The Most Underrated Japanese Horror Games

Japan is absolutely brimming with games rich in shock and terror. Thankfully, a lot of these games have been the recipient of critical acclaim and much fan ado, such as Capcom’s Biohazard —AKA Resident Evil— or Konami’s psychological horror darling, Silent Hill.

Of course, for as many spine-tingling successes the land of the rising sun has gifted Western fans, there’s always going to be a few that end up swept under the rug. If you’re a fan of Japanese horror or just horror in general, these are the underrated Japanese horror gems that deserve a little more love than they got.

12

.Flow

The Dream Lives On

Yume Nikki is one of the most beloved experiments in any genre, let alone its technical definition of “horror”. Most players know by now about Madotsuki and her adventures into her dreams, but not quite as many are familiar with .flow (pronounced ‘dot flow’).

Of the many spiritual successors to the original Yume Nikki, .flow is one of the best, with imaginative visuals and some nightmarish locations. It isn’t as scary as some other J-Horror titles out there, but it’s definitely worth a look if you’re a fan of uncomfortable exploration games.

If you’re a fan of Yume Nikki style games, you can actually play them online with others via the Yume Nikki Online portal. It’s a convenient way to play titles like this one and Yume 2kki without having to download any sketchy files.

11

Ikai

Paint Your Fears

Despite being available on several platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, Ikai’s uniquely Japanese approach to survival horror hasn’t received nearly as much love as it deserves, which is a shame because, from a gameplay perspective, there’s not a lot like it elsewhere.

Ikai sees you take on the role of a Shinto shrine priestess (or miko in Japanese), who must defend the shrine from demons in the absence of her uncle by writing actual Japanese characters in real-time.

10

…Iru!

They’re Here…

…Iru!, roughly translating to “It’s here” or “They’re here”, is a fantastic little survival horror game from the PS1 era that unfortunately never left Japan. After being trapped inexplicably in an old schoolhouse overnight ahead of the school festival, students and faculty quickly realize they aren’t exactly alone…

Utilizing a unique (for the time) first-person perspective, …Iru! is a great time for fans of old school survival horror, provided you speak Japanese and happen to own a working PS1.

9

Rule Of Rose

A Strange PS2 Classic

Rule Of Rose has garnered a well-deserved cult following over the years, and while the game still isn’t necessarily for everyone, it still comes highly recommended for fans of psychological horror games like Silent Hill.

It follows a girl named Jennifer, who one day becomes trapped in a hellish hierarchy run by children. Throughout the game’s story, Jennifer must face her childhood trauma alongside her trusty canine companion. The gameplay may be a bit clunky, but the story is top-notch.

It goes without saying given the subject matter, but Rule Of Rose features content regarding child abuse that may be triggering for some. Player discretion is advised.

8

Gregory Horror Show

Not To Be Confused With The Rocky Picture One

Gregory Horror Show is the strangest-looking PS2 horror game you may ever see, and that’s by deliberate design. Based on the 3D anime series of the same name, Gregory Horror Show tasks you with collecting souls from hotel guests, but beware! If a guest sees you while you’re carrying a soul, they might just try to take yours instead…

With such a unique art style, you’d be forgiven for thinking Gregory Horror Show couldn’t possibly scare you, but some of the guests can really sneak up on you if you’re not careful. It can be surprisingly atmospheric at times.

7

The Evil Within 2

The Tremendous Sequel You Probably Skipped

The Evil Within was an interesting little project that sought to be the spiritual successor of sorts to the Resident Evil series, back during the dark ages when Resident Evil 6 was the most recent numbered entry. While most remember the first entry, the sequel was unfortunately overshadowed by the release of Resident Evil 7.

The Evil Within 2 is a substantial improvement in almost every way over the first game, with a better story and solid gameplay. Taking on the role of a worn-out detective, you must venture into a world of psychological horrors to rescue your daughter from danger.

6

Cosmology Of Kyoto

Puts That Eyewitness Dinosaur Game To Shame

An oddly horrifying edutainment nightmare, Cosmology Of Kyoto will give off very familiar vibes if you’ve ever played LSD: Dream Emulator before. That said, the experience here is a little more designed from a gameplay perspective.

In Cosmology Of Kyoto, you’ll explore a version of the iconic city shrouded in mythology and moonlight, as you make your way through a puzzle adventure game that feels right at home alongside titles like Myst. Just be aware that you are not the only one exploring the city at night.

5

Siren

The Forbidden One

Siren, or Forbidden Siren depending on where you’re from, is a series of Japanese horror games that you may have heard of if you’re a fan of obscure PS2 hidden gems, or Japanese horror in general. Nevertheless, the game still hasn’t received its fair dues, if you ask us.

A survival horror stealth experience, Siren cleverly blends multiple plotlines and time periods together to tell a strikingly original and cohesive story, and while the gameplay hasn’t aged perfectly, the novelty of the game’s world and presentation have easily stood the test of time.

4

Kuon

Variety In Characters And Scares

Speaking of PS2 hidden gems, Kuon might sound familiar to you if you’ve made it a goal to play every game from infamous Dark Souls developer FromSoft. Taking place in the Heian period, Kuon shows just how well these devs understand both their cultural roots as well as the horror genre.

Yes, combat is a key feature here, and you will want to put in the effort to learn your opponent’s movement patterns if you want to succeed, but Kuon is much more of a stealth and horror experience than a Soulslike one, which makes the game feel all the more unique.

3

Nanashi No Game

The Nameless Horror Game

Square Enix made a first-person survival horror game for the Nintendo DS in 2008 which never made it to the West. With a name like Nanashi No Game (“The Game With No Name”), it’s no wonder it has garnered such a mysterious reputation among J-Horror buffs.

Attempting a first-person survival experience on the DS hardware was bold and ambitious, but Square Enix managed to pull off an atmospheric and at times downright terrifying experience in this self-aware horror game. If the language barrier isn’t an issue, give Nanashi No Game a try.

2

Spirit Hunter: NG

The Best Horror Visual Novel You Haven’t Played

Spirit Hunter: NG is the companion piece to 2017’s Spirit Hunter: Death Mark. Realistically, any of the Spirit Hunter games could have made the cut, but NG’s reliance on horror in everyday situations lends it a sense of realism that Death Mark didn’t have.

Of course, it also helps that the visuals and soundtrack are both top-notch, and the writing isn’t half bad either. Not everyone can get behind visual novels, but if you’re a fan of adventure games with a point-and-click style, and you’re a fan of horror, Spirit Hunter: NG could use a little more love.

1

Unsought

You’re It

A simple game of hide and seek, or the most terrifying game you’ve ever played. Unsought touts itself as a panoramic 3D horror adventure game, which is just as interesting as it sounds, and really helps the game feel unique from its competition.

Its unique presentation lends it an otherworldly creepiness, which makes an otherwise simple story come to life in ways you’d never expect. Unsought is the most recent game on the list, having been released in 2024, but it has received little to no attention so far, and that needs to change because Unsought is genuinely one of Japan’s best horror adventures, indie or otherwise.