We Need More Horror Games That Embrace The Ordinary

As someone who was raised on the chills and thrills of the classic horror gaming era, it’s mind-blowing to witness the transformative surge in the genre during this modern time. It’s almost hard to believe that I initially thought we had lost the golden age of horror gaming forever.

Over the last ten years, a subtle yet expanding pattern has emerged in certain horror video games, and it lies in their distinctive method of instilling fear. More specifically, they employ an everyday or commonplace technique.

Some modern video games excel at creating terror by incorporating it into everyday tasks and household settings, taking the fear factor to levels that players might not have thought achievable before.

To put it another way, this subtly terrifying game generates an ambiance that surpasses what earlier titles managed to achieve.

Less often do AAA games opt for a classic approach to horror, utilizing jump scares, unsettling visuals, and similar elements. What’s missing in the gaming world are titles that sustain this suspense, generating fear from commonplace things.

How Is Horror Made Through Domesticity?

Some Developers Have This Mastered

Imagine returning home after a tiring workday, only to discover that the trash needs to be disposed of. The bin is outside under the cover of darkness, which doesn’t seem concerning until you shut the door, finding yourself standing there, startled by the realization that you are now alone in the dark.

From there, a chill runs through you as your hair bristles and goosebumps appear, making you speed up your steps and eagerly complete your journey faster. You can’t help but frequently look behind you. A sense of unease grows within you, gnawing at your insides like a persistent fear that only vanishes once you return home, lock the door, and find safety within its walls.

Although just tossing out the garbage isn’t usually frightening, what made the experience eerie this time was the unsettling ambiance, the absence of any comfort or escape, and the ordinary nature of the setting, which combined to create a sense of unease.

In this ordinary instance of your life, you unexpectedly felt fear. That’s exactly what these games cleverly exploit.

Chilla’s Art, a Japanese game development studio, excels at turning the ordinary into chilling horror experiences. Their creations like “The Convenience Store” and “The Closing Shift” immerse players in a world where everyday settings become unsettling terrors. Instead of shying away from the mundane, Chilla’s Art skillfully builds their J-horror games around these concepts.

The Closing Shift stands out significantly among their other works. Unlike the usual focus on paranormal terror within everyday scenarios, The Closing Shift delves into a much more chilling fear – that of being stalked.

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In this game, you assume the role of a barista, where your daily tasks are both fun and demanding. The storyline, however, presents an unsettling situation – you’re being stalked, and every night becomes increasingly tense and anxiety-provoking. As you serve coffee to each customer, you can’t help but wonder which one might harbor harmful intentions towards you, making each shift a nerve-wracking experience.

Stalking is a genuine concern that many people share, one that often surfaces in news broadcasts and true-crime shows. It was surprising to find this issue in a video game, but Chilla’s Art not only introduced it, but made it a central and authentic theme. The game immerses players in a realistic environment through a gradual buildup of tension.

As a gamer, I can tell you this: Games have a knack for taking the mundane and amplifying the potential terror hidden within it, crafting an authentic and chilling horror adventure that leaves me genuinely scared – every single time.

Which Type of Horror is Scarier?

There’s Something About Quiet Horror That Lingers

On a positive note, it’s observed that AAA horror games are increasingly grasping and employing this strategy, with the Silent Hill 2 Remake serving as an outstanding illustration. This approach is particularly noticeable at the game’s beginning when setting the mood, but I must say it was genuinely terrifying.

In the realm of gaming, the eerie ambiance of Silent Hill stands out as a true classic, where a dense mist frequently fills both the open spaces and structures. However, what makes Silent Hill’s mist so chilling isn’t just its appearance, but the unique terror it conceals. It is within this fog that the remake skillfully uncovers ordinary horror elements.

The initial part of the game, although brief, leaves a lasting impression, as it quickly turns into sheer terror upon reaching Blue Creek Apartments. The memory of it stays with you.

The question arises: which kind of horror is superior? Although it’s a valid query, the response could equally be intriguing: both kinds.

Among various horror games, I’ve noticed a knack for integrating the ordinary into terror, and it never fails to create an unsettling atmosphere (like No One Lives Under the Lighthouse, Devotion, and The Mortuary Assistant, to mention a few). However, what truly sets Chilla’s Art apart is its blend of conventional horror tropes, creating a unique symphony of loud and quiet fear that leaves me genuinely terrified.

In this game, players take on the role of Feng Yu, a family man living in his apartment. Initially, the apartment appears ordinary, but there’s an unsettling hint of the supernatural woven into everyday moments like reading a bedtime story to your daughter.

As the game unfolds, the once neat apartment starts showing signs of decay and disrepair, revealing hidden truths along the way. The scares escalate from subtle to downright terrifying and grotesque. It’s a harrowing experience, boasting some of the most unsettling moments any independent horror game can offer.

The key to this game’s success lies in its ability to blend loud and quiet elements, incorporating both modern and classic aspects. This balance contributes significantly to the overall horror experience. Instead of debating which type of horror is superior, it would be more beneficial to consider that a diverse range of horror elements can make for a more engaging gaming experience.

We Need More Mundane Horror in Video Games

Through the Mundane, Fear is Heightened Tenfold

Horror isn’t just a matter of following certain conventions; it’s about living through intense fear. Many games, regrettably, often focus on a single type of horror or reduce the genre to a list of familiar elements.

Instead, it might be more beneficial for developers to strive to integrate everyday situations, instances, and even conversations into their games. Remarkably, Chilla’s Art often does this seamlessly in their creations.

The Convenience Store serves as a striking illustration of commonplace terror, similar to a ghost tale. It’s not your typical ghost story featuring spectral apparitions and haunted houses; instead, it’s a chilling yarn spun around ordinary tasks like restocking shelves or monitoring security cameras.

All sorts of horror genres, including paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, psychological, and any others you can think of, might find it effective to incorporate everyday, domestic terror for a more relatable and chilling effect.

Regardless of how minimal, it remains effective in increasing fear levels; it offers a unique, chilling sensation that can only be mirrored in actual reality.

2025-01-21 18:39