Summary

  • Cute graphics hide a darker horror in anime games, leaving a deep psychological impact on players.
  • Games like Zero Time Dilemma and Chaos; Head Noah offer unique horror experiences with moral choices.
  • From The Witch's House to Corpse Party, these horror games provide eerie atmospheres and gripping narratives.

Within the realm of horror, anime stands out as a unique experience as it is quite distinct from the dark and gritty aesthetics of most horror games and shows. Anime horror games are no exception. Most of these games lull the player into a false sense of security with their cute graphics and a seemingly sweet, harmless narrative until they take a dark turn and reveal the horror underneath the cuteness.

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Horror delivered in such a way has a tendency to leave a deeper impact on you through its use of psychological tricks, making these anime games a must-play for any fans of horror.

10 Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

A Must-Play Thrilling Horror Adventure

Zero Time Dilemma

Adventure Puzzle Visual Novel Released June 28, 2016 Developer(s) Spike Chunsoft Publisher(s) Aksys Games Platform(s) 3DS, PC, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One Powered by Expand Collapse

Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma is an intriguing adventure horror game that is the third in the Zero Escape series. The story follows nine characters who find themselves locked in an underground nuclear shelter and must play a death game orchestrated by a mysterious character named Zero to escape.

The gameplay involves escape-the-room puzzles, narrative sections, and complex moral decisions you must make. The decisions the player makes guide the game's narrative and are certain to make you question your morality.

9 Little Goody Two Shoes

A Bizarre Take On Horror Reminscent Of A Fairytale

If you’re looking for a game that defies genres while still maintaining its essence as a horror game, then look no further. Little Goody Two Shoes combines a lot of different elements to make an intriguing horror game that will charm you as much as it will scare you.

The story follows Elise, a young girl trying to escape her town and her mundane life. You must help her fulfill her wish while navigating her way around the horrific creatures that show up at night. The game combines a whimsical fairy tale setting with roleplaying, mini-games, and some dating sim mechanics to result in a truly unique horror game.

8 Chaos; Head Noah

A Psychological Horror Experience Unlike Any Other

Chaos; Head Noah is a visual novel game that will leave you questioning reality through its fascinating exploration of delusions and paranoia. The story follows Takumi Nishijou, a recluse who gets involved in a serial murder case.

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The game delves into elements of psychological horror through the delusions Takumi faces. As the player, you can influence these delusions, and your choices determine which of the game's multiple endings you can get. The psychological complexity of Chaos; Head Noah, and its thrilling, suspenseful plot makes it a must-play for any fans of psychological horror.

7 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo

A Solid Visual Novel That Has Its Frightening Moments

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo

Adventure RPG Simulation Released March 8, 2023 Developer(s) Square Enix Publisher(s) Square Enix Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android Powered by Expand Collapse

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is a plot-heavy visual novel that will delight those who are looking to immerse themselves in an intriguing tale of supernatural horror.

The story takes place around the city, parts of it include a cryptic school affiliated with one of several urban legends known as The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. The gameplay focuses on solving the mystery behind the curses that have afflicted the district. The common themes of curses, urban legends, a high school, and the seven mysteries will be familiar to many seasoned fans of anime.

6 The Witch's House MV

Scarier Than It Lets Off, Don't Let Your Guard Down

This survival horror will have you at the edge of your seat until the end with its creepy atmosphere, haunting soundtrack, and jump scares. The Witch’s House follows the story of a 13-year-old girl named Viola, who wakes up in a forest with no way to escape other than a path to a strange house that is haunted by the ghost of a witch.

The Witch's House is a puzzle game involving tricky riddles you must solve to escape the mysterious, magical house you find yourself trapped in. The dread you feel is unlike other games in this genre.

5 World Of Horror

Delightfully Lovecraftian In The Way It Presents Itself

World of Horror

RPG Horror Roguelite Released December 8, 2023 Developer(s) panstasz Publisher(s) Ysbryd Games Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Switch Powered by Expand Collapse

This roguelike RPG was inspired by H.P Lovecraft and Junji Ito, two names that will be familiar to most fans of anime and horror. World of Horror takes place in a fictional town in 1980s Japan and creates an atmosphere so hauntingly nightmarish that it will continue to impact you long after you close the game.

The gameplay consists of individual playthroughs, each corresponding to one of the five mysteries the player must solve. If you love the dark and the macabre and have the urge to fight otherworldly monsters and ancient gods, World of Horror is the perfect game for you.

4 Ib

A Cult Classic You Cannot Miss

Ib is an indie adventure horror game with a cult classic following. Ib combines cute pixel graphics with an eerie, terrifying atmosphere and tense gameplay, making it a must-play horror game to immerse yourself in.

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The story follows a young girl named Ib who finds herself trapped in a fabricated painting-like world after her visit to an art gallery goes awry. The goal of the game is to help Ib escape this surreal world by evading enemies and solving puzzles. The atmosphere of the game is its biggest appeal and navigating the twisted world of Ib will be an unsettling experience for even the bravest of players.

3 Mad Father

The Mad Scientist Trope Perfected

Mad Father

Horror RPG Released December 10, 2012 Platform(s) PC, Switch Publisher Miscreant's Room; AGM PLAYISM Developer Sen Powered by Expand Collapse

Don’t let the simple graphics of this game fool you, Mad Father is a classic horror experience with gripping psychological horror elements. The game follows Aya, a shy little girl who wakes up one night to the sound of screams and her house littered with corpses.

The main goal of the game is for Aya to survive the night using whatever means available. Delving into the dark and twisted narrative of the game, along with the sound design and jump scares, creates a truly terrifying experience that may be too grotesque for the faint-hearted.

2 Doki Doki Literature Club!

The Dating Sim Horror Experience You Didn't Know You Needed

Doki Doki Literature Club!

Visual Novel Horror Released September 22, 2017 Platform(s) PC Publisher Team Salvato Developer Team Salvato Powered by Expand Collapse

Do not be fooled by the appearance of Doki Doki Literature Club! This experimental visual novel may seem like just another dating sim at first, but the game takes some truly haunting turns and has rightfully earned its place on the list.

The story of Doki Doki Literature Club! follows an unnamed protagonist who is forced to join the literature club in his high school at the insistence of his friend Sayori. Along with her, the club features two other girls, all of whom can be romantically pursued. While the game seems lighthearted at first, it slowly unravels into a psychological horror that is sure to send shivers down your spine.

1 Corpse Party

A Game That Inspired Its Own Anime

Corpse Party (2021)

Survival Horror Released October 20, 2021 Developer(s) MAGES. Inc. Publisher(s) MAGES. Inc., XSEED Games, Marvelous Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Corpse Party is another cult classic series of survival horror games that has its own anime as well. If you have never played any of the Corpse Party games before, the 2021 remake of the original Corpse Party is an ideal place to start.

The story of the original Corpse Party game follows a group of high school students, who are telling ghost stories in their school one day when an earthquake teleports them into an alternate dimension, where they find themselves in a rundown school haunted by ghosts.

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