It’s been spooky season for quite some time, and with it comes the usual sense of dread associated with Halloween. Movies, series, literature, and video games are just some of the media that deliver these frights, and new horror experiences have been popping up in droves. But on the gaming side of things, we finally have something new to look forward to: the first Filipino Horror Game Jam.
Hosted by Murushii, BluWraith, Neuroticfly Games, and SolitaryStudios, #FHGJ2026 features over 40 entries unified by a central theme: Real Life Horror. You might think it would be difficult to turn everyday struggles into something genuinely frightening, but you’d be surprised by how relatable some of these games are and how close to home they hit.
Breadwinner
There’s a saying that the Filipino is worth dying for, and there’s another that every middle-class family is just one medical emergency away from poverty. The reality is that a family’s financial stability often hinges on the capabilities of its breadwinner. In many Filipino households, the eldest child ends up shouldering the responsibility of paying the bills and taking care of everyone else.
Taking cues from games like Slay the Princess, Breadwinner hits too close to home with its portrayal of life as a balancing act under difficult circumstances. It also makes you realize just how heavy the burden of responsibility can be. With multiple endings to discover, I found myself questioning whether I was doing the right thing. Unfortunately, things aren’t always as black and white as we’d like them to be.
Check out Breadwinner by Mithika Games here: https://mithika-studio.itch.io/breadwinner
SMS 207
Do you know how easily anyone, including children, can access gambling apps these days? Rampant advertisements, colorful characters, crippling addiction, and the promise of a better tomorrow are just some of the pitfalls that can lure people into gambling.
The house always wins, and the deeper you fall into the rabbit hole, the harder it becomes to escape your debts. But what happens when you bite off more than you can chew? SMS 207 explores a frighteningly plausible scenario as you let it ride and watch your debts pile up. Given how realistic the experience felt, I even found myself checking my accounts for any signs of suspicious activity. A reminder to protect your personal information, indeed!
Check out SMS 207 by Machu here: https://machudev.itch.io/sms-207
Anne
You’d be surprised by the kinds of stories you can tell regardless of the medium. But what if I told you that one of the games that shook me to my core was a Game Boy ROM?
Anne tells the story of a girl who just wants to go home after a horrific experience in Manila forces her to return to the province. Beneath its cute exterior, reminiscent of the original Pokémon games, and a sound font that takes you back in time lies a story about children who just want justice and freedom.
Corruption runs through multiple facets of society, and Anne captures that experience remarkably well. What’s particularly heartbreaking, though, is that as you play through the fun minigames and clever puzzles, you remember that Anne is just a kid. Sometimes, all it takes is one bad day for everything to unravel.
Check out Anne by Yanji Games here: https://yanjigames.itch.io/yanji-games-anne
Tagbalay
Making excellent use of sound design and a fully voice-acted experience, Tagbalay knows how to keep you on edge. Highly reminiscent of No, I’m not a Human, the game puts you in the shoes of someone responsible for taking care of their sick mother. Unfortunately, she has debts to settle, and now it’s up to you to figure out how to pay them.
As each day passes, it’s not just debt collectors who show up at your doorstep. Concerned neighbors, colorful strangers, and other unexpected visitors also make their way into your life.
Beyond the creepy atmosphere that had me on edge throughout the experience, the game’s title took on a whole new meaning when my partner explained its significance in a Philippine language. It made the idea of deciding whom to let into your home feel even more unsettling.
When you’re already struggling to take care of your family, you can’t afford to forget about your own safety, either.
Experience this tense game by YUME Interactive here: https://yumeindie.itch.io/tagbalay
Project Nth
The job market in the Philippines is a horror story in itself, but the day-to-day struggles women face just to get by are another matter entirely. Between misogyny, rising prices, and the physical challenges women deal with, sometimes the very situations they find themselves in become prisons, even when they’re simply trying to survive.
In Project Nth, you take control of Rosetta as she struggles through her late-night BPO shift despite being exhausted. And when exhaustion sets in, reality itself can become harder to distinguish.
While the experience is relatively short due to the game jam’s time constraints, Project Nth shows plenty of potential. I’m curious to see how its story develops and how much further things escalate as the game continues to evolve.
Check out Project Nth by Neowb here: https://neowb.itch.io/project-nth
Closing Thoughts
With over 40 entries and the Philippines hosting its first-ever Filipino Horror Game Jam, there’s bound to be something interesting out there for everyone. Other titles that caught my eye explored different kinds of real-life horror, from flooding to encounters with the paranormal in the province. While everyone’s experience may differ, each game shines in its own way.
Personally, I’ll be replaying some of these titles to uncover their alternate endings. That said, I still wouldn’t dare play them at night. Some things are better experienced with the lights on!
Interested in checking out the game jam for yourself? Head over to the official Filipino Horror Game Jam 2026 page on itch.io and show these developers some love.
This article is written by Doby from Doby from the Replays; you can find him on his official page