How do Japanese scary virtual novels create a sense of horror?

They often use disturbing imagery. For example, in 'Corpse Party', the grotesque scenes of dead bodies and the dilapidated school environment immediately give a feeling of dread.

The stories use elements like the unknown. When readers don't know what's going to happen next, it creates fear. For example, a sudden noise in an empty room in one of the stories. It also uses things like death and the afterlife, which are often scary topics.

The stories often have unexpected twists. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, something completely different and more terrifying occurs. Like a character you thought was safe suddenly getting attacked by an unseen force. Also, they play on our fears of the unknown. Things like strange noises in the dark or shadowy figures that we can't quite make out are very common in these stories, which scares us because we don't know what they are or what they might do.

They create horror through vivid descriptions of the werewolf's transformation. For example, the cracking of bones, the sprouting of fur, and the change in the eyes can be really creepy. Just imagining the physical pain and the loss of human control is scary.

They use elements like the unknown. For instance, a story might have a character enter an abandoned building where there are strange noises but no clear source. This makes the reader or listener feel uneasy. The anticipation of something bad happening is key.

Well, in scary games, they create a sense of fear through multiple means. The graphics can be really disturbing. High - quality, realistic graphics of grotesque monsters or gory scenes can be quite terrifying. And the gameplay mechanics can also add to the fear. For example, in a survival horror game, having limited resources like ammo or health while being chased by a powerful enemy creates a constant state of dread. In horror stories, the use of foreshadowing is key. When an author drops little hints early on about something bad that's going to happen, it plants a seed of fear in the reader's mind. And the characters' reactions to the spooky situations can also heighten our own fear as we put ourselves in their shoes.

Through sound effects. The background music and the noises like sudden screeches or howls add to the horror. It makes you jump.

Lottery horror novels often create horror by subverting expectations. You expect winning the lottery to be a good thing, but in these novels, it's the opposite. For example, the 'prize' could be something dreadful like a slow and painful death or being hunted.

IT horror novels often create fear by using the unknown aspects of technology. For example, in 'It', the entity Pennywise can manipulate technology in the town, like making the sewers seem even more menacing, which scares readers as it's something that could potentially happen in real life.

Characterization also plays a big role. By creating vulnerable characters, like innocent children or the mentally ill, the horror is intensified. The reader can easily empathize with them and feel their fear more acutely. In 'The Shining', the slow descent of the father into madness while his family is trapped with him in the hotel is a prime example.