10 Celebrated Horror Directors That Made Video Games
9. Jordan Peele
Game Credits: OD: Knock
Peele has certainly had an interesting ride within the showbiz industry. Initially well known as part of the comedy duo Key & Peele, after the sketch show ended, Peele reinvented himself as a distinctive and seismic voice in modern horror with his Oscar-winning feature debut, Get Out. Since then, he has spearheaded several projects as a producer in both film and TV, including rebooted versions of Candyman and The Twilight Zone. While his follow-up directorial films, Us and Nope, received mixed receptions, his name remains one of the few in modern horror that can be splashed across a title and instantly draw attention.
Video game director Hideo Kojima is a true rockstar of the medium, whose love for cinema is woven through all his games (and it’s no surprise this won’t be the last time he's mentioned in this list). The Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding franchises especially drip with cinematic influence. Kojima has a habit of pulling in film references and guest appearances - and in the case of Peele, he’s brought in a genuine collaborator.
Kojima’s upcoming Xbox-published horror title, OD: Knock, looks to be his first outright horror game after an infamous false start (more on that later). It was revealed on stage at The Game Awards 2023, where Peele joined Kojima to discuss the project, confirming that he is part of a writers’ team nicknamed “The Avengers” helping to craft what promises to be a one-of-a-kind scare experience unlike any other.