There are plenty of RPG Maker horror games available on Steam today, from atmospheric titles, like Ib and Yume Nikki, to more thrilling ones, like Mad Father and The Crooked Man. All of these games feature a distinct playstyle, with a top-down view of the player character and their environment. These aspects are what categorizes these games as RPG Maker horror games.
That said, these are only a few of the many RPG Maker indie horror games that cropped up in the 2000s and 2010s. There are many more still available online for free; all it takes is a little digging.
Ao Oni
Ao Oni is one of the earliest known RPG Maker horror games that gained massive popularity. Created by noprops and released sometime in the late 2000s, the game revolved around a student named Hiroshi and his circle of friends as they explored an abandoned mansion. Unfortunately for them, the mansion was filled with huge, mishappen monsters known as “Oni.” With its unnatural eyes and rows of sharp teeth, the titular Oni is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying monsters in the RPG Maker horror game genre.
Ao Oni’s gameplay is mostly built on solving puzzles within the mansion. Completing puzzles furthers the narrative and provides the player with useful tools that they can use later in the game. Progressing also eventually sheds light on how the strange Oni are created. However, the Oni can appear to disrupt the player’s progress at any time, initiating a chase sequence where the player must run away from the monster until it gives up.
As more YouTube creators and gaming communities took notice of Ao Oni, its popularity grew. This resulted in the game getting its own light novel, two different manga series, a live-action film, and anime adaptions. Despite this, the game isn’t available on Steam, though an English translation can be downloaded online.
Re:Kinder
Re:Kinder is actually a remake of another RPG Maker game called Kinder. Re:Kinder was created on a much newer RPG Maker program, but both were made by Parun. Released in 2010, the story focuses on a young boy named Shunsuke, who returns to his home from a vacation with his grandparents only to find a desolate land. He joins up with his friends to find out what’s going on. And soon, they start to realize that the strange happenings have something to do with another young boy named Yuuichi.
Re:Kindermakes use of the RPG Maker program’s combat system, so the player will have to fight through strange monsters to progress the story. During these battle sequences, the player can also take control of Shunsuke’s friends, so it’s best to learn what their unique abilities are. Aside from this, it’s important to note that the game’s narrative deals with heavy themes, such as mental illness, abuse, and suicide.
Though not as popular as Ao Oni, Re:Kinder is still a game worth playing, especially for its strong narrative and the message it sends about mental health. An English translation of the game can be downloaded online.
OFF
OFF is an RPG Maker game that was created by Unproductive Fun Time and released in 2008. In it, the player takes control of a mysterious protagonist known only as “The Batter,” and his goal is to “purify” the game world. To do this, the player must travel across multiple zones, killing the specters in the game and their Guardians that reside there.
Like Re:Kinder, OFF makes use of the combat mechanics of the RPG Maker program. The player has to level up, improve their stats, and even recruit party members to assist in The Batter’s mission. What sets this game apart, however, is its atmosphere. Unlike Ao Oni and Re:Kinder’s scary visuals, OFF leans more into a surrealist art style, which adds to the game’s bizarre but compelling narrative.
OFF was already popular after its initial release, but it grew even more so after the game was translated into English. These English versions of the game are still available online. That said, many loved the game’s underlying themes, its visual style, and its overall bizarreness. It was even the sixth most reblogged game on Tumblr in the year 2013, surpassing AAA games like Skyrim and The Last of Us.
Mermaid Swamp
Mermaid Swamp may not be on Steam, but its creator’s other works are. The game was made by Uri, who also created The Strange Man series. First released in 2013, the story revolves around a woman named Rin Yamazaki and her friends, who’ve traveled to a mountainous area to go on vacation. During their trip, however, their car breaks down. This forces them to stay the night at a mansion in the middle of nowhere, and just outside of it is a large swamp.
MermaidSwamp is more similar to Ao Oni as it doesn’t involve any combat sequences in the RPG Maker program. Instead, it encourages the player to explore and make the right choices to unlock the best possible ending. The game also leans heavily into bodily horror, making use of drawn images to portray the characters in a bloated state. Additionally, a remake of the game was released in 2018, and it features full Japanese voice acting.
Mermaid Swamp was well-received in the RPG Maker horror game community for its compelling story and disturbing imagery. Many liked that it didn’t shy away from portraying its characters in such a grotesque way. And with the remake out, old-time fans can enjoy the game with some pretty great voice acting and improved graphics.
These are only some of the countless RPG Maker Horror games that have been obscured by time. In spite of this, they’re still worth playing. The simple controls and cutesy sprites shouldn’t detract from the horror aspect of the games. Moreover, each of these titles delivers something valuable to the indie horror scene, whether it’s in its style or story. As such, despite their seemingly outdated graphics and their old-school download methods, these games are well worth any horror gamer’s time.
English translations of the indie horror games Ao Oni, Re:Kinder, OFF, and MermaidSwamp are all available online for free on PC.