Key points
- The psychological horror manhwa dives into the darkest aspects of human nature and challenges readers.
- These manhwa explore violence, abuse, and complex human emotions in intricate plots.
- Top choices include
Dead Days, Bastard, Killing Stalking,
AND
Hanged doll
for chilling stories.
Manhwa are widely celebrated for their captivating fantasy, murim, and reincarnation/regression stories. However, horror, in particular psychological horroris a rarer gem within this franchise. Psychological horror manhwa delve into the darkest recesses of the human mind, presenting stories that range from apocalyptic terrors to harrowing tales of violence and abuse. These stories aren't just about fear; they explore the complexities of human nature, often leaving readers wondering long after they've turned the last page.
These manhwa are filled with unique characters and crafted by artists whose work is both arcane and fascinating. The narratives often revolve around cycles of violence, the fragility of sanity, and the depths of human desperation. They challenge readers to face their fears and question the nature of reality. The psychological tension and intricate plots make these stories stand out, offering a different kind of thrill than more traditional horror. Here you are top ten psychological horror manhwa, ranked.
10 Dead Days
The end of the world
- Release date: September 25, 2014
- Number of chapters: 12
- State: Completed
- Author: DEY
Dead Days is a post-apocalyptic survival horror manhwa set in a world overrun by zombies. The story follows a high school student named Jungkook, who sees the beginning of the apocalypse, when people who have taken a freshly brewed drink are transformed into zombies.
He tries to find a way out, but the entire street is littered with zombies. His only hope is another girl across the street who is in the same situation as him, forcing them both to rely on each other for a way out.
9 MIA: Operation lost
A soldier's worst nightmare
- Release date: 2015
- Number of chapters: 28
- State: In progress
- Author: KIM Chang Woo, LEE Chang-Jun
This psychological thriller manhwa revolves around a military operation and the psychological toll it takes on the team.
The story follows Corporal Chan Soo Gim and his team as they attempt to shut down a general outpost, but they soon realize something is wrong. They are posed by traps of all kinds and by a mysterious attacker. They finally find a bunker and think they can rest, but it seems they've made a big mistake.
8 We are all dead
Arguments and fears all the way
- Release date: August 16, 2021
- Number of chapters: 9
- State: Completed
- Author: Joo Dong-geun
We are all dead is a popular zombie apocalypse manhwa set in a high school. When a zombie outbreak occurs, the students of Hyosan High find themselves trapped and fighting for survival.
When they discover that their entire school is overrun by zombies, they must find a way to fight their way in and out of school, or die trying. The story has a lot going for it in the sit-down moments, but still manages to pull off a coming-of-age story in the middle.
7 Bastard
The bullied boy hides a dark secret
- Release date: June 15, 2015
- Number of chapters: 10
- State: Completed
- Author(s).: Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang
Bastard is a dark psychological thriller that follows a high school student who lives with his father, who is secretly a serial killer who preys on girls. Jin is forced to assist in his father's crimes, creating intense internal conflict and psychological trauma.
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The story explores abuse, violence, and the struggle to break free from a cycle of violence, a cycle from which Jin soon learns that he too must break free from the use of violence. This is a story full of personal battles, and of a boy trying to reject his psychopathic father and protect the girl he cares about; a story of interconnected selfishness and altruism.
6 Homicidal stalking
A deeply disturbing story
- Release date: 2016
- Number of chapters: 76
- State: Completed
- Author: Koogi
Homicidal stalking is a controversial psychological horror manhwa that explores toxic relationships and obsession. It follows the story of Yoon Bum, who becomes entangled with Oh Sangwoo, a charismatic but deeply disturbed individual.
This manhwa delves into dark themes including stalking, abuse, and psychological manipulation. It has some pretty intense, often disturbing content and interesting character dynamics.
5 Sweet home
The voice from inside calls
- Release date: January 15, 2018
- Number of chapters: 14
- State: Completed
- Author(s).: Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang
Sweet home is a horror manhwa set in an apartment complex where people transform into monsters based on their deepest desires.
The story follows Cha Hyun-soo, a suicidal teenager, who after the death of his parents decides to become a recluse and stays at home all day, now he must fight for survival and his sanity, while a voice continues to tell him to succumb together with others. residents.
4 The pawn's revenge
A dark and dirty revenge story
- Release date: 2021
- Number of chapters: 93
- State: In progress
- Author: Eve
This drama-filled yaoi manhwa follows Je-oh, a prostitute struggling to survive in the slums. Je-oh lives at the lowest rung of the social hierarchy, constantly struggling to improve his circumstances but often finding himself in increasingly dire situations. The story takes a dramatic turn when Je-oh is kidnapped by a serial killer, unexpectedly catapulting him into a larger social arena.
Seizing this opportunity, Je-oh uses his skills and talents to avenge those who harmed him. This protagonist is not one to set limits and is willing to go beyond any limits to ensure that his revenge is achieved, the exact opposite of the normal protagonist seen in these types of stories.
3 Pigsty
Mystery and horror, all in one
- Release date: November 7, 2020
- Number of chapters: 9
- State: Completed
- Author: Kim Carnby
This story is written by Kim Carnby. The main character wakes up on a beautiful coast, but the twist is that he has no idea who he is or how he ended up there.
As the mysterious man tries to piece together his identity, things get wilder by the moment. Each answer only leads to more questions, and the “helpful” family who welcomes him isn't exactly as kind as he imagined.
2 The shotgun guy
From being bullied to protecting his bullies
- Release date: March 18, 2021
- Number of chapters: 7
- State: Completed
- Author(s).: Carnby Kim, Hongpil
This manhwa is set in the same universe as Sweet home but it serves as a prequel. The manhwa follows bullied Gyu Hwan whose life takes a drastic turn during a terrifying ordeal in the woods. While fleeing from his bullies, Gyuhwan discovers a rifle and a limited number of bullets. Limited, but enough for his classmates.
However, when Gyuhwan returns, he finds his classmates attacked by monsters. He becomes the protector, as Gyuhwan finds himself the only line of defense between his peers and the ravenous creatures.
1 Hanged doll
A well-woven story, with a twist
- Release date: August 2019
- Number of chapters: 71
- State: Completed
- Author: Get team name
This is a dark psychological manhwa created by Team Getname, a duo that includes Kim Carnby, co-creator of Bastard. This gripping story centers on five people: John, Angelina, Joan, Mike and Alfred, as they delve into their memories of 1994.
The narrative revolves around a mysterious murder and the fate of everyone involved, whether they survived or not. Despite a somewhat dated artistic style, Hanged doll it captivates readers with its chilling atmosphere and astonishingly written characters.