I’m burned out on games that substitute loud noises for real scares. Lethal Company’s dread comes from anticipating threats you rarely see—like hearing something scrape against the ship’s hull. What games master slow-burn tension through atmosphere alone? Bonus points for indies that use unique mechanics instead of shock tactics.
You’ll love Anatomy by Kitty Horrorshow. It’s a short indie game about a sentient house—no jumps, just escalating dread through VHS distortion and shifting room layouts. The community has great analysis threads dissecting its themes.
Play SOMA on safe mode. Monsters still chase you, but they can’t kill you—forces you to confront existential horror head-on. Big brain scares over cheap thrills.
Recommended titles: Paratopic (uneasy liminal spaces), Norco (slow southern gothic tension), and Saturnalia (procedural village that remembers your actions).