Speaking from my perspective as someone who specializes in games centered around Japanese horror, I believe that horror games are all about the 'ma'—the use of silence and timing.
To create fear without relying on jump scares, it’s essential to reconsider how 'ma' is used and to make the player feel a sense of unease.
For example, imagine you’re working late at night in an environment where you can hear the sound of an air conditioner. Suddenly, the air conditioner stops, and complete silence takes over. Now, the sounds you make yourself are much sharper, and even the slightest noise becomes more noticeable than before. That subtle sense of discomfort and unease—and the time it takes to recognize it—creates tension.
In my opinion, the kind of fear that makes your spine tingle doesn’t come from loud jump scares, but rather from the sheer silence where nothing can be heard.