The art style matters a great deal. Dark, muted colors, and distorted character designs can make the visuals disturbing. In 'Doki Doki Literature Club!', the glitches in the art during the disturbing parts contribute to the overall horror.
Scary theatre stories can create a terrifying atmosphere through their settings. For example, a dark, old castle or a fog - filled graveyard on stage can immediately set a spooky mood. Also, the use of lighting, like dim and flickering lights, can add to the fear factor.
By using vivid descriptions. For example, describing the old, creaking house with dark corridors and cold drafts. The details of a haunted place can immediately set a spooky mood.
Employ words that suggest the unknown or the supernatural. Words like 'paranormal', 'mystical', and 'otherworldly' can be great. For example, 'The otherworldly light that flickered in the abandoned asylum was a sign of something far more sinister at play. The very idea of the paranormal made the characters' skin crawl, and as the story unfolds with more such elements, the atmosphere becomes truly terrifying.'
You can start by using descriptive language to paint a dark and eerie setting. Maybe describe a creepy old house or a foggy forest at night.
A wedding visual novel can create a romantic atmosphere in multiple ways. The use of beautiful and detailed scenery such as a flower - filled garden or a starlit sky. The dialogues between the characters should be full of love and affection. And the lighting effects, like a warm sunset glow, can also add to the romantic feel.
By using the power of suggestion. Instead of showing the horror directly, these stories let the readers' imagination run wild in the darkness. For instance, just a shadow moving in the dark can be scarier than a fully revealed monster.
They use things like disturbing visuals. For example, in 'Amnesia: The Dark Descent', the dimly lit corridors and grotesque creatures you encounter create immediate fear. Sound is also crucial. Creaking floors and strange, otherworldly noises in 'Zero Escape' add to the tension. The element of the unknown is another key factor. In 'Danganronpa', not knowing who the real killer is among the group keeps you on edge all the time.
Use of sound is crucial. For example, the sound of dripping water that seems to echo in the silence can be really creepy. Also, having the protagonist hear faint footsteps but not see anyone can create a terrifying atmosphere.
Creating a terrifying atmosphere in the environment could be achieved through some theories and methods in psychology. Here are some techniques that might be useful: Create a tense and uneasy atmosphere: By increasing noise, reducing space, changing lighting, increasing contrast, and other methods to create a tense and uneasy atmosphere can make readers feel fear. 2. Use the "uncanny valley" theory in psychology: The uncanny valley theory believes that people will be afraid of unknown or uncertain things in certain situations. By creating unfamiliar environments or things, it can make readers feel fear. 3. Use the "expectation effect" in psychology: The expectation effect means that people are more likely to be afraid of things that have not happened than things that have already happened. Therefore, by adding some things that did not happen in the story, it could exaggerate the terrifying atmosphere of the environment. 4. Use the " association effect " in psychology: The association effect refers to the fact that people are more likely to associate unknown things with things that they are already familiar with, resulting in a feeling of fear. Therefore, by adding some scary scenes or things to the story, the readers could feel fear. 5. Use the "silent cost" theory in psychology: The silent cost theory believes that people are more inclined to choose not to do something than to pay extra costs for doing something. Therefore, by adding some scenes or things that required the reader to pay extra costs in the story, it could exaggerate the atmosphere of horror in the environment. These psychological theories and methods can be used alone or in combination to achieve a terrifying atmosphere in the environment.
Words like 'gloom' and 'shadow' can create a spooky atmosphere. 'Gloom' gives a feeling of heaviness and darkness, while'shadow' can make one think of hidden and menacing things. For instance, a description of a room filled with gloom and long, strange shadows can immediately set a scary mood.