Writing Text-Based Horror Games

Horror games are capable of delivering heart-pounding and adrenaline-dumping immersive experiences. Many games have an arsenal of tools to help them achieve these ends, from gory particle effects and hair-raising sound design, to terrifying imagery and jump-scares. But what about games that have none of these elements at their disposal?

Despite the lack of an eerie score of lovingly rendered digital viscera, text-based horror games are capable of delivering incredibly intense, disturbing and distressing experiences for the player.

Just in time for spooky season, Kaitlin Tremblay and Natalie Zina Walschots will take workshop participants through the riches of text-based horror and the genre’s great potential to scare the crap out of players. Participants will learn from some of the best examples of the genre, and will be introduced to the structure of text-based horror and led through the process of creating text-based horror games.

Who this workshop is for

• aspiring games writers
• writers interested in the horror genre
• writers looking to learn more about a new genre
• game makers seeking new skills
• anyone who is interested!

Image: From Lights Out, Please The one about the carnival, told by Kitty Horrorshow. Get the game here