuneScape players riot as YouTuber's account is reset hours after finishing 3-month grind
 
 
A little frog wearing a hat and riding a sled in Sledding Game
Co-op Games Solo dev stunned as his "first ever video game" sells 100,000 copies in 5 days on Steam
 
 
Latest in Features
Fox McCloud's rival Falco sitting in the cockpit of an Arwing in a screenshot taken from Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 Star Fox 64 remains one of Nintendo's greatest action games, and its Switch 2 remake will prove it to a new generation
 
 
Adeline Rudolph as Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 ending explained: who fights, who dies and every fatality
 
 
MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander deck and boosters on a wooden table
Tabletop Gaming MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks, ranked
 
 
An older Makoto wars a hat and glasses, with neon lights behind him in Stranger Than Heaven
Action RPGs Stranger Than Heaven offers the grounded refresh I've been desperate to see from Yakuza RPGs for years
 
 
A picture of Classic Marathon showing the player walking down a corridor in first-person with a gun drawn and a terminal at the other corner
FPS Games I played Marathon and its 1994 predecessor to see how Bungie has evolved over the years
 
 
Woman wearing bandana appears up-close in front of rocky waters and shipwrecks
Survival Games Windrose balances brutal survival with cheat-style forgiveness in a way that keeps bringing me back
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Hand holding ROG Xbox Ally X in front of monitor with Xbox "Consistent Experience" graphic displayed with devices using same UI.
    1
    Your Xbox console and handheld could soon look the same, but I'm wary of Microsoft's UI pitch
  2. 2
    Resident Evil Requiem gets free roguelike minigame Leon Must Die Forever, which Capcom had been teasing in plain sight all along
  3. 3
    D&D launches Game Pass-style subscription system with free encounters, maps, and more
  4. 4
    Andy Serkis says he doesn't see a difference between game and movie acting, and says "Hollywood is using video game engines" to help with action scenes
  5. 5
    The rumors are true: The Batman 2 is set in winter as Matt Reeves delivers perfect first look

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...