Why Gamers Secretly Crave Horror in Their Cozy Games

This article explores the appeal of horror elements being introduced into non-horror games, citing examples like Minecraft cave sounds and Subnautica's deep-sea encounters. Developers leverage psychological contrast and trust to create memorable, surprising moments that resonate with players, blurring genre lines and potentially leading to a 'cozy horror' subgenre.

▸ entities in this article

GAME Animal Crossing: New Horizons
GAME Minecraft
GAME Outer Wilds
GAME Spiritfarer
GAME The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
GAME Fall Guys
COMPANY Nintendo
GAME Subnautica