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Survival horror is a genre of video games that emphasizes intense and often frightening gameplay experiences, combining elements of horror and action with a focus on resource management, puzzle-solving, and survival in hostile environments. The genre is characterized by its ability to evoke fear and tension, immersing players in unsettling narratives and atmospheres.
	'''Survival horror''' is a video game genre that combines horror presentation with play built around vulnerability, danger and resource pressure. The player is usually expected to survive rather than overpower every threat.

== Characteristics ==
Survival horror games typically share the following characteristics:
	The genre is closely associated with games such as ''Alone in the Dark'', ''Resident Evil'', ''Silent Hill'', ''Fatal Frame'', ''Amnesia: The Dark Descent'', ''SOMA'' and ''Dead Space''. Individual games differ heavily, but the label usually implies tension, limited safety and a world that resists the player.

=== Vulnerability ===
Players are often portrayed as vulnerable characters, lacking overwhelming firepower or combat skills. This sense of vulnerability heightens the tension and forces players to carefully manage their resources.
	== Core Features ==
	Common survival horror features include:

=== Limited Resources ===
Resource scarcity is a central element of survival horror. Players must carefully ration ammunition, health-restoring items, and other supplies to ensure their survival.
	* limited ammunition, healing items or safe storage;
	* enemies that are dangerous enough to make avoidance useful;
	* exploration of locked, maze-like or hostile spaces;
	* puzzles, keys and route planning;
	* documents, audio logs or environmental clues;
	* strong use of sound, darkness, camera placement or restricted visibility;
	* characters who feel vulnerable rather than heroic.

=== Puzzles ===
Puzzle-solving is a common gameplay mechanic, requiring players to find and use items to unlock doors, access new areas, or progress through the story.
	Combat can exist in survival horror, but it is usually not the whole point. A game may still fit the genre if fighting is stressful, expensive or risky.

=== Atmosphere ===
Survival horror games create a haunting atmosphere through dark and eerie environments, unsettling music, and disturbing visuals. The aim is to immerse players in an environment that elicits fear and anxiety.
	== History ==
	Earlier horror games existed before the genre name became common. ''Alone in the Dark'' in 1992 is often treated as an important early 3D survival horror title because it combined exploration, fixed camera angles, horror imagery and vulnerable characters.

=== Horror Elements ===
Horror elements include encounters with grotesque monsters, zombies, or supernatural entities. Jump scares, disturbing audio cues, and unexpected events contribute to the horror experience.
	Capcom's ''Resident Evil'', released in 1996, made the label much more visible. Capcom's own Resident Evil Portal describes the series as survival horror and presents the first game as a genre-defining title. The series used limited supplies, locked routes, puzzle items, fixed camera angles and sudden danger to make each decision feel costly.

=== Storytelling ===
Survival horror games often feature intricate narratives that explore themes of fear, isolation, and the unknown. Players may uncover the backstory through notes, journals, and environmental storytelling.
	''Silent Hill'' pushed the genre further towards psychological horror, fog, sound design and unstable spaces. Later games took the formula in different directions, including first-person horror, action-horror and science-fiction horror.

== History ==
The survival horror genre originated in the late 1980s and gained prominence in the 1990s with the release of iconic titles like "Alone in the Dark" (1992) and "Resident Evil" (1996). These early games laid the foundation for the genre's defining elements.
	== Design Tension ==
	Survival horror works by limiting certainty. The player may not know whether to spend ammunition, retreat, save an item, open a door or return later. Good level design makes those decisions matter.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, survival horror reached its peak popularity, with franchises like "Silent Hill" and "Resident Evil" becoming household names. The genre has evolved over the years, incorporating new technologies, gameplay mechanics, and storytelling techniques.
	The genre can lose force if the player becomes too powerful, if resources are too generous, or if every threat can be solved in the same way. That is why many survival horror games control inventory space, ammunition, healing and safe rooms carefully.

== Notable Survival Horror Franchises ==
	== Action-Horror Boundary ==
	The boundary between survival horror and action-horror is debated. ''Resident Evil 4'' kept horror elements but shifted towards more active combat and set pieces. Later horror games have continued to move back and forth across that line.

* [[Resident Evil]] Series: The "Resident Evil" franchise pioneered the survival horror genre, combining horror, action, and puzzle-solving. It has inspired numerous sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations.
* [[Silent Hill]] Series: Known for its psychological horror and surreal environments, the "Silent Hill" series covers the psychological trauma of its characters while delivering unsettling experiences.
* [[Amnesia]] Series: These games prioritize psychological horror and environmental storytelling, often leaving players defenceless against supernatural threats.
* [[Dead Space]] Series: "Dead Space" focuses on sci-fi horror, immersing players in dark and claustrophobic settings while battling grotesque alien creatures.
	A practical distinction is whether the game mainly asks the player to dominate encounters or survive them. The more a game rewards constant fighting and gives the player reliable power, the closer it moves towards action-horror.

== Impact and Legacy ==
Survival horror has left an indelible mark on gaming culture. It has inspired new genres, such as "survival crafting," and influenced other media forms, including movies and literature. The genre's ability to evoke fear and challenge players' skills has led to a dedicated fanbase that continues to appreciate and engage with survival horror experiences.
	== See Also ==
	* [[Resident_Evil_2]]
	* [[Leon_Scott_Kennedy]]
	* [[Jill_Valentine]]

	== References ==
	* [https://game.capcom.com/residentevil/en/ Resident Evil Portal]
	* [https://game.capcom.com/residentevil/en/about-portal.html Capcom: Resident Evil history]
	* [https://www.residentevil.com/2/ Capcom: Resident Evil 2 official site]
	* [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Resident-Evil Encyclopaedia Britannica: Resident Evil]
	* [https://www.britannica.com/topic/SOMA-video-game Encyclopaedia Britannica: SOMA]
	* [https://aloneinthedark.thqnordic.com/ THQ Nordic: Alone in the Dark]

	[[Category:Video games]]
	[[Category:Horror]]