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: Avoid revealing the monster too early. Letting the player's imagination fill in the gaps in the dark is often far more effective than any creature model.

: Effective pacing involves gradually building suspense to a fever pitch before providing a brief moment of "release" or safety. These cycles create a "horror euphoria," where the relief following a scare triggers dopamine in the player's brain.

: A survival horror experience relies on a consistent flow to maintain immersion; poor pacing can quickly ruin the foreboding atmosphere. 2. Atmosphere and Environmental Storytelling

A common tenet of survival horror is ensuring the player never feels too powerful.