Help Looking for the weirdest, creepiest, uncomfortable, most surreal games that have existed.

[Xaozin]

Hey everyone!

I’m on a bit of a mission to dig up some of the strangest, creepiest, most surreal games ever released, especially stuff that makes you stop and say “how was this a real thing?”

I already know about some of the more well-known weird ones - things like LSD: Dream Emulator, Seaman, Mister Mosquito, and obviously the commercially released 'weird games' like Silent Hill, Parasite Eve, etc. But I’m really looking to go deeper.

I’m especially interested in games that are:

• Uncomfortable, uncanny, or unsettling (even if they’re not traditional horror)
• Extremely surreal or dreamlike
• Conceptually bizarre or tonally “off”
• The kind of thing that feels like it could never be greenlit or released today
• Hidden gems, obscure regional releases, or forgotten experiments
• The more 'WTF is this?!' the better.
• Games that feel like they shouldn't exist

Basically, the “I can’t believe this exists” tier of games.

Any console is fair game (especially older stuff like PS1, PS2, Saturn, Dreamcast, etc.), and Japan-only oddities are more than welcome. Even if it’s janky, unfinished, or barely playable that sometimes makes it better.

Would love to hear your recommendations and maybe a sentence or two on why it stuck with you. Thanks in advance, and I’m excited to see what nightmares you all dig up!

 

[kbcinharoxa kbcinharoxa]

I wish I had some game to share, but the only one I have is kinda “weird.”
Dog’s Life
It’s still one of my favorite childhood games to this day

 

[Zerohour2k12]

What comes to mind are

Otogirisou (English Patched) SNES ROM – The Repo

Otogirisou (English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

retrogametalk.com

Yuuyami Doori Tankentai (Japan) PSX ISO – The Repo

Yuuyami Doori Tankentai (Japan) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-02274. Languages: Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

Clock Tower: The First Fear (Portuguese Patched) PSX ISO – The Repo

Clock Tower: The First Fear (Portuguese Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-00917. Languages: Portuguese Patched. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

Kowai Shashin: Shinrei Shashin Kitan (J+English Patched) PSX ISO – The Repo

Kowai Shashin: Shinrei Shashin Kitan (J+English Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-03454. Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

Non of which I played yet but I heard and read about good and bad.
There's maybe more you'd like on Dungeon Chill

 

[Xaozin]

I wish I had some game to share, but the only one I have is kinda “weird.”
Dog’s Life
It’s still one of my favorite childhood games to this day
View attachment 148458

What comes to mind are

Otogirisou (English Patched) SNES ROM – The Repo

Otogirisou (English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

retrogametalk.com

Yuuyami Doori Tankentai (Japan) PSX ISO – The Repo

Yuuyami Doori Tankentai (Japan) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-02274. Languages: Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

Clock Tower: The First Fear (Portuguese Patched) PSX ISO – The Repo

Clock Tower: The First Fear (Portuguese Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-00917. Languages: Portuguese Patched. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

Kowai Shashin: Shinrei Shashin Kitan (J+English Patched) PSX ISO – The Repo

Kowai Shashin: Shinrei Shashin Kitan (J+English Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-03454. Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

No of which I played yet but I heard and read about good and bad.

@kbcinharoxa Thank you so much! I've heard of Dogs life which got a UK PS2 release and always thought looked a bit strange but never played so will give that a go.

@Zerohour2k12 Amazing suggestions! I'd only heard of Clock tower in this but I'm definitely going to give the others a go! Thank you so much!

 

[azurax]

I haven't played much horror games but I would recommend Theresia: Dear Emile, Nanashi no Game, Dementium II and Corpse Party.

 

[kbcinharoxa kbcinharoxa]

@kbcinharoxa Thank you so much! I've heard of Dogs life which got a UK PS2 release and always thought looked a bit strange but never played so will give that a go.

@Zerohour2k12 Amazing suggestions! I'd only heard of Clock tower in this but I'm definitely going to give the others a go! Thank you so much!

Nice! I’m glad you liked the suggestion! XD

Tip: it’s Dog’s Life… you poop, pee, do dog stuff besides the main objective XD
The game almost turns into an RPG because there are so many optional side quests.

 

[Jdan-S]

LSD Dream Emula... oh wait, you already mentioned it!

Well, right now I'm playing Super Galdelic Hour for PS2. It's certainly conceptually bizarre and something that would never appear on PlayStation today. Fanservice aside, I like the weirdness, the funky take on futurism (like Space Channel 5 in some ways), and how the graphics look impressive for PS2 standards:

(Edit: Whoops, just realized that this post is under emulation, but the following games are indies on PC. Still, you might be interested, so I'm leaving this info just in case.)
When I want surreal or bizarre games, I learn about them mainly from Alpha Beta Gamer. For something along the lines of "this game shouldn't exist", there's Kotel ne Gori:

And for something unsettling, there are games like those by Yames, including Growing My Grandpa:

 

[kbcinharoxa kbcinharoxa]

LSD Dream Emula... oh wait, you already mentioned it!

Well, right now I'm playing Super Galdelic Hour for PS2. It's certainly conceptually bizarre and something that would never appear on PlayStation today. Fanservice aside, I like the weirdness, the funky take on futurism (like Space Channel 5 in some ways), and how the graphics look impressive for PS2 standards:

When I want surreal or bizarre games, I learn about them mainly from Alpha Beta Gamer. For something for something along the lines of "this game shouldn't exist", there's Kotel ne Gori:

And for something unsettling, there are games like those by Yames, including Growing My Grandpa:

DAMN THOSE GRAPHICS DESIGN

 

[thumbsdown]

Extremely Weird And Obscure Games

1. Monster Party A side-scrolling action game where you play as Mark, a kid armed with a baseball bat who teams up with a gargoyle named Bert to fight through bizarre horror-themed levels. The game is a fever dream of surreal enemies, from a giant onion ring to a killer fried shrimp. Its sudden...

retrogametalk.com

 

[Vamptastic]

This one kind of gets talked about every once and awhile, but cosmology of kyoto is a point and click adventure game!

 

[Sumea]

Sorry I throw in bit of wrong topic in emulation, but side tangentally related if you can play also modern games:

Nier Automata.

and Nier / 1.2345518321

Yoko Taro, in general if nothing else; is surreal.
You can emulate drakengard or something yeh.

Also Omori especially if you know nothing about it and go in blind. Also counts kinda retro because of it's presentation, but is not available on old consoles.

999: Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Nine Hours. (that is emulation) Phew.
I actually elaborate despite the modern remake existing, that people play, their FIRST TIME. ON DS. OR DSi or 3DS even that is better than the remake at conveying the whole story comprehensively. Have the device. Use headphones with it. I think the modern version is like, uniquely good only in sense if you replay the game with it. It gives a un whole experience of the game, extremely so. It REALLY should not be someone's first playthrough the story. The game was made for DS and uses the fact it has two screens in very particular manner.. I promise you it will be worth it, and if you can load romhacks (yes you can), there is text speed quality of life patches... On there look that place. Those are fine recommended even. And if you have to. Emulate it. Do it
And I do recommend replaying the game with the reh?master. That is excellent, REPLAY, when you know what you know and get to enjoy voice acting now.

 

[thumbsdown]

Far from being a "hidden" gem, tho.

Sanitarium (Windows) ScummVM – The Repo

Sanitarium (Windows) ScummVM A retro Adventure, Point-and-Click Game. Languages: English.

retrogametalk.com

 

[Felipe]

This one should count as something that deserved more recognition. Played to the end but not the expansion:

Scratches (Director's Cut) (Windows)

Remember Scratches (Director's Cut) (Windows), an old video game from 2007? Download it and play again on MyAbandonware.

www.myabandonware.com

 

[χKai]

Famicom hentai games
I will not elaborate.

 

[sneakyguts]

rule of rose ps2

 

[Sumea]

Famicom hentai games
I will not elaborate.

SNES hentai bootleg games.

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

Garage: Bad Dream Adventure pretty much ticks every box of the criteria you listed. Extremely obscure Japanese PC game from the late 90's.

 

[ObscureJigglypuff]

Kanye Quest 3030