Some may think that “horror” and “fun” don’t belong in the same sentence. And in a way, they’re right! Who would consider being chased in an abandoned school by a killer clown with a butcher knife fun? I, for one, love a good scare, and playing a horror RPG always seems to satisfy my need to make my heart stop beating for a second or two. But what are some good horror RPGs to play?
#1: Ib – 2012 (Supported Platforms: PC / 2022 Remake on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5)
Ib - Final Trailer - Nintendo Switch
In the RPG maker classic Ib, you play as...well Ib, a young girl who is visiting an art gallery with her parents. But she is soon sucked into a twisted version of the gallery, where the paintings are alive, and I mean that very literally. With her new friends Garry and Mary, Ib must escape the nightmarish gallery before she’s added to the exhibition as a bloody corpse.
One thing to keep in mind while playing Ib is that there are multiple endings to the game. And these endings depend on your own actions and decisions as you play. So, if you feel the need to slap some sense into Garry or Mary, that is completely up to you!
Play this game if you like:
- Choice-based games
- Good soundtracks
- Easy gameplay
A portrait of Ib staring into your very soul.
#2: Mad Father – 2012 (Supported Platforms: PC/ 2022 Remake on PC and Nintendo Switch)
Mad Father Remake Switch Trailer
I’ll admit that I have a crazy father, but I wouldn’t exactly call him “mad”. However, I can’t say the same for the protagonist of Mad Father Aya Drevis, whose own father performs horrifying experiments on people every night. Now their undead corpses are wandering around Aya’s home, and the girl must find her father before those spirits take their revenge on the madman.
There are technically three endings in the game, which depend on the major choice you make in the last segment of the game. But if you collect enough of a certain item, you may get a super-secret ending for your hard work! Just make sure to explore anything and everything, because you might miss something important.
Play this game if you like:
- Puzzle-solving
- Creepy atmosphere
- Old school graphics
Aya wondering why her hair’s not as fabulous as her mother’s
#3: The Witch’s House – 2012 (Supported Platforms: PC/ 2018 Remake on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch)
The Witch's House MV - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch
If I were to find myself trapped in the house of a grotesque witch determined to kill me, I’d probably go in a corner and cry. But unlike me, Viola, the main character of The Witch’s House, is willing to face her fears and find an exit despite the obstacles an evil witch puts in her way.
While the plot of The Witch’s House is pretty interesting, it only has two endings. And like Mad Father, these endings depend on your choice in the final stretch of the game. But as with any horror RPG, you need to be very careful when exploring because you will get a lot of game overs just for looking at something wrong.
Play this game if you like:
- Blood and gore
- A lot of exploration
- Interesting puzzles
Viola totally not aware that she’s being photographed
#4: The Crooked Man – 2018 (Supporter Platforms: PC)
The Crooked Man EN PV
Hey, I’d be scared too if I moved into a new apartment that’s apparently haunted! Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens to the protagonist of The Crooked Man, David Hoover. Now he has to go on a wild goose chase for the former owner of his apartment while having the Crooked Man chase him everywhere he goes.
I will admit that the gameplay can be clunky at times, especially during the boss fights. So for that, I advise that you keep your distance until you find an opening, and the moment you do, go in fast for the kill! Patience is key, so once you get a few good hits in, back off and wait for another opening until the Crooked Man is defeated.
Play this game if you like:
- Fun puzzles
- Interesting characters
- Heavy and dark themes
David is too distracted to see the FLIPPING GHOST ARMS!
#5: Omori - 2020 (Supported Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S)
OMORI Trailer
If you look up the word “depression” in the dictionary, you’ll probably find a picture of Sunny. In the game Omori, you play as Sunny, a young boy who wishes he was as happy as his dear friends seems to be. But as you go on adventures with these kids, you’ll soon realize that something is very, VERY wrong.
This is a psychological horror game that talks about themes like depression and suicide. So, if you’re easily triggered by such heavy subjects, this game is not for you. I’m giving this warning because I want people to play Omori and enjoy it, not feel triggered by it.
Play this game if you like:
- Relatable characters
- Strange and colorful worlds
- Beautiful soundtracks
A completely normal group photo of Sunny and his friends
#6: Angels of Death - 2016 (Supported Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One)
Angels of Death - Steam Release Trailer
Raise your hand if you would like a scythe-wielding best friend who takes joy in murdering people. 99% of you more than likely didn’t raise your hand, but that 1% would be Miss Rachel. Rachel is the little girl you play as in Angels of Death, and you must help Rachel escape a death game that involves psychos trying to kill her for fun.
While Angels of Death is a horror RPG, there is a good bit of humor in the game too. Zack is the funniest character in the game in my opinion! But if you’re looking for a horror game that emphasizes “horror”, you might want to look somewhere else.
Play this game if you like:
- A linear story
- Horror and comedy
- Good gameplay
Zack knowing that Rachel wishes she was in one of those graves
#7: Corpse Party – 1996 (Supporter Platforms: PC/ 2021 Remake on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One)
Corpse Party (2021) - Official Launch Trailer
If there is one thing I’ve learned from anime, it’s that you can do anything with the power of friendship. You could even escape a haunted school filled with monsters and evil spirits trying to kill you! In Corpse Party, a group of teenagers have to work together to escape a cursed elementary school.
You are responsible for getting everyone out alive, and one wrong move can cause you to lose one of your friends. Think about every choice you make, and tread carefully while exploring the school. Your wise decision-making may just save everyone...or not.
Play this game if you like:
- 2D visual style
- Dark tone
- Survival horror
The main characters of Corpse Party smiling despite the creepy ghost behind them
#8: Parasite Eve - 1998 (Supported Platforms: PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PSP, and PS Vita)
Parasite Eve Official Trailer (1998) - PlayStation
I don’t think cops get paid enough to deal with opera singers setting people on fire, right? Unfortunately for Aya, a rookie NYPD officer, she’s forced to do exactly that in the horror RPG Parasite Eve. Now she must stop the evil creature known as Eve and learn to control the power that was hidden within her.
I think one of the things that draws players into Parasite Eve is the visuals. The CGI cutscenes were amazing for the time the game came out, and the designs are cool too. I especially love the designs for the enemies, particularly Melissa/Eve.
Play this game if you like:
- Great designs
- JRPGs mixed with horror
- Amazing storytelling
Aya and Melissa staring into the distance…or are they looking at me?
#9: Off - 2008 (Supported Platforms: PC, Android, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii)
OFF Translation v2.0 Trailer (Out Now!!)
I never was one for sports, but a horror RPG about destroying monsters with a baseball bat sounds like fun! In the game Off, you play as a character known as “The Batter” and your mission is to “purify” the world of monsters. You will travel through different worlds, or zones, throughout the game and discover the secrets of the world of Off piece by piece.
The limited colors used in Off give the game a unique art style. While the characters are black and white, the zones have different monochromatic color schemes. The colors bring some life into the lives of the black and white sprites.
Play this game if you like:
- Classic RPG battle system
- Tricky puzzles
- Thematic elements
The Batter looking like someone straight out of JoJo’s
#10: Ao Oni - 2004 (Supported Platforms: PC)
Ao Oni (Ao-oni) international trailer - Daisuke Kobayashi-directed J-horror
“I love you! You hate me! I want your organs in my belly!” Yep, Barney’s acting really strangely in the game Ao Oni. This game stars Hiroshi, a teen who travels to a supposedly haunted house with his three friends. But when they are trapped in the house with a giant purple monster chasing after them, Hiroshi must use his brain and scrawny legs to escape the house alive with his friends.
There are A LOT of remakes and fan games for Ao Oni. So, if the first one isn’t to your liking, you have plenty of other games to choose from! And the games are short, usually around two hours long, so you can jump from game to game if you want.
Play this game if you like:
- Random enemy encounters
- Chase sequences
- Puzzle based gameplay
Main characters of Ao Oni games doing cool anime poses
#11: System Shock - 1994 (Supported Platforms: PC/ 2023 Remake on PC, but it is expected to be ported to consoles sometime this year)
System Shock - Official Trailer | Summer of Gaming 2022
You see, it’s games like System Shock that make me trust AI less and less every day. In this horror RPG, you take control of a character known as “The Hacker” and are forced to reprogram an AI called SHODAN in exchange for not going to jail. But after waking up from a six-month coma, you realize that you probably made a really big mistake.
System Shock was a very influential game series. And its influence can be found in famous games such as Thief, Deus Ex, and Bioshock. It may not seem like a big deal today, but without System Shock, we may not have had such awesome games!
Play this game if you like:
- Survival horror
- First-person shooters
- Sci-Fi genre
SHODAN thinking about murdering you in your sleep
#12: Dredge - 2023 (Supporter Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S)
Dredge - Official Feature Length Animated Trailer
Imagine yourself out on a sunny day fishing and sailing across the open water with not a care in the world. For the Fisherman in Dredge, his nice day of fishing comes to an end when he captures a strange fish called an Aberration. Now your mission as the Fisherman is to explore different islands and collect relics for a mysterious man known as the Collector.
Much like the Otherworld Silent Hill, the world of Dredge becomes more sinister when night falls. So, for anyone playing Dredge for the first time, please make sure to keep track of the time. Many dangers will appear during the night and if you’re too far from a dock, it might cost you.
Play this game if you like:
- Fishing minigames
- Exploration
- Lovecraftian horror
The Fisherman distracted by some fish when he should be saving his dog from the Kraken
#13: Attack on Titan 2 - 2023 (Supported Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and Xbox One)
A.O.T.2 Official Launch Trailer!
Everyone has heard of Attack on Titan, okay? From the amazing openings to the beautiful animation, Attack on Titan is known all around the world. But now you can experience the story of Attack on Titan alongside Eren, Levi, and other characters from the anime through video games!
In Attack on Titan 2, you get the chance to operate the mobility gear and kill Titans through aerial combat just like in the anime. You also have thirty-seven playable characters you can choose from, not including the custom character you can create as well. So, feel free to make your Attack on Titan OC come to life!
Play this game if you like:
- Anime
- Great character interaction
- Fun gameplay
Eren, Mikasa, Levi…how are you guys not terrified right now?
#14: Darkwood - 2017 (Supported Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S)
Darkwood | Launch Trailer | PS4
Have you ever had incredibly vivid dreams, like the ones that feel so real that you swear they actually happened? Well, I hope your nightmares never become as real as the ones you experience in Darkwood, a horror game where you play as the Stranger. The Stranger, who is now mute as a side effect of the Plague, must survive and escape a forest filled with terrible creatures who were also affected by the Plague.
At the very beginning of the game, you will see a warning saying that Darkwood is an unforgiving and challenging game. Please take these words to heart because it’s true! If you’re someone who makes rash decisions, then trust me, you’re going to have a bad time with this game.
Play this game if you like:
- Survival games
- Psychological horror
- Dream sequences
The Stranger being strange in this strange picture
#15: Dying Light - 2015 (Supporter Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S)
Dying Light - Launch Trailer | PS4
Resident Evil, The Last of Us, and even Plants vs Zombies are some of the first titles that come to mind when we think about zombie games. But hiding in the corner, slowly fading into darkness, is a little game called Dying Light. As the game’s protagonist, an undercover operative named Kyle Crane, you’re sent on a mission to recover an important file, but it’s up to you whether you should continue the mission or help the survivors of an infected city.
The funniest thing to me about Dying Light is that Kyle Crane is voiced by Roger Craig Smith. It was hilarious hearing Sonic the Hedgehog cursing almost constantly throughout the game! It makes me wonder if we should have a Sonic game where Sonic acts more mature like Kyle.
Play this game if you like:
- Zombies
- Survival horror
- First-person perspective
A zombie politely asking Kyle where the nearest Starbucks is
These are only fifteen fantastic horror RPGs, but there are a lot more out there. I would love to talk about more of them, but that would take WAY too long. So, go out there and find the right horror RPG for you! While I highly suggest you play the games I’ve listed, there are also plenty of other horror games and each one is unique in its own twisted way.
