Horror games do have somewhat of a history — and at times one could say a rather dark and twisted one at that. To most, it’s just the distaste for being exposed to sudden jump scares or sounds (often too loud). But here is the thing: Not all horror games are designed to give you a spine-chilling feeling or make you hurl your controller at the wall. Actually, some of the creepiest thrills one can come across in the horror genre are not enhanced by such stunts and clumsy scare tactics.

Instead, they create games with gloomy atmospheres, where tension builds up slowly and fear is rooted in your mind rather than a sense of fear that disappears when the game is turned off. From creepy woods to deserted cities, surreal dimensions and aquatic horror, it provides all the horror experiences without the pressure of random jumpscares. All of them are different in terms of story and atmosphere and do not rely on jump scares or bright lights and sounds.

In Little Nightmares, players take control of Six, a nine-year-old girl wearing a yellow raincoat, who is alone in the grim, oppressive world of a vast ship called the Maw that is inside the belly of a giant creature that is submerged beneath the ocean. This side-scrolling stealth game plunges you into a world where darkness is the friend of any creature, and any sound could be a sign of the approaching evil. The setting and graphic design have a dark art style reminiscent of Tim Burton and have a creepy, somewhat depressing feel to them, which represents a child’s worst dreams. ​

One thing that can make it superior to such games, or at the very least, stand out, is its reliance on atmosphere and story instead of jumpscares, because, hey, you get it from the name—Little Nightmares. Instead of combat, the game focuses on stealth, exploring, and solving different puzzle situations; thus, any encounter with the inhabitants of the Maw becomes a rather stressful event. And that is why this game is a lesson in how to create an atmosphere that will make the player feel nothing but uncomfortable.

The narrative of Alan Wake follows a successful crime author who becomes imprisoned within a reality born from his own imaginative powers. Alan Wake presents itself through the plot of this psychological thriller set in the serene town of Bright Falls, where Alan fights supernatural Taken creatures by using his light powers as a weapon. Like a television show, the storyline presents itself in episodic form with dramatic narrative breaks that create suspense throughout the story. ​

Alan Wake uses horror devices but primarily creates an atmosphere of built tension instead of conventional frights. This game shines through its captivating storyline combined with its immersive environment, which provides an ideal gaming experience for people who want a thought-provoking plot rather than constant jump scares. All of this, on top of a great action game with decent shooting mechanics that are enhanced even further with the recent remake, makes for a great horror game.

Darkwood is a survival horror game that is viewed from an isometric perspective or more commonly known as a top-down view and is set in a mysterious forest in the 1980s Poland. During the day, you look for scrap and try to improve whatever shelter is available; at night, you fight off whatever monstrosities are out there lurking in the dark. The outdoors itself is procedurally generated, so every time you play the game, it feels like you are a different player in a different game, which enhances the feeling of fear. ​

Unlike many contemporary horror games, Darkwood does not employ elements such as sudden startle-inducing jumpscares. Rather, the game raises tension gradually by means of darkness, sound and the presence of something evil lurking just around the corner. High in difficulty, providing a realistic gaming experience, and an intense, nerve-racking narrative with an intricate plot make it a definitely recommended game for every fan of the psychological horror genre.

SOMA is a science fiction game where players awaken in an underwater research facility where machines have attained self-awareness. As Simon Jarrett, you wander through this unsettling world and discover what is hidden in the facility while at the same time raising existential everyday questions. ​

It disallows players from using weapons or from having any combat whatsoever and focuses more on storytelling and mood. Although, sure, there are some suspenseful scenes, SOMA leaves out the loud noises or the jump scares and uses the psychological horror elements that stay with the player far beyond the end of the game. A new addition of the “Safe Mode” option means that many people can get to know the story without the danger of being killed by one of the monsters.

In Amnesia: The Dark Descent, the game’s premise is that the protagonist wakes up in a dark castle and has no idea how he got there. This is felt when you navigate through the feature’s narrow passages, fighting terrifying demons and discovering shocking aspects of one’s personality. One of the features that offers something tingling is the game’s sanity system; the player character goes mad if he stays in the dark too long or sees something gruesome. ​

Unlike many other survival horrors, Amnesia is not so obsessed with jump scares; they are present but in a more predictive and subtle way that they do not become a major part of the game nor do they really scare the players. The survival aspect of the game, along with the emphasis on exploration, problem-solving and psychological horror, makes it a perfect fit for players looking for a thrill.

A severely underrated gem that really needs more love from gamers all around the world. Signalis is a survival horror game inspired by the classic Silent Hill and Resident Evil games but is set in the genre of post-apocalyptic exaggerated reality where you get to play as Elster, a technician Replika, who is looking for her lost partner. The game features old-school pixel-art graphics combined with an eerie background tune that makes the game very mysterious and terrible. ​

It creates quite a suspense by setting it in a rather dark environment with a gradual narrative, not profiting from the overt horror clichés in similar games. One has to admit that it is a high-quality piece of work that adds to the survival horror genre in a realistic manner that those who are new to the genre, as well as those who have played similar games before, would greatly appreciate.

It is indeed quite rightly accepted as one of the best horror games of its era. You play as James Sunderland, who goes to misty town called Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his supposedly dead wife. The game is centered around the topics of grief, guilt, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which provides a thoroughly engaging story that will stay with players even after the credits roll. ​

Finally, the atmosphere and setting in Silent Hill 2 are exceptional as they contribute towards the game’s horror theme. The game does not employ numerous jumpscares; instead, it makes the player feel uncomfortable and attuned to the main character's emotions. This one is an all-time classic and to this date has remained as a reference point for other horror games and even movies.