Happy Halloween, Creators! 
Step into the world of Short Creepy Stories, an immersive collection of first-person horror experiences. Each story is crafted with a blend of eerie atmosphere and suspenseful narratives. From haunted houses to supernatural mysteries, Short Creepy Stories has become a standout experience for horror fans.
Kharbor_ykt started with a simple game for his kids, which then evolved into crafting terrifying experiences.
Letâs dive into his story.
Early Beginnings
@Kharbor_yktâs journey into creation was fueled by his kidsâ love for obbies on Roblox! His son would often get frustrated and lost. After seeing his son almost give up, Kharbor_ykt was inspired to create a simple, easy obby just for him. However, after a while, his son shifted his interest to the horror genre. After playing various titles, Kharbot_ykt realized, âI could create something similar, but better!â
His next experience, SCP Rooms, started as a small project just for his family but soon attracted a wider audience. âSeeing their enjoyment and the gameâs growing popularity inspired me to continue making games.â
That led to the creation of Short Creepy Stories!
The Story Behind Short Creepy Stories
Kharbor_ykt drew inspiration from iconic horror games like Hideo Kojimaâs âPTâ, Silent Hill, Half-Life, Soma, and various indie titles. Heâs always loved horror movies and games and it felt natural to create something terrifying on Roblox. For example, Nightmare Nextdoor is influenced by the work of horror manga artist Junji Ito.
He doesnât break the story into pieces either â Kharbor_ykt likes to storyboard everything upfront, then adds new details or ideas as the game comes together. This approach lets him keep the story flexible and add extra depth as he develops.
The stories in Short Creepy Stories vary in difficulty, offering a range of complexities, from straightforward tales to intricate challenges keeping players on their toes. In easier stories, players follow a linear sequence of tasks, such as turning on the TV, cooking food, or watering flowers. More complex narratives introduce riddles, like finding and remembering codes in the Homecoming story, or achieving a âperfect endingâ by avoiding certain tasks in the Night Cleaner.
Kharbor_ykt shares how challenging it can be to predict player reactions: âSometimes I think a story will be easy, but players get stuck. Other times, I anticipate a challenge, and they breeze through it.â Among the hardest for players is the Doll House story, a fan favorite for its twisted narrative and tense atmosphere.
Mastering Horror Atmosphere
A key element in horror games is lighting, and Kharbor_ykt stresses the importance of balance.
âItâs all about balance. Too dark and players get irritated - not scared; too bright and the scare factor is lost. Mastering this balance is key to creating a truly immersive and scary atmosphere.â
To find the right balance, Kharbor_ykt playtests on different devices, including an old Android phone and an iPhone, and keeps performance in mind by ânot overloading the experience with unnecessary models and scriptsâ.
Sound and music also play a pivotal role in creating the terrifying atmosphere in Kharbor_yktâs experiences. He sources his audio from a mix of copyright-free libraries and online marketplaces like Itch.io, selecting tracks to enhance each storyâs setting. For 90s-themed stories, he leans on nostalgic tracks, while for contemporary themes, he incorporates ambient sounds, such as wind, footsteps, and creaking floors, to create a lifelike atmosphere.
Some examples of what that sounds like:
Kharbor_ykt stresses that sound is key to building suspense, approaching it in layers. Tension begins with subtle sounds, then escalates as flickering shadows appear in the playerâs periphery, gradually leading up to a climaxâor sometimes, the absence of one. This steady buildup immerses players further, making each layer of sound an essential component of the horror experience.
Community and Future Plans
Kharbor_yktâs community has been vital to his growth as a developer. He often engages with them through Guilded, Discord, and other platforms, where players share their feedback and ideas, and offer to help design certain aspects like character design.
Currently, Kharbor_ykt is working on a prequel to his popular story about the night shift on Highway 90, which he plans to release soon. The locations and plot are ready - itâs only a matter of finalizing the dialogue!
First Look at Kharbor_yktâs next project. I donât mind making a pit stop here⌠Seems safe enough.
Advice for New Creators
For those just starting in Roblox development, Kharbor_yktâs advice is simple:
âDonât be afraid to begin to create games. Even if you donât know how to program/model. Roblox is a great platform to learn fast. If you need more help, itâs easy to find friends and a community to lean on.
If you are a beginner, the easiest way is to make friends in the creator hub, there you can find a team for yourself or assemble a new team.â
Kharbor_yktâs journey ranges from creating a simple obby for his son to becoming an expert horror experience creator on the platform and we canât wait to see what he creates next!
A BIG thank you to Kharbor_ykt for taking the time to sit with us and guiding us through his journey! If you want to connect with Kharbor_ykt, please join his Guilded and Discord!
