>>714280054
>Jumpscares?
If they become routine they cease being scary. It's not a no no, but you can't spam that shit. Dread is just as important as fear.
>Combat?
You should feel outmatched, easy combat detracts from the horror. There's many ways to do this, "boss is invulnerable until he lets you damage him" is a terrible way to do it.
>Atmosphere?
Atmosphere is key. I barely remember the events of Silent Hill or Dead Space, but I remember how they looked and how they made me feel. Isolated.
>Clunky movement?
This does not spark joy. The days of fighting enemies and controls (especially the camera) at the same time should be long gone.
>Save rooms?
If it helps gameplay, sure.

Pic is a favorite of mine, great atmosphere. Combat eventually devolved into zap rap on cooldown, and we don't talk about 2, but it nailed the atmosphere and dread. You knew Metro City was a violent hellhole on the decline, not because a cutscene or loading screen told you; because you were in it, you could see it, you were killing hobos with rebar and 2x4s in dilapidated shit holes all over the place.
Then the game just ends and you're no closer to the truth then when you started.