The best psychological horror manhwa

Key insights

• Psychological horror manhwa delves into the darkest aspects of human nature and challenges readers.
• These manhwa explore violence, abuse, and complex human emotions in intricate storylines.
• Top picks include
  Dead Days, Bastard, Killing Stalking,
  And
  Hanged doll
  for scary stories.

Manhwa are widely celebrated for their captivating fantasy, murim, and reincarnation/regression stories. But mostly horror psychological horroris a rarer gem in this franchise. Psychological horror delves into the darkest depths of the human mind, presenting stories ranging from apocalyptic horrors to harrowing tales of violence and abuse. These stories aren't just about horror; They explore the complexities of human nature and often leave the reader thinking long after turning the page.

These manhwa are filled with unique characters and crafted by artists whose works are both mysterious and fascinating. The stories often revolve around cycles of violence, the fragility of mental health and the depths of human despair. They challenge the reader to face their own fears and question the nature of reality. The psychological tension and intricate storylines are what set these stories apart, offering a different kind of thrill than traditional horror. Here are 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 is about a high school student named Jungkook who sees the beginning of the apocalypse when people who consumed a freshly made drink were turned into zombies.

He tries to find a way out, but the entire street is full of zombies. His only hope is another girl across the street who finds herself in the same situation as him, forcing them both to rely on each other to find 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 strain it brings on the troops.

The story follows Corporal Chan Soo Gim and his squad on their way to close down a general outpost, but they soon realize that something is wrong. You will be faced with all kinds of traps and a mysterious attacker. Eventually they find a bunker and think they can rest, but it seems they have made a grave mistake.

8 We are all dead

Fights and terror all the way

• Release date: August 16, 2021
• Number of chapters:9
• status: 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 School are trapped and fighting for survival.

When they find out that their entire school is being overrun by zombies, they must find a way to fight their way through the school and leave or else they will die trying. The story is very exciting in the moments in which it sits, but still manages to create a coming-of-age story in between.

7 bastard

The bullied child is hiding 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 about a high school student who lives with his father, who is secretly a serial killer who preys on young girls. Jin is forced to assist in his father's crimes, which leads to intense internal conflict and psychological trauma.

The story is about abuse, violence, and the struggle to break out of a cycle of violence, a cycle that Jin soon learns that he must also break out of the use of violence. This is a story full of personal struggles and a boy trying to fight back against his psychopathic father and protect the girl he cares about; a story of selfishness and selflessness linked together.

6 Kill stalking

A deeply disturbing story

• Release date: 2016
• Number of chapters: 76
• status: Completed
• author: Koogi

Kill stalking is a controversial psychological horror manhwa that explores toxic relationships and obsessions. It follows the story of Yoon Bum, who becomes involved with Oh Sangwoo, a charismatic but deeply disturbed person.

This manhwa deals with dark themes such as stalking, abuse, and psychological manipulation. The content is quite intense, often disturbing and the character dynamics are interesting.

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 turn into monsters based on their deepest desires.

The story is about Cha Hyun-soo, a suicidal teenager who, after the death of his parents, decides to become a hermit and stays indoors all day, now has to fight for his survival and his sanity while a voice keeps telling him, he should give in along with other residents.

4 The Farmer's Revenge

A dark and dirty revenge story

• Release date: 2021
• Number of chapters: 93
• status: Ongoing
• author:Evy

This drama-packed yaoi manhwa is about Je-oh, a male prostitute struggling to survive in the slums. Je-oh lives at the bottom of the social hierarchy and constantly struggles to improve his living conditions, but often finds 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 broader social arena.

Je-oh seizes this opportunity and uses his skills and talents to avenge those who have wronged him. This protagonist is not the type to set boundaries and is willing to cross all boundaries to ensure his revenge comes to fruition – the complete opposite of the regular protagonist seen in such stories.

3 Pigsty

Mystery and horror, all in one

• Release date: November 7, 2020
• Number of chapters:9
• status: Completed
• author: Kim Carnby

This story was written by Kim Carnby. The main character wakes up on a stunning stretch of coastline, but the twist is that he has no idea who he is or how he ended up there.

As the mysterious man tries to figure out his identity, things get wilder and wilder. Every answer leads to more questions, and the “helpful” family that takes him in isn't quite as friendly as he imagined.

2 Shotgun boy

From bullying to protecting your 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 horrific ordeal in the forest. While escaping from his bullies, Gyuhwan discovers a shotgun and a limited number of grenades. Limited, but enough for his classmates.

However, when Gyuhwan returns, his classmates are attacked by monsters. He becomes a protector as Gyuhwan represents the only line of defense between his comrades and the ravenous creatures.

1 Hanged doll

A well-woven story with a twist

• Release date: August 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 revolves around five people: John, Angelina, Joan, Mike and Alfred, as they reflect on their memories from 1994.

The story revolves around a mysterious murder and the fate of everyone involved, whether survivors or not. Despite a somewhat dated art style Hanged doll captivates readers with its relaxed atmosphere and amazingly written characters.