Games That Hide The Horror in the Ordinary

Many of the games we play nowadays work because they are bombastic, colorful, endlessly packed with wonder. And generally, all of the things that give them those qualities are placed right before our eyes in the form of big moments, big boss fights, big plot points. But there are a handful of games I played recently that make that wonder in the subtext… games that craft their horror in the little things… that create the Devil in the details.

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"Go find a book" (0:00)
Hiding the seams (6:24)
When the ordinary stares back (9:19)
Uncanny familiarity (13:45)
More than a soundtrack (18:40)
Forever *just* out of reach (22:58)
Thanks for watching! (27:56)

▶Games Shown

Silent Hill: The Short Message (2024)
Devotion (2019)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
NieR Replicant ver.1.22 (2021)
Soma (2015)
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth (2024)
Alan Wake 2 (2023)
Astral Chain (2019)
NieR: Automata (2017)
God of War (2018)
Quantum Break (2016)
Alan Wake (2010)
Alan Wake's American Nightmare (2012)
Resident Evil 4 (2023)
Control (2019)
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (2022)
The Exit 8 (2023)
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (2015)
Metroid Dread (2021)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
Final Fantasy XIII (2009)
ANNO: Mutationem (2022)

Movies/TV/Anime Shown

Se7en (1995)
John Wick Chapter 3 (2019)

▶Media/Clips/Considerations:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwABHajSLTc-ssOM42qfHOBIm2FFfGpZW&si=6u-31M72LPGMqQB_

▶Music Sources (in Order):

Oxenfree OST - Cold Comfort
Alan Wake 2 OST - Ambient (Depth Of Field Mix)
Control OST - Sankarin Tango (Finnish Tango)
Rakel - Follow You Into The Dark (Alan Wake 2 Chapter Songs)
There Came an Echo OST - The Singularity
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess OST - The Twilight Realm
No Copyright Cinematic Music Dark Ambient #9 - Soundscape Ambient
(https://youtu.be/WhH1dzQNdP4?si=zUrLAXRIL6lFVuse)
Parasite Eve II OST - M.I.S.T
Control OST - Vapour
The Old Gods of Asgard - The Poet and the Muse
Alan Wake 2 OST - Yoton Yo
MOUGLETA - Superhero (Alan Wake 2 Chapter Songs)
SIGNALIS OST - Train Ride
Megaman X Command Mission OST - Sympathy and Sorrow
Rakel - Follow You Into The Dark (Alan Wake 2 Chapter Songs)
Alan Wake 2 OST - Yoton Yo

▶Research Sources

Sam Lake interview — How storytelling creates value in games
https://venturebeat.com/business/sam-lake-interview-how-storytelling-can-create-so-much-value-in-games/

Sam Lake and the Remedy team shine a light on what it takes to make games like Alan Wake 2 | BAFTA
https://youtu.be/He8CXuWmJxo?si=MewEoyZNgHG8o5Yt

Alan Wake 2 And The 13 Year Journey To Make It | Audio Logs
https://youtu.be/EYOOVlkASe4?si=mPtWY3kmr7xqu3xC

Alan Wake 2: Chapter Songs — Making Of
https://youtu.be/hZhIBri37os?si=mGgNg2gHj6jwuBaB

Alan Wake 2 – Behind The Scenes | Alan Wake in the Dark Place
https://youtu.be/caoSf76xOfc?si=AnX_S2YKDW0Hox_d