Crafting Fear: A guide to horror factors in video games

Patryk Polewiak

Aug 2024 · Patryk Polewiak

About this ebook

Unlock the secrets of fear in game design. Dive into 'Crafting Fear' and discover how to create unforgettable horror experiences.

The book comprehensively explains the differences between fear and anxiety and their use in games. It analyzes both the positive and negative factors of fear, vividly showing their application.

This is the first guide available on the market that focuses on designing fear and anxiety, based on scientific research and analyses of the successes and failures of various productions.

The book is divided into 3 sections:

Horror, Fear, and Anxiety: where you will learn about the neuropsychological foundations of fear.

Factor Analysis: discussing the factors that shape horror.

Case Study Analysis: showcasing how games like "Phantaruk" and "Alien: Isolation" can influence the success of horror genre games.

This book is not just theory — it's a practical guide that leads you step by step through the most important elements of building atmosphere, tension, and terror. You will learn how emotions affect players, how to create an engaging horror narrative, and how to use fear as a tool to capture the audience's attention for a long time.

Ratings and reviews

I quite enjoyed reading this ebook, as an enjoyer of the horror genre as a whole it was fascinating to see how different elements can drastically increase or decrease the tension in a piece, the way the author dissects the genre into all the different parts while giving great examples and facts gave an interesting look into what goes into the creative process when making horror games. Overall, it was a great read, it really puts into perspective how horror can create truly terrifying experiences and what can also hold it back when not paying attention to detail.

About the author

Patryk Polewiak – a game developer with over ten years of experience, specializing in level design and mechanics. He has worked for companies such as Bloober Team, One More Level, and Teyon. As a co-founder and former leader of Polyslash, he has been deeply involved in the industry. He is also the author of the book Creating Games (Insignis, 2020). Personally, Patryk is passionate about horror, psychology, and neurobiology, with a particular fascination for the mechanisms of fear and anxiety. Currently, he is studying psychology at the Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu in Nowy Sącz and is a member of the American Psychological Association.