There are countless horror games out there designed to scare you or give you a tough time, but over the years, some games have introduced innovative horror game mechanics that make you feel completely helpless.
Today, we’re highlighting five games where developers have thought outside the box and introduced something new to give players a distinctive experience. Unlike conventional horror games, these games go above and beyond to get under your skin.
Poppy Playtime
I think many players enjoy horror games like Slenderman, where you see his shadow but never know when he’ll actually come for you. Similarly, many games use this “stalker” mechanic, as most players dread being chased.
That’s exactly what the developers of Poppy Playtime have done. The player is locked in a toy factory with a maze-solving environment, and the only option left is to run. You don’t have any weapons to defend yourself and must navigate the mazes.
The game becomes enjoyable once you get used to running and tricking the weird creatures, making it a much different experience than traditional horror games.
Visage
Visage is already half a decade old, but the title introduced many interesting features. One of the scariest horror game mechanics featured in the title is the dynamic of something peering at me from around a corner.
That’s one of the scariest mechanics. You could be casually touring a room when suddenly you see something watching you from around the corner. You feel incredibly vulnerable and helpless when it catches you off guard.
For this reason, I think Visage is a great choice. It used that mechanic to great effect, making the experience much scarier for players.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club is a game that makes you feel like you’re being watched or that your system has been hacked. The title introduces file manipulation mechanics, something I wasn’t even aware of before playing it.
New files appear throughout the story with cryptic messages, images, and more to scare the player. Not only that, but to beat the final boss, players must go into the game’s files and literally delete a character.
That’s the only way to beat the main antagonist; otherwise, the game won’t progress. As a result, this game had a lot of elements to scare people, and it certainly delivered.
Dead Space
While this doesn’t sound too scary, the diegetic, real-time interface and no-pausing features in Dead Space kept me terrified throughout the game. You can never breathe calmly and are always on edge because the game never pauses. It’s not as easy as it sounds.
Even if you have to manage your inventory or buy something, the title doesn’t pause, and no matter what you need to do, you’re always in danger of being attacked and could be caught off guard at any moment.
At Dead of Night
Last but not least, hiding is another key mechanic in horror games, and At Dead of Night offers this experience very smoothly.
Players must navigate a haunted hotel without getting caught by the antagonist, Jimmy. When he’s nearby, players can hide anywhere—inside a locker or under furniture. However, they must be really, really quiet.
The moment you’re hiding and he’s nearby, you can hear his movements and feel his presence. That is one of the scariest feelings, as you never know if Jimmy’s just passing by or if he knows exactly where you’re hiding.
These are the top five horror game mechanics that we believe make the game much scarier and provide an experience different from traditional horror games. So, if you haven’t checked out these titles, do so! And if you have, let us know which one was your favorite.
