Why do we continue playing horror games even when they make us jump and sweat? An article in The Guardian explores how game creators use sound, human stories and choice to hook us into fear-fueled gameplay.
From the eerie screech recorded for Dead Space to the haunting atmosphere in SOMA, designers say they craft fear not from what you see, but from what you expect.
Sound plays a starring role. Audio director Don Veca explains how the contrast between silence and sudden industrial noise in Dead Space created tension. Composer Jason Graves adds that when players heard nothing, their imaginations filled the space—and that became ten times scarier.
But it’s not all about jump scares. Horror games often focus on human vulnerability. Developer Hidetaka Suehiro (also known as Swery) says fear in games is rooted in our own fragility. In his work he explored characters and small towns, building dread from realism rather than monsters alone.
Visuals also matter. One indie game, Loop//Error, uses minimal pixel art to create a sense of something wrong that you can’t fully see. That uncertainty becomes the monster.
What truly sets horror games apart is that you aren’t just watching fear—you’re living it. Psychologist Kieron Oakland says the player makes the decision: open the door or stay back. That agency amplifies the fear.
In short, horror games grab us because they combine primal fear with psychological depth, human stories and interactive choice. They may scare us—but we keep choosing to play.
