Gaming and horror have been together since the 1980s but only now are we reaching its full potential. Silent Hill, Alone in the Dark, and even 7th Guest showed us that the genre could work, but their peak ability to scare could never be reached without new technology.

For the seasoned horror fan, being scared is starting to become a rare treat. We live in a less superstitious world, and genre fans have seen almost every jump scare and evil puppet imaginable. We watch movies but the experience is less immersive because of dumb characters making poor choices and falling on the inevitable machetes. Video games completely change this. The Oculus Rift and its slew of amazing horror games have taken over the genre and scared the hell out of YouTube Let’s Players for years now.

Why is a horror game so much more effective than a movie in creating scares? For me it is about agency and control. Watching is a passive activity and allows my brain to separate what is on the screen from my couch. It’s comfortable, I have beer, and I have all the makings for a relaxing evening instead of a horrifying one. Putting a game on has the exact opposite effect. My choices matter. My mistakes cost dearly, as I watch aliens shove mini-mandibles down my face holes like a bad porn video.

I’m on the edge of my seat. My palms sweat and I know that if I creep forward a bit too much, or hide just short of full cover, I will be accosted by an evil animatronic bear, a ghost, or some long haired child that sounds a little too innocent.

The addition of personal agency in games leaves me in a full-on state of terrified immersion. While I might get a few heebies from a movie like The Witch, I never quite get the full jeebies. My jimmies remain un-rustled. But if you slam me into Silent Hill with the right amount of booze, or strap me into an Oculus session of PT, there will be cold sweat running down my spine. I’ll walk the long corridors of Alien Isolation holding my breath as though it might save me in game.

It’s an exciting time to be a horror fan, as these games are getting more honed and becoming amazing storytelling experiences. Layers of Fear is absolutely gorgeous, and with the right purchase you get a box of in game artifacts that only add to the weight of the game. The terror and cathartic release of survival lead to an experience that is memorable. Many games simply occupy time but these ones are getting to the point where they leave a mark. As a cynical horror fan who just wants to feel the old fear, this is exactly what I need.

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Tony Southcotte: Tony hails from the Rocky Mountains somewhere around the state of Colorado. Possibly raised by grizzly bears, this gritty denizen of the arena now spends most of his time grappling with Java updates and dysfunctional RAM. With not much fiction under his belt, it might seem tempting to bet against Mister Southcotte, but an impressive knowledge of everything from PVC pipe to psychedelic drugs makes Tony a storehouse of fiction waiting to hit the paper. Plus, you know, there’s the possibility of him ripping you apart like a grizzly bear.