I was a fan of the original Resident Evil on the PS1, and some of the earlier survival horror games like Silent Hill. I felt that Silent Hill in particular crossed the line into unenjoyable territory for me. The game was superb, but the horror was just too unsettling to keep playing. I would get physically ill, with stomach cramps, nightmares, etc., that it took years of forcing myself to actually finish it. Same with SH2 a few years later. Then the RE series took a more action oriented turn, and I lost interest.

Until RE7, which I started playing without VR. I can agree that it's truly horrifying, and a return to their roots. The first-person perspective also adds a lot to the immersion. As much as I'm curious, I couldn't imagine playing it in VR.

If you're looking for a different kind of horror, give Subnautica a try. It's terrifying even without VR. I've played for many hours and still can't get myself to finish it.

Part of me thinks it's a bit silly to intentionally subject yourself to the stress that these games produce, and as I get older, I seek more enjoyable experiences. Yet for some reason, I keep going back to them...