Best Horror Games Inspired by Japanese Folklore, Ranked

Japanese folklore has been the foundation of some of the most chilling, creative Japanese horror games ever made. Rooted in centuries-old tales of Yōkai (shape-shifting monsters), Yūrei (vengeful spirits), and mysterious rituals, these legends have long haunted the country’s cultural imagination. What sets Japanese folklore horror games apart isn’t just their creepy settings or grotesque monsters. It’s how deeply these stories are woven into the core of the experience, from the rules of survival to the design of every haunted alley and shrine.