The most underrated Japanese horror games

Japan is absolutely full of games rich in shock and terror. Thankfully, many of these games have received critical acclaim and much fanfare, such as Capcom's Biohazard —AKA Resident Evil — or Konami's psychological horror darling, Silent Hill.

Of course, for as many spine-tingling successes as the Land of the Rising Sun has bestowed upon Western fans, there will always be some that are ultimately swept under the rug. If you're a fan of Japanese horror or just horror in general, here 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 by now know about Madotsuki and her adventures in 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's not as scary as some other J-Horror titles out there, but it's definitely worth a look if you're a fan of creepy 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 multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, Ikai's unique Japanese take on survival horror hasn't gotten nearly as much love as it deserves, which is a shame because from a gaming perspective, there isn't much like it anywhere else.

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

10

…Iru!

They are here…

…Iru!, roughly translated as “It's here” or “They're here”, is a great little survival horror game from the PS1 era that sadly never left Japan. After being inexplicably trapped in an old schoolhouse overnight before the school festival, students and teachers quickly realize that they are not alone…

Using a unique (for the time) first-person perspective, …Iru! is a good 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 gained a well-deserved cult following over the years, and while the game is still not necessarily for everyone, it's still highly recommended for fans of psychological horror games like Silent Hill.

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

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

8

Gregory's Horror Show

Not to be confused with Rocky Picture One

Gregory Horror Show is the weirdest PS2 horror game you'll 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 carrying a soul, they might just try to take yours instead…

With such a unique art style, you'd be forgiven for thinking the 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 sometimes be surprisingly atmospheric.

7

The evil within 2

The huge sequel you probably skipped

The Evil Within was an interesting little project that tried to be the spiritual successor to the Resident Evil franchise, back in the dark ages when Resident Evil 6 was the last numbered entry. While most people remember the first entry, the sequel was unfortunately overshadowed by the release of Resident Evil 7.

The Evil Within 2 is a vast improvement in almost every way compared to the first game, with a better story and solid gameplay. Taking on the role of a jaded detective, you must enter a world of psychological horrors to save your daughter from danger.

6

Cosmology in Kyoto

Puts the eyewitness dinosaur game to shame

A strangely terrifying 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 bit more designed from a gaming 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're 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. Yet the game still hasn't gotten its due, if you ask us.

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

4

Cow

Variety In Characters And Scares

Speaking of hidden gems on PS2, Kuon might sound familiar to you if you've made it a goal to play every game from infamous Dark Souls developer FromSoft. Set in the Heian period, Kuon shows how well these developers understand both their cultural roots and the horror genre.

Yes, combat is a key feature here, and you'll 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, which makes the game feel all the more unique.

3

Nanashi No game

The untitled horror game

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

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

2

Spirit Hunter: NG

The best visual horror novel you haven't played

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

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

1

Unclaimed

You are it

A simple game of hide and seek, or the scariest game you've ever played. Unsought presents itself as a 3D panoramic horror adventure game, which is as interesting as it sounds and really helps the game feel unique from the competition.

Its unique presentation gives it an otherworldly creepiness, making an otherwise simple story come to life in ways you'd never expect. Unsought is the latest 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 truly one of Japan's best horror adventures, indie or otherwise.