You make the world itself feel like a sentient hazard, not just scenery. Give it a simple mechanic that can flip on a cue—like a wind that turns a fire into a flood or a stone that rolls back after you walk past. If the environment reacts to the player’s moves, the player can’t just play it safe; they have to anticipate the next shift. Keep those reactions random enough that you never know which direction the threat will come from, and the player’s on edge, always.

Sure thing, the kind of mechanics that leave no room for “oops, I missed that” feels… well, like you’re playing a game where the rules are written on a razor blade. Keep the triggers obvious but deadly—one slip and it’s over. That’s the sweet spot.

Yeah, because who needs breathing room when you can just stare death in the eye and hope it doesn’t notice you, right? The next move is all that matters.