Field Notes
Dispatches from the Dark
Long-form writing on the craft of fear: horror game design, maritime folklore, sound, pacing, and the slow work of building The Lighthouse Keeper alone.
The Kraken: Legend Origins and Real-Life Inspiration
Uncover the murky waters of the Kraken legend, tracing its roots and the real sightings that might have birthed this monstrous sea tale.
28 September 2026 · 2 min read
How a Restrained Colour Palette Sets the Mood in Horror Games
In horror games, a restrained colour palette does more than set the scene, it crafts the very mood and tension players experience.
24 September 2026 · 4 min read
Optimising a Horror Game for Smooth Performance in Unity
Explore techniques to optimise hauntingly atmospheric horror games in Unity. Achieve smooth performance without sacrificing the eerie ambiance crucial to the genre.
21 September 2026 · 2 min readWill o' the Wisp: Marsh Lights and Their Mysteries
Will o' the wisp, mysterious marsh lights, have for centuries lured the unwary to their doom, deeply entwining themselves with maritime lore and mystery.
17 September 2026 · 2 min read
Player Vulnerability in Horror Game Design
Discover how the essence of player vulnerability is woven into horror games to create deeper emotional engagement, without relying on frustrating difficulty.
14 September 2026 · 3 min readIsolation as a Horror Theme
Isolation is a potent element in horror storytelling, evoking feelings of vulnerability and heightening tension. Its impact on atmosphere and plot is profound.
10 September 2026 · 2 min readSelkie Folklore and the Sorrow Beneath the Seal-Skin Legends
In the icy waters of the North, selkies shed their sealskins to walk among humans, harbouring deep tales of longing and transformation.
7 September 2026 · 2 min read
Environmental Storytelling: Letting Horror Spaces Speak
Horror games thrive on atmosphere. This article delves into how environmental storytelling turns ordinary spaces into vessels of terror.
3 September 2026 · 2 min readSetting Up Convincing Volumetric Fog in Unity URP
Learn how to create immersive and chilling environments with volumetric fog in Unity URP. This guide walks through setup and techniques.
31 August 2026 · 2 min readThe History of Fog Horns and Their Mournful Sound
Explore the haunting history of fog horns. Understand why their sound is so mournfully tied to maritime lore and safety.
27 August 2026 · 3 min readThe Stalker Enemy in Horror Game Design
A relentless stalker enemy in horror games provides an unmatched level of tension by creating an environment where players are constantly pursued.
24 August 2026 · 2 min readAnalog Horror: Explained and Explored
Analog horror combines nostalgic formats with unsettling narratives. Discover why its eerie charm captivates audiences.
20 August 2026 · 3 min readThe Dark Origins of Siren and Mermaid Myths
The origins of mermaid and siren myths reveal a dark, alluring past where beauty and danger intertwine. Their influence remains potent in modern storytelling.
17 August 2026 · 2 min readCreating Fear Without Gore or On-Screen Violence
Explore the art of evoking terror and suspense without relying on gore or explicit violence in the realm of horror games.
13 August 2026 · 2 min readBuilding Oppressive Atmosphere in a Unity Horror Game
Master the art of creating an oppressive atmosphere in Unity horror games. Delve into environmental storytelling and immersive design techniques.
10 August 2026 · 3 min readThe Mary Celeste: Unraveling the Enigma of the Empty Ship
The Mary Celeste, discovered adrift and unmanned in 1872, remains one of the sea's most enduring mysteries. What truly happened on that fateful voyage?
3 August 2026 · 2 min readHow Lighting Techniques Intensify Horror in Games
In horror games, lighting is more than just illumination; it's a tool to manipulate emotions and build tension. Discover how subtle lighting techniques create chilling atmospheres.
30 July 2026 · 3 min readThe Uncanny Valley in Horror: A Terror Familiar Yet Foreign
Why do almost-human things chill us to the bone? The uncanny valley in horror explores this disconcerting fear, pulling us into an unsettling experience.
27 July 2026 · 2 min readHow Save Systems Shape Tension and Dread in Horror Games
Save systems in horror games are more than a simple feature. They influence the tension and dread players feel, shaping their entire experience.
23 July 2026 · 2 min readLife Before Automation: The Lighthouse Keeper's Reality
Explore the demanding, isolated life of lighthouse keepers before automation took over. Uncover the daily grind, storms, and solitude at Cape Mourn.
20 July 2026 · 3 min readHow Diegetic Inventory Deepens Immersion in Horror Games
Diegetic inventory in horror games blurs the line between interface and experience, enhancing immersion and amplifying fear through seamless narrative integration.
16 July 2026 · 3 min readThe Horror Appeal of Liminal Spaces
Liminal spaces evoke a profound sense of unease. Discover how these transitional settings become fertile ground for horror experiences.
13 July 2026 · 3 min readGhost Ships of Folklore and Their Lingering Mystique
From the Flying Dutchman to the Mary Celeste, ghost ships dwell in the depths of maritime lore, unsettling us with their tales of mystery and doom.
9 July 2026 · 3 min read
Harnessing Silence in Horror Games
Silence in horror games can be more terrifying than loud noises. Discover how this absence is used to create suspense and fear.
6 July 2026 · 2 min readSt Elmo's Fire: Sailor Superstitions Explained
The eerie glow of St Elmo's Fire has fascinated and frightened sailors for centuries. Explore the blend of natural phenomena and maritime superstition.
2 July 2026 · 3 min readWhy Fog is an Effective Tool in Horror Game Design
Fog shrouds the world in mystery, heightening tension and fear. It's a perfect atmospheric device in horror games, enveloping players in the unknown.
30 June 2026 · 2 min readWhy Are Lighthouses So Unsettling? The Psychology of Isolation
A lighthouse exists to keep people safe. So why does the image of one, alone on a rock at night, fill us with dread?
24 June 2026 · 4 min readPsychological Horror vs Jump Scares: What Actually Frightens Players
One makes you flinch for a second. The other follows you to bed. Here is how dread and shock really differ, and why a game needs both.
17 June 2026 · 4 min readLight and Darkness as a Survival Horror Mechanic
Every player already believes that light means safe and dark means danger. Survival horror turns that belief into a system with a price.
10 June 2026 · 4 min readDrowned Spirits and Sea Monsters: The Folklore Behind Maritime Horror
Sailors have always known the sea keeps what it takes. The folklore they left behind is still the richest vein in horror.
3 June 2026 · 4 min readHow One Person Builds an Atmospheric Horror Game
You do not need a studio to scare people. You need restraint, a single strong idea, and the discipline to test it on someone who does not love you.
27 May 2026 · 4 min readThe Sound of Dread: Audio Design in First-Person Horror
Players think they are scared by what they see. Most of the time they are scared by what they hear, or by the moment the sound stops.
20 May 2026 · 4 min readWhy Scarcity Is Scary: Resource Management in Survival Horror
Give a player plenty and the horror evaporates. Take it away one unit at a time and every small choice becomes a source of fear.
13 May 2026 · 4 min readSetting as Character: Why the Place Makes the Horror
The monster gets the poster, but the place does the work. A great horror setting is an antagonist that never has to move.
6 May 2026 · 3 min readThe Slow Burn: Pacing Tension Across a Night of Horror
Relentless terror stops being terror within minutes. Real fear has a rhythm, and the quiet stretches are doing more work than the loud ones.
29 April 2026 · 4 min readFolk Horror vs Cosmic Horror at the Water's Edge
One fears the old beliefs that never died. The other fears a universe that never cared. On a lonely coast, the two traditions meet.
22 April 2026 · 4 min readDesigning a Monster You Rarely See
Show the monster too early and the fear has a ceiling. Keep it just out of sight and the player will build something far worse than you could.
15 April 2026 · 4 min readThe Flannan Isles Mystery: Three Keepers Who Vanished
A tidied kitchen. A stopped clock. Three experienced keepers gone without a trace. The Flannan Isles vanishing has refused to be solved for over a century.
8 April 2026 · 5 min read