Freaky Fridays is Brig’s weekly series that explores what scares us and why horror is so important.
Horror films are arguably the most accessible form of horror for general audiences. However, the scares don’t always land as much as they do in video games.
In films you experience the horror through a character, there’s no control and you can always just look away.
The same can be said for video games but the sense of control that they provide amps the horror up far more than a film can.
From indies to triple AAA’s, horror games are able to capture what makes horror so powerfu.
Alien: Isolation
Image credit: SEGA
Alien is arguably the greatest horror sci-fi franchise of all time, and it’s importance extends to video games.
Released in 2014, Alien: Isolation captures the horror of the original film whilst building on its scares and creating a more immersive experience.
Obviously the appeal of the game is to be chased and hunted by The Xenomorph, and unlike the films, it’s so much more terryfying.
Locked in a first person perspective, you are never able to take a break from the horrors of the space station.
When it’s on you to avoid and out run a Xenomorph, it gets a lot more tense than watching Ripley avoid one.
What makes Isolation so terrifying to play is the Xenomorphs AI.
Showing up randomly, it’s AI has two minds. One that knows exactly where the player is, the other knows roughly where they are.
Switching between minds, the player is always on edge, scared of where the Xenomorph might pop up next.
Immersion
Image credit: Konami
Immersion is key to creating an effective horror game as without it the scares won’t be effective.
A player can be immersed in many different ways that a film simply can’t provide. Controlling a character helps to anchor the player and allows them to experience the horrors personally.
Use of different perspectives also play a huge roll. From Silent Hill’s fixed camera angles, to the more recent Resident Evil remakes use of the over the shoulder perspective.
When playing these games, part of their horror is hinged on the fact you don’t want to see your character get hurt.
One of the most effective uses of a death screen in recent memory comes from Remedy Games Alan Wake 2.
After Alan dies, a brutal scene plays of real life actor Ilkka Villi convulsing on the ground, blood covering his face.
It’s an incredibly disturbing scene that plays only because the player failed to keep him alive, and because of that Remedy were able to find a way to make players scared of dying.
Of course there’s plenty of disturbing imagery n horror films, but none of it is caused by the audience, that’s what sets horror games apart from films.
Horror games also effectively use player stand in’s and real characters to create different forms of terror.
With Silent Hill 2, you play James Sunderland and experience his own personal hell. Whereas in Amnesia: The Bunker, you play a man named Henri who is a stand in for the player.
Both generate their own kind of fear, and are some of the best examples of effective use of horror in video games.
Play more horror games
Image credit: Frictional Games
Horror games have grown so much in thirty years, and every year there’s one or two that earn their place in horror history.
However, many horror fans write off games as they believe they are lesser.
Just like films, there’s plenty to choose from that will fit whatever your scared of.
That’s the beauty of horror as a whole. If you want to conquer your specfic fear, there’s somethig just for you.
But horror games are the most potent way to scare yourself from the safety of your couch.
So next time you play a horror game, turn down the lights, get cozy and allow yourself to get invested.
Featured image credit: SEGA
Third year Film and journalism student
Gaming and Tech editor
Horror fanatic
