When I started playing World of Horror, I found it somewhat amusing that I stumbled upon Junji Ito almost by accident. I was going through a phase where I would frequently browse the r/creepy subreddit in search of those cool, semi-animated horror comics. Someone had shared The Enigma of Amigara Fault. I was immediately captivated by its incredibly eerie storytelling and profoundly terrifying premise.
From there, I became particularly enamoured with Ito’s work, which is exactly what drew me to World of Horror. I’ve always liked the idea of horror RPGs. One that was so clearly inspired by the renowned horror artist was definitely going to be something special and definitely something spooky, and I wasn’t disappointed—World of Horror is an intense trip down a long and dark road. One most won’t survive.
The story is simple and intentionally vague. In a small seaside town, strange events have started occurring, linked to a strange cult and possibly heralding the return of an old and terrible god. The player must investigate five mysteries in order to piece together the true intention of the cult before the spectre of doom engulfs the town and possibly the world.
“World of Horror is an intense trip down a long and dark road. One most won’t survive.”
I never played World of Horror while it was still in Early Access, but CGM’s Lane Martin did and as far as I can tell, not much has changed. Hearing from friends and even Ysbryd’s press material, there’s been some tweaks here and there, some difficulty adjustments and they added a plethora of new scenarios and mysteries—including some special content right in time for Halloween.
But at its core, it’s mostly the same game (why fix what isn’t broken?) It definitely feels like it’s channelling a lot of The Consuming Shadow’s vibes, albeit in a much more fleshed-out and deep way. While the central story always remains the same, the nature of the game has players solving different mysteries each time—each one with several different endings that can influence the way the game progresses. No two playthroughs will ever be the same, and I think that adds a lot of mystery and dread to the game’s story.
Gameplay is a mixture of visual novel-style investigation and turn-based RPG battles as players work to figure out the various terrifying mysteries they may become embroiled in and fight the otherworldly forces that confront them. It’s a combination of Oregon Trail-style “scenarios” and combat encounters. While the gameplay is incredibly deep, it’s a mostly straightforward experience as the game essentially guides you on where to in order to investigate each mystery.
The town itself has several locations that can be investigated. They also provide a multitude of ways to aid your character—for example, you can buy items at the shop, treat wounds at the hospital, or recruit allies at the school. However, much like Darkest Dungeon, there’s a certain degree of urgency behind every mystery as every decision increases the town’s Doom percentage by different amounts, so players really need to think about what they’re doing and seriously weigh their options.
Combat is a bit of a similar affair, as players will come up against eldritch horrors, both physical and ethereal. Players have a limited amount of action points—or “Time” as this game calls it—to utilize both physical or spiritual attacks.
They need to be very considerate with what actions they choose since, true to survival horror fashion, characters are not the most proficient in battle and misplaced action can cause the battle to go sideways fast. What’s more, players will need to manage both their physical and mental health as certain enemies can drain one or the other—and sometimes both—and if either hits zero, it’s game over.
The gameplay is where World of Horror really shines, as it perfectly captures the subtle terror or the work that inspires it. It’s a quiet, surreal kind of game, and while it never really scared me in the same way P.T. did—but let’s face it, nothing ever will—the whole time I was playing it, I had a knot in my stomach. It’s incredibly captivating and keeps pressing you forward, but you’ll find yourself resisting the push the entire time in the way a good horror game should.
However, it’s not an entirely flawless experience. The game’s RNG can be a bit too unforgiving at times and stack a lot of failed checks against the player in a truly staggering amount of time. One of my playthroughs ended pretty unsatisfactorily as I neared the end of my fourth mystery. I failed scenario check after check and was set up for a battle I had no hope of winning. In a way, I’d say this helps the game’s mysterious and horrific nature, but from a gameplay perspective, it can get a bit frustrating.
“World of Horror takes DEEP inspiration from the works of Junji Ito and the moment-to-moment background design…”
The game’s audio/visual design is the second place where it really stands out. Like I’ve said numerous times, World of Horror takes DEEP inspiration from the works of Junji Ito and the moment-to-moment background design, character and enemy design, and even just some of the otherworldly and macabre visuals look like they’ve been lifted right off the pages of Ito’s work. There are definitely more than a few ACTUAL references to some of Ito’s manga—a mystery involving fish creatures, some visual nods to Uzumaki and Death Star Remina, and several others.
Music is subtle and creepy, utilizing a simple 8-bit soundtrack to great effect. The way the chiptune slows and breaks down in certain moments creates a truly unsettling atmosphere, and the tracks themselves are unnerving and offputting. Also, big kudos to the use of the jumpscare sound from the NES Friday the 13th game—thought I wouldn’t notice, did you game developers?
World of Horror is a truly intense game that fans of both Junji Itoor and slow-burn horror games are bound to love. While its difficulty and the nature of its RNG might turn some gamers off, I think it’s definitely worth a look and the perfect addition to any horror fan’s Halloween playlist.
