Although FromSoftware's Souls series and other Souls-like games have made the idea of darker horror-esque RPGs more mainstream, horror RPGs are still incredibly rare compared to other RPG sub-genres. Even with RPGs being one of the most popular video game genres, with hundreds of new titles released every year, it's still difficult to find examples with horror elements.
But there are some excellent horror-based RPGs that fans of either genre should play. Out of the examples that do exist, Metacritic has listed some of the best.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (2007) - 82
Inspired by the famous Russian novella Roadside Picnic and its art film adaptation Stalker, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a 2007 first-person shooter survival horror RPG created by the Ukrainian studio GSC Game World. After a second unknown disaster occurs in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the added radiation causes the area to be changed so much that local people, wildlife, and even the laws of physics are corrupted and transformed.
Despite the dangers of the Zone, scavengers known as "Stalkers" still enter it to obtain powerful artifacts created by the radiation and to possibly reach a monolithic artifact at the center of the Zone that is rumored to grant wishes. As a man with amnesia known as the "Marked One," the player explores the Zone as he tries to regain his memories and find a person named Strelok.
Shin Megami Tensei V (2021) - 84
Although the series has only just begun receiving mainstream success after the recent Persona titles, many fan don't know that the ongoing Megami Tensei franchise has a long history dating back to the Japan-only 1987 game, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei. Even though the franchise is significant for pioneering RPGs with modern settings and the idea of recruiting in-game monsters, the use of demons, post-apocalyptic worlds, mature themes, and horror elements led to the earlier titles being banned internationally.
While the most recent installment, Shin Megami Tensei V, isn't as dark as some of its predecessors, it does keep some of those horror elements such as the demon recruiting and the post-apocalyptic setting. When the main protagonist accidentally ends up in an alternate version of Tokyo called Da'at, he has to fuse with the Proto-Fiend Aogami to become a Nahobino and determine the fate of the world.
Darkest Dungeon (2016) - 85
Released in 2016, Darkest Dungeon is a gothic roguelike dungeon-crawler RPG that follows an unnamed player character who has recently inherited an estate. Since the player's ancestor unleashed terrible world-ending evils from the dungeons underneath the estate, the player must now recruit heroes to explore these catacombs, defeat the monsters, and save the world.
Instead of having a set group of main characters, the player gathers disposable heroes who each have different stats and abilities. As they explore and witness horrifying phenomena, the characters gain more stress, which can lead to various negative and positive afflictions. Since the dungeons and events are randomly generated, this game has plenty of replay value.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (2004) - 85
Considered to be the best entry in the series, Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a 2004 PS2 JRPG and the third installment in the Shadow Hearts series. Taking place after the bad ending of the 2001 PS2 title Shadow Hearts, this game follows lieutenant Karin Koenig and Yuri, the protagonist from Shadow Hearts, as they gather allies in order to defeat a terrorist group called Sapientes Gladio.
With a mixture of historic references, gothic aesthetics, and cosmic horror, this game and the rest of this series have a unique setting and tone that no other JRPG series replicates. Although it has turn-based battles, the game also uses a unique mechanic known as the Judgement Ring, which requires players to stop a pointer at the exact right moment on a rotating disk to execute any battle action.
Omori (2020) - 87
Based on the pseudonymous developer Omocat's webcomic of the same name, Omori is a 2020 RPG Maker psychological horror game that discusses mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. The main character, a teenage boy named Sunny, has become socially reclusive after a traumatic incident.
To discover what happened and possibly overcome it, Sunny explores his dream world as his alter-ego Omori and interacts with people in the real world. Depending on the player's actions, they will receive one of several different endings.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (2002) - 92
The highly praised Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is a 2002 GameCube cosmic horror action adventure with RPG elements. The game primarily follows one of the best female horror game protagonists, Alexandra "Alex" Roivas, as she attempts to figure out what caused her grandfather's death by exploring the family estate and reading the stories of various people from the past using the Tome of Eternal Darkness.
Besides having the player take on the role of 12 unique characters during different parts of history, the game is known for having fourth-wall-breaking events that happen any time the character's sanity is too low. This included the game seemingly deleting the save data or items appearing that don't actually exist.
System Shock 2 (1999) - 92
Released in 1999, System Shock 2 is an action survival horror RPG that is also considered one of the most influential games of the time for its game design, atmosphere, and sound design. Several decades after the first game, a former black market operator, Anatoly Korenchkin, has rebuilt TriOptimum and created an experimental FTL starship called the Von Braun.
After responding to a distress signal from the planet Tau Ceti V, the crew is taken over by parasitic worms which think as one hive mind called The Many. As an amnesiac soldier, the player wakes up on the ship and, with the help of another survivor Dr. Janice Polito, tries to defeat The Many.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) - 93
Though the game initially sold poorly, the 1997 PS1 gothic action JRPG Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is one of the namesakes to the metroidvania genre. Taking place four years after the 1993 title Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, the previous protagonist, Richter Belmont, has disappeared and Dracula's castle has reappeared.
These strange events prompt Dracula's dhampir son Alucard, who originally appeared in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, to enter the castle in order to destroy it. Along the way, he discovers that Richter is being controlled by Dracula's servant Shaft and that Dracula will be resurrected soon. Depending on the player's actions, they will receive one of several endings.
Diablo (1997) - 94
Created in 1997 as the first installment in the series of the same name, Diablo is a gothic action RPG that's set within the small village of Tristram in the Kingdom of Khanduras. After the powerful demon Diablo manipulated the archbishop Lazarus into destroying his soulstone prison, he possessed both the king and prince, and transformed the town into a place of terror.
As a player-customized hero, the player must travel through randomly generated dungeons, fight many horrific creatures, and complete randomly selected quests in order to reach Hell and defeat Diablo. With an excellent atmosphere and soundtrack, the player will find themselves invested in this classic from start to finish.
Elden Ring (2022) - 96
It's impossible to talk about horror-based RPGs without mentioning a Souls-like game, and one of the very best is FromSoftware's 2022 dark fantasy action RPG Elden Ring. Created in collaboration with famous fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin, the game follows the Tarnished, one of the many exiles of the Lands Between, who is called back to the realm in order to recover the Great Runes, repair the Elden Ring, and become the next Elden Lord.
Together with a Maiden named Melina, the Tarnished travels across the Lands Between to defeat Queen Marika's demigod children and enter the Erdtree to complete their mission. Depending on the player's actions, they can achieve one of six different endings.