Ao Oni
Aooni is a freeware horror game developed by noprops. It was first released in Japan in November 2008.
It gained a cult following in Japan due to livestreams and playthroughs. Aooni was later adapted into a variety of media, including two feature-length movies, a series of light novels, and a manga. A remaster was released on Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2024.
Aooni is occasionally spelt as Ao Oni in the English-speaking world, despite not being accurate to the official titles of the games.
Gameplay
The player controls Hiroshi as he explores the locked mansion, gathering items and solving puzzles in order to escape. The Aooni will begin to chase the player at both random and at certain scripted moments throughout the game.
Plot
A boy named Hiroshi, alongside his classmates, investigate a mansion in the outskirts of town that is rumored to house a monster. They discover the Aooni, described as a naked, blueberry-colored giant who pursues the group. The Aooni will give chase until the player outruns him. If one of Hiroshi's classmates dies within the mansion, they are infected with a virus that transforms them into an Aooni. Hiroshi proceeds to explore the mansion, solving puzzles and evading the Aooni as he tries to find a way to escape.
Reception
Aooni gained a cult following online in Japan, gaining notoriety through websites such as Niconico and YouTube where Aooni-related videos exceeded 50 million views by 2013. The popularity of Aooni revolves around the effectiveness of its horror aspects despite being a simple game, with the background music cited as a key contributor to the chilling atmosphere used to incite fear.
Adaptations
Aooni was adapted into a variety of media, including novels, two live-action film, anime and manga.