Popular psychological horror series Higurashi: When They Cry has many media forms. From the original visual novels to manga, several anime, and even live-action adaptations, there is something for every fan. The series is continuing to evolve with the newest anime installment, Higurashi Gou, which was released in 2020.
However, the manga series is particularly well-received and has its own unique draws including different artists for each arc, a detailed story, good pacing, complex, likable characters, and a high degree of accuracy to the visual novels. Every arc has its fans and while some score higher than others, they are all worth a read.
Note: Due to the nature of the series, some entries will contain spoilers.
This series deals with mature themes such as violence, abuse, and death. Please use discretion when reading.
10 The Starkly Different World In The Dice Killing Arc Intrigues Readers (MAL Score 7.74)
In the Dice Killing Arc, Rika is enjoying her everyday life to the fullest after achieving victory and surviving to see the end of June 1983. However, when she is involved in a sudden accident and wakes up in a new world, Rika must decide if she wishes to return to her old world, or relinquish it forever and embrace the new one instead. This arc flips everything fans know about Hinamizawa upside-down, including important details such as Rena’s name. It also answers many of the remaining questions from the series such as who Frederica Bernkastel is.
9 Readers Will Have Many Questions While Reading The Beyond Midnight Arc (MAL Score 7.80)
In a possible world in which the Hinamizawa Disaster takes place, Mion wanders the village many years later in the Beyond Midnight Arc, this time, with a new group of travelers who are seeking refuge. However, strange events are taking place around them and nothing adds up. With a car going missing, a murder, and records showing Mion should be dead, suspicions are high. This manga is one of many possible outcomes of the Atonement Arc. With its air of mystery and lingering questions throughout the story, readers will find it hard to put the manga down.
8 Twists & Turns Keep Readers Guessing In The Demon Exposing Arc (MAL Score 7.89)
The Demon Exposing Arc follows a new character, Natsumi, who moved to the city from Okinomiya, nearby Hinamizawa. Everything is going well for her until the Hinamizawa Disaster takes place, and Natsumi’s grandmother suddenly begins to act strangely. Natsumi finds herself thrust into a world of horror as her grandmother goes to extreme lengths to appease the god Oyashiro-sama.
Fans enjoy the horror aspects of this story, the beautiful art, and the many twists and turns which keep readers guessing until the end. This two-volume set will remind readers why they love Higurashi.
7 The Sudden Arrival Of A Police Officer May Change Rika’s Fate In The Time Killing Arc (MAL Score 7.95)
The Time Killing Arc is a prequel to the main events of the Higurashi universe, namely the events leading up to the Watanagashi Festival and Rika’s death. This arc follows Akasaka, an officer in disguise visiting the rural village who meets a young Rika. As Akasaka learns about his case, he also learns a lot about Rika, who seems to know more than she lets on. This arc gives readers a better understanding of Rika’s character and her history with parallel worlds. It also holds many clues to solving the puzzle of Hinamizawa.
6 Satoko’s Past Is Revealed In The Curse Killing Arc (MAL Score 8.10)
The Curse Killing Arc delves into Satoko’s story, sharing her past with the reader. As Keiichi settles into his new life in Hinamizawa, Satoko suddenly begins to act strangely. When suspicion arises that she is being abused by her uncle, Keiichi will stop at nothing to save Satoko before she breaks. This arc shows Satoko’s past as she loses her optimistic and friendly nature and becomes timid and closed off. While Satoko loses hope and nears her breaking point, her friends rally behind her to save her by any means necessary.
5 The Abducted By Demons Arc Is Still Held In High Regard By Readers (MAL Score 8.19)
The first arc of the Higurashi series and the establishing arc for the anime, Abducted By Demons is told from Keiichi’s point of view as he adjusts to Hinamizawa. What begins as a fun-filled new life suddenly takes a turn as Keiichi’s new friends Rena and Mion seem to be hiding something from him.
As Keiichi begins to question the true nature of Hinamizawa, Rena and Mion begin to act strangely, making Keiichi wonder if they are truly his friends, or if they are his enemies. This arc holds a special place for many fans as their first introduction into the series and leaves readers with many questions unanswered, deepening the mystery of Hinamizawa.
4 The Cotton Drifting Arc Adds Depth To The Sonozaki Sisters (MAL Score 8.22)
The Cotton Drifting Arc is told once again from Keiichi’s perspective. However, this time the story centers around Keiichi’s interactions with the Sonozaki twins, Mion and Shion. Along with Shion, Takano, and Tomitake, Keiichi breaks into a forbidden area during the Watanagashi festival, an action said to result in the curse of Oyashiro-sama for those responsible. When Takano and Tomitake suddenly go missing and Keiichi’s fear of revealing his transgression to his friends isolates him, will he and Shion fall to the curse of Oyashiro-sama, or will they be saved?
3 Takano Miyo’s Life If Revealed In The Festival Accompanying Arc (MAL Score 8.24)
The Festival Accompanying Arc is the sequel to the Massacre Arc and is the last and longest of the answer arcs in the Higurashi series. It is split into two parts: the first follows Takano Miyo’s story from childhood to the present, and the many cases of abuse she suffered when she lost her parents and found herself in an orphanage. The arc gives the reader some much-needed insight into Takano’s character before segueing into Rika’s story. Rika learns that this world is her last chance to fight for her life, and she is determined to achieve happiness and to see past June of 1983. This arc answers all of the remaining questions and marks the end of Rika’s long journey.
2 Fan-Favorite Character Rena Is Determined To Find Answers In The Atonement Arc (MAL Score 8.31)
The Atonement Arc of Higurashi follows fan-favorite character Rena‘s point of view and shares much of her backstory with the reader. When Rena’s father becomes entangled with a woman who extorts him and puts his life at risk, Rena is not afraid to take action to protect her family. However, in Hinamizawa, nothing is as it seems and Rena becomes entangled in something much bigger than herself. While the anime adapted this arc along with the question arcs in season 1, Atonement is actually one of the answer arcs, giving fans several hints and some early answers about the truth of Hinamizawa.
1 Readers Can’t Decide Which Is Superior Between The Massacre Arc & The Eye-Opening Arc (MAL Score 8.32)
The most popular manga arc of the Higurashi series is actually a tie with the Massacre Arc and the Eye-Opening Arc sharing first place with a score of 8.32. The Massacre Arc focuses on Rika’s point of view as she fights her fate once more. However, problems seem to keep popping up in this world, and Rika struggles as she desperately fights against her fate. The Eye-Opening Arc tells Shion’s story, giving some insight into her childhood and how she became one of the most feared characters in the series. It also fills in her backstory before she met Keiichi, during her time with Satoshi who ultimately disappeared, leaving her with many questions and no answers. When Keiichi arrives in Hinamizawa, he brings change with him, and Shion’s life will never be the same.
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