Liminal Game Design: Creating Spaces That Feel Haunted Without Horror

In game design, there’s this strange kind of space that makes us uncomfortable without using jump scares, gore, or monsters. These are spaces that are familiar yet strange, comfortable yet unpleasant. They’re not really frightening, but they’ll stick in your head long after the game is over. This feeling is what experts call liminal space. It’s a powerful tool in the arsenal of game designers—and surprisingly, one that many overlook.

Whether you’re starting on your game development path or discovering more advanced creative methods, learning how to build these in-between areas can take your storytelling and gameplay experiences to a whole new dimension. If you want to know the ins and outs of how to become a master at such design principles, there is a huge range of game design courses out there to guide you.

What Are Liminal Spaces?

Liminal spaces exist on the threshold. Imagine a deserted school corridor during the break, an empty mall, or a misty airport walkway at 3 a.m. These locations are normally filled with activity, but devoid of people, they become weird and dreamlike.

In game design, liminal spaces can:

• Create a strong emotional impact without relying on horror tropes

• Evoke nostalgia, unease, or even peace

• Encourage exploration through atmospheric storytelling

Games like Control, The Stanley Parable, and Anatomy masterfully use liminality to immerse players in surreal experiences that defy explanation but stick with them long after the credits roll.

The Psychological Power of Liminal Design

What makes liminal spaces so impactful? It’s all about psychology.

• Uncanny Familiarity: Liminal environments often mirror real-world places but are twisted slightly. This tricks the brain into feeling both safe and disturbed.

• Isolation: These areas are often devoid of characters or action, giving players the unsettling feeling of being watched or completely alone.

• Disconnection from Time: Liminal levels are typically timeless. There’s no day-night cycle, no clocks, no weather shifts—just stillness.

This strange combination of the real and surreal creates tension without the need for overt threats.

Additionally, these spaces tap into something deeply subconscious—our memories of in-between places we’ve seen in dreams or childhood. Designers often use this to evoke deep personal emotions in players, prompting not just fear or curiosity but also moments of reflection and even melancholy.

Key Elements of Liminal Game Environments

1. Lighting and Shadows

Soft lighting, heavy shadows, and unnatural colour schemes contribute to the mood.

Like:

• Flickering fluorescent lights
• Dimly lit hallways with no obvious source of light
• Backlit rooms where you can’t see what’s inside

Colour palettes in liminal levels tend to be desaturated or monochrome, mimicking the visual tone of early digital photography or security footage.

2. Sound Design

Sound is crucial in liminal design. It can heighten tension or create emotional ambiguity.

Tips:

• Use ambient noise, like distant hums or faint footsteps
• Avoid traditional background music
• Introduce subtle audio glitches or reverberations

Players often report feeling more immersed in eerie spaces where the silence is only broken by their own movement or a sound they can’t quite place.

3. Architectural Choices

Liminal architecture breaks rules:

• Endless corridors
• Unused waiting areas
• Spaces with no apparent purpose

Designers often incorporate unusual scale and symmetry, making rooms too big or doors too small. This causes players to feel out of place, like they’re walking through a world not made for them.

4. Absence of Characters

One of the most powerful tools: emptiness.

Characters provide purpose. Without them, the player is left to question why the space exists.

However, sometimes the mere suggestion of a presence—shadows, echoes, or distant movement—can be more unnerving than an actual entity.

5. Minimal Interactivity

You don’t need much interactivity in liminal spaces—just enough to keep players moving.

Design Choices:

• A single flickering switch
• A slightly ajar door
• A non-functioning elevator

Sparse interaction keeps players focused on exploration and emotional response, not just tasks.

Why Use Liminal Spaces in Games?

► Create Memorable Experiences

Players are more likely to remember environments that made them feel something unusual, even if they can’t explain it.

► Encourage Exploration

Because these spaces break expectations, players often explore more thoroughly, searching for clues, story elements, or a hidden meaning.

► Amplify Narrative Depth

Liminal design invites interpretation. It allows players to project their own meaning onto the world, which deepens emotional engagement.

► Unique Atmosphere Without Violence

You can build tension and atmosphere without resorting to horror or combat. This makes games more accessible to a broader audience.

► Showcase Artistic Vision

Liminal environments often blur the line between interactive media and visual art. Designers can use these spaces to convey philosophical ideas or critique modern life, like the monotony of corporate culture or the fragility of memory.

Examples of Liminal Game Design in Popular Titles

• The Backrooms: Entirely based on the concept of liminal space, it plays on the fear of endless, empty office environments.

• Control: Features surreal architecture, mysterious voids, and shifting interiors.

• The Stanley Parable: Uses repetition and emptiness to create psychological unease.

• Anatomy: A horror game where the fear comes entirely from the architecture and audio.

• NaissanceE: A lesser-known indie game that explores surreal, cold, monolithic spaces with little direction—pure liminal exploration.

These titles demonstrate that with minimal assets and maximum intention, you can evoke a powerful player response.

How Can Aspiring Designers Master Liminal Game Design?

Understanding the craft of liminal design requires hands-on learning. This is where structured, industry-relevant education comes in.

At Arena Animation, Park Street, we offer specialised game design courses tailored for every level of learner. Whether you’re passionate about world-building, level design, or atmospheric storytelling, we have a course that aligns with your vision.

Here are some programs to consider:

Unreal Game Development

Perfect for those who want to master real-time environment building using Unreal Engine. Learn how to create immersive, interactive spaces with cutting-edge tools.

Mobile Games Professional Course

Dive into the design of bite-sized, atmospheric mobile games. Ideal if you’re interested in minimalist but impactful experiences.

Video Games Professional Course

Comprehensive training that includes environment design, sound, character development, and storytelling. Excellent for those who want to specialise in artistic game experiences.

Advanced Program in Game Design

From mechanics to mood, this program offers an all-around education in the elements that make games not just playable, but unforgettable.

Gaming AR-VR Prime Course

Liminal design thrives in immersive environments. With AR and VR skills, you can elevate these spaces to another dimension entirely.

Why Arena Animation, Park Street?

Looking for the best game design course in Kolkata? Arena Animation, located on Park Street, stands out with its industry-driven curriculum, experienced mentors, and strong placement support. You’ll not only learn how to design but also how to think like a game creator.

Final Thoughts

Liminal spaces are the in-between places where magic happens—not in the loud, action-packed moments, but in the quiet echoes of what’s missing. They teach us that the absence of meaning can be just as powerful as its presence.

Whether you’re designing for mobile, console, or VR, understanding liminal game design gives you an emotional edge. And if you’re ready to turn that edge into skill, Arena Animation, Park Street, has the tools and training to guide your journey.

Start exploring the space between worlds today.