People enjoy playinghorror video gamesbecause they get an adrenaline rush and the sensation of being afraid in a safe atmosphere. It’s appealing because it lets users get involved in the plot, confront their fears, and becomesurvival horror heroes. Asian horror games are often considered incredibly terrifying because they draw on a vast and varied cultural past of paranormal activity and supernatural beings.
These folklore, legends, and myths have been passed down for ages, and their creepy and unnerving nature continues to enchant audiences. Furthermore, rather than jump scares and gore,Asian horror gamesfrequently rely on subtlety, psychological terror, and atmospheric tension, making the horror feel more real and sinister. Overall, folklore-based Asian horror games are known for being some of the most enjoyable and spine-chilling in its genre.
10Pamali
Pamaliis based on Indonesian folklore and puts the player into the shoes of four different characters throughout the four chapters. Each chapter features one protagonist and a specific creature, like the Tuyul and the Kuntilanak.
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The game also has more than 35 possible endings. Though it is fairly short,Pamaliis very replayable thanks to its engaging story and sandbox approach.
9Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Homeis rooted in Thai folklore. The player plays as Tim, an ordinary man whose wife mysteriously disappears. One day he wakes up in an unknown area, where an entity will chase him around while he tries to escape.
The game’s sound and lighting design give it this eerie feeling that enhances the horror experience. The storyline is also decent, with an engaging cast of characters.Home Sweet Homeis a good pick for horror fans with its excellent design and fascinating story.
8Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly
While hardly the only franchise inspired by Japanese folklore,Fatal Frameis one of the most famous.Crimson Butterflyis the best entry in the series, with one of the strongest protagonists and an engaging story revolving around twin sisters. It also has a unique mechanic: players use a camera to defeat their enemies instead of guns or melee weapons. Its visual design is also very unnerving, with fog and darkness obscuring many areas of the game.
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Even the sounds inFatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterflycan raise the hairs on someone’s back. With its unique mechanics, creepy story, and masterful design,Fatal Framecan rival the likes ofSilent HillandClock Tower.
7Goodnight
Good Nightis based on the folklore of the Philippines. The player plays as Veronica, a woman dealing with the recent loss of her whole family due to a devastating fire. Since then, she has been plagued with nightmares.
The game is based on the superstitious belief of Bangungot. If a person experiences a nightmare, they can die in sleep. The title’s scares are well-placed, and players feel they are in a dream.Goodnightis one of the rare games worth trying.
6The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Based on Korean folklore,The Coma 2is a 2D horror survival game with 3D backgrounds. The game’s art style is beautiful and incredibly detailed, from the 3D environments to the character portraits. Unlike the first installment, where only the school can be investigated, the sequel allows players to explore hospitals and markets.
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The Coma 2’s survival elements make it challenging. Players need to prioritize items that fit their play style, as they can only carry so much. Players must use everything to survivesome of the scariest video game characters, including night creatures and a demoness hunting them. With its gorgeous art style and demanding mechanics,The Coma 2is an excellent game for those looking for a challenge.
5Kuon
Kuonis a survival horrorgame developed by FromSoftware, which created the popularDark Soulsfranchise andSekiro. The game takes place in feudal Japan, where a mysterious and otherworldly sickness spreads within the confines of a mansion.
Kuon’saesthetic was unique for its time, and the character design holds up well. The story is divided into three chapters, one for each playable character in the game. These aspects make it stand out as one of FromSoftware’s underappreciated gems.
4Detention
Detentionis a point-and-click horror game based on Taiwanese folklore, set in the 1960s during Taiwan’s period of Martial Law. The player follows the story of two students, Wei Chung Ting and Fang Ray Shin, who find that their school is different.
Detentionfeatures a beautiful 2D art style, which is a combination of hand-drawn art and atmospheric lighting. In addition, the environment is richly detailed, giving it that unsettling and haunting feel.
The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvationis an adaptation of a similarly titled movie that came out in 2020.The game is based on an urban legend about a bridge at Tunghai University that is haunted by a ghost of a girl. It follows the story of 6 friends, hunted by spirits that they accidentally invoked on the cursed bridge.
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The Bridge Cursehas a gripping storyline with a great cast of characters. It also has an immersive atmosphere with a mix of supernatural and realistic elements to keep the players on their toes. The game is a cranked-up version of the already good movie, and it is definitely something horror enthusiasts will not want to miss.
2Paranormal HK
Paranormal HKturns to the urban legends of Hong Kong for its scares. It follows the story of a TV crew shooting a show about supernatural occurrences. They travel to Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong during the Hungry Ghost Festival to film an episode of their show, when something goes horribly wrong.
The game captures an environment that exudes a feeling of dread. This sense of doom persists throughout the playthrough with its intense and unsettling atmosphere. Each ghost is based on an urban legend.
Dread Out, which is inspired by Indonesian folklore, revolves around five high school students and their teacher, who stumble upon a ghost town during a field trip. The player will be put in the shoes of Linda, one of the students, as she solves the mystery of this odd place.
The game shares similar mechanics withFatal Frame, where Linda will use her cell phone camera or SLR to fight the monsters. The title’s setting and environment are very unsettling, leaving players with dread as they solve the puzzles and fight the monsters throughout the game.Dread Out’s mechanics and Indonesian folklore bestiary make it unique and memorable.
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