Dramatic irony
Also said as Audience knows more, The bomb under the table
The audience knows something the characters do not. Alfred Hitchcock's example: a bomb under a table is fifteen seconds of shock if it is a surprise, and fifteen minutes of suspense if you have seen it.
It turns boring scenes into tense ones at no cost. Telling the player early is often worth more than saving a twist, because a twist only works once.
Say it
“Show the player the bomb in the first shot. Then let the two characters have their small talk for a full 15 seconds with the timer on screen.”
Where you’ve seen it
What Remains of Edith Finch tells you at the start that this family dies young. Each playable story is then spent inside someone happily unaware of the end you are expecting.
Not to be confused with twist
A twist hides something from you until the moment it pays off. Dramatic irony shows you first, then makes you watch people who do not know.