Tips for Getting Through Horror Games This Halloween

For gamers, playing horror games during October can be just as exciting — if not more — than for movie fans to sit through a marathon of slashers, but if you're easily scared, the experience can become quite uncomfortable. Well, if you want to give it another try this year, then worry not; I've collected a few tips throughout my many experiences, and I'm here to share them! I'll help you conquer horror games this Halloween.

#1 — Don't Be Embarrassed to Turn on the Light

 

This might seem a bit simple or even stupid, but turning on the light helps you break the immersion of what's happening in-game easier, especially if you can pause the game and look around the room to remind yourself you're not actually about to die to a terrifying (yet oddly attractive) 9'6" boss!

It even works during boss fights, as you can shift your eyes' attention to the corners of the monitor to look at the wall. The realisation you're staring at a screen helps more than you might think. If that doesn’t help, consider just playing during the daytime! The lights and noise pollution will remind you you’re okay.

#2 — Take Off Your Headphones or Mute Your Speakers

You'd be surprised at how much of the scare factor comes from the music and sound effects in games; if you mute everything, it all becomes suddenly bearable! If you don't feel like entirely muting it, you can also lower the volume to the point where it doesn't overwhelm you, but you are still somewhat immersed.

Even having the sound at a level where you can hear your own button mashing might even help you catch when you're panicking... weirdly, this tip I learned playing Hollow Knight's final boss, not a horror title.

#3 — Put on Some Music

Not a fan of the silence? Then turn on your favourite tracks! Either mute the game entirely or just its soundtrack and put something that'll help you relax... or not! Listening to music that is a bit tense can help with stress if you just want to hush down any jump scares through loud and sudden sounds but don't want to let go of the tension. No one's judging if you want to put on your favourite playlist, though!

You could also put some music on headphones and lower the volume, but leave the game’s eerie soundtrack and effects playing over the music. This might create an unwanted feeling of sensory overload, though!

#4 — Ridicule the Situation

If the other ones aren't for you, then maybe we need to break the immersion even harder, like by ridiculing the situation. You can remind yourself it's a game by looking for pixels, broken textures, unsynced lips, ugly NPCs, or even just straight-up mocking the enemies and situation in your head: "What, Lady Dimitrescu, you got a crush on me or something that you won't leave me alone?".

I promise that last one was intended to embarrass her, not hopefully start up a spicy conversation with her in my daydreams.

#5 — Pull Back From the Screen

The fear really comes from the immersion, so another suggestion I have is to sit back a bit from the screen until the game feels much smaller. It's harder to get scared if you're busy squinting your eyes at the enemy (or maybe that's just me because I need glasses), and it also helps break yourself away from the situation easier!

This can be paired up with the lights on trick to make it even less scary, as it's easier to pull out of the adrenaline and anxiety when it's painfully evident it's a screen you're scared of.

#6 — Take a Break

If all else fails, pausing the game mid-terror and stepping away to get a glass of water or a snack helps a surprising amount! It's a phenomenal way to reset the situation and get your brain drained from all the adrenaline; it especially helps if you're getting tilted. There's no shame in taking several breaks, either!

I hope my tips help you get through that one game you wanted to play but have been too anxious to do so. And who knows, maybe you'll begin to appreciate being scared as long as it's on your terms, and eventually, you'll have found a whole new genre to love! Thanks for reading, and good luck conquering your fears this year. Happy Halloween month!