The third MetaCouncil visual novel book club is going to follow a somewhat different format from the first two book clubs. For Spooktoober 2019, you get to pick any horror/spooky visual novel(s) that you want to read or re-read! This is an informal book club, so there is no fixed schedule; you simply read the novel at your own pace, and share your thoughts along the way or when you are done reading. Just remember to use spoiler tags liberally.
For general information and past and future book clubs, please see the main MetaCouncil Book Club thread.
The following is a set of horror/spooky visual novels included merely for inspiration; feel free to pick something for Spooktober that is not on either of these lists. Approximate play-times are included for each suggestion, sourced either from HLTB (HowLongToBeat.com) or VNDB.
Many more English Language horror/spooky visual novels can be found on VNDB, Steam, and Itch. Please post suggestions in the thread if you know of some good horror/spooky visual novels not listed below, or post if you need suggestions for where to start.
(I will be starting with Corpse Party, so feel free to join me in reading that story)
Free suggestions
CUPID Love is both poison and cure, both knife and remedy." Set in 18th Century France, this is a gothic romance tale about loss, revenge and the different faces of love. (download) | HLTB: 5h | |
DIVI-DEAD My name is Ranmaru Hibikiya. Today is my first day at Asao Private School... Well actually, there was a problem. Once I arrived, I started noticing some disturbing things. There was violence and misconduct happening on campus, not the usual past times at a private high school. As I got deeper into my investigation, I came across a possible correlation between an underground society and the unusual behavior of my peers. I realized that I could not trust ANYONE. There's just one last thing...After transferring, sometime between all the sexual escapades happening on campus, and my investigation, something horrifying happened to me. I... (play online) Warning: Contains sexually explicit material. | VNDB: 10-30h | |
Doki Doki Literature Club! Welcome to the Literature Club! It's always been a dream of mine to make something special out of the things I love. Now that you're a club member, you can help me make that dream come true in this cute game! Every day is full of chit-chat and fun activities with all of my adorable and unique club members. I'm super excited for you to make friends with everyone and help the Literature Club become a more intimate place for all my members. But I can tell already that you're a sweetheart—will you promise to spend the most time with me? (download) | HLTB: 5h | |
Knifepoint Horror A series of short stories, each telling a frightening supernatural tale. The KPH set is set apart from its contemporaries by its personal, minimalist style and focus on the primal aspects of storytelling by concentrating primarily on the raw experience, cutting away all unnecessary filler which leaves us with a tightly-plotted tale whose fascination the reader will find themselves hard-pressed to escape from. (download) | VNDB: 2-10h | |
Lake of Voices Kikka the Steadfast is a sensitive and empathetic woman who uses a mask of stoicism to protect herself from the harsh world she lives in. Kikka works as an official guard for one of the many tiny villages in the region. Her most recent assignment is to travel with fellow guard Bemelle to an allied town that’s been under siege by raiders. With an ever-present sense of urgency, the two find themselves on the shore of Sinnlos, a cursed lake of black water that is home to the Nixi; twisted creatures who take joy in drowning humans. But they are not the only ones seeking passage that night. Their guide agrees to lead them all, whilst also giving a warning that a group this large has no chance of making it across whole. Someone will be lost along the way. (download) | HLTB: 5h | |
Perceptions of the Dead The first thing you need to know is that ghosts are real. The rest, you can only learn on your own. Follow three stories set in a world where the dead linger, and things far worse wait beyond the veil. (download) | HLTB: 1h | |
Soundless - A Modern Salem in Remote Area - The small town of Phada is the home of a cult comprising of only 145 people, completely cut off from the rest of the world. The protagonist, Mercy, is the subject of constant religious abuse due to her "cursed" hallucinations, which cause her to see a corrupted world filled with red and black beetles. After the death of the town's 25th "Holy Woman", two new Holy Women instead of one are birthed in her place. When classes end the next day, one calls out to Mercy. "I can see it, too." (download) | VNDB: 2-10h | |
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Non-free suggestions
Corpse Party A group of friends unknowingly perform an occult ritual that traps them in an otherworldly elementary school. Here, the vengeful spirits of young children threaten their lives and their sanity, and the only hope of survival is to uncover the chilling details behind the murders of those trapped before them... (purchase) | HLTB: 11h | |
Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni Marie is trapped in a horrible situation. She's being constantly tormented by her classmates and regularly molested by her teacher. With nowhere else to turn, she finds herself asking for supernatural help from one of the seven demons of the seven mysteries of her school. All she desires is the death of her cruel classmates and teacher. How far will Marie be willing to go in order to achieve the murders that would free her from her living hell? | HLTB: 5.5h x 2 parts | |
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni The story takes place during June 1983, at a fictional rural village called Hinamizawa, which has a population of approximately 2000. , Keiichi Maebara, moves to Hinamizawa and befriends his new classmates Rena Ryugu, Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, and Satoko Hojo. Hinamizawa appears to be a normal, peaceful, rural village to Keiichi. However, the tranquility abruptly ends after the annual Watanagashi Festival, a celebration to commemorate and give thanks to the local god, Oyashiro-sama. Keiichi learns that every year for the past four years, one person has been murdered and another has gone missing on the day of the Watanagashi Festival. Keiichi himself soon becomes drawn into the strange events surrounding the Watanagashi Festival and Oyashiro-sama. (purchase) | HLTB: 10-15h x 8 parts | |
Neighbor Sometimes, in life, there are places where the rules of reality just don't apply. Sometimes, it's the one place where you ought to feel safe. Like your house. Freelance designer Yuuki Kae has just moved into a new apartment. On her move-in day, she decides to introduce herself to her new next-door neighbor... but something isn't quite right. Static over the intercom... A violently rattling doorknob... And a ghostly pale hand reaching out through the crack in the door... They said the apartment next to hers wasn’t for rent. It was supposed to be empty. (purchase) | HLTB: 4h | |
Saya no Uta / The Song of Saya Rot. Decay. A wasteland of twisted, pulsing flesh. Sakisaka Fuminori survives a terrible accident only to find himself trapped in a nightmare with no escape. His friends offer him comfort and support, but their warmth cannot reach his frozen soul. Then he meets a mysterious girl named Saya, and little by little, his madness begins to infect the world. (purchase) Note: Sexually explicit content has been toned down in the Steam version of Saya no Uta; the original, uncut version, as well as an 18+ patch (non-free) for the Steam version, can be purchased from JAST USA. The unpatched Steam version is an excellent choice for those who want to experience Saya no Uta, but don't want the sexually explicit content. | HLTB: 5.5 | |
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark A strange rumor is spreading through the shadows of Tokyo's H City: a mysterious disfigurement has been appearing on the bodies of certain individuals. Anyone who receives the Mark will rapidly die of unknown, horrifying causes. The countdown to death has already begun... (purchase) | HLTB: 11h | |
The House in Fata Morgana You awaken in a decrepit old mansion. A woman with eyes of jade stands before You, informing You that You are the Master of the house, and she Your Maid. However, You have no memories, no concept of self—or, indeed, any certainty that You are even alive. The Maid invites You to join her on a journey through the mansion's lifeless halls, to behold the numerous tragedies that have befallen its residents. She suggests that among them, perhaps You will find some trace of Yourself. (purchase) | 30h | |
The Letter In the outskirts of Luxbourne City stands a 17th-century English mansion, rumored to be haunted by vengeful spirits. After reading a letter discovered inside on the day of its open house, seven people find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of madness plaguing the Ermengarde Mansion for centuries. Will they be able to free themselves from it, or will they become another casualty? (purchase) | HLTB: 37h | |
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