Summary
When the pilot episode of Twin Peaks aired in the spring of 1990, it immediately gripped the world’s attention. Nothing like it had aired on television before, and conversations about who killed Laura Palmer became unavoidable in most circles.
Audiences were fascinated by the show’s memorable characters, odd sense of humor, and the unexpected darkness behind it all. Twin Peaks has inspired other movies and TV shows, but there are also plenty of games that borrow the best parts of the series to create an interactive journey through a different kind of nightmare.
October 13th, 2017
Number of Players
1
The first Evil Within was directed by Shinji Mikami, one of the creators behindResident Evil, and it’s a pretty straightforward survival horror game. Its sequel took things in a different direction to create a more memorable experience that includes some direct references to Twin Peaks.
During the second chapter ofEvil Within 2, you’ll spend most of your time exploring an area that feels like a combination of the Baker House fromResident Evil 7and the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks. You’ll alsodrink coffee to restore your health, another subtle nod to the TV show.
January 7th, 2013
Like Twin Peaks,Kentucky Route Zerois more often about vibes and the journey than the actual destination. All five of the game’s episodes provide absorbing perspectives on themes like the American Dream, addiction, and community through sharp writing and mesmerizing visuals.
Kentucky Route Zero draws you in with its relatable characters and easy-to-follow story before itslowly melts into a surreal adventurecontaining giant eagles, haunting boat rides, and more. During the third episode, there is a performance at a bar that’s evocative of the music Julee Cruise contributed to Twin Peaks.
February 23rd, 2022
Who’s Lila takes the “missing person in a small-town” format and twists it into a clever game that wears its influences on its sleeve. Instead of investigating the case as an agent, you play as one of the suspects who must take matters into their own hands to prove their innocence.
Your character has a tough time expressing his personality, so it’s up to you to manipulate his facial features to make people believe you. This unique mechanic changes the narrative based on how you react to each situation and can lead you to one of the game’s many endings.
January 30th, 2015
Almost every entry in theLife is Strangeseries contains homages or references to Twin Peaks, but the first game is the one that feels the closest to the show’s tone. You follow Max Caulfield, a promising young photographer who returns to her hometown with just as many quirky characters and dark secrets as Twin Peaks.
Beyond the search for her missing friend, Max also discovers that she can manipulate time, which adds an intriguing supernatural element to the familiar formula. The prequel game - Before the Storm - is very similar to Fire Walk With Me, as itprovides more context leading into the eventsof the main adventure.
September 25th, 2001
During its darkest moments, Twin Peaks pivots from a soap opera to a psychological thriller as the dark truth beneath the town begins to reveal itself. TheSilent Hillseries - especially the second game - effectively combines real-life drama with chilling horror sequences to create a similar atmosphere.
Silent Hill and Twin Peaks are small American towns with mysterious backgrounds, odd characters, and nightmare-inducing monsters. As silly as theDog Ending is in Silent Hill 2, it’s the same kind of humor David Lynch infuses into most of his projects.
March 30th, 2017
Developed by the creators of Maniac Mansion andThe Secret of Monkey Island, Thimbleweed Park is an adventure game about two FBI agents who are sent to the titular town to investigate a murder. Heavily inspired by Twin Peaks and The X-Files, Thimbleweed Park captures the essence of these shows and turns them into another intriguing mystery.
As much as Thimbleweed Park emulates genre shows like True Detective, it often embraces humor over terror. You won’t walk away from the game with any new phobias, but there is a satisfying case to solve in Thimbleweed Park if you want to feel like Dale Cooper or Dana Scully for a few hours.
December 23rd, 1998
Twin Peaks was just as popular in Japan as in North America and helped influence games still technically unavailable to Western audiences, like Mizzurna Falls. While a fan translation exists, it’s still a bit of a mystery as to why the game didn’t receive an international release.
Like most games inspired by Twin Peaks, Mizzurna Falls follows a young man as he tries to find a missing high school student. What helps it stand out from other games is that you only have seven days to solve the crime, and how you choose to spend your time can lead you to one of three different endings.
August 6th, 1993
Link’s Awakeningis easily one of the most unique entries in the long-runningLegend of Zeldaseries, and most of that is due to Takashi Tezuka’s - the director of the game - desire to emulate the vibes and atmosphere of Twin Peaks.
Featuring a world full of memorable characters and interactions, it’s easy to see the similarities between this version of Link and Dale Cooper. Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frostmade a post in 2023commenting on how he met up with Nintendo to give them ideas for Link’s Awakening, though how much he was involved with the project is still unknown.
May 18th, 2010
BothAlan Wakegames feature references to Stephen King, The Shining, and The Twilight Zone, but Twin Peaks is one of its biggest inspirations. Even the local diner in Alan Wake is modeled exactly after the iconic Double R Diner featured throughout the TV show.
Instead of simply placing references to Twin Peaks throughout both games, Alan Wake takes Twin Peaks' themes of duality and desperation and builds upon them to create its own captivating identity. Alan Wake andAlan Wake 2are the best games to play to experience something similar to Twin Peaks with their fantastic writing, action, and unpredictable twists.
February 23rd, 2010
Deadly Premonitiontakes most of its ideas from Twin Peaks and spins them into a twenty-hour adventure that is often considered to be more ambitious than good. It goes above and beyond to make sure you know what it’s referencing, which can be either satisfying or frustrating, depending on how patient you are with its mechanics.
Both Deadly Premonition games take the campiness and horror of Twin Peaks and crank the dial beyond its limit for an unpredictable and hilarious adventure starring a strange cast of characters and plenty of fine cups of coffee.
