Five Reasons Minecraft Could be a Survival-Horror Game

There will come a time where Minecraft is included as a means to test for insanity.

Some people will tilt their heads and question ‘why?’ after reading that line, but those who have actually played Minecraft will understand the sentiment behind this statement.

Minecraft is a testament to many of the odd qualities present in the human psyche. I have talked to a few gamers who have tried Minecraft and just couldn’t get into it. They would give the game an initial try and just put it aside, never to try it again.

But then there are gamers like myself who will pick this game up and try EVERYTHING. It’s like a hidden portion of our mind would be unlocked once we delve into that fantastic world.

But where many gamers will play Minecraft and have a field day playing through all of its elements, there are other  gamers who will see this game play upon their inner fears. Some of these elements are based on primal fears that have existed since the dawn of mankind.

So just in time for Hallowe’en, let’s take a look at some of the horrifying elements lying deep within one of everyone’s favorite games, Minecraft.

5. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

When you enter into the world of Minecraft, you are dropped into a rich, lush world with all of the materials you need to build man-made wonders. However, you need to explore this world to find these materials and the world can be a big, scary place, especially with the recent XBox update.

Monsters lurk in all corners, as do many pitfalls and dangers. The only safe areas seem to be the areas close to home, although even that can be a crap shoot.

For those afraid of the unknown, exploring the world or even the abandoned mineshafts can be a scary proposition. I think the comic strip below says it best…

4. FEAR OF CREEPY, CRAWLIES

Not only is the world a big and dangerous place, but it is also full of some nasty insects out to make you dinner.

Two different variants of spiders now exist in the XBox 360 version of Minecraft for you Arachnophobes. The regular black spiders are mostly harmless, but the cave spider is a nasty addition to the game. These guys are poisonous and only show up in dark caves. Think hobo spiders or black widows, but the size of a small dog.

As for Entomophobia, those who are afraid of all insects, there are the silverfish. These new additions to the XBox version hide in stone (in other words, the most common substance found while MINING!) and like to swarm you when they are disturbed. So think like the Scarabs in The Mummy with Brendan Fraser.

 And then you have THESE freaking things…

 

They may not look that intimidating, but with their four legs and their silent creeping, they may as well look like THIS drawing by a Minecraft fan with the username HuRRiKaNez…

 

What are these things? And why are they made of explodium? More important, why are they programmed to hide in dark corners and stalk you until they explode?

I wonder if there is a scientific name for a fear of exploding.

3. FEAR OF FALLING

I have had a fear of heights for as long as I can remember. I’ve even had a number of nightmares about falling from the tallest heights.

This game doesn’t help matters.

Imagine yourself wandering through an abandoned mineshaft, searching for treasure or precious minerals. You aren’t looking too carefully where you are going and suddenly the world just seems to fall away.

 The latest Minecraft update gave us the new addition of underground chasms. Ravines are their proper term, but c’mon… these are freaking CHASMS. These endless pits seem to go on forever and if you fall into them, it’s all over. If the fall doesn’t kill you, the endless denizens of the depth will make sure you don’t make it out.

If you aren’t ready for a trek into that unending abyss, then be prepared for some unintentional nightmare fuel, especially when you consider that these giant chasms are very dark, bringing us to our next item on the list…

2. FEAR OF THE DARK 

If any fear is prevalent in Minecraft, it’s Scotophobia, fear of the night or fear of the dark.

Let’s see what is working against you in this game… Your first primary concern in this game is building a shelter before nightfall, because once the sun goes down, all manner of nasty creatures show up.

In fact, it used to be that if you didn’t have a secure bed with a light source nearby, monsters would spawn beside you in the middle of the night. Now that’s a great message for children, isn’t it?

The night time isn’t the only danger out there. Every cave, every chasm, every abandoned mineshaft; all of these places are dangerous to explore at all times. That’s because the dark is prime breeding grounds for monsters. It also doesn’t help when you can’t see what’s in the darkness, but you can hear it.

Plus with the latest update, a new manner of nasty began to terrorize the XBox 360… and it also shows up in the dark.

1. FEAR OF THE UNCANNY VALLEY

Meet the Enderman.

You might recognize his namesake from the internet sensation that he is based around, the Slenderman.

Both have different origins, but both have one thing in common… They scare the hell out of us.

The Endermen only come out at night, they collect blocks like your character, they look somewhat human like your character, but they are definitely not human.

What makes the Uncanny Valley so unique is that most people cannot put into words what scares them about this phenomenon. Typically, it’s that unnerving feeling you get when you look at something that is close to being human, but has one or more traits about it that instantly alerts us that something is wrong or tainted with this thing.

Slenderman is unsettling due to its lack of a face. A porcelain doll is unsettling because it’s a freaking porcelain doll. The Enderman is unsettling because of its stretched out human-like form, even though it is clearly a monster and out to destroy you if you so much as look at it.

The fact is, humanity has always had a fear of what is a derivation on humanity. Its unsettling nature has fueled horror since the dawn of time. The Enderman is no exception.

If that doesn’t do it to you, take a look at Herobrine.