Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
You have been Marked… A strange rumor is spreading through the shadows of Tokyo's H City: a mysterious disfigurement, like a grotesque birthmark, has been appearing on the bodies of certain individuals. Anyone who receives the Mark will rapidly die of unknown, horrifying causes. Deprived of your memories, you arrive at a mansion rumored to protect the bearers of the Mark. As the doors swing open, the countdown to death has already begun… Key Features • Search and Survive! – To avoid an almost certain gruesome death at the “hands” of angry spirits, you’ll need to search your surroundings for clues to increase your odds of survival. • Ghost Busting – Sometimes the sword is more powerful than the pen. And when words fail it’s time to stand your ground. Remember the price of not holding your own is an untimely death.
Game Discussion
Steam User 16
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark is a deeply unsettling, atmospheric horror visual novel that manages to blend traditional Japanese ghost stories with modern urban legend creepiness. It’s not just a game—it’s a slow descent into an eerie world where every decision could mean life, death, or something even stranger.
The game takes place in Tokyo's H City, where people have been mysteriously afflicted with a curse known as the “Mark”—a strange scar that signals impending death. As the unnamed protagonist, who wakes up with no memory and the Mark etched into your skin, you’re thrown into a race against time to uncover the truth behind the curse, and confront a series of vengeful spirits.
Each chapter introduces a new ghostly mystery, often rooted in folklore or twisted tales of abuse, trauma, and urban decay. The episodic structure works well, creating a sense of mounting dread with each case. What really sets Death Mark apart is how it builds empathy for its ghosts, blurring the line between victim and monster.
Death Mark is mostly a visual novel, but it incorporates elements of point-and-click exploration and light puzzle-solving. You investigate haunted locations, collect clues, and make key decisions in “Spirit Battles” that determine your survival. These moments, while simple, are tense and effective thanks to tight writing and haunting visuals.
The companion system adds a strategic element—choosing who to bring along affects your dialogue choices and outcomes. Some choices lead to permanent character deaths, lending real weight to your actions.
Visually, the game is striking. Its 2D illustrations are gorgeously grotesque—gritty, shadow-drenched, and dripping with atmosphere. Character designs, especially the spirits, are imaginative and deeply disturbing without relying on cheap jump scares.
The audio is minimal but impactful. Every creak, whisper, and ambient hum is expertly placed, making even moments of silence feel oppressive. The sound design does a lot of heavy lifting in creating tension.
The gameplay can sometimes feel overly rigid or trial-and-error based, especially during boss encounters. A few logical leaps in puzzles may frustrate players, and the lack of autosave can lead to punishing repetition if you make a wrong choice.
Also, as a visual novel, it’s text-heavy. If you’re not into reading and mood-building over action, Death Mark might feel slow.
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark isn’t about cheap thrills—it’s about dread that seeps into your skin. With its eerie art, emotionally driven ghost stories, and immersive writing, it’s a must-play for fans of Japanese horror and visual novels. It proves that horror doesn’t need to be loud—it just needs to linger.
Rating: 8/10
Steam User 4
Pretty good game and fun story.
Extremely broken on Steam Deck and Linux. Avoid if that's the case
Steam User 6
one of my all time favorite games, art style pops and mashitha is my bbg
Steam User 4
Ever year I watch the same Lets Play on YouTube by the same content creator playing this game (around Halloween). I seen it was on sale and thought this year I'll be playing it myself.
This has been my favourite visual novel by far for many years, since I first seen it truth be told.
You could say... it's left it's mark on me.
Steam User 3
Probably my current favorite game; the price may seem daunting, but it's well-worth that price. The art, the sound design, the story design, the character design... it's all fantastic. I just finished the DLC today; I don't absolutely love the DLC, I'd call it a weaker point in the game, as my group and I puzzled out the twist rather quickly... but it was free, so take that as you will.
Steam User 2
I really enjoyed this game. It's part visual novel, part point and click dungeon crawler. I will say some of the questions that can auto-kill you, and some of the boss fights are puzzles that are very obtuse and confusing. Another con is the Famicom Detective style game stuff where tapping on a chest doesn't open it, you have to select it, and observe it first, then select it again. But small gripes, with a guide it's trivial , and they let you try again. My final gripe, is that I did get two crashes, so save often. But two in 24 hours of play time isn't bad. The art, story, sound design, characters, and endings are all great though.
Steam User 0
If you're a fan of Japanese horror, the Spirit Hunter series is a perfect pick for you. The game excels in creating a very unsettling atmosphere accompanied by beautiful and disturbing art, and an unnerving soundtrack. Each chapter focuses on an individual spirit and each is memorable in their own delightfully twisted way.
However, I do think this game should be approached with a guide. Navigation and puzzles are not the game's strong suit, but if you can push through, you'll find a hidden gem well worth your time.