Most Asian Horror fans are familiar with games that explore folklore. Supernatural elements such as yokai are creatures gamers regularly use due to influences on manga and anime. However, Asia is a treasure trove of eerie stories and terrifying entities, with each country displaying similar and distinct superstitions and tales. Because you know that whatever is in the game isn’t real when you’re not playing, the scarier the horror game, the more fun it is. Players should be the for titles that showcase the wealth and stories these countries offer as more mainstream indie game developers create new tags and franchises from those regions.
Detention:
Detention is one of the more recognizable non-Japanese horror titles. Detention, developed by Red Candle Games, is an atmospheric 2D horror game set in a high school in 1960s Taiwan during the White Terror period. The game entraps and terrifies players by fusing various Chinese/Taiwanese folklore, myths, and religious elements with psychological horror. The game is educational and explains the multiple entities and customs throughout the campaign, heightening the mysterious nature of the story. Detention, with its many intriguing yet disturbing puzzles, will leave an impression long after the game is finished.
Paper Ghost Stories: 7 PM
Paper Ghost Stories: 7 PM is a Malaysian production that follows the story of three young Malaysian kids living in a small apartment complex and shared experiences during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Meanwhile, a strange new neighbor moves in, setting off a chain of strange and dark events. Paper Ghost Stories: 7 PM is a short experience that can be completed in about half an hour and features a unique and original paper-based art style. The game will be an experience for people of that horror enthusiasts looking for different, as it will represent both Chinese and Malay cultures and customs.
Pamali: Indonesian Folklore Horror:
Pamali immerses its players in the horrors of Indonesian traditions, beliefs, and taboos. The game, a first-person narrative horror experience, has four different episodes and features iconic entities such as the well-known Pocong and the fewer Balinese Leak. The game has a mind-boggling number of possible endings (30 in just the first episode alone) and around 90 when all scenarios are mixed. The player can sell the house right away to avoid the entire experience. However, as they progress through this increasingly disturbing and terrifying game, players will be rewarded in due course.
Seduction:
Seduction depicts the story of a monk trapped in a realm who must help save a soul from being employed in a ritual. A Singaporean team created it. The game is a 2D puzzle adventure in which the player travels through landscapes inspired by Buddhist hell. The game has an excellent art style that is sometimes simple and detailed, especially in the Buddhist temples and shrines. Because the game’s central theme is temptation, players familiar with Asian folklore and stories will recognize some allusions. You will love this game since it has different features.
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
Coma 2, a Korean survival horror game set in a deserted high school, has players guiding Mina away from the clutches of a demoness. The game is as beautiful as it is haunted and horrifying, drawing inspiration from the classic Tower series and using a Manwha. Coma 2 delves into other district areas, such as a deranged market and a hospital. Players must effectively manage their stamina bars and inventory to avoid and escape the monsters. This game, which includes glyphs, ritual items, and dark arts, is ideal for fans of the series Clock Tower saga.
Asian Games was the epicenter of horror games, with titles such as Silent Hill and Fatal Frame. Recently, this regulation has evolved, spreading to other Asian countries. Detention ushered in a new wave of horror games that were both inventive and strange and deeply rooted in their respective country’s folklore, traditions, and history. Several Asian horror video games started incorporating local history, mythology, or customs themes to create a more personal experience, blending the mundane with superstition. Of course, using mythological creatures is a simple way to connect sheer terror with societies.
