How to Not Get Scared While Playing Survival Horror Games

Last Updated: July 20, 2023

Ever wanted to play a survival horror game but were too scared? You'd definitely expect to be, considering that is the aim of a horror game! However, sometimes it's nice to be able to be play a game and not be terrified of every single thing that moves, so here's a guide on how to not get so scared!

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There are many "survival horror" games. Some of the more recognizable ones are the "Silent Hill", "Resident Evil", "Five Nights at Freddy's", and "Left 4 Dead" series. Some other smaller titles include the well known "SCP: Containment Breach" or "Penumbra", the spiritual predecessor to "Amnesia", another survival horror game.
These are just video games, and nothing in them can hurt you. It's fake. There are no such things as zombies, monsters with pyramid-shaped heads, tentacle beasts, or killer animatronics, as far as we know, at least. Never forget that a video game is a video game, nothing more. Remember that playing games like these too much can cause you to get paranoid, and the often tense atmosphere can leave you quite on edge once you stop playing.

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Survival horror games are meant to scare you! If you jump out of your skin a couple of times, that means that the creators have done their job. If games or movies scare you to the point that you lose sleep for extended periods of time or provoke paranoia, you should stop playing/watching them all together. It's not worth making yourself feel uncomfortable and causing inconvenience for the sake of a cheap thrill.
While this may seem obvious, a lot of these types of games are in an extremely dark environment, so as to add the level of fear and excitement the player experiences while playing. You should move on to playing a Horror Game in the dark after you have gotten over your fear, till then play with the lights on.
This can be anything from a jumpscare to rising tension. Being able to detect when a typical type of scene might play out, especially when it involves jumpscares as these are often the selling points of many "horror" games, notably, "Slender". You can get good at avoiding jumpscares and having a response to them by experiencing them a few times in different forms.
Attempting your hand at humor, even if false, can lessen the mood of the game and make it less scary. You can also watch spoofs of some video game monsters, such as Pyramid Head, on the internet which may make the characters less scary. Sometimes it can even help to picture yourself as a stronger entity compared to the monster or object that scares you. Other ideas include imagining the protagonist using bright colorful weapons to fight the monsters, which bleed rainbows. It may be a bit ridiculous, but it will lessen the paranoia you may experience.
This is extremely effective, you will notice how a horror game or movie becomes soft and easy after the sound is taken away. It's all in the sound, While this doesn't work for everybody, not having screams or high-pitched noises when you least expect them should do a decent job of making the game slightly more tolerable, especially in the Silent Hill series since usually the music adds to the terrifying mood. Don't forget about those jumpscares!
Listen to music on either your computer, radio, or iPod. The music should make it less scary. After all, imagine listening to a happy, bubbly pop song whilst slaying hordes of undead. It's almost comical, and you'll find yourself far more relaxed than you would with the original game soundtrack. Try something from Tiny Tim or Starset.
Having company beside you could help you relax, especially if you trust this person. They could also help for making small chat in between action-intense parts of the game. Even if it's your pets!
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Make fun of what scares you. Turn it into a joke, or think of all the ridiculous things that had to happen for that sequence to occur.
Do not play horror games if you do not enjoy them, people play horror games because they like being scared. It's an exciting feeling! Feel free to embrace it. Move on to playing a game in the dark, alone, with headphones, if possible after you have gotten over your fear. If you are going to buy a survival horror game; you might as well get the full experience. Also, if you have a headset, you could possibly record the video and upload it on YouTube, so later you can laugh at it and it will make it less terrifying!

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Would listening to the scary parts of a game be considered a method of overcoming my fear?

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Yes. This could be considered a type of "exposure therapy," which basically means exposing yourself to something scary over and over until your brain learns that it's not really as scary as you thought it was. Listening to scary parts of the game could definitely help you with this.

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How do I stop thinking about scary thoughts after playing horror games?

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Try to distract yourself. Read an uplifting book or play a different game, such as Minecraft or Stardew Valley. If that doesn't work, try listening to calming music or practicing a hobby. Before you know it, your fear will be replaced with fun.

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How scary is the game Outlast?

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It has a ton of Jumpscares, enemies chasing you, and a really good horror atmosphere. It is really scary but worth it, good story and gameplay mechanics.

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Tips

Watching videos of people playing and commentating on the game is a big help. It's just like having someone in the room and you also get an idea of what the game is like before you play yourself.

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Look up a video walkthrough of the game on YouTube, unless you consider that as cheating. Knowing where the monsters are and the objectives so you aren't wandering around so much will help.

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One thing to keep in mind is that some survival horror games are scarier than others! If you like to get kind of scared but not terrified, then a game like Silent Hill, Silent Hill would not be a good game for you!!

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

When you get used to playing the game, try not to scare other people such as family and friends by forcing them to play. You could try to introduce and help them throughout the game, but only if they want to.
If you are playing Slenderman, use daytime mode and work up to nighttime mode. Lower the volume and don't play it at night. And remember he's not real, just an internet hoax.
I find it much more fun to look up the game and see fan art, backstories, OCs, songs and more! It will make you feel more connected to the characters and not as scary.
Something I like to do is play in the morning so I have the whole day to get over the fear.

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Warnings

Try to avoid playing for long periods; take regular breaks.

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Never play in the dark with headphones/earbuds. Not being able to hear as well as not being able to see is doubly terrifying.

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If nightmares occur after playing a game, take a long break from it.

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If these games absolutely terrify you, survival horror may not be for you, unless you enjoy it.

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If you are being affected, consider avoiding such games and seeing a professional. Don't ignore the fact that you're scared just because someone you know or a stranger on the internet /said/ you aren't. Your health matters.

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Keep in mind that for some people, jumpscares and other horror elements can have a long-term effect. Keep your limits and mental health in mind when playing games like these. For some, being startled in and of itself is deeply frightening, while others might take it more lightly. So please know your limits before playing these kinds of games.

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Things You'll Need

A game system or computer
A video game
A little courage
A stereo, headset, or MP3 player
A friend (optional)

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