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The Best Asian Horror Games To Play This Halloween
This week’s a spooky one, as the 31st of October is coming. And being in Asia, we can’t help but sometimes enthral and chill ourselves with some interactive horror experiences that go beyond one-and-a-half-hour movies.
Nothing hits closer to home than horror games set in Asia, or based on Asia/Southeast Asia folklore and legends. As with Kakuchopurei pre-holiday traditions, we always have a listicle ready for such occasions: this time filled with the best Asian horror games you should play this spooky week. We just have one simple rule: the game’s setting and spooks have to be based on Asian folklore: Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and so forth.
It should also be noted that most of these games are currently on Sale up to 75% off on Steam so buy them while you can. And without further ado, here are our picks.
Horror Level: A dread-filled atmosphere without resorting to cheap jump scares or excessive gore. Instead, it employs elements of reality to invoke fear. By delving into the visual representations of the human mind and observing its haunting memories, players will experience a truly frightful journey.
What’s It About? Players assume the roles of Wei Chung Ting and Fang Ray Shin, two high school students who are seemingly unfamiliar with each other. However, they are both determined to escape their school after awakening to discover it completely deserted. The situation takes a sinister turn as they notice evil spirits haunt the place. To escape, they must unravel the mystery of the campus, which is filled with ominous objects and puzzles.
Why Play It? Its core gameplay emphasizes unravelling the mysteries of the campus, as well as uncovering the characters’ memories. This takes players on a mind-bending psychological horror journey set during the 1960s White Terror. The game uses Taiwanese cultural references to tell a terrifying and unique story.
As it’s Halloween, it’s currently on sale on Steam.
Horror Level: Dread-filled adventure, like the best horror films that marry real-life tragedies with supernatural elements.
What’s It About? In the 1980s, you play a struggling screenwriter Du Feng Yu as you try your best to heal your sick daughter Mei Shin and maintain your marriage with your wife, ex-singer and movie star Li Fang. The game takes place throughout the years in various apartment spaces, all being affected by the choices Du Feng makes as he attempts to better his situation.
Why Play It? Because Taiwanese developer Red Candle Games did a great job of evoking the best in adventure-styled horror games while expounding a cautionary tale of sorts within its 3 hours of playtime. With puzzles in tow and a lot of its storytelling told through the environment, you can experience the best of indie game horror with Devotion throughout the night.
You can buy it via Red Candle Games’ official site.
Horror Level: Jumpscares galore along the lines of its clear inspiration game, Fatal Frame.
What’s It About? In the first game, you play as high schooler Linda as you’re stuck in an Indonesian ghost town. Your weapon against the ghosts in the area? Your phone. Part two takes place after the aftermath of the first game, with more or less the same photographing and survival game mechanics, but somewhat improved.
Why Play It? Because you’re supporting the Southeast Asian indie gaming scene if you are. If you want another indie horror gaming treat, you definitely should give the DreadOut games a try.
You can buy the first game here.
Horror Level: Shocking, grotesque, detailed visual novel artwork depicting child/teenage deaths
What’s It About? High-schooler Aymi and her friends are teleported to an alternate reality version of an institution, filled with vengeful spirits out to get you. You and your pals need to explore the place to discover the true story behind the murders and put the spirits to rest before they eventually overwhelm your party.
Why Play It? With 16-bit visuals, loads of unlockable endings, and a gripping horror narrative in anime stylings, this one’s worth exploring if you want to deep dive into the Corpse Party series. Maybe even get you to shop for an old PlayStation Portable console to get the older games in the series.
For now, though, the 2021 remaster on PC is the definitive version to get.
Horror Level: Loads of Junji Ito-inspired imagery, crazy cosmic horror imagery, and atmospheric sound effects. All in 1-bit graphic glory.
What’s It About? An adventure game with a roguelike structure, you play as a student who has to stop the awakening of Old Gods in a lighthouse. The door is locked, so you need to find five keys in five related mysteries of your choosing, then disrupt the summoning ritual. Of course, you will be making tough choices as you explore each mystery, which can lower your reasoning and other stats, as well as get into turn-based combat against the numerous creepy monsters in tow.
Why Play It? If you want an atmospheric adventure game with horror elements and something a bit more recent, World Of Horror should be your jam. While the game’s combat can get repetitive, everything else from its aesthetics to its horror-inducing motif will keep you thrilled. It’s truly a fascinating indie game experience that isn’t anything like what’s on digital store shelves these days, unless you somehow have access to a PC that easily runs MS-DOS games at this point in time.
The game is currently 75% off on Steam.
Horror Level:
What’s It About? Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces as a dangerous occultist causes the city’s population to vanish in an instant. Join forces with a powerful spectral entity on their quest for vengeance and master a powerful arsenal of abilities to unravel the dark truth behind the disappearance as you face the unknown. In short, go in first-person mood blasting demons and yokai with your newfound spirit powers, exploring a deserted Tokyo Far Cry style.
Why Play It? Simply put, if you’re into Japanese mythology and ghosts and prefer a more action-ey experience, this is the perfect game for you. We know a lot of you out there love all things horror that’s related to Japan. Check out our full review by heading over here.
You can buy Ghostwire Tokyo here.
Horror Level: Spooky and mystical, but not too frightening and jump-scare-filled.
What’s It About? Cursed into a monster, Jebat journeys into a realm called the “Alam Bunian”. Taken in by the charismatic owner of Kabaret, known only as The Caretaker, Jebat is tasked with providing tea ceremonies to the dwellers in an effort to gather information on how to break his curse.
Kabaret is a dark fantasy folklore adventure game. The story unfolds through the eyes of Jebat, a cursed boy who is uprooted from his small town to a mystical, violent, and unforgiving monster realm. Astray and lonely in a place of unfathomable cruelty, Jebat confronts monsters both supernatural and human in the Kabaret.
Why Play It? If you love visual novels Southeast Asian mythologies and ghosts, this is the game for you. Check out our full review by heading over here.
Horror Level: Lots of jump scares and dread.
What’s It About? The once charming town of Stonecreek has seen better days. People are vanishing into thin air, leaving nothing behind but strange symbols where they were last seen. With the police baffled and the populace terrified, rumours swirl that it is the doing of the Beldam, the ghost of a witch that once haunted the streets of Stonecreek. You are the intern at the local paper, tasked with assisting the town’s star journalist, Ruby Myers, in her investigation into the disappearances. Your only lead is the phone of the missing Paul Castillo, a software developer, an amateur historian of the town, and one of Ruby’s sources. While Ruby does the legwork, your job is to hack into Paul’s phone for any clues left behind. New apps, exciting features, and fresh terror await those who delve into the darkest corners of the digital realms as you investigate the Beldam of Stonecreek.
Why Play It? Due to the game’s phone-found footage premise, part 3 (and its prequels) offers a unique horror experience. Check out our full review of the third game by heading over here.
Horror Level: Creepy, especially with its unique visual style that evokes paper.
What’s It About? Follow the shared experience of three children for a day during the ghost month and the arrival of a mysterious new neighbour. Things quickly take a dark turn as what was supposed to be an offer of friendship triggers a series of strange events.
Why Play It? Not only does it offer a unique visual style, but the ghost stories in this one are tied to cultural and religious events in Malaysia.
Horror Level: Creepy
What’s It About? You play a 10-year-old girl who has to escape a human trafficking ring set presumably in Mongolia. As she delves deeper through the adventure and away from her captors, her mind starts playing tricks on her and she sees monsters chasing her instead.
Why Play It? If you want a mix between stealth and adventure gaming with some commentary about human trafficking, you may want to jump into this indie horror title.
Horror Level: Atmospheric and scary.
What’s It About? A narrative horror game set in the daily lives of Indonesian society. Interact with various mystical objects as you explore haunted places, unravel their lingering mysteries, and experience how Indonesian myth, taboo and culture, combined with your choices, shape the course of your nights.
Why Play It? A unique experience with Indonesian ghosts and mythology.
Horror Level: Spooky and will scare you to the toilet.
What’s It About? Fear, anxiety, and laughter are the symbols of youth. Experience the true paranormal haunting with your friends from the first-person perspective and stay alive. The Bridge Curse Road to Salvation is an adaptation of a horror film, that includes Taiwanese urban legend and an intriguing backstory.
Why Play It? You will explore the events surrounding one of Taiwan’s best-known supernatural incidents, a terrifying campus horror set in Tunghu University. When 6 college students challenge the urban legend of a lingering female ghost, they awaken a curse that no one knows how to break.
Horror Level: The game’s horror factor is characterized by its use of psychological horror, eerie environments, and intense situations.
What’s It About? Set in a haunted Thai home, players must navigate through eerie environments, solve puzzles, and face supernatural entities to uncover the mystery behind the haunting.
Why Play It? The game blends psychological horror with elements of Thai folklore, creating a chilling and immersive experience.
Horror Level: Eerie environments, character designs and situations that get your anxiety pumping.
What’s It About? The Convenience Store is a Japanese horror game about a college girl on a night shift.
Why Play It? This game takes its time to get going, no doubt about that. But what really amps it up is that spooky vibe (which is a trademark across all of Chilla’s Art games), if nothing else. There are a few chilling moments too.
As of writing this, it’s currently 10% off on the Steam store so definitely do go check it out!
Horror Level: Eerie environments, character designs and situations that get your anxiety pumping.
What’s It About? It’s about an unsettling tale that revolves around Veronica, haunted by the tragic demise of her family. Following a devastating fire that claimed her family’s lives three years prior, she remains the sole survivor. This harrowing incident prompted her to relocate repeatedly. Veronica finds herself plagued by unexplained phenomena, resulting in perpetual sleepless nights and distressing nightmares. Tormented by these experiences, she strives to break free from the ceaseless cycle of haunting horrors. Can Veronica endure the relentless haunting and emerge unscathed?
Why Play It? The requires you to figure things out on your own, which really does make you feel alone in this game and it really adds to the eerieness.
The game is 30% off on the Steam store.
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[…] Watch the trailer below. Alternatively, you can check out our top best Asian horror games list. […]