1. The four layers
| Layer | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | A constant low sound that sets the mood | Drone, wind, room tone |
| Texture | Sparse sounds that make the space feel alive | Dripping, creaks, distant steps |
| Tension | Sound that rises as danger gets near | Heartbeat, rising pitch |
| Sting | A short loud hit for a scare | Slam, scream, hit |
Make a bed fast with our horror ambience mixer: drone, wind and heartbeat, then download the WAV.
2. Silence and distance
- Drop the bed for a few seconds before something happens. The contrast scares more than volume.
- Place sounds behind or far from the player and use 3D audio, so the player turns around.
- Vary pitch and volume on repeated sounds so footsteps do not loop.
3. Free sound packs and tools
Horror SFX Volume 1
by ObsydianX
Sound effects, drones and stingers made for horror games.
Download free
Horror Sound Effects
by YourPalRob
A collection of 1,120 horror sounds. Check the page: it is also sold inside a bundle.
Download free
Yet Another Free Music Pack
by Clément Panchout
46 free tracks, including horror, ambient, retro and orchestral styles.
Download freeFree tools: Audacity to edit and jsfxr for quick effects, and our retro SFX generator. Keep your build small with the audio size calculator. See all in game dev tools.
Questions
Only if the pack's licence allows it. Read it on the author's page.
Who wrote this
Imersa Studios builds the Unity systems, low poly packs and field guides sold on itch.io. The code and techniques here come from shipping those products. More about the studio.