A Close Reading of Two Invisible Survival-Horror Characters: : A comparison between the Kaernk from Amnesia: The Dark Descent and the Walrider from Outlast

Abstract: This thesis looks at two invisible characters, the Kaernk from Amnesia: The Dark Descent and the Walrider from Outlast, to investigate how these characters are incorporated into and contribute to elements found within survival-horror games, and how their design affects the player. The thesis uses a close-reading methodology adapted for video-games to generate data used to first describe each of the characters and the scenario where they are first encountered, and later analyze and discuss the data, as well as compare the data from each character to one another. The thesis finds that the use of invisible enemies within these two survival-horror games seems to be an effective way to heighten the fear-factor felt by the players of these games, based on theory about horror. The thesis concludes by stating that these two enemies work very well within these two games, partly due to the absence of combat-mechanics, but questions whether the use of invisible enemies would work as well in all survival-horror games, including those with combat-mechanics. This research could be useful as designing and animating enemies in games is both time-consuming and potentially expensive, and if invisible enemies work within certain types of horror games developers could save both time and money when developing these types of games. For future research, this thesis suggests practice-based player studies to verify claims made based on theory, as well as looking at invisible enemies within horror-games featuring combat.