> Imagine an FPS where you only meet an enemy every 30 minutes. That wouldn't be engaging. The loop must repeat quickly to keep you interested.
False! Plenty of horror games have basically nothing happen most of the time but are very engaging (perhaps even too much so). Alien games are my go to example.
If you're comparing multiplayer esports shooters, why not compare to multiplayer horror games like Lethal Company or REPO? I love those games and have played them for hours and hours. And these are games where you meet enemies infrequently.
The pre-canned single player horror games like Amnesia or whatever are what you're talking about.
In REPO it can be 10 minutes until you see an enemy, then if you kill it, the respawn timer is like 10 minutes. Towards the end of levels things get much more frantic, but if you're fast you genuinely can do multiple levels without even seeing enemies.
Anyway I agree horror can't be replicated, it's not like I'm scared after I know all of the enemies, what they do, and what affects respawn times.
Yeah but how many times you repeat horror games compared to multiplayer esports game where you can play it for years????
most horror game fans I know is treat it as a "one time experience"
that's why most horror games have a shorter game time/playthrough