Best Psychological Horror Manhwa

Key conclusions

• Psychological horror manhwa delve into the darkest aspects of human nature and challenge readers.
• These manhwas explore violence, abuse, and complex human emotions in convoluted plots.
• Top picks include
  Dead Days, Bastard, Killing Stalking,
  and
  A hanging doll
  for scary tales.

Manhwa are widely known for their gripping fantasy, murima and reincarnation/regression stories. However, horror, especially psychological horroris a rarer gem in this franchise. Psychological horror manhwa delve into the darkest corners of the human mind, presenting stories that range from apocalyptic horror to gruesome tales of violence and abuse. These stories are not only about fears; they explore the complexities of human nature, often leaving readers thinking long after they've turned the last page.

These manhwas are filled with unique characters and created by artists whose work is both mysterious and enchanting. The stories often revolve around cycles of violence, the frailty of the mind, and the depths of human despair. They encourage readers to confront their own fears and question the nature of reality. The psychological suspense and tangled plots set these stories apart, offering a different kind of thrill compared to more traditional horror. Here top ten psychological manhwa horror, ranking.

10 Dead days

The end of the world

• Release date: September 25, 2014
• Number of sections: 12
• Status: Completed
• The author: DAY

Dead days is a post-apocalyptic manhwa survival horror film set in a world overrun by zombies. The story follows a high school student, Jungkook, who sees the beginning of the apocalypse when people who drank a freshly made drink turn 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 to find a way out.

9 MIA: Lost during operation

A soldier's worst nightmare

• Release date: 2015 year
• Number of sections: 28
• Status: In progress
• The author: KIM Chang Woo, LEE Chang-Jun

This manhwa psychological thriller follows a military operation and the psychological effects it takes on a squad.

The story follows Corporal Jang Soo-gim and his squad as they head out to shut down a common outpost, but soon realize something is amiss. They are set by various traps and a mysterious intruder. They eventually find a bunker and think they can rest, but it looks like they've made a big mistake.

8 We are all dead

Fights and scares all the way

• Release date: August 16, 2021
• Number of sections: 9
• Status: Completed
• The author: Joo Dong Geun

We are all dead popular zombie apocalypse manhwa set in a high school. When a zombie outbreak occurs, students at Hyosan School find themselves trapped and fighting for survival.

When they discover that their entire school is overrun by zombies, they must find a way to get through the school and out of the school, or die trying. The story has a lot of merit in its sit-down moments, but still manages to create a coming-of-age story in between.

7 Bastard

A bullied child hides a dark secret

• Release date: June 15, 2015
• Number of sections: 10
• Status: Completed
• author(s): Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang

Bastard is a dark psychological thriller about a high school boy who lives with his father, who is secretly a serial killer who preys on young girls. Gene is forced to assist in his father's crimes, creating intense internal conflict and psychological trauma.

The story explores abuse, violence, and the struggle to break out of a cycle of violence, a cycle that Gene soon learns that he too must break out of. It's a story filled with personal battles and a boy trying to fight back against his psychopathic father and protect the girl he cares for; a story of selfishness and selflessness intertwined.

6 Murder Stalking

A deeply disturbing story

• Release date: 2016 year
• Number of sections: 76
• Status: Completed
• The author: Koogi

Murder Stalking is a controversial psychological horror manhwa that explores toxic relationships and obsession. It tells the story of Yoon Bam who becomes entangled with Oh Sang-woo, a charismatic but deeply troubled man.

This manhwa delves into dark themes including stalking, violence, and psychological manipulation. It has quite intense, often disturbing content and interesting character dynamics.

5 Nice house

A voice calls out from within

• Release date: January 15, 2018
• Number of sections: 14
• Status: Completed
• author(s): Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang

Nice house is a horror manga set in an apartment complex where people turn into monsters based on their deepest desires.

The story follows Cha Hyun-soo, a suicidal teenager who decided to become a recluse after the death of his parents and stayed inside all day, now has to fight for his survival and his sanity as a voice keeps telling him to give up along with the other residents.

4 Pawn revenge

A dark and dirty tale of revenge

• Release date: 2021 year
• Number of sections: 93
• Status: In progress
• The author: Evie

This drama-filled yaoi manhwa tells the story of Jae-oh, a prostitute struggling to survive in the slums. Jae-oh lives on the lowest rung of the social hierarchy, constantly struggling to improve his position, but often finding himself in increasingly difficult situations. The story takes a dramatic turn when Jae-oh is kidnapped by a serial killer, which unexpectedly thrusts him into the larger social arena.

Using this opportunity, Jae-oh uses his skills and talents to get revenge on those who wronged him. This protagonist is not one to set boundaries and is willing to cross any boundaries to make sure his revenge is achieved, the complete opposite of the typical hero seen in such stories.

3 The piggery

Mystery and horror, all in one

• Release date: November 7, 2020
• Number of sections: 9
• Status: Completed
• The author: Kim Carnby

This story was written by Kim Carnby. The main character wakes up on a stunning coastline, but the twist is that he doesn't know who he is or how he got there.

As the mysterious man tries to figure out his identity, things get wilder by the minute. Each answer only leads to more questions, and the “helpful” family that takes him in is not as good as he imagined.

2 Shotgun Boy

From bullying to defending your bullies

• Release date: March 18, 2021
• Number of sections: 7
• Status: Completed
• author(s): Carnby Kim, Hongpil

This manhwa takes place in the same universe as the Nice house but serves as a prequel. The manhwa tells the story of Gyu Hwan, a victim of bullying, whose life changes dramatically during a horrific ordeal in the forest. Running away from his bullies, Guhvan finds a gun and a limited number of shells. Limited, but enough for his classmates.

However, when Guhwan returns, he finds his classmates under attack by monsters. He becomes a protector, as Guhwan proves to be the only line of defense between his peers and predatory creatures.

1 A hanging doll

A well woven story with a twist

• Release date: August 2019
• Number of sections: 71
• Status: Completed
• The author: Command name

It's a dark psychological manhwa created by Team Getname, a duo that includes Kim Carnby, co-creator Bastard. At the center of this fascinating story are five people: John, Angelina, Joanne, Mike and Alfred, who delve into their memories from 1994.

The story revolves around a mysterious murder and the fates of all involved, survivors or not. Despite the slightly outdated art style, A hanging doll fascinates readers with its eerie atmosphere and wonderfully written characters.