When starting a run, you will have to choose between one of several different characters to play as. Each has a different playstyle with specific stat bonuses and penalties, as well as unique benefits, perks, events, and items. More characters can also be unlocked via various methods.
Kirie Minami[edit]
"Could the ghosts following her be the reason behind all the weird events in this town?"
To unlock: Available from the start.
Stats: + Knowledge, - Strength
Perks: Arcane Grasp, Ghost Connection, Second Sight, Self-therapy
Item: Kirie's Bag
Events: Ghostly Aid, Taking Its Toll, In Remembrance
Kirie starts the game knowing a random spell.
Aiko Takahashi[edit]
"Barely surviving when a ghost of a drowned man kept her underwater, she is determined to solve this mystery."
To unlock: Available from the start.
Stats: + Dexterity, - Knowledge
Perks: Discipline, Fast Swimmer, Hot Bath, Running Shoes
Item: Aiko's Plush Toy
Events: Distance, Workout Routine
Aiko has a bonus to her combat speed, letting her act in battle faster.
Haru[edit]
"Robbing that old abandoned manor was a mistake. With his friends dead and mutilated, and a vengeful horror chasing him, no speed is too high."
To unlock: Available from the start.
Stats: + Strength, - Knowledge
Perks: Core Strength, CQC Training, Irezumi, Yakuza Card
Item: Cigarette Case
Events: Midnight Driver, Catching Up, Deja Vu
Haru starts the game with the Cigarettes item, and the "Nicotine Withdrawal" and "Hard-Knock" statuses, the latter of which causes him to deal +1 additional damage when under the "Nicotine Rush" status.
Mizuki Hamasaki[edit]
"What a strange world we live in, where defeating an ancient evil is the easiest way of boosting your career."
To unlock: Available from the start.
Stats: + Charisma, - Strength
Perks: Fame, Occult Signs, Parting Gift, Signed Contract
Item: Vanity Mirror
Events: Price of Fame, Fine Print
Mizuki starts the game with a random ally, and the "Safety in Numbers" status, which gives her +1 maximum Reason, but causes her to lose -2 Reason if she doesn't have at least two allies upon finishing a mystery.
Kouji Takawa[edit]
"A picture is worth a thousand words. The government won't sweep this one under a rug."
To unlock: Available from the start.
Stats: + Perception, - Dexterity
Perks: Deduction, Fast Hands, Improvise, Reporter's Bag
Item: Film Roll
Events: Weighing the Evidence, A Few Questions
Kouji starts the game with the Camera item.
Mimi[edit]
"Finally a way to put to practice everything she's learnt so far."
To unlock: Complete two successful runs.
Stats: + Knowledge, - Dexterity
Perks: Anatomy Class, Fast Learner, First Aid
Item: Anatomy Book
Events: Medical Trial, Life or Limb, Summertime
Mimi starts the game with the Scalpel weapon, and the "Mimi's Obsession" status, which lowers her maximum Reason by 20%.
Miku[edit]
"Rebellious teenager keen on spreading chaos. She will protect her hometown, even if only for her own selfish reasons."
To unlock: Defeat the Rioter and obtain the Prescription, exchange it for the Expensive Drug at the Pharmacy for 4 Funds, then go to the Illegal Den.
Stats: + Strength, - Perception
Perks: Adrenaline, Doomed Already, Looting, Pickpocket
Item: Guitar
Events: Dead End, Watch It
Miku starts the game with the "Mayhem" status, which increases her stats the higher the Doom counter is.
Moriko Ishii[edit]
"Ignoring her father's warnings, she decided to hunt the monster killing the animals to protect this forest... and, unknowingly, save the world."
To unlock: Take the Outdoorsman perk, view the missing girl report on TV, then start the "Bloody Sweater" Forest event and select "wait a minute..."
Stats: + Perception, - Dexterity
Perks: Ammo Stash, Daddy's Girl, Deft Handling
Item: Blessed Shell
Events: Echoes of the Past
Moriko starts the game with the Old Shotgun weapon. When fighting the Young Witch enemy, she also takes Reason damage as male characters do.
Yashiro Kawaji[edit]
"While he didn't technically complete his studies at the seminary, a worrying letter from his sister forced Yashiro to take the first train to Shiokawa. After all, she died a few years ago..."
To unlock: Safely drink eldritch blood using the Goblet.
Stats: + Knowledge, - Charisma
Perks: My Weird Collection, On Your Own, Stealth, Zeal
Item: Marked Bible
Events: Crisis of Faith, My Memories
Yashiro starts the game with the Bronze Crucifix item, and the "Ominous Letter" status, which causes him to require 40 additional experience to level up. Additionally, he has a unique "Faith" stat that increases by defeating enemies and solving mysteries, and decreases by taking damage in combat; whether Yashiro's Faith is at a positive or negative value will likewise affect his other stats and experience gain.
Ayaka Kuroi[edit]
"They didn't want to take part in Ayaka's ritual. Now, they are all dead and their souls will continue to torment her."
To unlock: Get five or more curses in a single run.
Stats: + Knowledge, - Luck
Perks: Blood Mania, Doom Effigy, Eldritch Possession
Item: Ayaka's Chalk
Events: Cornucopia, Bad Blood
Ayaka starts the game with the Onyx Medallion item, which inflicts two curses at the start of a mystery but removes one upon finishing a mystery.
Toshiaki Wakamatsu[edit]
"When Toshiaki discovered the club's sinister intention he flew, stealing their most prized possession. This cursed book will either save or doom our entire world..."
To unlock: Get a bad ending by buying four items from the History Club.
Stats: + Perception, - Strength
Perks: Aura of Azal-Hoth, Krootky's Kill, F'Thoth Flash, Shebbe's Surge, Rage of Ragh-Zull, Cure of Cthur-Izto
Item: Book Strap
Events: The Forbidden Collection, Funky Ramen
Toshiaki starts the game with the Necronomicon item, which initially only contains the Aura of Azal-Hoth spell. As he levels up, Toshiaki retrieves more pages for the book which unlock further spells.
Juri Okusawa[edit]
"Something terrible is stalking Juri and with each passing day, its presence is getting nearer and nearer..."
To unlock: Complete five successful runs.
Stats: + Perception, - Dexterity
Perks: Elusive, Escapee, Test of Will
Item: Check Book
Events: N/A
Juri starts the game with the "On the Run" status, which gives her a unique "Horror" counter, visible over the "active ritual" section of the items tab. This counter increases at twice the rate of your Doom counter, and is not lowered by Doom-lowering events. Once the Horror counter reaches 100%, the Horror catches up to Juri, and she can no longer gain any levels. However, until that point, she levels up twice as fast as other characters, encouraging a "speedrun" playstyle.
Yumiko Ichimura[edit]
"When her twin brother suddenly disappeared during a family holiday, Yumiko swore to find him, no matter the cost..."
To unlock: Collect both the Baseball Bat from the Apartment Stalker enemy and the Wooden Bat in Spine-Chilling Story of School Scissors in the same run.
Stats: + Strength, - Knowledge
Perks: Swift Maneuver, Swing and Hit, Haunting Dreams
Item: Baseball
Events: Cliff's Edge, My Haircut
Yumiko starts the game with the Lucky Bat weapon, which gives a +2 bonus to her Luck, but in exchange, she has fairly mediocre stats and starts with a Concussion injury.
Kana[edit]
"Neighbor has gone missing while investigating a weird case. Kana is determined to find and rescue them."
To unlock: Unlock all achievements.
Stats: + Charisma, - Perception
Perks: N/A
Item: N/A
Events: N/A
Kana starts the game with a Soft Drink item and the personal status "Always There", which sets their maximum Stamina and Reason at 8, and resets either to that amount should it be reduced to 0, effectively making them immortal. However, each Stamina/Reason "death" adds to their other personal status "Cat's Curiosity", incurring a +5% Doom penalty for each time Stamina/Reason is reset. They can play any mystery except Eerie Episode of Evolving Eels, which they feature in as an NPC/ally.