8 Tricks Horror Video Games Use To Terrify You
2. Run, Don't Fight
While most video games are generous enough to give players a means of dispatching the various foes they'll face along their journey, an increasing amount of horror games aren't so helpful.
From Amnesia to Outlast, many modern horror games don't give players the ability to defend themselves against whatever monstrous creature is longing for their blood. Instead, the only viable option for making it to the next area is to run and hide until the coast is clear.
Turning enemy encounters into intense and prolonged games of hide-and-seek, players are really made to feel helpless and alone during these games. And even when some titles are willing to give us a fighting chance, the firepower provided typically doesn't guarantee a kill - if the enemy can even be killed at all.
Zombies in Resident Evil 2 Remake can get on their feet after a headshot while Mr X can only be downed temporarily whereas androids in Alien: Isolation can take a lot of punishment while the xenomorph is impervious to damage.
There's a lot more reason to be afraid of an enemy when we know we don't have a fighting chance against them.