The chilling screams of the vampire on a dark, lonely night, the appearance and disappearance of the mysterious little girl in the woods, the shadow of psychological horror looming large on the protagonist – welcome to the world of Japanese horror games.
Unique in its style, content, script, and characterization, haunting video games from Japan have transformed the video gaming industry, adding more mature themes and making the world of horror more alive!
What makes these games so addictive and exclusive is their distinctive visuals. These games create obstructive visions, using shadows and lighting deftly and artistically. The diverse camera angles in such games manipulate the players’ experiences and keep the game engaging, keeping its scary quotient intact.
The best horror games from Japan draw heavily from the country’s rich storytelling culture that includes Japanese folklore, mythology, and innumerable ghost stories. The narratives of multiple Japanese horror video games have their roots embedded in laughing demons, zombie fiction, Japanese classic folktales, and urban legends.
Want to dive into the best haunting video games from Japan? Here’s a specially curated list to encourage you to experience horror like never before!
Hanako
Hanako is one of the short survival Japanese horror games with a minor VHS style launched in late 2020 by independent developer Chilla’s Art, known for developing short horror titles such as The Convenience Store and Night Delivery. This game is based on the popular Japanese urban legend “Hanako-san of the Toilet,” it follows an unidentified protagonist and their companions, Eri and Yume, as they try to contact the ghost girl Hanako.
The three fifth graders sneak into the school at night to use Hanako to curse one of their classmates after discovering that the legend began at their school. After they finish the ceremony, Hanako turns her attention to the trio. The game has multiple possible conclusions depending on the player’s choices.
Developer: Chilla’s Art
Publisher: Chilla’s Art
Release date: 11 December, 2020
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Corpse Party
The J-horror visual novel adventure game Corpse Party has generated a whole franchise despite its origins as a Japanese-only PC-98 title. A group of high school students and their homeroom teacher find themselves transferred to the parallel universe of Heavenly Host Elementary School in the horror video games. The only way for the protagonists to get out of this deadly schoolhouse is to figure out the horrible truths that the ghosts are guarding.
Following the original’s success, the remasters expanded the story by including new characters, settings, and backstories. The Sachiko Ever After charm is a new component; the paper doll magic transports the protagonists to another dimension. This spell was written specifically for the show, but paper doll charms, or “Katashiro,” are a genuine element of Japanese culture.
Developer: MAGES
Publisher: XSEED Games, Marvelous UDSA, Inc.
Release date: 20 October, 2021
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
The Case Book of Arne
It’s not surprising that some of the best RPG Maker horror games fall under the radar, given the abundance of the genre. The Case Book of Arne, starring Arne Neuntöte as a vampire detective and Lynn Reinweiß, a young human noblewoman, is an example of a continuing supernatural mystery series. Following their unexpected encounter, Lynn and Arne go on an exciting adventure that may lead them to the truth about their pasts.
Arne and his family reside in Lügenberg, a town that lies within a parallel reality inhabited by beings other than humans. The town and its inhabitants, largely based on figures from Japanese folklore, are open for exploration during the first case and the DLC. The urban legend “Hachishaku-sama” is a spirit who, when she abducts children, takes the shape of a tall woman.
Developer: Vaka Game Magazine, Harumurasaki
Publisher: Vaka Game Magazine
Release Date: 29 October, 2020
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Aka Manto
Aka Manto is one of the best horror games. It is a survival horror game released in 2019 and inspired by the titular Japanese urban legend. Also, it is another offering from Chilla’s Art. Aka Manto is a ghost who appears in lavatories, much like Hanako-san does. The Aka Manto, on the other hand, looks nothing like a schoolgirl and always presents the victim with a sheet of red or blue paper before taking their soul. The victim has no chance of survival, no matter which paper is chosen, as they both end in a horrible death.
As punishment for “getting too close” to their crush, Maiko and Haruna force the protagonist inside the haunted school at night. There, you’ll learn the legend of the Aka Manto and have a chance to defeat its evil.
Developer: Chilla’s Art
Publisher: Chilla’s Art
Release Date: 23 September, 2019
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Twilight Syndrome
Twilight Syndrome is a series of horror-mystery adventure games developed by Human Entertainment, the studio responsible for the Clock Tower games. These games are among the many excellent J-horror titles that have never received official English releases. The games usually center around high school students tasked with debunking urban legends circulating their campuses and communities.
Both the 1996 original Twilight Syndrome and the 1997 sequel Moonlight Syndrome were directed by the now legendary video game filmmaker Goichi Suda, and the series continued with numerous more entries up to 2008. Since Spike developed the subsequent games, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair devotes an entire chapter to alluding to the original games.
Developer: Spike Co., Ltd., Xax Entertainment
Publisher: Spike Co., Ltd.
Release date: 24 July, 2008
Paranormal Syndrome
Paranormal Syndrome is one of the creepy video games. The Twilight Syndrome games inspire it and focus on overcoming urban tales to survive. Accidentally breaking an ancient contract between her family and the family of her best friend Mikoto Himeno, a high school student named Yuka Kajiro tries “Hitori Kakuro,” an urban legend ceremony that reportedly attracts spirits.
Now Mikoto must work with paranormal investigator Hitoshi Himuro and his associates to solve the mystery of her and Yuka’s families and end the ghostly happenings plaguing the world. Two sequels and a recreation of the original game’s first case have been released in subsequent years.
Developer: Yuuyami no Kisetsu.
Release date: 23 October, 2011
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
One of the terrifying horror games on the PS Vita, Spirit Hunter: Death Mark, was released in 2017 and is a visual novel adventure game. Kazuo Yashiki, the protagonist, is an amnesiac man who discovers a scar on his arm called the Mark in the fictional Tokyo neighborhood of H City. The Mark, so the urban legend goes, only appears on those whose spirits have cursed, and those who receive it don’t live long afterward.
Kazuo must go to different places, meet new people, and face several ghosts based on genuine urban legends to discover what happened to him and how to remove the Mark. In addition to the 2018 sequel Spirit Hunter: NG, a third installment titled Shinigami: Shibito Magire will be released.
Developer: Experience
Publisher: Aksys Games
Release Date: 4 April, 2019
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
World of Horror
World of Horror is a role-playing game that was available in Early Access in 2020 and draws inspiration from Junji Ito, H.P. Lovecraft, and classic video games. Strange occurrences and the awakening of Eldritch gods are plaguing the Japanese village of Shiokawa. To stop the world’s end, you play as one of numerous protagonists who must solve riddles and battle supernatural occurrences.
This game has various monsters, but many are rooted in Japanese folklore. Foes like Aka Manto and Hanako can show up at any point throughout a run.
Developer: Panstasz
Publisher: Ysbryd Games, PLAYISM
Release Date: 20 February, 2020
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard breathed new life into the brand, leaving big shoes to fill. Resident Evil Village did so admirably by bringing back the franchise’s trademark blend of horror and action. Developed as a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7, the player returns to the role of Ethan Winters, who is looking for his missing daughter, Rosemary, in a mutant-infested community.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Resident Evil Village - PlayStation 5 Standard Edition |
$23.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, one of the game’s antagonists, is the most well-known playable character introduced here. The Japanese urban legend “Hachishaku-sama,” in which a tall woman with black hair, a white hat, and a white dress is said to possess supernatural powers, was a major source of inspiration for her character. This is one of the best Resident Evil games available today!
Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Release Date: 7 May, 2021
Fatal Frame
Fatal Frame features Hachishaku-sama and other survival horror legends. In 1980s Japan, many playable characters investigate paranormal events and defeat ghosts using Camera Obscura, Dr. Kunihiko Asou’s instruments that injure ghosts.
The games are based on the creator’s ghostly encounters and Japanese horror flicks. Thus, many of the series’ ghosts are based on Japanese urban legends. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, the latest mainline game, features the “Tall Woman,” inspired by Hachishaku-sama.
Developer: KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
Publisher: KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
Release Date: 29 July, 2014
Final Thoughts
As of 2021, Japan holds a whipping value of $29 billion market share and occupies the third position in the ever-expanding video gaming industry. The horror video gaming industry is flourishing by leaps and bounds thanks to the J-horror games. The Japanese video games belonging to the horror genre are unique in themselves. Their games have specific rules, and their characters and situations differ from Western games.
So, if you wish to experience the joy (and fear!) of playing spine-chilling video games, try some creepy video games from Japan and lose yourself in the world of horrifying happenings! Beware, the ghosts are coming for you!
If you want to pair up with a friend and play horror games, you need to check out our list of the best co-op horror games!
