free games, no gacha (WIP)
in the notes you'll find some basic content warnings/other info i think you should know, and links to play the game (typically for download, but some are in-browser)
some of these games do have paid versions (typically remakes/remasters or just versions with bonus stuff)
some of these games do have paid versions (typically remakes/remasters or just versions with bonus stuff)
20 Games
it's a classic for a reason. there's a paid version.
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.vgperson.com/games/ib.htm
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.vgperson.com/games/ib.htm
CAUTION: this game involves child abuse and graphic child death.
also to get the true end (which you absolutely MUST get, TRUST ME), you need to watch the endings for all 10 lengths of rope you can get. so for the sake of pacing, i recommend starting with 1, then 2, then 3, etc. and write down the number from each ending.
DOWNLOAD:
https://pureiceblue.itch.io/lilys-well
after you finish the game, make sure to check out the afterstory! watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcorWYvPyv8
also to get the true end (which you absolutely MUST get, TRUST ME), you need to watch the endings for all 10 lengths of rope you can get. so for the sake of pacing, i recommend starting with 1, then 2, then 3, etc. and write down the number from each ending.
DOWNLOAD:
https://pureiceblue.itch.io/lilys-well
after you finish the game, make sure to check out the afterstory! watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcorWYvPyv8
CAUTION: this game contains flashing lights, child abuse, police violence, the deaths of gay and trans characters, and a brief sequence of anti-black and anti-indigenous racism.
DOWNLOAD:
https://patchy-illusion-team.itch.io/heisei-pistol-show
DOWNLOAD:
https://patchy-illusion-team.itch.io/heisei-pistol-show
it has a paid version.
CAUTION: some jumpscares and flashing lights. this game deals heavily in the topic of suicide, with at least one bad end that will result in it if you make the wrong decisions. also the combat is Really rough and frustrating but the story is really good so you should play it anyway. or watch it.
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.vgperson.com/games/crookedman.htm
CAUTION: some jumpscares and flashing lights. this game deals heavily in the topic of suicide, with at least one bad end that will result in it if you make the wrong decisions. also the combat is Really rough and frustrating but the story is really good so you should play it anyway. or watch it.
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.vgperson.com/games/crookedman.htm
CAUTION: this game contains child abuse, child death, and the suicide of children. it's not without hope, but it's still pretty damn heavy so go into it with that in mind. the kids make a few sex jokes/references, but imo it's in a way that feels like intentional character work rather than exploitative? there's also brief mentions of bestiality and an incest joke.
DOWNLOAD:
https://vgperson.com/games/rekinder.htm
DOWNLOAD:
https://vgperson.com/games/rekinder.htm
there is a paid version.
CAUTION: graphic violence, child death
DOWNLOAD:
https://vgperson.com/games/yourturntodie.htm
IN BROWSER:
https://vgperson.com/games/yourturntodie/
CAUTION: graphic violence, child death
DOWNLOAD:
https://vgperson.com/games/yourturntodie.htm
IN BROWSER:
https://vgperson.com/games/yourturntodie/
CAUTION: meat and disembodied gore, an allusion to suicide, and some existential dread.
DOWNLOAD/ PLAY IN BROWSER:
https://waxwing0.itch.io/fbc
DOWNLOAD/ PLAY IN BROWSER:
https://waxwing0.itch.io/fbc
frankly this game has so much going on that im just gonna link you to this post that goes into everything:
https://floweringviolet-archive.tumblr.com/post/660724524943343616/irisu-overview
https://floweringviolet-archive.tumblr.com/post/660724524943343616/irisu-overview
i highly recommend that you watch the anime before playing this game, as it does not give you ANY foundational worldbuilding exposition so the final act's sudden shift to ultra sci-fi feels like you've been hit with a sledgehammer. i'm speaking from experience here.
CAUTION: this game deals heavily with psychosis, some probably bad psychiatry, and the portrayal of self-harm and suicide (particularly of lain herself at the end) is very graphic and its narrative is seriously hopeless, please approach it with that in mind. you should also take serious caution if you struggle with unreality.
DOWNLOAD/ PLAY IN BROWSER:
https://laingame.net/
CAUTION: this game deals heavily with psychosis, some probably bad psychiatry, and the portrayal of self-harm and suicide (particularly of lain herself at the end) is very graphic and its narrative is seriously hopeless, please approach it with that in mind. you should also take serious caution if you struggle with unreality.
DOWNLOAD/ PLAY IN BROWSER:
https://laingame.net/
i hate putting a erogame about teenagers on here but what can i say i read it as a teen myself and it had a serious impact on me. thank god you can turn off the sex scenes in the menu.
CAUTION: explicit sex between teenagers (text+visuals), there's a weird anti-feminist conspiracy theory comic relief guy who shows up sometimes for everyone to think "this guy is weird" and move on, shizune's bad route involves the male protag having sex with a lesbian (not rape, they're just both making a really bad decision. shizune's route is... something)
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.katawa-shoujo.com/download.php
CAUTION: explicit sex between teenagers (text+visuals), there's a weird anti-feminist conspiracy theory comic relief guy who shows up sometimes for everyone to think "this guy is weird" and move on, shizune's bad route involves the male protag having sex with a lesbian (not rape, they're just both making a really bad decision. shizune's route is... something)
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.katawa-shoujo.com/download.php
This is technically just a demo (containing chapter 1+2 of the game), but there's definitely enough substance here to be well worth playing.
DOWNLOAD:
https://deltarune.com/
DOWNLOAD:
https://deltarune.com/
there is a paid version
CAUTION: it's not a horror game, but it does contain meta elements that can induce paranoia (such as changing your desktop wallpaper and using your real name)
DOWNLOAD:
https://rpgmaker.net/games/6560/
CAUTION: it's not a horror game, but it does contain meta elements that can induce paranoia (such as changing your desktop wallpaper and using your real name)
DOWNLOAD:
https://rpgmaker.net/games/6560/
not much to say here, but a satisfying arpg (notable, for an rpgmaker title)
DOWNLOAD:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/351640/Eternal_Senia/
DOWNLOAD:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/351640/Eternal_Senia/
CAUTION: this game has some gore, fish death, parasites, and imagery that can trigger trypophobia
DOWNLOAD:
https://kasuraga.itch.io/how-fish-is-made
DOWNLOAD:
https://kasuraga.itch.io/how-fish-is-made
you've heard of this one. there's a paid version.
CAUTION: this game deals heavily in unreality, and has graphic violence, suicide, vomit, self harm, and abuse
DOWNLOAD:
https://ddlc.moe/
CAUTION: this game deals heavily in unreality, and has graphic violence, suicide, vomit, self harm, and abuse
DOWNLOAD:
https://ddlc.moe/
it's more barebones than the rest of the stuff on this list, but it's still a neat little game.
DOWNLOAD (make sure to click on the "files" tab):
https://www.moddb.com/games/ao-oni
DOWNLOAD (make sure to click on the "files" tab):
https://www.moddb.com/games/ao-oni
haven't played this one in like 10 years. there's a paid version
CAUTION: this game involves graphic violence+gore, bullying, sexual assault (between teenagers, as well as an attempt by a predatory adult).
DOWNLOAD:
https://vgperson.com/games/misao.htm
CAUTION: this game involves graphic violence+gore, bullying, sexual assault (between teenagers, as well as an attempt by a predatory adult).
DOWNLOAD:
https://vgperson.com/games/misao.htm
haven't actually played it myself yet but it's a classic, it has to go on here
CAUTION: eyestrain, contains suicide
DOWNLOAD:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/650700/Yume_Nikki/
IN BROWSER (this one's a bit unique, you can play the original yume nikki and fangames of it in an online multiplayer format!):
https://ynoproject.net/
CAUTION: eyestrain, contains suicide
DOWNLOAD:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/650700/Yume_Nikki/
IN BROWSER (this one's a bit unique, you can play the original yume nikki and fangames of it in an online multiplayer format!):
https://ynoproject.net/
haven't played this one
DOWNLOAD LINK 1 (an updated english translation that fixes some really important mistranslations in the original version):
https://forum.starmen.net/forum/Fan/Games/OFF-by-Mortis-Ghost/page/3#post1907821
DOWNLOAD LINK 2 (this has various language versions of the game):
https://archive.org/details/OFF_RPG_201707
DOWNLOAD LINK 1 (an updated english translation that fixes some really important mistranslations in the original version):
https://forum.starmen.net/forum/Fan/Games/OFF-by-Mortis-Ghost/page/3#post1907821
DOWNLOAD LINK 2 (this has various language versions of the game):
https://archive.org/details/OFF_RPG_201707
haven't played this one. but there's a paid version.
CAUTION: jumpscare heavy
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.vgperson.com/games/witchhouse.htm
CAUTION: jumpscare heavy
DOWNLOAD:
https://www.vgperson.com/games/witchhouse.htm