Summary
- Psychological horror manhwa dive into the darkest aspects of human nature and challenge readers.
- These manhwa explore violence, abuse, and complex human emotions in intricate plots.
- Top picks include Dead Days, Bastard, Killing Stalking, and Hanged Doll for chilling tales.
Manhwa are widely celebrated for their captivating fantasy, murim, and reincarnation/regression stories. However, horror, particularly psychological horror, is 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 are not just about scares; they explore the complexities of human nature, often leaving readers pondering long after they’ve turned the last page.
20 Best Horror Manhwa You Should Read, Ranked
Fans of manhwa shouldn't deprive themselves of these chilling and unnerving tales.
These manhwa are filled with unique characters and crafted by artists whose work is both arcane and mesmerizing. The narratives often revolve around cycles of violence, the fragility of sanity, and the depths of human despair. They challenge readers to confront their own fears and question the nature of reality. The psychological tension and intricate plots make these stories stand out, offering a different kind of thrill compared to more traditional horror. Here are the top ten psychological horror manhwa, ranked.
10 Dead Days
The End Of The World
- Release Date: September 25, 2014
- Number of Chapters: 12
- Status: 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, as people that took a newly made drink are turned into zombies.
He tries to find a way out, but the entire street is littered with zombies. His only hope is another girl on the other side of the street that is in the same situation as him, forcing both of them to rely on each other for a way out.
9 MIA: Lost In Operation
A Soldier's Worst Nightmare
- Release Date: 2015
- Number of Chapters: 28
- Status: Ongoing
- Author: KIM Chang Woo, LEE Chang-Jun
This psychological thriller manhwa revolves around a military operation and the psychological toll it takes on the squad.
The story follows Corporal Chan Soo Gim and his squad on their way to shut down a general outpost, but soon realise that something is wrong. They are placed by traps of all kinds and a mysterious attacker. They eventually find a bunker, and think they can rest, but it seems that they have made a grave mistake.
8 All Of Us Are Dead
Fights And Frights All The Way
- Release Date: August 16, 2021
- Number of Chapters: 9
- Status: Completed
- Author: Joo Dong-geun
All of Us Are Dead is popular zombie apocalypse manhwa set in a high school. When a zombie outbreak occurs, students of Hyosan high find themselves trapped and fighting for survival.
When they find out that their entire school is overrun by zombies, they must find a way to fight their way through and out of their school, or die trying. The story has a lot of edge in the seat moments, but still manages to pull off a coming of age story in-between.
7 Bastard
The Bullied Kid Hides A Dark Secret
- Release Date: June 15, 2015
- Number of Chapters: 10
- Status: Completed
- Author(s): Carnby Kim, Youngchan Hwang
Bastard is a dark psychological thriller that follows a high school student living with his father, who is secretly a serial killer that hunts young 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 that Jin soon learns that he must break out of using violence as well. This is a story filled with personal battles, and a boy trying to push back against his psychopath of a father, and to protect the girl he cares about; a story of selfishness and selflessness interconnected.
6 Killing Stalking
A Deeply-Unsettling Story
- Release Date: 2016
- Number of Chapters: 76
- Status: Completed
- Author: Koogi
Killing 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 quite intense, often disturbing content, and interesting character dynamics.
5 Sweet Home
The voice From Within Calls
- Release Date: January 15, 2018
- Number of Chapters: 14
- Status: 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 teen, who after the death of his parents who decides to become a recluse and stays inside all day, now must fight for survival and his sanity, as a voice keeps telling him to succumb alongside other residents.
4 The Pawn's Revenge
A Dark And Dirty Vengeance Tale
- Release Date: 2021
- Number of Chapters: 93
- Status: Ongoing
- Author: Evy
This drama-filled yaoi manhwa follows Je-oh, a male prostitute struggling to survive in the slums. Je-oh lives at the lowest rung of the social hierarchy, constantly fighting 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 propelling him into a broader social arena.
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Seizing this opportunity, Je-oh uses his skills and talents to avenge those who wronged him. This protagonist isn't one to set boundaries, and is willing to cross any and all lines to make sure that his revenge is achieved, the total opposite of the regular protagonist seen in these kinds of stories.
3 Pigpen
Mystery And Horror, All In One
- Release Date: November 7 2020
- Number of Chapters: 9
- Status: Completed
- Author: Kim Carnby
This story is written by Kim Carnby. The main character wakes up on a stunning shoreline, but the twist is that he has zero clue who he is or how he ended up there.
As the mystery man tries to piece together his identity, things get wilder by the moment. Every answer just leads to more questions, and the "helpful" family that takes him in isn't exactly as kind as he'd imagined.
2 Shotgun Boy
From Being Bullied To Protecting His Bullies
- Release Date: March 18, 2021
- Number of Chapters: 7
- Status: Completed
- Author(s): Carnby Kim, Hongpil
This manhwa is set in the same universe as Sweet Home but serves as a prequel. The manhwa follows Gyu Hwan, a victim of bullying, whose life takes a drastic turn during a terrifying ordeal in the woods. While fleeing from his bullies, Gyuhwan discovers a shotgun and a limited number of shells. Limited, but enough for his classmates.
However, when Gyuhwan returns to find his classmates under attack by monsters. He becomes the protector, as Gyuhwan finds himself the only line of defence between his peers and the ravenous creatures.
1 Hanged Doll
A Well-Woven Story, With A Twist
- Release Date: Aug 2019
- Number of Chapters: 71
- Status: Completed
- Author: Team Getname
This is a dark psychological manhwa created by Team Getname, a duo that includes Kim Carnby, co-creator of Bastard. This gripping story centers around five individuals: John, Angelina, Joan, Mike, and Alfred, delving into their memories from 1994.
The narrative revolves around a mysterious murder, and the fates of all involved, survivors or not. Despite a somewhat dated art style, Hanged Doll captivates readers with its chilling atmosphere and amazingly written characters.
13 Best Psychological Manhwa, Ranked
From dangerous manipulations to challenges of the mind, these psychological manhwa are simply too intriguing to pass up!