
Not many creatures manage to truly scare me. Creatures like demons, ghosts, and even home invaders or crazed serial killers don’t really faze me much, although they may provoke a reaction initially. However, there have been instances where enemies have made me feel anxious, such as in games like “Stay Out of the House,” “Nun Massacre,” and “Dead Space” with its Necromorphs, or “Resident Evil” with Mr. X and “Amnesia: The Bunker” with its beast. A few stand out among many, but it’s the core mechanics tied to their design that make them frightening. For example, in games like Puppet Combo, the screams and charges of the creatures induce panic and anxiety about the impending doom they bring. The isolation in “Dead Space” is oppressive, as every breath can potentially give away your position to a Necromorph. The constant chase of Mr. X and the beast always looms over you, creating tension because either could appear at any moment and disrupt your progress.