Maleficus wrote:One thing to consider is also sound design. The best survival horror games have always had stellar sound design and the right atmospheric music to set the tone.
There’s really a lot that goes into making a good survival horror game. Art style, audio, atmosphere, controls, enemies, everything is vital. I’d recommend replaying one of your favorites and just analyze how the game was designed overall. Take note of what it did right and how it was effective, and use that knowledge when designing your own scenarios.
Sometimes it's better to not have any music. It shouldn't be dead quiet either (for the most part). Many times, just some background sounds (creeks, wind blowing, faint droning or humming noise, etc.) could be enough of an atmosphere without needing a looping song. And there may be some occasions where no noise whatsoever is good for building tension, especially if the player starts getting used to the background noise.