Visual Novels have been celebrating a renaissance of sorts over the past year with many gamers realizing their format allows them to tell intense stories that regular games can't always manage. This is especially true when looking at horror games.
RELATED: 10 Best Visual Novels Of 2020, Ranked
Without having to rely on cheap tactics like jump scares, visual novels can craft some truly terrifying stories designed to perfectly unsettle anyone that plays through them. Some are particularly horrifying and even seasoned fans of the genre know to not play through them all alone.
10 Koshotengai no Hashihime (Hashihime Of Old Book Town) - 8.18
Working at a used book store may seem like a relaxing time but it could be much more sinister than it looks on the surface. Players follow the story of Tamamori, a student who failed to get into university but somehow got a full-time job working at the store called Umebachidou.
He begins to make friends but their sudden mysterious deaths show that there are more sinister things going on at the store than Tamamori could have ever guessed. Kurasawa Rinko put a lot of work into the story and visuals of this game and it shows.
9 Tsukihime - 8.19
The game is filled with classic horror tropes like vampires, magic, and a dash of romance. The game's graphics are a little dated by today's standard but the fantastic atmosphere Tsukihime offers still makes it worth checking out today. It was also eventually adapted into an anime showing just how excellent its story is.
8 Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward - 8.27
Wanna play a game? No, not that kind of game but it's still a game of life and death. This is a sequel to the original Zero Escape and has a similar story where nine people must escape a warehouse or potentially die.
RELATED: 10 Visual Novels That Are Amazing (After A Rough Opening Few Hours)
Many fans have said the game takes a bit longer to get into the story than the original and is a bit too over the top for most. Still, fans of the first game should certainly give it a try as they'll find a similar experience to enjoy.
7 Chaos;Child - 8.29
Chaos;Child and Steins;Gate share the same director and it shows. Sure fans can point to some of the side routes in the game being iffy but the characters and story more than make up for it.
This murder mystery surrounded by the events of a massive earthquake is the epitome of psychological horror while still stirring players emotionally to their core. Make sure to be braced for impact when playing this one.
6 Zero Escape: 9 Hours 9 People 9 Doors - 8.30
Nine players have nine hours to pass through the door matching the number on their bracelet. If they don't, they'll sink alongside the ship. This simple premise goes far deeper than players could imagine, creating a game that can be played many times over before the true ending is found.
The version on the Nintendo DS introduced many players to the game making it one of the more recognizable horror visual novels out there.
5 Subarashiki Hibi ~Furenzoku Sonzai~ (Wonderful Everyday) - 8.58
This story follows five main characters across seven chapters giving players a lot of game to dig into. Considering it won a 2010 Moe Game Award it'll be worth every moment! The way it's presented allows players to see the same events from the perspectives of each character, revealing a bit of the story with each new look.
The game often dips into the philosophical while exploring psychological horror tropes. The biggest criticism of the game comes from sexual content that tends to break emersion and doesn't really fit the overall story.
4 Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kai (When They Cry 2) - 8.69
Rural Hinamizawa seems like a peaceful town in Japan. But with someone being murdered every single Watanagashi Festival makes it obvious there are far darker things happening below the surface.
RELATED: Top 15 Best Visual Novels on Steam, Ranked
Each arc of the story has one of the characters becoming extremely paranoid with various crimes happening, making it difficult for the player to always know what's real or not. It sets up an amazing scenario that really drives the horror home.
3 The House Of Fate Morgana (Fata Morgana No Yakata) - 8.77
This game has gotten so many ports it's almost staggering. This just goes to show how popular and influential this visual novel has become. It may have its flaws, starting with an amnesia trope, but it allows players to slowly uncover the tragedies that have happened at the mansion over the years.
The story is deep and interconnected in an amazing way with even the smallest details coming up later. It's the perfect story to get fully immersed into.
2 Umineko No Naku Koro Ni (When They Cry 3) - 8.82
The game feels like a typical murder mystery on a deserted island but players shouldn't let it fool them — it's far more complex than that. The game is actually described as a sound novel by its creators as it has a focus on trying to create an atmosphere more than on its graphics.
This makes it perfect for players who want to click through and just absorb the haunting story. It's a horror classic for a reason and will be a surefire hit with any reader.
1 Umineko No Naku Koro Ni Chiru (When They Cry 4) - 8.86
It's not hard to believe the fourth game in the Umineko series is considered the best by fans. It had the ability to build and learn from all the prior titles to create a perfected experience for horror visual novel readers. It also builds on the story of When They Cry 3 which gives it even more weight.
We don't want to accidentally give out any spoilers so we just recommend reading both this visual novel and the one proceeding it. It will be worth every horrifying minute.