Vietnamese Horror Games Made Me Swear I’ll Keep Chasing the True Depths of Fear

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Urban legends have always enthralled me.

There’s a certain eeriness about stories that have been handed down over generations, whispered quietly between companions, or concealed in internet discussions, which seems to be more chilling than any movie horror from Hollywood.

One lesson I’ve gathered is that urban legends from Asia are on a unique level, and I find it hard to be persuaded differently.

Asian horror often delves into a more complex realm, blending traditional beliefs, family dynamics, and the notion that certain events or entities are inescapable. Unlike Western horror which frequently revolves around slasher killers, haunted houses, and demonic possessions, the fear in Asia is not about solving problems or exorcising spirits, but acknowledging their existence and accepting their unshakable nature. This kind of dread lingers.

In playing the games “Tai Ương” (The Scourge) and “Thần Trùng” (The Death), I discovered exactly that – it was like uncovering successive layers of reality. However, instead of finding solutions to the puzzles, I encountered even more mysteries. Each hint, each detail, served as a link in an extensive chain, leading me further into the unknown.

The Scourge commences with the central character, a young man who has recently experienced the tragic loss of his family, embarking on a quest to unravel the mystery surrounding their deaths. However, this is no ordinary investigation as the solutions are concealed within his dreams, causing him to be ensnared in a cycle of lucid dreaming where the lines between waking life and terrifying nightmares become indistinguishable. This intriguing premise successfully captured my attention.

Through my studies on Vietnamese mythology and wider Asian spirituality, I’ve come to understand that dreams are not mere idle thoughts during slumber. Instead, they often serve as a means through which the deceased can convey messages, issue warnings, or even lure you into their realm.

One of the initial lessons the game imparted was ensuring all my household clocks were in agreement before retiring for the night. Misalignment would lead to unwanted consequences, which turned out to be scarier than anticipated because this is actually a common Vietnamese belief. Inconsistent time is considered an omen, suggesting that spirits are meddling with your worldly existence.

Initially, I thought everything was normal in my gaming world, but upon closer inspection, something wasn’t quite right. My usual abode seemed altered, with an additional door that didn’t belong and an eerie lighting setup. Then, the chilling sound of a little girl counting echoed through the halls. At first, I was puzzled, unsure of what was unfolding before me. As she neared 100, I cautiously approached to find her playing hide and seek – a game I hadn’t expected in this reality.

“Found you.”

In Vietnamese folklore, there’s a belief called “Ma trốn tìm,” which is similar to “Ghost Hide-and-Seek.” This superstition suggests that playing hide-and-seek at night could draw ghosts, and if a spirit finds you before you find it, you might become invisible or lost forever.

The game didn’t allow me time to react. As soon as she announced the end of counting, the screen malfunctioned, my controls froze, and the environment spun disorientingly. In an instant, I was no longer in my apartment—I found myself in a seemingly endless corridor lined with doors. Some were securely shut. Others had eerie murmurs emanating from them. One bore my name, scratched into it.

In “The Scourge,” a recurring topic is the concept of debt – not only monetary debt, but also the notion of karmic debt. This refers to the belief that the transgressions of one’s ancestors do not simply vanish upon their death.

One text detailed a loan secured with gold. Another outlined a customary practice intended to cancel a debt, yet it demanded a non-monetary sacrifice—specifically, a live chicken’s blood, which was collected into a bowl. A platter of sticky rice served as an offering in this ritual. The personal possessions of the deceased were burned away in order to settle the debt.

Should the rite not be executed properly, the debt did not vanish; instead, it got passed on. From one family member to another, until there was no one remaining to settle it.

That’s the moment I realized I wasn’t just being haunted; I was being collected.

Instead of The Scourge depicting an endless debt, The Death portrayed a demise that lingered in memory.

Initially, I found myself standing out in the pouring rain, with an umbrella that barely shielded me from the chill. My apartment loomed up ahead, faintly illuminated, but the street was deserted. The air was eerily quiet; no voices, no distant hum of traffic, just the occasional plink of raindrops hitting the pavement. It seemed unsettling right from the start.

I entered the structure, and that’s where the ceremony commenced. Gradually, the game started altering my routine, ordinary lifestyle into something eerily alien. Initially, it was subtle. A chair would mysteriously shift when I wasn’t there. A door would mysteriously lock then unlock without any human intervention. The lighting would fluctuate, but never all at once—just enough to make me wonder if I had merely imagined it.

Later, I discovered a humble offering set on my porch – a bowl containing rice, three incense sticks, and a coin. The ritual was unmistakable to me. It was an offering for the deceased. However, I was the only resident in this apartment. Suddenly, I spotted her. A figure in white stood at the end of the corridor, with her back towards me. I understood the significance of her presence.

A figure dressed in white, typically representing a spirit who met an unfortunate demise and is unable to progress, seems to have noticed you. As I stood there motionless, the game wouldn’t allow any movement. The murmurs became more distinct. Eventually, the screen darkened.

Upon my return, I discovered I was no longer in my usual apartment – instead, I found myself inside a funeral home. Shockingly, the casket bore my name. As I delved deeper into this strange place, it became clear that this wasn’t merely a haunted building. It transpired that all prior tenants of the apartment had passed away. This was not just a trap for hasty departed souls; it was a place designed for spirits yet to be properly sent off through proper rituals. The rituals performed here were rushed, which only added to the eerie atmosphere.

Ghosts lingered close by, and I couldn’t tell who or what was observing me. In Vietnamese folklore, there is a chilling belief known as “Trùng tang” (Death Demon). This occurs when several family members pass away in a short span of time. It signifies that one of them was taken prematurely. Their spirit remains trapped and instead of proceeding to the afterlife, they attempt to draw others with them.

Ghosts were nearby and I didn’t know who or what was looking at me. In Vietnamese tradition, there is a frightening idea called “Trùng tang” (Death Demon). This happens when family members die in quick succession. It indicates that one of them died too soon. Their spirit gets stuck and instead of moving on, they try to pull others into the afterlife with them.

During the course of the game, I repeatedly stumbled upon wads of currency. At first, I assumed they were mere collectible items. However, upon closer inspection, I discovered they were joss paper. In Vietnamese funerals, joss paper is ignited to provide money for the deceased. If you come across it casually, though, that implies the departed spirit hasn’t received it yet.

All along, I was in a place where the dead were still waiting to be paid.

I can talk about it forever, but it’s still not the same as actually playing these games. You might think that’s all there is, that the worst has been revealed, that the horror has reached its peak. That’s just what I’ve decided to put out there. The rest of the horrors are yours to uncover.

For someone who has always held an affinity for horror but disliked cheap jump scares, this particular brand of horror sparked a fresh appreciation for the genre. It isn’t merely instilling fear; it delves into the gravity of belief, the folklore we inherit, and the mysteries that remain unexplained.

It guarantees that you don’t merely dread the unfamiliar; instead, you begin to comprehend its reasons for remaining uncharted from the outset.

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2025-02-28 09:56