Experimental42 on 09 August 2014
We should probably come up with a distinction between horror and survival horror. A game can inspire horror and not be survival horror. Slender is a great example. It's a well done horror game that uses real terror and dread. I wouldn't classify it as survival horror though because it doesn't have a form of combat, inventory management, or rationing system.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there's RE4. It have combat and inventory but it's way overpowered, and the "scariness" comes from jump scares or enemies pretty much waving their arms around and yelling at the top of their lungs "hey guys look at me I'm suuuuuuuuper scary, did you see the bug monster I have for a head now!? Boo!" instead of doing anything actually scary.
