Whatever happens to fnaf?

Remember when FNAF was being called one of the scariest game? What happen?

Fnaf was a hit when it first release, it hit on steam shelf and quickly gather by many people. It has been said to be one of the scariest game in that year. It appear in the the news site, appear in front page multiple time and to this day, it still be analyze by people, makes theory on the lore. However, after a while, it quickly became one of the least scariest game.


Today, we gonna see, whats makes a game a good horror game, and what makes it not much a horror. We gonna examine, not only this game, but other horror game, we gonna look at what makes it great, and whats makes it terrible, and we gonna compare it.

Scary feeling, nervewrecking and anticipation

Horror, is a special genre, because it is not a genre, its a topic. It does not fall into a genre because it does not make the gameplay. The setting, in a mansion, inside a haunted shop, horror makes the topic, it need to be scary. Amnesia, FNAF, Doki doki literature club. These are under "genre" horror, but none of the gameplay are the same. Let examine each of them and see why are they so scary.

Amnesia

Amnesia has been the icon in horror game, its been said to be the scariest game of all time by numerous people and numerous occassion, and for good reason too. Amnesia has done so many things right, that able to keep the horror going for the players, even after numerous times playing. It is something special. The atmosphere of the game has been scary. It takes place in a mansion, where darkness is your enemy. It takes something very cliche and put it there. And it works. You dont expect a horror in a park in the middle of the day, or in office with many workers. Horror is usually place in a dark place, to keep people on edge. This is something that the game has done right, but it goes deeper.
The gameplay itself is made to be scary. This is something that some other horror game failed to do. Take it from amnesia, give the least defense, to keep the player on edge. The player has to constantly watch out for enemy coming. Darkness need to be avoid to keep you sane. Enemy can pop up randomly, and your torch, is limited. The only lifesaver you have is limited, and you need it to keep yourself alive and sane. Amnesia nails it down on horror and gameplay part. The dev knows how to balance it to make a very scary experience, while providing some little defense to make it fair.

Doki doki literature club

When DDLC first release, it receive major exposure, for being different, being unique and being unexpectedly scary. It marks a case where even a simple visual novel, can be scary as adventure game. And it has done it. The game receive very high review from players and critics. It is a scary experience, and memes aside, its one of those game where even people who cant stand horror can play it. While it is not the most scariest game, it has unique and different enough that we can examine it.
DDLC is different, in a way that the setting are different, the character are different and well, everything else are different. And it comes in a very important play. Since DDLC has been mark as a psychological horror, the game focus majority to fool the player with a very peaceful game, and it has been disguised as a dating simulator. Doki doki finds the perfect moments to hit a player with a massive blow and thus, its a one time thing. The feeling carries on to the next arc as the player continue down into the road. That one hit blow plays a very important role, because it messed with the player head. The player cant think right and they continue without ever thinking on what just happen. It puts the player off guard and thus, they can easily get scare even by a simplest jumpscare and easter eggs.

Fnaf, why are you losing horror?

Fnaf has hit it all, it has really creepy atmosphere with the first fnaf, it gives the player very little to defense and the gameplay is nervewrecking enough that it is easily put it off guard when jumpscare comes in. First time player will always find this pretty scary, and it works. The game is actually scary.
Unfortunately, horror is a topic and not a genre, its define the setting but defined by the gameplay. Theres a key difference that makes doki doki and amnesia horror last longer than FNAF. Repeat.
The game uses a level system, it has night 1, night 2 and so on. This is the main reason why people said it is not scary. It repeating the game thing over and over and over. The horror itself  is define by the mechanic and the gameplay. Its repeating on a level, makes it a chore to pass. People has seen jumpscare and are getting bored of it. The variety of the game is very little. This game, become a chore.And the chore, is the main reason why it a short time live horror.



Horror are define by the gameplay. There are a lot of ways to make it scary, but very little way to make it last long. Fnaf is a pretty good horror game, but it is short live due to lack of variety. Is it a bad thing, of course not. Short live horror is still horror even if you live it short. Doki doki horror only works once too. People wont be blow by the attack again if you know its coming. Slender are short live with its repeat same stage. The same thing.
That is it for you guys, tho i want to see anyone opinion. Why do you think fnaf is not scary? why is the game short live? And what do you think about me analyzing game?