Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that has been used with modification as oncolytic viruses (OVs) against a number of tumor types. OVs represent a new class of therapeutic agents that promote anti-tumour responses through a dual mechanism of action that is dependent on selective tumor cell killing and the induction of systemic anti-tumour immunity. Among OVs, HSVs preferentially replicate in and lyse cancer cells, leading to in situ autovaccination, adaptive anti-virus and anti-tumor immunity. Suppression of antitumor immunity after OV therapy has been observed and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action are recently reported. ICP47, a small protein produced by the herpes simplex virus, is considered as an important factor in the evasion of cellular immune responses in HSV-infected cells. Therefore, reviewing the research status of ICP47 is certainly helpful to improve the anti-tumor effect of oncolytic HSVs (oHSVs). Here, this review will focus on the following contents: 1) Anti-tumor mechanism of OVs; 2) Functions of early HSV genes; 3) The mechanism of immune escape of ICP47; 4) Recombinant HSV against cancer; 5) The functional verification of ICP47 deletion. This review highlights the current understanding of recombinant HSVs against cancers.