Survival horror

Survival horror is a video game genre in which the player has to survive against often undead or otherwise supernatural enemies, typically in claustrophobic environments and from a third-person perspective. The genre makes liberal use of both Western and Japanese horror film elements. The term "survival horror" was first used as a genre for the original Japanese release of Resident Evil (1996), although the earlier game Alone in the Dark was pioneering in the genre. The term has since been often used to describe games of a similar nature, including some that were released before Resident Evil.

Themes of survival horror games
Survival horror is possibly the only video game genre that is defined by theme as well as gameplay style. It is most commonly associated with the Resident Evil, Silent Hill and game mechanics, though the genre contains titles which borrow heavily from gameplay styles associated with other genres. These games can resemble beat 'em ups, point-and-click adventures, RPGs and first-person shooters. They all deal with dark, violent and supernatural themes typical of horror movies. This helps to define the genre more than any specific gameplay mechanic.
Survival horror games use puzzle solving and exploration as routes of progression through the game.The player often must contend with limited supplies such as ammunition and health - hence "survival" horror. The player character is often portrayed as being unfamiliar with the area the game takes place, contributing to the feeling of isolation and discomfort in the player. Some games provide 'safe' rooms or areas, where characters can heal, consult a map or save the game without fear of attack. In some games, even these areas can become corrupted or besieged by enemies, allowing no respite. Survival horror games are also infamous for having several enemies who are capable of killing the player character in just one attack. Most of the enemies in survival horror are usally melee attackers, but overwhelm the player with huge numbers of enemies. More uncommon are enemies which are able to attack from a distance, either by throwing bodily fluids or using firearms.
Most survival horror games are single player only, though a few exceptions have appeared.Player characters are typically armed, but rarely as well-armed as characters in other genres such as first-person shooters. Makeshift weapons such as metal pipes, kitchen knives and other implements are often used in place of firearms. The player's goal is generally to escape from an isolated building or town that is overrun by zombies or monsters. Enemies can be defeated in combat, though avoiding enemies is often preferred or even necessary in order for the player to progress.
Game developers use several techniques to unsettle the player and make him/her feel underpowered, with the strength or number of enemies reflecting how well-prepared a player character is. If players control an 'average Joe' type character wielding a makeshift weapon, that character seems more vulnerable, allowing even human-sized monsters in small numbers to threaten the player. Should the player be controlling a soldier armed with firearms, then the enemies will be made larger, more powerful and appear in greater numbers in order to achieve the same effect. Many survival horror games feature protagonists who are stereotypical weak females; again this is often the developers trying to make the player feel under-prepared to face countless monsters.

History
The early 1990s saw the introduction of gameplay mechanics found regularly in more modern examples of the genre. Although the survival horror genre was popularized by Resident Evil, it was predated by earlier works such as Sweet Home, Clock Tower: The First Fear, and Alone in the Dark, which clearly had an influence on the creation of Resident Evil.Alone in the Dark introduced many elements, both graphical and gameplay-related, that were used in Capcom's creation; the use of static prerendered "camera" views as the gameplay field in which dynamically rendered polygonal models would act as the characters and objects, as well as a very similar character movement and combat control scheme would be some of the most similar features. Alone in the Dark's action scenes were much more sparse, though, and many of the enemies and monsters found across the game couldn't be defeated directly, and had to be avoided or outsmarted, defining the gameplay as more puzzle-oriented.
The term "survival horror" was first used by Resident Evil, published in 1996. The original Japanese version of Resident Evil was marketed under the previously non-existent Survival horror genre on the game's cover. A line of text also displayed the phrase "Enter the world of survival horror..." while the game was loading. Sweet Home in particular served as inspiration for Shinji Mikami to create Resident Evil.
Some common elements of survival horror games can be found in the 1981 Atari 2600 game Haunted House, which has been considered by some to be the earliest example of the genre.
Clock Tower and Silent Hill created a group of survival horror games that focus on psychological horror rather than just violence and shock tactics. This category deemphasizes combat in order to increase the vulnerability of the protagonist and build tension. Similar titles include the Fatal Frame series, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, Splatterhouse and Siren.