I’m developing a horror game and I have this particular level that already has a creepy mood. The sound design and overall feeling work well, but I want to make the visual aspects even more frightening for players. What are some effective visual techniques or elements I could add to really amp up the terror factor? I’m looking for ideas that would make players genuinely scared when they encounter this scene. Are there specific lighting tricks, object placements, or visual effects that work particularly well in horror games? I want to create something that will stick with players long after they finish playing.
Darkness works great, but don’t go overboard. You want just enough light to make out shapes without seeing details - that’s when things get really creepy. And try placing normal stuff in odd spots, like a kid’s toy somewhere it doesn’t belong.
Flickering lights can really mess with players’ heads when they need to see. Another cool idea is to have something lurking at the edge of their view that disappears when they try to look at it.
Shadows moving on their own when nothing else is - that always gets me
Flickering lights and shadows moving just outside the player’s vision work really well
Reflections are genuinely terrifying when done right. Mirrors, windows, even puddles showing something that shouldn’t be there behind you. Still gives me chills thinking about games that pulled this off. And try making familiar stuff look slightly off - doors that are too tall, furniture with weird proportions. That subtle wrongness really messes with people.