Are you a fan of video games? Do you love the adrenaline rush that comes with surviving against all odds or the fear that creeps up your spine when you’re being chased by a monster? If so, then you’re probably familiar with the genres of survival and horror games. But what exactly sets these two types of games apart? In this article, we’ll dive into the distinctions between survival and horror games, and explore what makes each genre unique. So, buckle up and get ready to discover the thrilling world of video games!
Definition of Survival Games
Survival games are a subgenre of video games that focus on the player’s ability to survive in a hostile environment. These games often require players to gather resources, craft weapons and tools, and build shelter to fend off dangerous creatures and other threats.
Characteristics of Survival Games
- Emphasis on player’s ability to survive: Survival games are characterized by their emphasis on the player’s ability to survive in a hostile environment. This often involves scavenging for resources, crafting tools and weapons, and building shelter to protect oneself from threats.
- Resource management: Managing resources is a key aspect of survival games. Players must gather and conserve resources such as food, water, and materials to survive. This requires strategic planning and decision-making.
- Exploration and discovery: Survival games often encourage exploration and discovery. Players must explore their environment to find resources, discover new areas, and uncover the story of the game. This can be a thrilling and rewarding experience for players.
- Crafting and building: Crafting and building are core mechanics in many survival games. Players must gather resources and use them to craft weapons, tools, and shelter. Building structures can also provide players with a sense of accomplishment and safety.
- Often set in open-world environments: Survival games are often set in open-world environments, which allows players to explore and discover new areas. This can be a challenging and exciting experience, as players must navigate through the environment and deal with the dangers that come with it.
Definition of Horror Games
Horror games are a subgenre of video games that focus on creating a frightening and unsettling experience for the player. These games often feature supernatural elements, psychological and physical terror, suspense, jump scares, and an emphasis on storytelling and immersion. The main objective of horror games is to scare the player and create a sense of fear and unease.
Comparison of Survival and Horror Games
Differences in Gameplay
- Survival games focus on the player’s ability to survive and manage resources, whereas horror games focus on creating a scary atmosphere and telling a story.
- Survival games often involve exploration, crafting, and building, while horror games rely on suspense, jump scares, and psychological and physical terror.
Exploration is a key element in survival games, as players must scavenge for resources and explore their environment to survive. In contrast, horror games often use exploration to build tension and reveal the story, but players are often discouraged from exploring too much due to the danger lurking around every corner.
Crafting is another important aspect of survival games, as players must create tools and weapons to help them survive. In horror games, crafting may be used to create traps or other defensive measures, but it is not as central to the gameplay as it is in survival games.
Building is a key feature of survival games, as players must construct shelter and other structures to protect themselves from the elements and potential threats. In horror games, building structures may be used to create hiding places or escape routes, but again, it is not as central to the gameplay as it is in survival games.
On the other hand, suspense and jump scares are key elements of horror games, as they create a sense of fear and uncertainty in the player. Horror games also often rely on psychological and physical terror, such as unsettling environments, creepy sounds, and monsters or other enemies that can kill the player.
In summary, while both survival and horror games involve player survival, the gameplay in survival games is focused on exploration, crafting, and building, while horror games rely on suspense, jump scares, and psychological and physical terror to create a scary atmosphere and tell a story.
Differences in Mechanics
Survival games and horror games are two distinct genres with unique mechanics that set them apart from one another. While both genres may share some similarities, such as a focus on gameplay and immersion, there are significant differences in the mechanics of each genre.
Survival Games
Survival games typically focus on the player’s ability to survive in a harsh environment, often with limited resources. These games often have complex mechanics related to resource management and crafting, as players must scavenge for food, water, and other supplies to stay alive. The gameplay often involves exploration, scavenging, and building shelter, with the ultimate goal of surviving as long as possible.
One of the key mechanics of survival games is the need to manage resources. Players must gather and conserve resources such as food, water, and building materials, while also balancing their needs with the dangers of the environment. This often involves crafting tools and weapons to defend against threats such as wild animals or other players.
Another important aspect of survival games is the open-world environment. These games often have vast, expansive worlds that players can explore at their own pace. This allows for a greater sense of freedom and immersion, as players can choose their own path and explore the world in search of resources and other items.
Horror Games
Horror games, on the other hand, focus on creating a terrifying and immersive atmosphere through sound, lighting, and storytelling. These games often have a linear story, with players progressing through a series of levels or areas, each with its own unique scares and challenges.
One of the key mechanics of horror games is the use of sound and lighting to create a sense of fear and tension. These games often use jump scares, creepy sound effects, and dim lighting to create a feeling of unease and fear in the player.
Another important aspect of horror games is the use of storytelling to create a sense of immersion and terror. These games often have complex narratives that involve supernatural or otherworldly elements, such as ghosts, demons, or zombies. The storytelling often involves unsettling and creepy plot twists, as well as character development and exploration of the horrors that lurk in the shadows.
Overall, while both survival and horror games have their own unique mechanics, they are distinct genres that offer different experiences for players. Survival games focus on resource management and exploration, while horror games focus on creating a terrifying and immersive atmosphere through sound, lighting, and storytelling.
Differences in Audience
When it comes to the audience for survival and horror games, there are some key differences to consider. Survival games tend to appeal to a broader audience, with gamers who enjoy exploration, resource management, and crafting often drawn to these types of games. This is because survival games often require players to use their wits and resourcefulness to survive in harsh environments, making them a great choice for those who enjoy a challenge.
On the other hand, horror games tend to have a smaller audience and are more niche. Gamers who enjoy a scary and immersive experience are more likely to be drawn to horror games. These players enjoy being scared and finding themselves immersed in a frightening world, whether it be a haunted house or a creepy forest. Horror games often rely on jump scares and atmospheric tension to create a sense of fear, making them a great choice for those who enjoy being scared.
It’s worth noting that there is some overlap between the audiences for survival and horror games. Some gamers enjoy both genres, while others may prefer one over the other. Ultimately, the choice between survival and horror games comes down to personal preference and what type of gaming experience a player is looking for.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between survival and horror games?
Survival games typically focus on the player’s ability to survive in a harsh environment, often with limited resources and hazards that must be overcome. The objective is usually to stay alive as long as possible, gather resources, and build shelter or other structures to help survive.
Horror games, on the other hand, focus on creating a scary and unsettling atmosphere through various means such as storytelling, sound design, and visuals. The objective is often to escape from a haunted location or defeat a monster or other supernatural entity.
2. Are survival games scary?
Survival games can be scary, as they often take place in dangerous or hazardous environments, but the fear factor is typically not the main focus of the game. Instead, the emphasis is on survival and exploration. That being said, some survival games do incorporate elements of horror, such as hostile creatures or supernatural events.
3. Are horror games all about jump scares?
Jump scares are a common technique used in horror games to create a startling effect, but they are not the only way to create fear. Horror games can also use tension, atmosphere, and storytelling to create a scary experience. Some horror games may also rely on psychological horror, where the fear comes from the player’s imagination and the game’s ability to create an unsettling atmosphere.
4. Can survival games be considered horror games?
Some survival games can have elements of horror, such as hostile creatures or supernatural events, but they are not typically classified as horror games. Survival games tend to focus more on the player’s ability to survive in a harsh environment, while horror games focus on creating a scary and unsettling atmosphere. However, there is some overlap between the two genres, and some games may blur the lines between survival and horror.
5. Are survival games suitable for children?
Survival games can be suitable for children, depending on the specific game and its content. Some survival games are designed for a younger audience and may have a lighter tone and less violence or mature themes. However, other survival games may contain mature content, such as violence, blood, and strong language, and may not be suitable for children. Parents should always check the game’s rating and content before allowing their children to play.