Anyone who knows their horror also knows that few do it better than the Japanese. J-horror (as it’s often called) is known for its extreme power, its idiosyncratic choices, and its incredibly effective imagery. J-horror is more than willing to go where others won’t, and that makes for some of the best gaming experiences around andsome of the darkest JRPGs ever made.
JRPG fans also know that the Japanese are incredible at making RPGs, so it should be no surprise that fusing J-horror and JRPGs together results in some of the best games ever made. Every gamer should check these out.
Though it’s obscure,Koudelkais one of the most unique horror JRPGs ever made, particularly because of its idiosyncratic setting of a Welsh monastery in the late 1800s that fuses the eccentricities of the JRPG with the time-tested power of Gothic horror. What results is a strange but utterly beguiling JRPG that tackles dark and complex themes making it an underappreciated trail-blazer in the genre, that almost certainlyinspired many games to come.
Koudelkaalso boasts a unique fusion of RPG mechanics, survival horror, and adventure games also set to the beat of an incredible soundtrack bySecret of Mana’s very own Hiroki Kikuta. Needless to say,Koudelkahas the bonafides, and any JRPG horror fan would be hard pressed to find a game as unique or interesting asKoudelka.
Also known asShadow Hearts IIin Japan,Shadow Hearts: Covenantoffers another unique J-horror setting of World War 1 combined with the “Judgment Ring System”, a set of combat mechanics that require precise timing from the player as well as on-the-fly strategic decisions.
Its J-horror bonafides are strong too. Boasting a dark story that that delves into truly unsettling places while still retaining a wry sense of humor,Shadow Hearts: Covenantis the perfect jumping in place for those who have never played aShadow Heartsgame before and is one of thebest games set during World War 1.
Parasite Eveis a legend in the horror JRPG space, and deservedly so. AlongsideKoudelka,Parasite Evesuccessfully fused JRPG mechanics with the tell-tale gameplay of the burgeoning survival horror genre, resulting in a unique blend of scares and mechanical engagement that has inspired awhole slew of games in the modern day.
However, the real uniqueness comes from the game’s innovative sci-fi horror storyline based on a novel by Hideaki Sena about mitochondrial evolution, all set during Christmas in New York. Yeah, it’s out there, but it’s a hell of a ride too and a great jumping in point for anyone who wants to delve deep into this era of gaming.
There’s no doubt thatSweet Homeis the grand-daddy of every J-horror game that would arrive afterwards, and it just so happens to be a great little RPG too. Riffing on horror classics of the 1980s,Sweet Hometakes place in a haunted mansion with a wide cast of characters who must survive the various ghosts and ghouls in order to survive.
With several unique endings depending on which characters survive as well as fusing JRPG mechanics with fun scares,Sweet Homemay not be the scariest game of all time, but it has rightfully earned its place in the hall of fame as one of the most impotant horror JPRGs ever made and is tragicallyone of the most often forgotten.
AnyPersonafan will tell you that the games can strike a great horror tone when they want, and most of that can probably be traced back toShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, the cousin of thePersonaseries. The games takes place in the post-apocalypse where Tokyo has been turned into a surreal nightmare scape for the player to explore making itone of the best post-apocalyptic games of all time.
The JRPG mechanics are strong here with extremely challenging combat and in-depth customization that will test even the most hardcore JRPG fan. Paired with Shoji Meguro’s haunting soundtrack, this one is an incredibly memorable horror JPRG that sticks with the player long after the end credits roll.
What can be said aboutBloodbornethat hasn’t already? Arriving in 2015,Bloodbornewas From Software’s first major innovation to the Souls formula established in theDark Soulsgames, and it is a hell of a jump. The game focuses on aggression above all else, withincredibly powerful bosses and enemiesthat attack non stop, and blood drenching the gothic streets of Yarnham.
However, the game also reads as a love letter to horror fiction. What starts as Gothic horror masterpiece soon turns into a love of body horror, before making a final masterful turn towards Lovecraftian cosmic horror, resulting in a game that feels like a tribute to the incredible work that came before it, and everything that was still to come. Every JRPG horror fan should play this at their earliest opportunity.
