resiThe Survival Horror genre is probably one of the most popular and well known in modern gaming. In its heyday, titles like Silent Hill & Resident Evil defined the genre alongside other classic titles such as the Fatal Frame series and Clock Tower. Survival Horror has been going through a revitalization over the last decade, and while there were some bumps along the way the genre looks like it’s once again on the up and up.
The horror genre isn’t nearly as prominent in anime as it is in games. Though there are some well known series that have stuck out over the years, horror anime is much more niche than its gaming counterpart. Survival horror fans might have not heard of these anime, but they can be sure that they’ll enjoy them should they give them a chance.
10 Corpse Party: Tortured Souls
Tortured Souls serves as a perfect intersection between the survival horror and horror anime mediums. An adaptation of the Corpse Party game franchise, Tortured Souls tells the story of the game though it comes with some notable changes.
The anime excels in capturing the atmosphere and tension of the games. But it does tend to rely on gore – as do the games it’s based on – fairly often when trying to spook its audience. At four episodes, it’s a quick and enjoyable watch.
9 School-Live!
School-Live! Might not seem like it belongs on this list at first glance, but this seemingly uplifting anime isn’t what it appears to be. Once you see past the moe art style on the surface, the grim nature of School-Live!’s setting can finally sink in.
Set in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, the anime follows a group of unsuspecting students as they try and survive in a volatile environment. In that sense, it’s one of the closes things to a survival horror anime that you’ll find.
8 Another
Like Corpse Party, Another relies heavily on supernatural elements throughout its narrative. The anime is part paranormal thriller and party mystery, and follows transfer student Kouichi Sakakibara as he tries to uncover the truth behind a deadly curse claiming the lives of his classmates.
Another is a thrilling anime that always keeps viewers guessing, and isn’t afraid to kill off any of its cast members. The mystery behind the curse is opne of the show’s greatest strengths and puts its characters through some interesting dilemmas.
7 Hell Girl
Hell Girl is unlike most anime on this list, as it does horror in a much more drawn out way. Focusing heavily on dark fantasy and supernatural elements, Hell Girl follows Ai Enma and deals with weekly self-contained stories.
The stories typically revolve around someone who uses Ai to get rid of another character and the fallout that takes place afterwards. The anime has received four seasons, with various manga adaptations and a live-action film as well.
6 Parasyte –the maxim-
Parasyte is one of the most well known modern horror anime out there, and for good reason. Based off of Hitoshi Iwaaki’s 1988 manga of the same name, Parasyte ended serialization in 1995 and wouldn’t receive an anime adaptation for nearly twenty years afterwards.
The series’ distinct style of body horror is something fans will take notice of right away. Parasyte mixes in elements of thriller and science-fiction to give viewers a truly unique and memorable experience.
5 King’s Game
In many respects, King’s Game is very similar to Another though there are some pretty discernible differences between the two. Essentially, King’s Game also focuses on a classroom curse, following the students affected by it.
The story revolves around Nobuaki Kanazawa who attempts to stop the aforementioned King’s Game claiming the lives of his fellow classmates. The mystery at hand drives the anime and gives viewers plenty of surprises along the way.
4 The Island of Giant Insects
Much closer to survival horror than some of the anime discussed thus far, The Island of Giant Insects follows a group of classmates trying to survive an island of monstrous insectoids following a plane crash in the middle of nowhere.
The anime film is based off of the manga of the same name by Yasutaka Fujimi. Survival horror fans will enjoy the tension and pacing of the film, but should be prepared for some pretty disturbing content.
3 Higurashi: When They Cry Series
The When They Cry series has produced many offshoots, but the most popular of them all is Higurashi. One of the most well known and beloved horror anime ever made, the series is based off of the sound novels of the same name and mixes psychological horror and mystery elements with undertones of supernatural horror as well.
The addition of a new series, Higurashi: Gou, makes this a perfect time for potential fans to get into the franchise. Huigurashi is known for its tension and shock value, but the mystery at hand is always presented to the viewer in a way that encourages them to solve things on their own.
2 Paranoia Agent
From the wonderful mind of Satoshi Kon, Paranoia Agent keeps viewers guessing throughout its 13 episode run. The anime follows various characters affected by a phenomenon brought on by a young assailant dubbed Lil’ Slugger.
The anime showcases each character with issues that revolve around the young assailant, and the fallout that occurs after the attacks. As with all of Kon’s works, Paranoia Agent is a unique experience that sticks out among the rest.
1 Junji Ito Collection
Junji Ito has long established himself as a master of horror, and while the mangaka’s original works have garnered him praise and awards, adaptations have been fairly hit-or-miss.
The Junji Ito Collection adapts some of Ito’s works and manages to capture some of his signature style in the process. One of Ito’s most well known works, Tomie, received a two part adaptation as an OVA addition.