collective

In gaming, non-horror titles can deliver unsettling experiences that catch players off guard, unlike traditional horror games. In the 2001 game Black & White, players hear a spectral whisper of 'deeeeeeeeeath' when a villager dies, creating a lasting unsettling sensation. The Graveyard, an experimental art game, allows players to guide an elderly woman through a cemetery, with the paid version introducing the possibility of her dying while resting. One player experienced profound reflection after finding the woman lifeless, leading to a visceral reaction upon replaying the game. In Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis, Dr. Watson exhibits eerie behavior by silently edging closer when not observed, which was later altered in updates but remains memorable. During Sons of the Forest, players encountered an inexplicable phenomenon with an extra player tag linked to a friend, accompanied by an eerie screech, leaving them confused. In Final Fantasy 14, the character Edda Pureheart's story transitions from grief to necromancy, culminating in a haunting dungeon encounter with her reanimated fiancé's head. In Thief, the mission Down in the Bonehoard evokes dread through claustrophobic crypts and encounters with the undead, showcasing the ability of non-horror games to create fear.