Let’s Play, Kababayan! 10 Filipino-Made Online Games You Gotta Try Right Now
Indulge yourself in the fantastic world of Pinoy online gaming—from nostalgic adventures to spine-chilling horror encounters.
In 2020, when the world was hit by COVID-19 and lockdowns confined us to the four corners of our homes, the internet became our window to the outside world. It was where most Filipinos found entertainment—with online games trending left and right—and discovered new friends and communities.
But the rise of gaming did not just revolve around gamers themselves. For Filipino game developers, it has also become a space where they can create, share, and bring their own stories to players around the world.
From narrative-adventure games inspired by the typical Pinoy high school experience to psychological horrors rooted in street culture and Filipino folklore, these titles show how our customs and traditions can find a home in the digital world. And for local players, they may feel like a trip down memory lane — with a few unexpected scares along the way.
Check out these 10 Filipino-made online games for when you’re looking for something to kill the boredom or just want to feel a little bit of home through your screens.
1. Ligaw
Genre: Survival/Psychological Horror
Where to Play: https://ligaw.en.softonic.com/
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: Free on Softonic
Plot:
A homegrown horror game that went viral in the TikTok gaming community, Ligaw follows the story of a delivery rider who takes a wrong turn into the eskinitas of Caloocan. Who’d have thought that this would turn out to be one of the biggest mistakes he ever made?
As the rider navigates to the exit, he encounters hallucinations and disturbing voices that eventually send him into a panic. Will he be able to make it out safe and sound?
How to Play:
Ligaw is set in a first-person point of view that allows you to solve mysteries and survive sudden scares and visions that add to the difficulty of the game.
The game only has one chapter and lasts around 30 minutes, making it a quick horror fix that you can finish in one setting. It’s perfect for those who want a short game, but don’t mind spending half an hour constantly looking over their shoulders.
2. Taguan
Genre: Psychological Horror/Narrative Adventure
Where to Play: Steam; itch.io
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: ₱104.52 on Steam; $2.79 USD or more on itch.io
Plot:
Have you ever played tagu-taguan (hide and seek) out in the streets when you were young? Similar to the idea behind the childhood game, Taguan revolves around David Lagani and the mysterious abduction cases in his hometown.
It not only reflects the youth of most Filipinos, but also depicts a story that critiques the real-world political violence and systemic corruption the Philippines is currently experiencing.
A childhood game turned into something much darker, Taguan shows how Filipino game developers can take something we grew up with and reimagine it for a new generation of players.
How to Play:
This single-player, narrative-driven walking simulator mainly revolves around exploration and storytelling. Instead of traditional combat, you’ll spend most of your time exploring, completing routines, and accomplishing simple tasks that move the story forward.
Worry less about fighting your way out and more about piecing together what’s actually happening. For anyone who enjoys a slow-burn mystery with a darker take on a childhood favorite, Taguan might just be your next pick.
3. Hapunan
Genre: First-Person Survival Horror
Where to Play: https://hapunan.me/en/
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows; Android mobile devices
Price: Free, with in-game purchases
Plot:
Lost in the urban areas of the Philippines at night? Pretty scary if you ask me.
Hapunan is an eerie survival game that follows the story of Niko, a late-night balut (fertilized duck egg) vendor who simply wants to get his business permit signed. While selling his last piece of balut, he gets caught up in the dark alleyways of a local barangay, where he experiences the dirty world of corruption, crime, and physical violence.
Will Niko be able to survive this nightmare?
How to Play:
Hapunan is a first-person, story-driven simulator set in the Philippines. You take on the role of a balut vendor struggling to make ends meet, completing daily chores and selling fertilized duck eggs as you make your way through the story.
But don’t get too comfortable — the final sequence is where the survival aspect really kicks in.
The familiar Filipino setting makes the horror hit even closer to home. So, for those who like their scary games served with a side of everyday Pinoy life, Hapunan deserves your time.
4. Bayani
Genre: Fighting Game
Where to Play: Steam
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: ₱399.95
Plot:
Ever wondered what the Philippines will look like in 8096?
Bayani is a one-on-one, action-packed fighting game that unfolds in a couple of millennia from the present. Its setting heavily draws inspiration from Philippine landmarks.
In a nutshell, Bayani is like the Philippines in an alternate timeline, with several parallels and callbacks to real historical figures and events. Through its futuristic digital world, it reimagines Philippine history, serving both as an educational tool and entertainment for players.
How to Play:
Bayani lets you go head-to-head in a local two-player versus mode using game controllers. There’s also an arcade mode where you can fight your way through a ladder of computer-controlled opponents, plus a training mode for practicing combos, moves, and setups.
Guess this is your sign to turn your next game night into a friendly—or not-so-friendly—competition.
5. ISO/2004
Genre: Psychological Horror
Where to Play: itch.io
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: Pay-what-you-want (starting at $3.99)
Plot:
What would you do if your camera captured images of a ghost?
Set in the city that never sleeps, ISO/2004 follows a photographer named Robert whose camera begins capturing horrifying photos, leaving him with terrifying encounters with ghosts.
If you’re the type to get spooked by what you see through the lens, this one might make you think twice before snapping that next photo.
How to Play:
ISO/2004 is a first-person psychological horror game where your camera is your most important tool. You’ll complete daily tasks inside the boarding room, survive hauntings, and fix problems around the home.
The catch? The camera isn’t just there for taking pictures. You’ll also use it to stun ghosts and uncover clues and truths needed to complete the story.
For the curious ones who can’t resist investigating every suspicious thing they see, this could be a fun—but terrifying—one. Just maybe don’t start pointing your camera at every dark corner of your room afterward.
6. Thin Threads
Genre: Psychological Horror
Where to Play: Steam; itch.io
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: ₱142 on Steam; $3.19 USD or more on itch.io
Plot:
Depicting a financially struggling household, Thin Threads lets you step into the shoes of its family members — witnessing how the story unfolds from their perspective.
Better stay on the watch, though. The game presents bone-chilling scenarios that may leave you afraid to sleep alone.
How to Play:
Thin Threads is a simulation of a family living in extreme poverty. You’ll experience the story through the perspectives of different family members, allowing you to slowly uncover the bigger picture.
Besides that, you will need to complete tasks that are essential to the story, with each perspective revealing another piece of what’s happening inside the household.
This one leans more into the unsettling side of storytelling than cheap scares. So, if you’re looking to add it to your list, brace yourself for a slow-burn experience where the story itself might leave you feeling just as uneasy as the horror.
7. Until Then
Genre: Narrative Adventure/Visual Novel
Where to Play: Steam; Nintendo Switch; PlayStation 5
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows; PlayStation 5; Nintendo Switch; Xbox Series X/S
Price: ₱650 on Steam
Plot:
Taking a break from all the horror games, Until Then offers a trip back to your Filipino teenage high school life.
You play as Mark Borja, whose memories begin to slip away and disappear after an unexpected encounter with a character named Nicole. Until Then explores the themes of grief, friendship, trauma, and love, all wrapped around the experience of being in a Filipino high school.
How to Play:
The game follows Mark as he navigates high school life with his friends. It’s presented from a third-person perspective and lets you interact with a smartphone and an in-universe version of Facebook, alongside mini games and conversations with other characters that can affect how the story progresses.
And yes, the fake social media is part of the fun. From messaging to school drama and everything in between, Until Then brings back the very specific chaos of being a Filipino teenager.
For anyone feeling nostalgic about their high school days, consider this your digital trip down memory lane.
8. Project Xandata
Genre: Sci-Fi
Where to Play: Steam
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: Free
Plot:
Project Xandata is a competitive, first-person shooter game developed by studio Secret 6. Described as a mix of Quake and Overwatch, it puts players in tight maps designed for fierce and fast-paced gun fights.
Rather than the usual 5v5 format, Project Xandata focuses on 3v3 matches, making every player’s move—and elimination—count.
How to Play:
Each character comes with a unique set of skills that players can use during matches. These can also be interchanged throughout the game, giving players more ways to defend their teams and keep their opponents guessing.
If you’re not in the mood for some teamwork, Project Xandata also offers a free-for-all mode where every player is a potential target.
In any case, the game ends once you outshoot the competition.
9. Bangsak: Water Rising (Unreleased)
Genre: Battle Royale
Where to Play: Coming soon on Steam
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows
Price: TBA
Plot:
Like Taguan, this one traces its roots to the traditional Filipino street game of hide and seek. Created by four students from Mariano Marcos State University, Bangsak: Water Rising draws inspiration from the country’s controversial flood control projects, reflected in broken pipes and rising floodwaters experienced throughout the game.
Its pixel-art style, meanwhile, takes inspiration from the cities of Batac and Laoag, the capital of Ilocos Norte, giving the game a distinctly local setting and feel.
How to Play:
The goal is simple: survive the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. Players must first choose a “base” to serve as their safe zone throughout the game.
The “It” has to spot all the hiders by shouting “bang” (simulating a gun shot). The latter, however, aren’t completely defenseless. They can “sak,” or eliminate, the “It” and take their place as the new “It.”
This is peak childhood street game, but make it survival mode. Players have to stay alert, find safe spots to hide when floodwaters rise without getting caught, and keep adapting as the map becomes increasingly difficult to navigate. For the friends who love turning simple games into intense competitions, you have to stay on the lookout for this.
10. Lost and Found (Unreleased)
Genre: Adventure/Mystery
Where to Play: Coming soon on Steam
Available for: Laptops and desktops running Windows, gaming consoles
Price: TBA
Plot:
An unreleased adventure-mystery game is making its way to your screens soon.
Lost and Found is all about returning the townsfolk’s lost belongings, with each item holding a story that is uncovered throughout the game. One of its unique features is its hybrid art style, combining 2D, 3D, and pixel art created by developer Kurt Reodica.
While we might have to wait a little longer to play it, the game’s distinct visual style and Filipino-inspired storytelling already make it one to keep on your radar.
How to Play:
The game is focused on solving mysteries around town as you investigate reports of lost items. You can follow clues and listen to the stories of the people who claim to own each belonging.
But here’s where things get interesting: both “owners” will try to claim the same item, and who you choose to return it to will affect where the story takes you.
So, don’t expect every mystery to have an obvious answer. You’ll have to put the clues together, figure out who’s telling the truth, and decide where each lost item really belongs.
For the resident detectives who love second-guessing every clue, there’s no doubt you will find this game well worth playing.
These Filipino-made games are more than just ways to pass time. They are proof yet again of how the entertainment space can turn our humor, culture, folklore, and everyday experiences into stories that can be played and shared, even beyond our shores. And for us Filipino players, they offer something just as special: a chance to relive the good old days—or experience a whole new side of home—through our own screens.
So, if the internet made you a gamer, a horror buff, or even someone who just loves history or discovering new corners of Filipino culture, maybe it’s time to give these games a try.
Who knows? Your next favorite game might just be made by our very own kababayan.
Words by Geora Laine Mercene