When thinking of horror games, many people probably imagine works that produce fear through something suddenly jumping out or intense chase sequences. However, what is truly terrifying might be ghost stories quietly told by word of mouth. “Gakkou de atta Kowai Hanashi and Tsukikomori” is a work that allows you to fully taste the terror of such words. Two masterpiece horror adventures that left a powerful impression on many players in the 1990s have been revived on the Nintendo Switch, making it possible to experience that dread once again in a modern environment.

The greatest characteristic of this work is that the players themselves become the listeners of the ghost stories. You do not fire guns, nor do you fight enemies. You simply listen to the stories told by the person in front of you. However, this experience of “just listening” is astonishingly terrifying. Every single storyteller is highly individualistic and far from ordinary. Some speak in a calm tone, while others proceed with their stories with eerie smiles on their faces. Even with the same ghost story, the atmosphere alters depending on the speaker, drawing you into a sensation as if you are genuinely listening to the story right in front of them. As you read on, you will likely perceive an illusion that you are sitting right there listening to the talk before you know it.

The stage for “Gakkou de atta Kowai Hanashi” is a school, an existence familiar to most people. The composition where storytellers gathered to put together a feature on the seven mysteries each begin to tell terrifying personal experiences is exceptionally superb. Particularly impressive is the unsettling situation where only six storytellers have gathered even though seven were supposed to meet. The heavy atmosphere drifting from the very start heightens the player's sense of tension, letting them strongly perceive a premonition that something is about to happen. Furthermore, the ghost stories told do not stop at mere ghost tales, but also step into human psychology and the eeriness lurking in daily life. Because of this, the terror continues to remain and slowly seep in even after you finish reading.

On the other hand, the stage for “Tsukikomori” is an ancestral family home in the countryside where relatives gather. Triggered by the ominous words, “If you tell scary stories at a seventh-anniversary memorial service, the dead will resurrect,” a long and unsettling night begins. Unlike a school, this title uses families, local customs, and closed human relationships as the foundation of terror. The ghost stories told among relatives are infused with the atmosphere of different lands and environments, giving each story a distinct flavor. The terrifying part of “Tsukikomori” is that even though you were supposed to have started reading lightheartedly, you become curious about the next story before you know it and find yourself unable to stop.

These two works are not mere reading materials. The stories change drastically depending on the choices the player selects. From which storyteller you listen to the talk and what kind of reply you give—the development alters significantly with that single judgment. It is not uncommon for a story that ended peacefully in one choice to head toward a nightmare-like conclusion in another choice. Therefore, you cannot grasp the entire picture just by clearing it once, making you want to challenge it over and over again. Furthermore, because hidden scenarios appear by satisfying specific conditions, there is also the joy of digging deep into the stories. It allows the players themselves to taste a sensation as if exploring a maze of terror.

While high-definition 3D graphics are mainstream in modern games, the live-action graphics adopted by this title possess a unique charm. The characters depicted using real people hold a vivid rawness distinct from anime or CG. Because of this, the contents of the ghost stories feel as if they are events that genuinely occurred in reality, pressing upon you as a terror that is much closer to home. The point of generating fear through quiet discomfort and unnatural air rather than flashy staging can be described as a strength unique to this work.

Even though they are masterpieces, some people might hold the impression that old games are difficult to play. However, the Nintendo Switch version is equipped with quick-save and load functions, and even a rewind function. Even when you want to try a different choice after seeing a terrifying development, you can start over immediately, allowing you to play without stress. It is also extremely convenient when chasing complex branches, becoming an evolution joyful even for those who know the original versions. The point of being adjusted so that modern players can comfortably enjoy them while leaving the old-fashioned charm exactly as it is can be highly evaluated.

“Gakkou de atta Kowai Hanashi and Tsukikomori” is a work that generates fear by stimulating human imagination rather than through simple ways of startling you. Listening to the storytellers' voices, agonizing over choices, and trembling at conclusions. That series of experiences grants an immersive feeling as if you are genuinely participating in a ghost story gathering. Without relying on flashy action or visual expressions, these two masterpieces that guide players into terror through the power of the stories themselves never fade even if played now. If you play alone at night, it is recommended to keep the room lights a little bright. As you read on, you might start to worry about a presence behind you.