Wander Journal

Why I Started Doing a Survival Horror Challenge Run and What It Taught Me About Game Design

I have been playing survival horror games since the early days of fixed cameras and tank controls. For years, I approached them the same way most players do: cautiously, conservatively, hoarding resources, and reloading whenever a mistake cost me an item. Then a friend dared me to try a survival horror challenge run. He meant it as a joke, but I took it seriously. That decision changed how I think about horror games, difficulty, and the relationship between player and design