Does anyone know the order in which the games should be played and if posible, should the anime be watched first or after the first game?

1. Corpse Party (including Blood Covered / Repeated Fear versions)*
2. Corpse Party: Book of Shadows
3. Corpse Party: Sweet Sachiko’s Hysteric Birthday Bash**
4. Corpse Party: Blood Drive
5. Corpse Party 2: Dead Patient

* The PSP version (Repeated Fear) added some updated sprite art (which are used in the other games), professional voice acting, and CGs of some events. The version sold on GOG/Steam use the old indie art and voice acting, but there is a mod that adds the PSP sprites and voice acting into the PC version (no CGs though, sadly).

** aka Hysteric Birthday 2U. This one is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek take on the series, but is still relevant. IIRC it can be skipped if you wish.

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[edit: Kaaedus can tell you about the anime - read the next post :D]

I also haven't read any of the manga, but supposedly Another Child is a spin-off and so would have its own unique content. No idea where it fits in exactly, other than it "taking place during the events of Corpse Party". So... at least play the first game before reading, if you're interested.

Tortured Souls isn't quite a recap so much as it is an alternate telling. It begins similarly enough to Corpse Party, but the way that things play out differs significantly from the game. That said, you'll want to play the first game before watching it, and you're not missing out on any storyline by skipping it.

Thanks for clarifying! Sounds like I need to watch it then :D

Thank you all for the responses, that has cleared that up for me ^v^

The manga 'Another Child' is a side story, it's about an unrelated group of kids falling prey to the Sachiko Ever After Charm and having their own nightmare in Heavenly Host.
Not needed to get the full picture but a nice side story that takes place around the same time as Corpse Party