They often use dark and muted color palettes. For example, a lot of them have greyish - blue or black tones dominating the scenes. This immediately gives a sense of gloom. Also, the sound design is crucial. Creepy music and ambient sounds like creaking floors or howling winds can create a spooky atmosphere.
Well, first of all, the character designs can be very creepy. Strange - looking characters with abnormal features or expressions can send shivers down your spine. Then, there are the jump scares. Some creepy visual novels use sudden appearances of disturbing images or events. The background settings also matter. An abandoned asylum or a haunted forest as the setting instantly makes the game feel spooky. And the dialogues can be filled with foreboding statements that make you anticipate something bad is going to happen.
One way is through the use of mystery. In ghost novels, there are often things that can't be easily explained. Like strange noises in the middle of the night or objects moving on their own. The unknown makes the reader feel uneasy. Also, the characters' reactions to the possible presence of ghosts play a big role. If the characters are constantly afraid and on edge, it makes the reader feel the same way. Another factor is the use of foreshadowing. Hints of something bad or ghostly to come build tension and spookiness.
Ghost fiction novels often use vivid descriptions. For example, they might describe a dark and dilapidated old house with creaking floors and cold drafts. The use of shadows and strange noises can also add to the spookiness. In 'The Haunting of Hill House', the way the house seems to have a life of its own with its doors opening and closing by themselves creates a very eerie atmosphere.
Haunted house novels often use descriptions of the setting. For example, they might describe dark corridors, creaking stairs, and cold drafts. Also, strange noises like unexplained moans or whispers can add to the spookiness.
They often use setting. For example, a dark, old, and isolated house like in 'The Haunting of Hill House'. The description of the place makes it seem foreboding. Also, the use of the unknown, like in 'The Turn of the Screw' where the true nature of the ghosts is not clear at first.
The art style is a big factor. Dark, shadowy illustrations with jagged lines can make a house seem menacing. For example, in 'Locke & Key', the detailed drawings of the old, creaky house add to the spookiness. Also, the use of color, or lack thereof. Black and white or muted colors can create a sense of gloom. Sound effects in the form of onomatopoeia like 'creak' and 'screech' written on the page also contribute.
They often use detailed descriptions of the house itself. For example, in 'The Haunting of Hill House', the crooked hallways and the strange architecture are described in a way that makes the reader feel uneasy.
Radio ghost stories create a spooky atmosphere mainly through sound effects. Creaking doors, howling winds, and eerie whispers can all send chills down the listener's spine. Also, the voice acting plays a crucial role. A deep, menacing voice or a faint, ghostly whisper can enhance the feeling of fear.
The stories in 'wtnv ghost stories' often use mystery and the unknown to create a spooky feel. They might introduce a strange noise or an unexplained event and let your imagination run wild. Also, the way they describe the characters' reactions to the supernatural, like their fear and confusion, adds to the overall spooky atmosphere. For instance, when a character sees a shadowy figure in the alley and freezes with terror, it makes the reader feel that same fear. Another aspect is the pacing of the stories. They might start slow, building up the tension until it reaches a peak when the scariest part is revealed.
Unofficial Dark Stories create a spooky atmosphere through their use of settings. For example, they often describe desolate places like abandoned asylums or graveyards. These places are already associated with fear in our minds.
Another way is through the characters' reactions. When a character is really scared, it makes the reader or listener feel the same way. For instance, if a character is trembling and sweating while exploring a dark cellar in one of the stories, it makes us imagine how scary the situation must be. The stories also use elements of the unknown, like a strange symbol on a door that no one can figure out what it means, which adds to the spooky atmosphere.