Field Notes
Horror Craft
13 articles in this thread of the Field Notes.
Creating 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 read
How 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 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 read
How 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 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 read
Why 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 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 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 read
Setting 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 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 read