What is the biggest element in a scary game?

[TheScout]

Just a poll asking pretty much what do you think makes a scary game scary?

I would personally be a tie between helplessness and BOO! moments.
Amnesia is scary because of HELPLESSNESS(no weapons) and CREEPY ATMOSPHERE
Dead Space series is scary because of CREEPY ATMOSPHERE, and ISOLATION
Nightmare House series is scary because of BOO! MOMENTS, CREEPY ATMOSPHERE, and HELPLESSNESS(you cannot fight that damn girl)

[Ad Bot]

[Spartan923]

Sounds and atmosphere..

[Jetlok]

mannequins moving while you're not facing them. that's some creepy stuff.

[PJ Boy]

Helplessness is probably the largest element in a true horror game. Take Amnesia for instance. You have no weapons, a sanity meter, and enemies that could mutilate you at any second.

Creepy atmosphere isn't far off. Dead Space really capitalizes on that, with dead bodies everywhere and blood lining the walls. Plus, the monsters are still wearing clothing.

BOO moments can be hard to expect, but then there's also those "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!!" moments.  The BOO moments are those jump-out-of-your-chair things. "What the heck is that!" moments are when a monster walks slowly across a hallway, adding greatly to the suspense. Plus, you don't know it it's going to see you or not.

[orange wolf]

Not having a weapon.

[Anti-Block]

Impending doom.

[TheScout]

Not having a weapon.

Helplessness

[Bushido]

for me it's not explicitly helplessness, it is actually the act of being devoid of weaponry

as long as i have some sort of hurty killy thingy on the right side of my screen i can literally go through entire games without being scared at all

(until of course jump scares)

[TheScout]

for me it's not explicitly helplessness, it is actually the act of being devoid of weaponry

as long as i have some sort of hurty killy thingy on the right side of my screen i can literally go through entire games without being scared at all

(until of course jump scares)

Well, by helplessness, I mean"not being able to fight the main enemy/enemies

[Bushido]

i thought helplessness meant, even despite being armed, you cannot do stuff about the enemy

[Dread]

Immersion.

[TheScout]

i thought helplessness meant, even despite being armed, you cannot do stuff about the enemy

Yes, like in Amnesia and in Nightmare House 2.

[Azzurolix]

If you really want a definition of proper game horror check out The Escapist's Zero Punctuation. The guy there really has it with what's really scary and what's not.

[Sabbin]

I don't recall ever playing any scary games.

Suggestions? c:

[Dread]

I don't recall ever playing any scary games.

Suggestions? c:

Amnesia: The Dark Descent