[4] A boy named Hiroshi, alongside his classmates, investigates a deserted mansion at the edge of town that is rumored to be haunted.

The player controls Hiroshi as he explores the locked mansion, gathering items and solving puzzles in order to escape.

[5] The creature (the Ao Oni) will begin to chase the player at both random[6] and scripted moments, similar to the Nemesis in Resident Evil 3.

While mocking the others, Naoki is surprised to discover that a part of him doesn't actually want vengeance, particularly after receiving a heartfelt apology from Takeshi, as the two had previously been friends.

The series follows the game characters, who are of elementary school age instead of teenagers, and is told from the perspective of a stray dog that was taken in by Takuro's uncle.

[16] A second live action film, Ao Oni ver 2.0, was released the following year with a different director, writer, and cast.