What is the appeal of horror games?

[GeneralFungi]

I prefer suspense or low-key horror. I don't like sudden scares much. I find that it has a carthaic effect cleansing the mind.

It's hard to explain really, since it is deeply psychological in the same way as symbolism.

I think I understand where you are getting at. I can only think of one example though.

I always felt slightly disturbed when I was scanning the area and that THING came into view. I appreciated the emotion it stirred within me. I'd probably chuck the subtle stare of the moon into the top 10 things that stirred emotion within me inside of a game. Fantastic.

..Hopefully I understood what it was you meant. I could have completely misinterpreted what you said.

 

[esperandote]

One of my favourite games was a "horror".

Parasite Eve 2 on the PS2.

My favorite PS game is Silent Hill close second PE2 even thought i admit it is way better over all. Best game in that generation IMO.

OP: The rush, besides Horror is the hardes feeling to get in real life without risking yourself alot so games are a way to experience it.

edit:
Favorite trailer ever


btw my username is from the silent hill 1 ending theme

 

[Cranky]

I know how OP feels, I too used to steer away from FPS and RPGs. Now RPGs are the only thing I frequently play.

Horror games I really don't like though, only games I played from that are Dead Space 1 & 2 and L4D (if that counts).

 

[Shockolate]

Fear leads to adrenaline.

Adrenaline is...well...adrenaline.

 

[Bostur]

I prefer suspense or low-key horror. I don't like sudden scares much. I find that it has a carthaic effect cleansing the mind.

It's hard to explain really, since it is deeply psychological in the same way as symbolism.

I think I understand where you are getting at. I can only think of one example though.

Spoiler

I always felt slightly disturbed when I was scanning the area and that THING came into view. I appreciated the emotion it stirred within me. I'd probably chuck the subtle stare of the moon into the top 10 things that stirred emotion within me inside of a game. Fantastic.

..Hopefully I understood what it was you meant. I could have completely misinterpreted what you said.

I have no idea what that game is, but it's probably what I meant. The subtle feeling that something isn't quite what it seems. I've been remniscing about Alpha Centauri recently it had much of that feeling.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Because horror tends to bring out the stronger emotions in me like fear and disgust. It's as simple as - they are stronger so I like to experience them more than 'just fun'... outside of the real world, anyway.

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown"

-H.P. Lovecraft​

[sub]That's right, I Googled those
just. for. you.
=D[/sub]​

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Problem with horror games: Only good for ONE playthrough usually. Once you know what is coming, isnt scary anymore.

That's the biggest problem with horror, OP. Once you know what to do and how to do it most of the fear behind it disappears. Once they figure out how to 'randomize' horror games we're all fucked.

That said, horror games usually give me the most satisfying first playthroughs.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

It's an intense experience purely powered by the developer's ability to manipulate one's emotions. I find that interesting and there's nothing else like it in gaming, at the moment anyways.

 

[Auron225]

Isnt it really just the appeal of horror in general you're looking for?

The only horror games I have played are a few Silent Hill titles. For the story. It was really hard to get into each one individually but I did find myself enjoying each one a lot around the end.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Simple, it's the appeal of being afraid or showing fear.
My brother love horror games because it allow him to express of being scare/ afraid as he view that being scare/ afraid is a uncommon emtion we feel everyday. Well that is unless you lived in a scary place or neighbourhood.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

The horror... the horror

 

[Number-14]

I find don't any appeal to it... 'cause I'm a gigantic chicken.

 

[DaWaffledude]

Keep the horror away. I'd rather not be a masochist.

 

[Fappy]

My girlfriend loves the Silent Hill series because it freaks her the fuck out. People like getting scared sometimes I guess.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I like how you answered your own question.

But yeah, I'm definitely the same, I just don't enjoy horror games. It took me 3 times (I quit twice) to get through BioShock, that game is not always scary but so freaky, and whenever it really made me shit my pants, I lost interest.

Glad I finally got to meet Andrew Ryan though.

 

[Skootz]

I prefer suspense and atmosphere in horror games more than blood/gore. games like dead space just feel like action games with the blood dial cranked way up to me, but play through a game like condemned, or it's sequel before it went all "Indigo Prophecy Syndrome" (thanks Yahtzee!)and you've got a game that slowly works its way into your head and latches on with an iron grip once it gets there.

On a similar note, try watching the shining sometime. good movie.

 

[NubiJuan]

The emotional investment I get from a horror game is the biggest reward. True there is some sadomasochism involved, but good horror games are dripping with atmosphere and the situations just feel intense. Dying in some horrible way becomes a negative stimuli so I feel more attached to my character and I keep thinking of how I need to stay alive. It just puts me more into the game.

In Dead Space and Condemned 2, I could have just run through most of the places, but I chose to quietly walk across the many rooms carefully peaking around corners as if I was actually in those places experiencing those things.

I am not a big horror fan, I just love good video games and for me good video games have to be immersive and that's something good horror games can pull off well.

 

[NubiJuan]

The emotional investment I get from a horror game is the biggest reward. True there is some sadomasochism involved, but good horror games are dripping with atmosphere and the situations just feel intense. Dying in some horrible way becomes a negative stimuli so I feel more attached to my character and I keep thinking of how I need to stay alive. It just puts me more into the game.

In Dead Space and Condemned 2, I could have just run through most of the places, but I chose to quietly walk across the many rooms carefully peaking around corners as if I was actually in those places experiencing those things.

I am not a big horror fan, I just love good video games and for me good video games have to be immersive and that's something good horror games can pull off well.