There’s something deeply unsettling about the stories Junji Ito tells—tales of horror that crawl under the skin and stay there. Now, for the first time, those terrifying visions take shape in a standalone game with Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol, a survival horror experience that brings players into a twisted world crafted under Ito’s direct supervision. With grotesque monsters, haunting environments, and an original story rooted in madness and mystery, this game delivers a chilling journey fans won’t forget.
Junji Ito’s nightmarish world becomes fully interactive
Junji Ito’s manga has always been terrifying. Stories like “Uzumaki” or “The Hanging Balloons” are famous for their strange imagery and creeping dread. But while many adaptations have tried to capture his style before, none have had the full involvement of the artist himself—until now. Developed and published by Taiwanese studio SOFTSTAR ENTERTAINMENT, Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol is the first video game directly based on his work with his creative input throughout development.
SOFTSTAR is best known for their fantasy RPG series Sword and Fairy, but they’ve also proven their horror chops with titles like The Bridge Curse and Incantation. With this new title, they combine that experience with Ito’s vision to create a game that doesn’t just show horror—it makes players live it.
A trapped student, a cursed mansion, and a cycle of madness
The game doesn’t retell any single Junji Ito story. Instead, it builds an original plot inspired by the 2023 Netflix anime Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. Players take on the role of a university student who wakes up in a Western-style mansion with no memory of how they got there. The mansion is dark, cold, and alive with terror.
The twist? The mansion exists in a time loop. Every time something goes wrong—or when death comes—the day resets. To escape, players must collect lost memories scattered throughout the house while avoiding monsters drawn straight from Ito’s most disturbing creations. But escaping isn’t easy. The more the character remembers, the more unstable reality becomes.
This narrative isn’t just creepy—it digs deep into themes of endless suffering and human fear. At its core lies one question: Can someone survive when reality itself bends against them? Or will they fall into insanity like so many others before?
No guns or glory—just dread around every corner
This isn’t an action game. There are no weapons to swing or enemies to blast apart. Instead, Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol focuses on survival through exploration, puzzles, and stealth. Players must search every room carefully for clues while staying out of sight from things best left unseen.
The mansion twists like a maze filled with horrors not bound by logic. A stairway might turn into teeth; a hallway may lead back on itself endlessly. Players will need to think carefully and act quickly to solve puzzles while staying quiet enough not to attract unwanted attention.
This design choice leans heavily into psychological tension rather than quick scares. One moment might bring eerie silence; the next could reveal something crawling just behind the wall. Environmental storytelling plays a big part too—with notes left behind by past victims or bloodstains that tell their own silent stories.
For one player who grew up reading Junji Ito manga late at night under covers with a flashlight, this kind of horror hits different. It’s not just spooky—it’s personal.
Iconic monsters come to life in terrifying detail
One thing fans will notice right away is how well-known monsters from Junji Ito’s work appear throughout the game—but not as cameos or Easter eggs. They’re woven directly into gameplay as real threats players must face or flee.
The floating heads from “The Hanging Balloons” drift silently above corridors like hunters on strings. Hair monsters from “The Long Hair in the Attic” slither across floors or creep down walls when least expected. And headless sculptures lurk in forgotten halls—silent but watching all the same.
These creatures don’t just look scary—they behave in ways that reflect their stories’ original tone and meaning. Encounters are designed to feel surreal and unnatural, echoing how readers felt turning each page of those iconic manga chapters for the first time.
A visual nightmare born from manga pages
The team at SOFTSTAR didn’t just draw inspiration from Ito—they aimed to replicate his style as closely as possible using modern technology. Every environment feels hand-crafted with grotesque care: peeling wallpaper hides writhing shapes; shadows stretch longer than they should; faces shift slightly when viewed too long.
This visual style stays true thanks to professional motion capture used for characters’ movements and expressions alongside detailed animation work that captures both subtle fear and full-blown panic realistically.
Voice acting also plays an important role here—conveying dread even when words aren’t spoken clearly. Whispers echo through vents; strange laughter trickles down stairwells; urgent breathing can be heard behind locked doors even if nothing seems there yet.
The result feels cinematic without breaking immersion—a rare balance between high production value and raw unease that keeps players looking over their shoulder at every turn.
When does Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol come out?
Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol launched on November 11, 2025 as a PC exclusive available via Steam. This release makes it easily accessible for horror fans worldwide—especially those already familiar with digital platforms—and provides smooth integration for streamers eager to share their terrified reactions online.
A win for horror fans—and perhaps one of Junji Ito’s best adaptations yet
Manga horror is hard to adapt well into games—many try but few succeed at capturing what makes it so effective on paper: mood over motion, fear over fight scenes. But reviews suggest this time it’s different—for once an adaptation nails not just how Junji Ito’s work looks but how it feels inside your head after dark.
Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol delivers more than frights—it offers a slow descent into psychological horror built on strong storytelling, disturbing visuals, and smart design choices that respect its source material deeply.
If this is what future manga-based games look like—with creators involved directly every step of the way—it might be worth keeping all lights off just one more night.
What’s scarier: facing your fears or never waking up from them?
F.A.Q.
What is Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol?
Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol is a first-person survival horror game developed by SOFTSTAR ENTERTAINMENT. It is directly based on the work of famed horror manga artist Junji Ito, with his involvement throughout the development process to ensure authenticity.
What is the storyline of the game?
The game features a unique story inspired by the 2023 Netflix anime Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. Players control a university student trapped in a Western-style mansion caught in a time loop. The goal is to recover lost memories and escape the cycle of madness.
How does the game incorporate Junji Ito’s signature horror elements?
The game draws directly from Junji Ito’s work, featuring monsters like the floating heads from “The Hanging Balloons” and hair monsters from “The Long Hair in the Attic.” The developers have meticulously recreated Ito’s grotesque and surreal visual style, ensuring a faithful adaptation of his horror themes.
What gameplay mechanics are used in Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol?
The game focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth rather than combat. Players must navigate the mansion, solve puzzles, and avoid grotesque creatures to progress and uncover the story.
Is Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol available on all platforms?
The game is a PC exclusive, available to purchase and download via Steam, making it accessible to a wide audience of horror and Junji Ito fans worldwide.
How does the game create its horror atmosphere?
The game combines professional motion capture, voice acting, and intricate environmental storytelling to create a deeply immersive and unsettling atmosphere. The focus on psychological tension and surreal visuals enhances the horror experience.
When was Junji Ito Maniac: An Infinite Gaol released?
The game was released on November 11, 2025, providing a new, interactive way for fans to engage with Junji Ito’s unique brand of horror.
