The stories create fear through the settings. For example, if it's set in a dark forest or an abandoned asylum. Combine that with the appearance of the dead hand and it amps up the fear factor. It makes you feel like you're in that dangerous and unknown place.
They also create fear by making the dead hand seem to have a mind of its own. It moves on its own, reaches for the living in a menacing way. It defies the natural order, which is really disturbing. The idea that something dead can still interact with the living world is a fundamental fear that these stories play on.
Scary game stories create fear through atmosphere. For example, in 'Alien: Isolation', the constant threat of the alien stalking you in the dimly lit, claustrophobic corridors of the space station builds fear. The sound design also plays a huge role. Creaking noises, strange whispers all add to the sense of dread.
The use of the unknown. For example, a lot of the stories have a mysterious presence that is not fully explained. Just the idea of something being there but not being able to see it clearly makes it scary.
Many of the stories play on our primal fears. Take 'Jeff the Killer' for instance. The idea of a killer invading our personal space, especially at night when we are vulnerable, taps into our fear of being attacked and killed. The vivid descriptions of his appearance, like the carved - in smile, make it even more terrifying.
These stories create fear through atmosphere. For example, they often describe spooky settings like dark forests or old, empty buildings. The use of words to paint a picture of these places makes you feel uneasy.
The supernatural theme creates fear because it defies the natural laws we know. Things like ghosts floating through walls are not normal in our world, so it scares us. For example, in a vampire story, the idea of a creature that drinks blood and can't die easily is very frightening.
Scary games stories create fear through the unknown. For example, in 'Silent Hill', the fog hides many threats. You don't know what's coming next. The characters are often in vulnerable situations, like the security guard in 'Five Nights at Freddy's' locked in a small office with no real means of defense. The grotesque and abnormal creatures also play a big part. The faceless Slender Man in his game is just one example of a very disturbing and fear - inducing entity.
They often use disturbing visuals. For example, in 'Another', the scenes of sudden deaths are very graphic, which shocks the viewers and makes them feel fear.
They often use elements like the unknown. For instance, a mysterious figure that is only glimpsed briefly. This makes the reader's imagination run wild, creating fear.
Scary creepypasta short stories also create fear by preying on our common phobias. For instance, the idea of being haunted by a malevolent entity, like in 'Ben Drowned' where the character is haunted by a digital ghost. It taps into our fear of the supernatural and the idea that there are things out there that we can't control. And in 'Candle Cove', the disturbing nature of the strange children's show plays on our fear of things that seem innocent on the surface but are actually very wrong and dangerous.
Scary nosleep stories create fear by playing on our primal fears. Fear of the dark, fear of being alone, and fear of the supernatural are common themes. They describe these fears in vivid detail, making the reader feel as if they are experiencing it themselves. For instance, a story about a child alone in a dark room with something lurking in the shadows taps into our basic fear of the unknown in a dark, solitary place.