It’s that time of year again! October marks the beginning of Halloween season, the time of year when we celebrate all things spooky. From ghosts and goblins to gothic horror and all things macabre, there are 31 days of spooky good fun ahead of us! I absolutely love the horror genre, so this is the month when I’m really in my element and I really like to do it big here on Blerdy Otome. So, for the entire month of October I will put out a series of horror themed posts and content to get you in the mood for Halloween! Kicking things off is a list of five horror themed romance visual novels!

Dangerous Fellows

Free

Genre: Horror | Supernatural | Romance | Suspense

Download: Google Play | App Store

Nothing says “romance” like trying to outrun a zombie horde, but that’s pretty much the premise of the Korean mobile otome game, Dangerous Fellows. When a zombie apocalypse breaks out, you and a group of other survivors take refuge in an abandoned school to stay alive. But, your temporary oasis is not the paradise you believed it to be, a series of mysterious incidents have been plaguing your group, including unexpected disappearances… With an unknown threat lurking the halls and the undead knocking at your door, you must rely on one of five handsome strangers if you’re going to make it out alive.

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Once Upon a Hallow’s Eve

Free

Genre:  Fantasy | Romance | Drama

Download: Windows, Mac, Linux | Steam

In most horror media a single choice can change the trajectory of your entire life. For Clara Lee, the protagonist of Once Upon a Hallow’s Eve. One semester before graduating she decides to take a trip into the mountains, however when a sudden landslide leaves separates her from her friends she is forced to seek refuge in a abandoned mansion. There she meets three young men, each with their own secrets. Who are these men? Who owns the mansion? And what are these strange voices? Follow Clara as she tries to figure out the truth behind her circumstances as she explores the mansion and interacts with it’s enigmatic occupants.

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Princess Nightmare

Genre: Horror | Supernatural | Romance

Download: Windows, Mac, Linux English Patch

Princess Nightmare was given an English fan translation a few years ago which works with the PC version of the game, however you’ll need the original Japanese version of the game.  Princess Nightmare is your usual gothic vampire otome game, but with a school romance element to it. When vampire girl Little meets a human boy, she desperately wishes to live a normal life. Her adoptive brother Radou doesn’t like the idea, but her caretaker Vlad allows her to enroll in a real school, where she quickly makes friends and begins to really live. But a messenger from the demon arrives and threatens the peaceful life Little has built for herself, by informing her that it is time for her to return home to the demon world…

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The Doll Shop

Free

Genre: Horror | Supernatural | Romance | Suspense

Download: Windows, Mac, Linux

I love this developer, they produce these really cool atmospheric games, and their hand drawn animation style reminds me a lot of those paper puppet theaters, which gives the game the feel of those Japanese urban legend serials. Which is perfect for telling good suspenseful horror story! The Doll Shop takes place in a secluded snowy village where a certain shopkeeper runs a doll shop. His dolls are his life, and he puts his heart and soul into each of his creations. But, the doll maker has a secret, and he’ll tell you if you’d like…

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Doki Doki Literature Club

Free

Genre: Spoiler

Download: Windows, Mac, Linux | Steam

I don’t want to spoil this one for those of you that haven’t played it yet, but lets just say that Doki Doki Literature Club is on this list for a reason. Rather than butcher a synopsis of the game, I’ll just use the official synopsis:

Hi, Monika here!
Welcome to the Literature Club! It’s always been a dream of mine to make something special out of the things I love. Now that you’re a club member, you can help me make that dream come true in this cute game!

Every day is full of chit-chat and fun activities with all of my adorable and unique club members:

Sayori, the youthful bundle of sunshine who values happiness the most;
Natsuki, the deceivingly cute girl who packs an assertive punch;
Yuri, the timid and mysterious one who finds comfort in the world of books;
…And, of course, Monika, the leader of the club! That’s me!

I’m super excited for you to make friends with everyone and help the Literature Club become a more intimate place for all my members. But I can tell already that you’re a sweetheart—will you promise to spend the most time with me? ♥

–Official Synopsis

*Special warning, this game is not for general audiences*

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Love Can Be A Little Scary

Couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the month of October than with some scary good romance visual novels! This is just the beginning, so be on the look out for more horror themed content throughout the month, and don’t forget to give a few of these VNs a try, who knows you might discover something unexpected!

Also, if you’re looking for more spooky VNs to add to your growing backlog, be sure to check out my previous lists. For all you otome fans out there check out Romance with Bite: Four Otome Games to Get You in the Mood for Halloween for more romance games with a horror twist. But if romance isn’t your speed, be sure to check out Five Spooky Horror Visual Novels to Keep You Up At Night for more standard visual novel picks!

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