Over the years, Japan has graced the west with a wide variety of magnificent and influential horror video games. A few notable titles areSilent Hill,Fatal Frame, andResident Evil. Japanese horror games are also important in how they’ve significantly impacted the video game community as a whole over the years.
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Japanese horror games have transformed the way we think about the horror game genre as well, a majority being influenced by folktales and even Western media. Unfortunately, not all Japanese horror games got released out of the country — turning these games into obscure and overall niche pieces of media. But, despite their obscurity, these types of horror games remain to be some of thegreatest additions to the horror video game community.
15Yuuyami Doori Tankentai
Yuuyami Doori Tankentai
Why Play Yuuyami Doori Tankentai?
With gameplay similar to Twilight Syndrome, Yuuyami Doori Tankentai was created with a desire to be a horrifying realistic tale. Following a group of junior high students as they explore paranormal urban legends, the adventure game features an eerie tale that’s reminiscent of iconic Japanese horror films like Ring and One Missed Call.
During the late ’90s in Japan, the trend of compelling horror stories really captured the masses' attention. It was with this popularity that the creators were inspired to develop the realistic masterpiece that is Yuuyami Doori Tankentai. However, this game gained its appreciation with time as it wasn’t rightfully loved as much during its release.
14Echo Night 2: The Lord Of Nightmares
Echo Night 2: Lord of Nightmares
Why Play Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares?
Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares is FromSoftware’s continuation of the Echo Night series; however, it isn’t a direct sequel to the first game as its story is independent. But, with similar game mechanics of a first-person perspective and no combat, Echo Night 2 doesn’t deviate too far from its predecessor.
Only officially released in Japan, Echo Night 2 was sought out by many Western Echo Night fans for years before the fan translation in 2015. Through this, the game got the opportunity to showcase its more linear and oddly relaxing atmosphere that slightly differed from the first game. For a game that entirely relies on your raw instincts, Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares is a worthy sequel in the series.
13Schoolhouse Horror Story
Schoolhouse Horror Story
Why Play Schoolhouse Horror Story?
The oddity in Schoolhouse Horror Story is one of the most charming parts of it. Known in Japan as Gakkou de atta Kowai Hanashi, this game is a frightening text-based visual novel that centers around a reporter. Writing for the school’s newspaper, you’re tasked with writing about the school’s various mysteries.
Schoolhouse Horror Story’s way of unfolding the story before you is uniquely told, with each of your choices impacting the way you’ll face the game’s outcome. Although it’s only a visual novel, it’s incredibly interactive at the same time. There are more than 50 possibilities, leaving you to crave to pick up the game once more and find out what could come next.
12Kowai Shashin
Kowai Shashin
Why Play Kowai Shashin?
Many iconically will claim that Kowai Shashin is a cursed game. Besides its haunting premise that is reminiscent of the Fatal Frame series, there are urban legends about the development, such as a developer having used real ghost-sighting photos.
Besides the urban tales, Kowai Shashin itself is pretty challenging and terrifying in its own right. Real-life photos fill the screen as you attempt to exorcise ghosts within them with timed button events. Through all of this, it has an eerie sense of realism that you won’t want to miss out on. Ultimately, it’s Kowai Shashin’s obscurity (and no English translation) that makes it feel so enticing to try out.
11Germs: The Targeted City
Germs: The Targeted City
Why Play Germs: The Targeted City?
Germs: The Targeted City is a strange open-world adventure with a creepy combination of a vibrant and gray color scheme. It’s an odd game played through a first-person perspective, vastly immersing you in the unexpected horrors that suddenly creep up on you.
Taking control of a newspaper reporter returning to their hometown to uncover its haunting incidents involving mutated creatures, you navigate through surreal environments. Germs: The Targeted City has a simple look in terms of its graphics. But it’s this simplicity that makes the game feel like you’re in a dream-like state. In other words, it tricks your brain into wondering what’s real and what’s not.
10Night Of Sacrifice
Night of Sacrifice
Why Play Night Of Sacrifice?
Ikenie no Yoru (Night of Sacrifice) was a Square Enix game that utilized a combination of the Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and the Wii Balance Board. Following five teenagers who explore a haunted mansion, the player has no weapons and instead has to run away from the ghosts to try and stay alive.
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Night of Sacrifice isn’t entirely regarded as terrifying, but it certainly has its moments. Merely being touched by the ghosts leaves you defenseless, killing you instantly. Overall, for those who love unique controls and exploring with touches of jump scares, Night of Sacrifice is definitely worth trying.
9Nameless Game
Nanashi no Game
Why Play The Nameless Game?
Published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS, Nanashi no Game (Nameless Game) is a first-person survival horror that explores the story of a university student who becomes cursed by playing the Nameless Game — which leaves the person with only seven days to live.
Throughout Nameless Game, you must solve puzzles while also interacting with the real world around you. With two possible endings depending on whether you collected all the special items, Nameless Game offers a lot of immersive gameplay with a soundtrack composed by Masayoshi Soken (composer for MMORPGFinal Fantasy XIVand RPGFinal Fantasy XVI). It will make you feel both uneasy and engrossed, being an utterly unique game.
Why Play Iru?
Similar to Clock Tower and Echo Night, Iru! is a low-budget, inventory-based survival horror for the PS1. The story accompanies high school students and teachers who find out they’ve been locked inside the school overnight — soon discovering they aren’t alone.
Throughout Iru!, we must wander the halls to solve puzzles and hide from monsters during chasing sequences. The game’s darkened color scheme and nostalgic PS1 graphics make itsLovecraftian storyfeel simply terrifying. And thanks to twelve years in development for a fan translation, we can now experience the game for ourselves.
7The Overwhelming Hell
The Overwhelming Hell
Why Play The Overwhelming Hell?
Also known as The Tairyou Jigoku, The Overwhelming Hell is a thrilling female-led horror game. Following a girl in this Alice in Wonderland-esque story as she travels through different worlds to get her cellphone back from a robot in a top hat. While, of course, this sounds like a silly premise, the gameplay is far from being so.
Challenging you with fighting oversized insects who are beyond ruthless, the gameplay has been regarded as unforgiving. But once you get the hang of things, you’ll overpower these terrifying insects in no time. The Overwhelming Hell, through and through, is a bizarre story that’s a short yet heart-pumping game that’ll keep you hooked.
6Twilight Syndrome
Twilight Syndrome
Why Play Twilight Syndrome?
Twilight Syndrome (also known as Twilight Syndrome: Tansaku-hen) is a side-scroller that perfectly encapsulatesa fantastic horror gamecreated through simple means. Tansaku-hen is the opening to the Twilight Syndrome series, and it uses this initial opportunity to define its unique stylistic traits.
In Tansaku-hen, we follow the story of three girls who explore a school after dark, aspiring to uncover dark secrets. Throughout the game, we must travel around to uncover these secrets. Each progression we make is defined as “rumors” that lead us toward a good or bad ending.
