What makes a good/intense/scary Horror Game?

Help and Feedback Game Design Support
#1

Howdy DevForum! I am trying to make a Horror game! I need some tips. I need tips for each of these questions:

-What is a good fitting name?
-What is a good map?
-What is a good monster?
-What is scary?
-What are people scared of?

Thank you!

#2

When it comes to horror games in my opinions, SFX can go a long way. SFX or audio in general can help build the intensity of a horror game.

I couldn’t really give any other answers for your special questions, but I would play/watch other Roblox horror games to have a broad idea of what kind of horror you could make.

2 Likes
#3

Theres isnt one thing that scares everyone equally but you can look at other horror games for ideas.
I find the hard thing in making horror games is actually just making it fair, there has to be ways for the player to avoid the situation, get some “assistance” (no matter how small), and find ways around certain issues. Thats not to say you have to make the horror game easy, for all I care you can make it a one shot machine. As long as it was a “fair” way to go out, then it’d be an enjoyable, but scary game.

TL:DR Make it fair, don’t do random crits and random deaths, thats no fun.

You can get ideas from other several horror games or stories like how puppet combo gets some of their horror game stories from movies (don’t copy directly if you want to avoid some issues)

Aka manto might also be a neat game to see ideas from (proximity based awareness, multiple hits, heals, speed, stamina, etc)

The SCARIEST / HARDEST game ever. | Aka Manto [GOOD ENDING] - YouTube
Time stamped to get you an idea, headphone users BEWARE, also some profanity here and there.

1 Like
#4

What’s important in a horror game is that it’s more interesting than traumatizing.

The worst monsters are cunning humans. Don’t make it something like a dead female ghost who drowned, it’s a bit generic.

You can add parkour, puzzles, sandbox… Fun elements, to not make the game “Run from darkness into darkness”, but with more attractive gameplay.

Finally, a good horror game should make the players question themselves, life and the world.
Questions like Is the Rake under my bed? are generic and boring, but for example considering whether if we’re in a dream, or machine all of lives is a good subject.

3 Likes
#5

Warning! Spoilered images may be disturbing to some people.

Usually just a one word name, or something simple- a name that gets the point across easily, and makes the player interested.

A map with close cut corners, and slim hallways. Personally, running down a winding long hall while a monster chases me is the most terrifying.
(For example, Poppy’s Playtime vent chase scene is one of the scariest due to this fact.)

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Disturbing, elongated faces with bulging eyes, sharp teeth, and long, slender limbs.
(Obunga, the cursed Mr. Incredible Face and again Huggy Wuggy.)

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#6

That’s a great inspiration, maybe OG could make a monkey inspired monster.

However keep in mind that an ordinary monster escape is feasible, but if you could turn it from a pure horror game into a mystery action/sci-fi game then it’s another level of creativity

#7

I think the game’s name is all about what the game is abou, something like “Lights off” (ik it might not be the best name) wouldn’t fit for a game when you’re say in a forest getting hunted by a monster, but might but might fit if you’re in a house and the lights go out or something.

For map I think you should try and limit the players vision, like making a narrow hallway or a door without windows and not a lot of open areas. Also remember that every map doesn’t have to be dark and alone, there are places that can be scary for people even during daylight or in crowded places.

For a monster I also feel like it kinda depends on the game, again if its about being in a forest maybe a human killer wouldn’t go around waiting for people having some super power to see in the dark, instead I’d go for the entire monster being not normal if that makes sense.

Of course everyone finds different things scary but one important thing can be to build tension, like noises, shapes of the monster and fitting music. One important thing to try and stay away from is jump scares, whilst a lot people get scared by them its not really “scary”, you get scared for some time but that time is not for long, obviously you can have jump scares but it shouldn’t purely be jump scares.

Again, everyone is scared of different things but i think some popular things are deep ocean, monster like creatures, ghosts and tight spaces.

sorry for not having . and , in the right places btw

#8

I dont entire have answers to the questions specifically, but something ive found in (my opinion) good horror games is that they have very specific sound design, they dont contain much sounds besides whatever “creature” / jumpscare is scaring them which is sudden and quick, and doesnt have to be too loud because the player is already used to a quiet game

#9

I believe that gameplay is very important. Games in the horror genre usually have me walking in circles, being confused as of what to do, or overall just not having a lot to do if that makes sense. The staple or a crucial part of the horror genre has been just that though, the walking around in a dark room for a while with a flashlight.

I don’t think the genre should be completely revamped or redefined, but I do think many lean too heavily on the cliché mechanics and don’t do much of else.

Also, there are tons of great YouTube videos and discussions on the topic of what makes a good horror game. Here are some resources I’ve found:

#10

My favourite type of horror is one where something normal becomes more eerie through subtle changes (e.g., change in NPC behaviour, change in minor map details, minor change in text).

#11

What I’ve found that really scares people is a build up of tension, like having little to no sounds can make the player scared of a simple creaking sound.

#13

-What is a good fitting name?

I don’t think there is any specific name that implies well with any horror game, I’d just say be creative and keep the name close to the game style and concept.

-What is a good map?

Depends on the type of horror game in my opinion. A relatively large map could be good if your goal is to outrun say a monster. If it’s tons and tons of jump scares while you look around, a small map is better. I guess just any map that will suit the gameplay you want.

-What is a good monster?

A good monster can be hard, but something that falls in the uncanny valley could be the scariest. As well as something that doesn’t make sense at all. I think the scariest monsters are ones that resemble humans the most, but have just a few qualities that inflict terror, like uncanny does.

-What is scary?

If you mean what makes something scary, there are a few different examples. Darkness is the basic one since if you cannot sense out your surroundings, you cannot see danger and feel a bit of fear. Uncanny makes someone confused as they cannot differentiate between what’s a human and what isn’t, giving someone a creepy feeling… Sound plays a huge role as well. Footsteps, door creaks, floor creaks, and unsettling noise and ambience can make someone uneasy, which is the goal of a horror game generally. In my opinion jump scares are one of the best ways to get a game scary.

-What are people scared of?

I think it more depends on the demographics of the game, but I guess phobias and general human fears are what people are scared of. If you want to cause more fear throughout the game, you can try to unnerve the player by obvious dangers (for example, a single door in a dark hallway which is obvious of what will happen if they enter). What scares me the most in horror games are jump scares, and to an extent outrunning a monster. Another thing that you can try to do is get anticipation to the player. Anticipation cites nerve-racking feelings and can build a jump scare or scare factor up.

Me personally, I would suggest dark surroundings with a limited field of view, and lots of different sound effects to raise the nerves of the player, and then factors like jump scares, unsettling creatures and settings, and whatever else you would want in your game. Though take my advice with a grain of salt, I don’t actually play horror games often so my advice may be off.

#14

Answers:

  • An interesting name would be inspired from the origin of the story of the game, which will get players attracted to your game, to see something new and fun.

  • Try to make a forest, jungle, a haunted house, or an inspired map from a film, like “SAW” or “The Last House In The Left”, or even “Don’t Breathe 2”. These films have greats places to re-create.

  • Let’s say, the monster can be a bloody little girl that gets you scared by screaming or showing out of nowhere, or attacks you with a bloody knife. Or, a ghost that was whispering to you the whole game, that will take your soul, and when it approaches to you it jumpscares you and makes some scary noises, or just some zombies.

  • Scariness can be made from Eerie noises, darkness, Haunted places and more…

  • Most people are scared from jumpscares, especially kids, but don’t make it too scary, try adding some monsters that appear from nowhere or some bushes that move in a forest, and I also recommend adding some fog too to the game.

Hope this helps!