Which overused clichés in independent scary games annoy you most?

Horror Games
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I want to know what repetitive elements in indie horror games really get on your nerves. It could be related to storylines, mechanics, visuals, audio, interface design, or anything else that makes you roll your eyes.

Here are the ones that bug me the most:

Predictable story reveals that fall flat: When games try to shock you with reveals like “surprise, the main character was evil the whole time” or “everything happening is just inside someone’s mind” or “the characters know they’re in a video game.” These twists feel lazy and overused.

Pointless torch mechanics: You grab a light source early in the game, turn it on once, and then it works perfectly forever. Maybe it breaks for a few seconds during one obvious scary moment, but that’s it. No battery management or real purpose.

Everything is pitch black constantly: I get that darkness creates scary moments, but when you can’t see anything throughout the entire experience it just becomes annoying instead of atmospheric.

Mental health as lazy writing: Games that explain every supernatural element by saying “the character has psychological issues so they see monsters” without any deeper meaning or thoughtful exploration.

Obvious key hunting quests: You open one colored door just to find another locked door that needs a different colored key. The progression feels mechanical and boring.

What indie horror clichés make you want to quit playing?

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Fake multiple endings that all lead to the same outcome anyway

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That whole “grab random junk and mash it together” mechanic is infuriating. You’ll need some rusty wrench plus grandma’s photo to magically unlock a door. It’s not smart puzzle design - it’s pure guesswork that forces you to click everything until something randomly works.

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I feel the same about cheap jump scares. They don’t really add to the experience, just feel like a quick way to get a reaction without any real substance.

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Silent protagonists who don’t react to anything. You’re facing demons and supernatural chaos, but your character acts like they’re buying milk at the store. Can’t get immersed when there’s no emotional response whatsoever.

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Found footage camera effects that make you dizzy for no reason