Poll of the Day > How do people enjoy horror games?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like, I KNOW that there is no real danger. But my mind and body react like there is. It's kind of annoying. I just want to be able to play a horror game and yet still be able to sleep well through the night. How do you guys do this? I'm a 26 year old man and it's embarrassing that I can't handle it. My mind goes out of control and doesn't seem to care about how illogical it's being. How long do I have to expose myself to this before it stops being terrifying? People talk about a thrill, but it's been nothing but unpleasant for me. I mean, I NEED sleep.
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You should try not being a little bitch

Maybe they just aren't your cup of tea. Nothing wrong with that.
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Try getting drunk, thats the only way I can play spoopy games
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MICHALECOLE posted...

You should try not being a little bitch

Lmao! I'm trying man!!

RCtheWSBC posted...

Maybe they just aren't your cup of tea. Nothing wrong with that.

You know I was leaning that way. But I managed to get through a game like Subnautica. I almost drowned irl, so going into this really deep ocean with huge screaming creatures was difficult for me. But I ended up enjoying the game once I learned where everything was and how to get around it. That's a pretty tame game compared to legit full on horror games though. Maybe I need to take it in small steps.

Mead posted...

Try getting drunk, thats the only way I can play spoopy games

I don't drink, but I can see how that would be entertaining. I should get my friend to do that one time and watch his drunken reactions lol.
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Adrenaline or whatever
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Why do people like what I don't? Tell me your reasons so I can dismiss them and continue to not like them. I need validation!
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Lokarin posted...

Adrenaline or whatever

Seems legit
I also don't do roller coasters or sky diving, but a part of me can't help but feel like I might be missing out.

wwinterj25 posted...

Why do people like what I don't? Tell me your reasons so I can dismiss them and continue to not like them. I need validation!

Actually never intended on dismissing anybody but you do you man.
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I've almost died in real life a couple of times and my heart-rate basically remained normal and I just continued about my day. Throw me into Silent Hill though and I'm all "ah! you play!" and chucking the controller at my friend or something.
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I wonder if cheap jump scares ever killed anyone. This one in particular got me good when I was younger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM0K-yp4m1s

Given that many horror games aren't great, I've sometimes wondered that myself

SilverClock posted...

I'm a 26 year old man and it's embarrassing that I can't handle it.

Yes, that is embarrassing. Especially since most horror games aren't that scary in the first place and most people stop being properly afraid by horror by the age of 12 or 13. Otherwise go binge horror movies until you stop being so easily spooked.
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TheCyborgNinja posted...

I've almost died in real life a couple of times and my heart-rate basically remained normal and I just continued about my day. Throw me into Silent Hill though and I'm all "ah! you play!" and chucking the controller at my friend or something.

I've heard so much about Silent Hill. BUT I'll save that for when I am more comfortable with the less frightening games lol.

minervo posted...

I wonder if cheap jump scares ever killed anyone. This one in particular got me good when I was younger

You seemed to handle it just fine now though, if that's you in the video. I would imagine that older people or people with heart problems might have some trouble if they're scared badly enough.

Zeus posted...

Yes, that is embarrassing. Especially since most horror games aren't that scary in the first place and most people stop being properly afraid by horror by the age of 12 or 13. Otherwise go binge horror movies until you stop being so easily spooked.

Yea I was just never exposed to it, or avoided it. I mean doesn't it make sense, to prefer funny or happy things? Though recently I've felt like I have been missing out, so I will keep trying.
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My buddy and I legit threw the PS2 controller at each other over Fatal Frame one night. It's fucking funny because to look at us you'd never guess. Especially him. He's some burly survivalist/redneck dude...
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TheCyborgNinja posted...

My buddy and I legit threw the PS2 controller at each other over Fatal Frame one night. It's fucking funny because to look at us you'd never guess. Especially him. He's some burly survivalist/redneck dude...

Haha! Yea, I've given shots to big burly tattoo'd men who passed out afterwards. I think it would be easier to play the games with friends though. I might try that. :D
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SilverClock posted...

TheCyborgNinja posted...

My buddy and I legit threw the PS2 controller at each other over Fatal Frame one night. It's fucking funny because to look at us you'd never guess. Especially him. He's some burly survivalist/redneck dude...

Haha! Yea, I've given shots to big burly tattoo'd men who passed out afterwards. I think it would be easier to play the games with friends though. I might try that. :D

Pro tip: if you turn off the sound, it gets way less scary.
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TheCyborgNinja posted...

Pro tip: if you turn off the sound, it gets way less scary.

O YEAH! I remember playing happy, frolicking music over the screaming creatures in Subnautica lol. I'll make sure and do that, thanks! :D
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SilverClock posted...

Yea I was just never exposed to it, or avoided it. I mean doesn't it make sense, to prefer funny or happy things? Though recently I've felt like I have been missing out, so I will keep trying.

Horror movies tend to be pretty heavy on humor.
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wwinterj25 posted...

Why do people like what I don't? Tell me your reasons so I can dismiss them and continue to not like them. I need validation!

Try reading the OP next time.
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Zeus posted...

Horror movies tend to be pretty heavy on humor.

R-really?? XD Not sure if you're trying to lull me into a false sense of security.... O.o but I will keep that in mind lol.
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I think a good tip would be to play with a buddy or loved one instead of by yourself.
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GanonsSpirit posted...

Try reading the OP next time.

What makes you think I didn't?
Clearly these type of games are not the TC's bag.
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wwinterj25 posted...

What makes you think I didn't?

Because your post was unnecessarily snarky.
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RCtheWSBC posted...

Because your post was unnecessarily snarky.

Oh. My b.
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wwinterj25 posted...

Clearly these type of games are not the TC's bag.

Most gamers play for "Flow", so it's not unreasonable to ask why someone would play a game that caters to a different sense.
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Lokarin posted...

Most gamers play for "Flow", so it's not unreasonable to ask why someone would play a game that caters to a different sense.

Sure. I'm all for branching out and trying new things. The TC however needs sleep and these type of games stop him from getting that. I doubt anything that can be said in this topic will change that.
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wwinterj25 posted...

Clearly these type of games are not the TC's bag.

I want to enjoy them though, one of my best friends loves them. He laughs when he sees me fearful lol <.< I WILL OVERCOME
Thanks for the tips guys.
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SilverClock posted...

I want to enjoy them though, one of my best friends loves them. He laughs when he sees me fearful lol <.< I WILL OVERCOME
Thanks for the tips guys.

Fair enough. All I can think of is just keep playing them. I mean the more you're exposed to something the easy it will become to see it in theory. This isn't a guarantee of course.
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wwinterj25 posted...

Fair enough. All I can think of is just keep playing them. I mean the more you're exposed to something the easy it will become to see it in theory. This isn't a guarantee of course.

Now that I think about it that's how they get people to manage arachnophobia isn't it? I think I can do it. There's just this disconnect between what I know is logical and this irrational fear. I 100% acknowledge that there is no reason to be afraid. It's strange for sure, but I just started, and I will keep going.
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I tend to think of it as overcoming a challenge. Trying and failing to defeat the same boss for 3 hours is frustrating, but once you finally win you feel great. Horror games can provide the same rush, only instead of trying to defeat a boss you're trying to open the door that makes spooky noises every time you get close.
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Its a rush without having any danger, whats not to like?
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SilverClock posted...

Zeus posted...

Horror movies tend to be pretty heavy on humor.

R-really?? XD Not sure if you're trying to lull me into a false sense of security.... O.o but I will keep that in mind lol.

A lot of horror films (particularly slashers) are geared towards teens and twentysomethings and feature the same age group, so there tends to be a lot of joking around. Then you've got a lot of horror-comedies, like Cabin in the Woods.
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Try out Wick or Darkwood. Both very good horror games that are very light on the actual "horror".
Basically you just have to desensitize yourself. Eventually you'll be a cold, unfeeling, monster.
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DocDelicious posted...

Eventually you'll be a cold, unfeeling, monster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONdLEqzhXOI
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