I’ve been replaying GTA 3 lately and there’s something really eerie about the whole atmosphere that gets under my skin more than actual horror titles. The empty streets at night, the weird NPC behavior, and that overall dark tone of Liberty City just creates this unsettling vibe that sticks with you. Even though it’s not meant to be a horror game, I find myself more creeped out walking around those foggy neighborhoods than when I’m playing games that are specifically designed to scare you. The ambient sounds and music don’t help either - they add to this really uncomfortable feeling. Has anyone else noticed this or am I just overthinking it? What makes a non-horror game feel scarier than actual horror games in your opinion?
You’re absolutely right. GTA 3 has this oppressive vibe that feels genuinely unsettling. Since the game wasn’t going for horror, the creepy moments hit harder - they feel real. That fog everywhere, random screams in the distance, and how dead the city feels at 3am creates this accidental horror that’s way more effective than cheap jump scares.
Those AI glitches make it even creepier, especially when they just stare off into space.
Those chunky PS2 graphics hit different - like being trapped in a nightmare. NPCs vanishing around corners? That was genuinely creepy stuff.
The radio chatter and distant sirens really amp up that paranoid vibe. Those early 3D graphics just make everything look creepy and off.
Vice City had similar vibes but GTA 3’s gray concrete atmosphere hits different