World of Horror

World of Horror is a horror role-playing game inspired by the works of horror mangaka Junji Ito.

It is set in the fictional Japanese coastal town of Shiokawa. Each playthrough casts the player as an investigator, confronting a series of supernatural incidents caused by a malevolent deity. To win, the player must resolve five randomly selected mysteries throughout the town, then face the god in a final confrontation at the lighthouse. Between mysteries, the player can relax at home to regain attributes.

In each mystery, the player's task is to investigate several locations in a specified order, by heading to a given location and clicking Investigate. Each investigation advances the given mystery's plot, but also results in a random event. The random events range from simple creepy events that slightly modify the player's attributes, to combat against enemies; mysteries can also feature pre-determined combats with boss characters.

Combat operates on a turn-based system with time units as the central mechanic. Each turn, the player selects a sequence of actions (such as attacking, dodging, aiming, or praying) with each action consuming time units from a limited pool. Enemy attacks reduce the player's Stamina and Reason (the game's two health attributes) and can inflict lasting injuries with special negative effects. Players can supplement physical attacks with items and spells.

Each run has a time limit, expressed by the Doom counter. Every investigation raises Doom by 1%, and reaching 100% unleashes the evil god, ending the game immediately. In most mysteries, the player has free run of the town, and can visit any desired location between investigations. Special locations, such as the shop or the hospital, allow to obtain items or increase attributes; however, using these services typically increases Doom.

The game features six core attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Perception, Knowledge, and Charisma determine skill check outcomes and combat effectiveness (such as accuracy and evasion), while Funds serve as currency for purchases. Stamina and Reason function as physical and mental health respectively; depleting either results in game over.