Short answers, pulled from the story.
Capcom released Resident Evil in 1996 to describe a new kind of video game experience. This title coined the term survival horror to distinguish itself from typical action games where players feel powerful and in control.
The genre prioritizes puzzle-solving and evasion over direct combat while forcing players to manage scarce resources like health items and keys. Players face limited ammunition, weak weapons, slow movement speeds, and restricted vision to create a feeling of vulnerability.
Akira Takiguchi developed Uchū Yusōsen Nostromo for the PET 2001 computer system in 1981 requiring players to escape an invisible alien. Haunted House on the Atari 2600 emerged in 1982 emphasizing puzzle-solving and evasive action instead of violence.
Konami released Silent Hill in 1999 shifting focus from B-movie horror elements to psychological dread and disturbing atmospheres. The original game used fog to hide enemies and allowed players to turn off flashlights to avoid detection.
Resident Evil 4 launched in 2005 attempting to redefine the genre by emphasizing reflexes and precision aiming rather than resource management. This shift led some reviewers to argue that the game abandoned core survival horror conventions.