Are there any horror games that are actually scary without using jump scares?

[King of the Sandbox]

I mean, I've played the RE and SH games (some of which are masterpieces of gaming), and a few others to boot, but none of them really scared me. And since I don't claim to be a macho man who fears nothing (except to the ladies, of course), I find it odd that these dark, twisted scenarios fail to elicit a true fear response from me.

Heck, I jump at shadows out of the corner of my eye when I'm alone. I'm constantly worried that when I shut the medicine cabinet, there's going to be a Tim Curry-in-greasepaint nightmare staring back at me from the other side of the mirror or something.

Yet, when I play these games, I can't get past that it's just a game. Kind of the same with movies. Sure, I can be shocked temporarily, stunned and even surprised. But genuine fear? I don't get it.

I guess what I mean is that these realms are too fantastical for me to become immersed in fully enough to where it can elicit a true fear response.

Are there others that fare better? Can they? Or am I just ruined by my inability to suspend disbelief sufficiently?

(Here are the games I've played in the genre so you don't suggest something I've already played)
Resident Evil (all of them. ALL of them.)
Silent Hill (Same as RE)
Alone in the Dark (Original)
Parasite Eve 1 & 2
Dino Crisis (Urgh.)
Fatal Frame
Alan Wake

 

[Nero Haven]

You should look into Amnesia: The Dark Descent. I haven't personally played it, but I've heard good things, and it's much more atmospheric than in-your-face from what I've seen of videos.

 

[Vampire cat]

Try the Teletubbies games... Terrifying at best.

I get what you mean though. Even being a girl (and we all know girls scare easily), the movies and games aimed at scaring just can't get to me at all... For some reason, the efforts they make to scare you seem comical to me. I can get shocked if it's a quiet scene and something suddenly goes "bogedyboo!", but nothing more...

 

[theevilsanta]

Yeah, the Frictional Games ... uhh ... games are pretty great and don't rely on jump scares. I'd recommend Penumbra:Overture, Penumbra:Black Plague, and Amnesia:The Dark Descent. Black Plague has the best story, though Dark Descent is probably the scariest. Playing at night, alone with headphones on and volume turned up is a must. Also, you can't play these like regular games. If you're not willing to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and instead focus on the mechanics of not dying you aren't going to enjoy these games.

edit - if you're afraid of spiders (or dogs) Overture will make you go insane. I can't get more than an hour into that game before I go mad. Never beat it.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

You should look into Amnesia: The Dark Descent. I haven't personally played it, but I've heard good things, and it's much more atmospheric than in-your-face from what I've seen of videos.

Oh yeah, I keep hearing about that one too. Maybe I should look into it. Thanks for the reminder.

Try the Teletubbies games... Terrifying at best.

I get what you mean though. Even being a girl (and we all know girls scare easily), the movies and games aimed at scaring just can't get to me at all... For some reason, the efforts they make to scare you seem comical to me. I can get shocked if it's a quiet scene and something suddenly goes "bogedyboo!", but nothing more...

It also doesn't help that I'm an avid horror movie buff. Years of desensitization are obviously playing a big part in my dilemma.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

Yeah, the Frictional Games ... uhh ... games are pretty great and don't rely on jump scares. I'd recommend Penumbra:Overture, Penumbra:Black Plague, and Amnesia:The Dark Descent. Black Plague has the best story, though Dark Descent is probably the scariest. Playing at night, alone with headphones on and volume turned up is a must. Also, you can't play these like regular games. If you're not willing to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and instead focus on the mechanics of not dying you aren't going to enjoy these games.

Yeah, that seems to be my problem, but I'm adamant in my hope that if a game is good enough (via story or atmosphere) it could possibly break this 'curse'.

 

[Vampire cat]

It also doesn't help that I'm an avid horror movie buff. Years of desensitization are obviously playing a big part in my dilemma.

I don't enjoy horror movies and games, and I have never done so, because I find them boring... There has never been a stage where I grew used to them or anything, cause I haven't watched/played that many, but all that I have left me wondering what is supposed to be the "horror" in them.

 

[necromanzer52]

I don't remember silent hill 2 having jump scares.

 

[kuyo]

The first Condemned?

I dunno, I normally feel like Bruce Campbell when I play horror, so the really scary moments I remember were from games that weren't even trying. The last one I remember was during the credits for Dragon Age 2. That song made me feel something I don't quite understand.

 

[Greenhand]

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.
The visual style, setting and story are all wonderfully unsettling. Less 'jump scare' and more 'why does everyone look vaguely creepy? What's all that ab- oh god, what the hell'.

 

[Kajt]

I was scared long before I saw the first enemy in Penumbra. You might want to try that. >.>

I've heard a lot of people say that Amnesia is pretty good, too.

 

[KefkaCultist]

Amnesia Dark Descent. If you want a true horror game that will scare you shitless go try that

I still haven't finished it because I'm too terrified...

Also Silent Hill 2 is really good

 

[sb666]

you forgot enternal darkness

 

[gigastar]

Siren: Blood Curse?

Im pretty sure thats a horror.

 

[theevilsanta]

Yeah, the Frictional Games ... uhh ... games are pretty great and don't rely on jump scares. I'd recommend Penumbra:Overture, Penumbra:Black Plague, and Amnesia:The Dark Descent. Black Plague has the best story, though Dark Descent is probably the scariest. Playing at night, alone with headphones on and volume turned up is a must. Also, you can't play these like regular games. If you're not willing to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and instead focus on the mechanics of not dying you aren't going to enjoy these games.

Yeah, that seems to be my problem, but I'm adamant in my hope that if a game is good enough (via story or atmosphere) it could possibly break this 'curse'.

It's all about removing distractions. I love horror and the sensation of being scared. But if I'm in the middle of shitting my pants during The Ring and I get a text message the movie is ruined. I usually do better if I have a drink or two. It really helps me let go of reality and get immersed in this false one.

 

[Count Igor]

Go get Thief 3 and play "The Cradle" level.
Also you get a really fun game on top!

 

[RicoGrey]

Amnesia, is one of the best survival horror games I have ever played. You need to be able to loose yourself into it though. People who can't do that, tend to not like it.

 

[Mikeyfell]

Jumpout scares make things less scary

You know that thing that goes "RARRRRR" at the beginning of Dead Space 2 it would have been terrifying if it didn't go Rarrrrr and was just sitting there and you couldn't tell what it was so you didn't want to look at it, but you didn't want to look away because if you looked back and it was closer or if it went away and now it's behind you on the other side and then you freak out and run away flailing your arms like a frightened child.

Knowing what the scary thing is makes it less scary automatically.
You remember the thing in Silent Hill 2 that's like two sets of legs. that thing is freaky because the first few times I saw it I thought it was walking on its hands.

Penumbra and Amnesia are both good

If you're wiling to be scared by a movie watch Paranormal Activity.

 

[Zaik]

lol, Minecraft? It is fairly creepy, although not directly trying to be.

Bonus points for phobias the game can exploit like claustrophobia or arachnophobia.