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I disagree with the premise, not the reasoning. I'd say that horror is noticeably *common* in modern IF games. Some of it is Lovecraftian, some is psychological/surreal, much of it is mixed with other genres (_Slouching Towards Bedlam_) but it's all pretty blatantly *there*.

Well, he never said he couldn't find horror IF, rather "truly good" horror IF, which takes us into entirely subjective territory.

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I feel that I should clarify a couple of things...

"Shade" was a phenomenal game. I didn't care for the delivery or the end result. That's all. I certainly don't believe I could do better. But I put off playing it for a very long time. I kept reading about how "creepy" it was. It kept coming up in discussions about horror. So I finally played the thing and it just... wasn't what I was expecting. That probably colored my opinion of it. I had high hopes with phrases like "you can't face the night" or the fear of turning off the lamp. But I don't think those expectations were met. I get the point of them. It wasn't that I was expecting more. Just something different.

For the record, after I played through, I looked it up to see if I'd missed anything. I had not read any spoilers, walkthroughs or the like prior.

As for Warbler's Nest, I just couldn't get into it. I couldn't relate. It was a "cute" twist, but again, I expected more. The projected "fear" of entering the house intrigued me. When I got into the house and found out it was just a screaming kid... I have three kids, now almost teenagers. One of them screamed a lot as an infant, one of them yells a lot now. I also have a very diverse religious/spiritual background. So the egg thing already put me on the edge. Once the two came together, I was just done. Admittedly, I did chuck the kid into the river the first time and into the crib the second time. So I did play it through. Again, very well written game, but neither touched that "horror nerve" for me.

Anyway, to my original point, I disagree that Lovecraft was a terrible writer. To his audience, one not saturated by the glories of the silver screen and the immersive interaction of big budget video games, this was as horrifying as it got, I'd expect. The idea that something so grotesque, powerful and indescribably was sleeping at the bottom of the ocean waiting to gobble them up hit home for them. It was the things that Lovecraft alluded to, not necessarily explicitly described, that was the true fear.

What I meant was that I've looked through the things tagged as "horror" on IFDB. I didn't see much that I was impressed with. I didn't search for Lovecraftian horror, though I did see the tag. The things that I did see that caught my eye were slighted for their Lovecraftian bent.

So point being... I didn't find a lot of horror. Or maybe you guys are right in that it doesn't match my idea of horror. Maybe Lovecraftian horror is really my thing. Being a die hard, long time fan of King and Barker, I thought I'd be hesitant to agree. (Regardless of what criticism anyone may have of either, they're both two of the best at what they do.) Maybe it's my thing in IF.

Psychological horror doesn't really do it for me because it's too easily explained. Same with thrillers. Zombies. Virus outbreaks. Et cetera ad nauseum. Maybe I am attracted to "that which cannot be comprehended by the human mind" for that reason. People don't scare me. Strangers breaking into my house don't scare me. Jump scares are for teenagers. Maybe it's pomp or pride or ego or whatever. But if I can put a name, a face or a form to it, I'll take a pass.

Clear as mud?

I should also say that SUTWIN is what revived my interest in IF. That game was creepy. I don't know what it was intended to be. I've never found what I thought to be an "ending" that didn't involve with unfortunate side effects. But I friggin' love that "game". I just wish it was part of a bigger organism.

My mileage definitely varied:


Whether this qualifies it for the genre I have no idea.

I'd like to recommend the game that has affected my heart rate the most here, but I played it without knowing its genre, and I suspect saying "this is horror" will lessen its impact somewhat. Also, from what you've written in the thread I don't think you're going to like it:


Specifically, the bit:

I agree. I would argue, however...





Of course, there have been a lot of great things said about this game. It's another one of those that I've never got around to playing. I will, at some point. I'll try to keep an open mind. I appreciate the suggestion.

I really like reading H.P. Lovecraft, yet I really disliked Anchorhead. *shrug* Go figure.

Clive Barker has always been my favorite modern horror author. There's about as many sub-genres to horror as there are to "metal" music. My own horror game is meant to be both silly and campy but still have some creepy or unnerving elements, though I don't expect any of those to be effective with every player.

I don't plan on returning to writing horror IF any time soon. I'm more interested in other genres right now. If and when I do make another though I will keep in mind that many people that play IF do not seem very amused with the "campy" element.

I'm certainly not the voice of the majority. Just voicing my own personal concerns about the genre and the subs thereof.

Have you played, Ecdysis, based on a Lovecraft's Commonplace Book? Or The two Dunsany adaptations, The Journey of the King and The Ebb and Flow of the Tide? I can't personally vouch for any of them, but it seems to be up your street. I enjoyed Anchorhead; I played it entirely on Twisty on my phone and although I found parts of it very creepy I was never truly horrified. Perhaps horror is not best served through a bright and shiny screen. Better a paperback read by torch light, or by a small fire in the middle of the woods.

I mentioned Ecdysis as one that I enjoyed. I haven't played Journey of the King or Ebb and Flow of the Tide. I've added them both to my wish list as a reminder.