Key Takeaways

• Cult classics like Night Of The Living Dead originated as B-movies, showcasing charm in their low-budget origins.
• Earth Defense Force 5 and Destroy All Humans offer B-movie-inspired gameplay full of campy fun and chaotic action.
• Huntdown, Chop Goblins, and Maximum Action pay homage to 80s and 90s B-movie aesthetics with retro style and immersive gameplay.

Though there have been many outstanding blockbusters over the years, some of cinema’s most cherished films began their lives as B-movies. Night Of The Living Dead (1968), Evil Dead (1981), and Big Trouble In Little China (1986) – some of the most celebrated cult classics are B-movies.

These films are usually, but not always, exploitative in nature, with easy commercial appeal, usually falling into a strict genre, originally made to play alongside an “A” movie and now more loosely defined as a low-budget picture. Because of their limitations and low pressure to perform, B-movies, while frequently formulaic, tend to bring with them a certain charm. Camp dialogue, over-the-top action, and slapstick humor aren’t uncommon, and video games have paid loving homage to all the aspects that make B-movies so fun.

1 Earth Defense Force 5

An Exaggerated Third-Person Battle Against Alien Hordes

Harnessing the massive scale of old-school alien invasion films, the Earth Defense Force series is commonly celebrated for its B-movie atmosphere. In the game, players fight off a diverse ensemble of alien creatures as one of four distinct character classes.

Earth Defense Force 5 can be played alone, but the game also supports online and local co-op, allowing players to enjoy the B-movie chaos together. This game’s greatest strengths are its large scale and frenetic action. However, like many B-movies themselves, it’s not the most visually impressive title out there.

2 Destroy All Humans!

A Tongue-In-Cheek Action Sandbox Inspired By 50s Invasion Films

With a shiny new remake being made available on Steam back in 2020, there’s never been a better time to jump into the hysterically camp, B-movie world of Destroy All Humans. This title channels the energy of old-school alien invasion flicks with its tongue firmly in its cheek, more than a little similar to Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks in 1996.

Gameplay-wise, Destroy All Humans is an action sandbox replete with opportunities for a variety of antics. Giving players control of a maniacal alien antagonist on 1950s Earth results in an experience that’s unhinged, nostalgic, and appropriately silly. Destroy All Humans is old-school fun, featuring third-person action that’s supported by the game’s sandbox environments, a diverse arsenal of quirky weapons, and a unique power fantasy.

3 Huntdown

A Side-Scrolling Run-And-Gun Platformer Inspired By Action Cinema

This retro-style indie game features an old-school run-and-gun gameplay loop, with plenty of gun-fighting action and 2D platforming. Huntdown offers a tight and addictive design, spread across a variety of levels for players to chew through, but the game’s immediately apparent B-movie styling is arguably what makes it such a charming experience.

John Carpenter’s Escape From New York and the Corman-produced Death Race 2000 (1975) are clear inspirations for Huntdown’s world, as well as the over-the-top nature of 80s action cinema as a whole. The gritty, tongue-in-cheek characters, extravagant bosses, thematic enemies, and evocative sci-fi environments make for a thrilling homage overall. Furthermore, Huntdown‘s retro run-and-gun gameplay is complete with an immersive cover system that adds a tactical layer to the experience and further allows this nostalgic title to stand out on its own.

4 Chop Goblins

A Micro Boomer Shooter Inspired By Gremlins

• Platform(s): PC, Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2022
• Developer(s): David Szymanski
• Genre: FPS

Channeling the energy of low-budget action-horror flicks such as Gremlins, Chop Goblins sees DUSK developer David Szymanski offering players a short but sweet first-person shooter that’s intentionally designed to be beaten in a single session of play. Despite its short length, Chop Goblins propels players through all manner of environments, using time travel as its core narrative device.

The high-pitched squeals and unhinged personalities of the titular Chop Goblins, the game’s antagonists, are what makes this low-budget title so special, mixing horror and comedy in perfect measure. The story, despite being told in short blocks of text between missions, is also full of whimsy, giving players a little context to the first-person action, but the old-school FPS gameplay and commitment to brevity is one of Chop Goblins‘ greatest strengths.

5 Maximum Action

A B-Movie Action Sandbox

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: 2018
• Developer(s): George Mandell
• Genre: FPS

Fans of Max Payne, FEAR, and the frenetic action cinema of John Woo are more than likely to enjoy the fast-paced action sandbox of Maximum Action. This first-person shooter allows players to blast through a variety of missions inspired by classic shootouts from 80s and 90s action films, utilizing a wide variety of weighty weapons and slow-motion, bullet-time mechanics along the way.

Players can expect veritable storms of bullets whizzing to and fro, plenty of stylish action, and chunky low-poly visuals. Maximum Action is a straightforward experience, with essentially no narrative or meaning behind it, but it makes up for this in spades with its sandbox gameplay, encouraging players to run through each of its missions with as much style as they can muster.

6 Left 4 Dead 2

A Timeless Co-Op Experience With A B-Movie Atmosphere

Assuming they haven’t played it already, given the game’s immense popularity, fans of B-movie zombie films such as Night Of The Living Dead are more than likely to enjoy Left 4 Dead 2. Everything from the group of charismatic, archetypal characters and exaggerated violence, to the way the game represents each campaign with an old-school movie poster, the presentation of Left 4 Dead 2 takes clear inspiration from the realm of B-movies.

Despite its increasing age, Left 4 Dead 2 is practically timeless. The combination of a superb AI “director,” a variety of unique campaigns, and chaotic first-person gameplay still holds up today, and the way the game encourages teamwork through its variety of special enemies makes it a great co-op experience.

Over-The-Top Espionage And A Relentless B-Movie Narrative

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a tongue-in-cheek homage to bombastic action cinema and old-school espionage films such as James Bond, offering a non-stop B-movie narrative that’s packed with ridiculous moments, characters, and action, highlighted by an exaggerated tone. The game’s blend of immersive stealth and intentional action results in a diverse gameplay loop that can be a little tough to get to grips with, especially in the modern era, but it can be an immersive experience once acclimated.

Players expecting a self-serious narrative or constant action will quickly be disappointed by Metal Gear Solid 3, however, as it’s a consistently extravagant experience that frequently intersperses its gameplay with lengthy cutscenes and character dialogue. However, patient players who enjoy stealth-focused gameplay and exaggerated B-movie narratives are sure to get a kick out of this classic title.

8 Resident Evil 4

A Careful Blend Of Action And Horror, Elevated By B-Movie Charm

There are arguably better horror games in the Resident Evil franchise. Resident Evil 4 changed the formula a great deal, removing much about what made the original games so special while improving other aspects of the gameplay, shifting the series in an entirely different direction. However, there’s no denying that Resident Evil 4 also breathed new life into the franchise, innovating in the process. While some adore Resident Evil 4 for its patented blend of action and horror, one of its key selling points is its B-movie charm.

The camp style and exaggerated tone of Resident Evil 4 perfectly captures the energy of B-movies, though this starkly contrasts the tone of its influences, such as 1973’s The Wicker Man and the wholly unsettling Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Fans of camp, low-budget horror movies such as The Evil Dead and over-the-shoulder action will certainly get a kick out of Resident Evil 4, both the original and its celebrated remake.