Is this game a true "horror" game?

[Frency]

Hello everyone and, as always, thanks in advance for the time you are dedicating at reading this.

I am currently looking for a relaxing, plot less (or very very easy to follow plot) to chill in those few breaks during the day, between one task and another, and recover through entertainment.

I have read this game is tagged as "horror" and "survival horror", but does it mean it's like Resident Evil, The Evil Within, Amnesia, and Dead Space? Because my tastes are 100% incompatible with horror games.

In instead, with "horror" they mean just "scary moments that can happen if you swim where you shouldn't and on purpose go in dark areas clearly knowing someone might try to kill you such a as predator" then I think it's fine and I can at least give it a shot.

If it's instead a constant feeling of anxiety, dying, getting chased ecc, maybe it could not be the game for me.

Have a nice day, guys! :-)

[Cougarific]

It's long stretches of relaxing gameplay punctuated by moments of extreme terror.

But the terror isn't *forced* like it is in some games. This game taps into our instinctual fear of the unknown - I think "dread" is a better word than "fear" when describing the emotions this game evokes.

You look down and see nothing but blackness beneath your flippers - but you have to go down there. There's probably absolutely nothing scary down there but...maybe not.

[Aegix Drakan]

Originally posted by Frency:

In instead, with "horror" they mean just "scary moments that can happen if you swim where you shouldn't and on purpose go in dark areas clearly knowing someone might try to kill you such a as predator" then I think it's fine and I can at least give it a shot.

It's basically this.

After the initial "I don't know what I'm doing, how do I get drinkable water in this planet full of water I can't drink, aaah" phase wears off, you'll find that a lot of places in the game are quite relaxing. The starting Shallows are real nice, as are the red grass forests and so on.

Then, as you get tools like the Seamoth vehicle, and really start to explore, you start to find hostile creatures, actual predators and so on and so forth.

In order to complete the story, you'll need to eventually go to some places loaded with terrifying predators, places so deep light doesn't touch them, or out into places where you can clearly see a giant sea snake patrolling in the distance, etc etc. Some places had me on the edge of my seat, dreading the strange noises I heard, wondering if any of them were some strange new sea monster.

But if you just want to chill, you can take it slow and explore the safe areas near the surface, and only go to dangerous places when you have the right gear for it, or focus on making a glorious Undersea base that you feel at home in.

That and the story (mostly audio logs, scanner logs, and a few beautiful set piece moments) does a great job of instilling paranoia and fear/wonder of the unknown into you.

[mudfarmer]

The starting area is fairly chill, though the setting of the deep ocean of an unknown world can trigger primal fears in almost anyone. There are some large predators and other dangers, but its not trying to be Cthulhu.

[Deadman]

Its a horror game in that apparenlty a lot of people have a fear of the ocean. Its not a horror game by design. So if exploring the ocean doesn't bother you then you probably won't think its scary.

[shinrasoldier3]

Nothing more frightening than cowering inside a metal tube on the bottom of the ocean while baddies swim outside howeling in anticipation of their next meal!

[Frency]

Thank you all, guys!

[GamingWithSilvertail]

Yeah, i did not see it as a horror game apart from the first time I unawarely got near a leviathan.

[Raina]

Its worth adding though that there is a story and story line, but it doesnt force you along it. You can do it at your pace in as little or as much detail as you please. (There are things you can choose or not choose to read in game to find out more basically.)

[Deformerad Dallarydsbo]

This is the best psychological horror game i've played lol, fear of the deepsea makes this 10x better then any horror movie or game

[Nasher]

It's a lot more horror in VR! You just don't get the same sense of scale when on a 2d screen.

[The.Spaz.]

Its similar to NMS where you are basically mining resources to improve your survivability on an alien planet filled with water. But it does have a thing plot hook to keep things intersting and holds up a pretty good amount of mystery to the world to keep you exploring. The horror element is basically the itnensity you get from exploring uncharted territories and being too far away from your comfort zone.

[OrganizationOatmeal]

I have extreme anxiety and yeah it definitely taps into some more primal fears, especially knowing that there are sea monsters but not being able to see them. But I wouldn't call it a horror game -- just a game with a realistic sort of "obvs an alien ocean planet is going to be terrifying sometimes"

[Frency]

Thank you!

[DJ Febrezee]

I don't know if it's a horror game or not, but I had a terrifying Subzero dream last night.

Getting chased by all 3 leviathan classes, even while you sleep, is so much fun...

[darkdisciple1313]

Originally, I didn't think so (and I prefer the term "creepy" to "horror"), but it does fit the parameters for most games of this kind.

1. You are a solo player with little to no exterior support, and none is likely to be had beyond what you can find yourself.

2. There are many, many creatures that can and will kill you if you get complacent, and they don't care a thing about your plight, since you're either just a tasty snack, or in their way of obtaining the same.

3. The environment is hostile to you as a species, but also to you as an individual. The true element of horror is knowing that you are facing it alone. And you are very alone.

4. Ambient sound(s) are there for no other reason than to remind you of the previous three.

5. You are likely going to die. Badly. And there will be no marker to note your untimely demise, because nobody knows where you are.

6. You know all of this, and yet you take your first steps into the strange world all the same, because what other bloody choice do you have?

7. Mwa-ha-ha-ha.