Best Free Japanese Horror Games
We’re back with another ranking, this time, the top eight Japanese horror games that you can play for free, as selected by 100 Goo Ranking readers! While that sample size might not be massive, what did they have to say? Let’s check it out.
8. Rasen no Yado (Spiral Lodging)
An escape game that should take you roughly four to six hours to play. The creator claims that although it starts out as a regular exploration game, it will take you some time to reach the true ending because some conversations are quite lengthy, and you have to dig through memoirs to uncover what’s really going on.
7. Kurui Zuki (Mad Moon)
A suspense horror adventure game with simple puzzles that should take you roughly five to six hours to play. Some classmates visit an infamous haunted house without knowing the real truth behind it, but they’re about to find out… and perhaps the hard way.
6. Satsuriku no Tenshi (Angels of Death)
No longer free, but available in English! A psychological horror-adventure game consisting of four episodes (around 8 to 12 hours playtime total), Angels of Death follows the story of Ray and Zack as they attempt to escape the terrifying world in which they’ve somehow been entrapped. Where are they? What is going on? With so many unanswered questions and nobody else around (who isn’t trying to kill them), the pair have no choice to trust each other and fight for their very lives.
5. Majo no Ie (The Witch’s House)
Also available in English (for a fee). This game should take you around two or three hours to get through, and is yet another exploration and puzzle game. “The Witch’s House is deliberately designed with traps at *almost* every turn–sudden death is unpredictable and it keeps players on their toes. Anything can happen at any time.” This newer version of the game has been updated with a new difficulty mode, as well as new events and dialogue, so even if you played the old one, there’s some new stuff to be found in this one!
4. Yume Nikki (Dream Diary)
This one shouldn’t need much introduction, being perhaps the most famous free RPG Maker horror game to make it to the West as well, and this one is still available to play for free in English as well! This game is rather unique in that it claims not to have any particular objectives. “You simply walk around. It is unlike any other RPG, especially in the fact that there really is no action or dialogue to speak of. This gives the game a very dark and foreboding atmosphere. Can you make it to the secret ending?” Well, can you?
3. Ib (Ib)
Once again, while free in Japanese, you can now play this one in English for a fee! “A 2D exploration adventure game set in a creepy, mysterious art gallery. Inspect the area around you, discovering items and disarming traps to find your way out of the strange gallery.” This one should take you a few hours to get through one playthrough, and there are seven different endings to unlock, ensuring a lot of replayability.
2. Shishuu-Tsugu no Hi Itan (The Smell of Death – A Tsugunohi Tale)
Also available for just a few dollars in English these days, this is from the incredibly popular Tsugu no Hi series where all you do is press left! However, unlike main games in the series, this time you’re also able to battle monsters, making it slightly more interactive! This one should take you around an hour or so to clear, and if you’re a Tsugu no Hi fan, you should definitely check it out!
1. Ao Oni (Blue Demon)
This game at the top shouldn’t be a surprise, and if you’re on this website, chances are very high you’ve at least heard of it before. This is your traditional exploration and puzzle solving game, but while you’re trying to escape the deserted mansion, the Ao Oni himself will show up at random points to chase you down. This game was so popular that it spawned an entire empire of light novels, manga, and even anime and live action movies. It’s available pretty much everywhere, but you can find the original site linked above.
And those are the top eight free Japanese horror games as carefully curated by 100 Goo readers. What do you think? Which is your favourite free J-horror game? Let me know below and let’s get some recommendations going from the Kowabana audience as well!