Fatal Frame is a horror game that follows Miku Hinasaki as she searches for her missing brother in a haunted mansion. Her quest begins after her brother, Mafuyu, and his mentor, Junsei Takamine, went to investigate the mansion but never returned.
The gameplay revolves around Miku's use of an antique camera called the Camera Obscura to capture and trap ghosts within its frames. As she navigates through the mansion, Miku will encounter various spirits, from invisible fragments to full-body apparitions that can attack her. To defeat these aggressive ghosts, Miku must charge the camera by keeping them centered while they are visible.
By snapping a shot while the ghost is attacking or vulnerable, Miku can drain even more energy and earn more spirit points. These points can be spent to improve the camera's attributes or give it special abilities, such as slowing down ghosts or dispelling illusions. The Camera Obscura also serves as a tool for solving puzzles within the mansion.