Japanese developers appear to have a stranglehold on the horror genre. I’m not sure what it is about Japanese horror films and video games that makes them so extremely terrifying. This is why so many American horror films are remakes of their Japanese counterparts. Perhaps it’s because Japanese game designers and directors don’t rely solely on “jump-scares,” or perhaps they simply understand what makes people feel vulnerable.
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Here are five of the most terrifying Japanese video games released since 2000, in my opinion. If you dare, you may try them in the dark.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
This sequel ups the scare factor by focusing on two young girls who visit a haunted Japanese village. Fatal Frame introduced gamers to the concept of battling spirits using only a camera as a weapon, and this sequel focuses on two young girls who visit a haunted Japanese village. One of them soon realizes that the village is not as she remembered it. Throughout the majority of the game, players control this girl as she searches for her sister, battles terrifying ghosts, and uncovers a complex conspiracy involving twins throughout history.
The camera combat system, known as Camera Obscura, is exclusive to this series, and its limitations only serve to heighten the tension. I really appreciate how taking close-up pictures as opposed to distant ones causes more damage to adversaries. In addition, there are a limited number of films that inflict a greater amount of injury. It’s unfortunate that selfies weren’t popular at the time this game was created, as I assume the inherent danger of taking them would have caused significant damage.
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 2 introduces forbidden subjects that most games wouldn’t dare touch with a ten-foot spear. Participants take on the character of James, a man who receives a letter from his deceased wife. In search of his lost love, he travels to the mysterious town of Silent Hill, only to discover that it has terrifying monsters that would make the devil himself flee in terror.
Exploring a spooky town shrouded in dense fog as an average person who lacks combat skills and can only see a few feet in front of him is bad enough, but facing genuinely terrifying monsters with extremely limited ammunition is much worse. Add the fact that this game introduces the iconic Pyramid Head, who will undoubtedly appear in every player’s nightmares at some point, and you have a game that will genuinely frighten some people to the point where they will abandon it.
Siren
Many of you are probably pondering why Resident Evil is absent from this list. This is because Siren is a much scarier horror game with zombie-like foes. The tale is through the eyes of several survivors and is set in the Japanese city of Hanuda, which has been devastated by a powerful earthquake. Shibito creatures prowl the city in search of survivors to consume and convert into more shibito. Moans and other eerie sounds dominate the environment, heightening its eerie quality.
In this game, resistance is futile because characters have extremely limited weaponry and can end with a single blow, so avoiding combat is the apparent choice. Because shibito have keen hearing, it is best to move stealthily and use the flashlight sparingly. The “sight jack” feature allows players to see and hear what adjacent shibito and humans can see and hear. This is of great assistance when players must accomplish objectives or lead survivors to safety.
Calling
While most Wii games focused on realistic Wii-mote usage, Calling elevated the unique controller to supernatural heights. The plot revolves around a website called The Black Page, which is literally a black website with a counter displaying the number of individuals who have passed away after visiting it. When three individuals visit The Black Page, they fall into a void known as the Mnemonic Abyss. Their only escape is through the use of their paranormal cell phones (try obtaining this service from AT&T).
In order to find their way back to reality, players must investigate eerie locations such as an internet cafe and a doll-filled house. Not only can the Wiimote move objects and move around, but it also receives exceedingly spooky calls from the dead and can record their voices. It can also take photographs and teleport to various locations, allowing players to avoid combat. Apparently, the scariest games involve limited combat or the avoidance of adversaries.
Granny
The objective of Granny is to use a variety of items over five (or six, if a picture puzzle is completed) days to escape the home while evading Granny, who is on the hunt. By removing the locks from the front door, repairing the vehicle in the garage, or removing the locks from the vault door in the sewer tunnel, the player can escape. These necessitate distinct sets of materials.
