10 WORST Things About Popular Video Game Genres

Jump-scares, if used infrequently and correctly, can be a great way to garner a quick scare in a sea of otherwise building tension. They're lazy, but effective.

However, when the backbone of a game becomes anticipating when the next will occur, it rather ruins the fun. Games like Outlast use them so often that the player becomes numb to their effects, meaning the back half of an otherwise terrifying horror title quickly becomes a meta-game of 'guess where the next cheap fright is'.

The majesty of titles like Bioshock lie in their ability to generate genuine fear without the need to lean into tacky tactics. When Irrational Games' masterpiece does use them, however, they're always memorable as a result.

Presentation, art style and sound design are all essential breadcrumbs on the trail towards genuine terror, and all serve to leave a long-standing sense of fear in the player rather than a period of boredom followed by a cheap jump out of their chair.

There are so many components needed for a good horror game, and there is no one secret formula to achieve the heights that Silent Hill 2, PT and Dead Space do. Jump-scares are an entirely valid piece of the horror puzzle, but it's also one that's far too relied upon.