There’s no doubt that unlike other entertainment mediums out there, the world of video games elevates the horror genre to the extreme. No other genre gains from the interactive element more than horror. While books, TV, and movies are detached from you, iconic games such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill bring you a first-hand venture into the true nightmare.
Horror gaming has been unique since you’re the one who is navigating through terrifying scenarios. That already intimidating task tends to backfire on you when you come across some shocking scenes that force you to ask whether you’re strong enough to press on.
There are a select few sequences from the genre which prove to be unforgettable. Let’s take a look at the top 9 scariest moments in video gaming history.
9. The Nightmare Alley
It’s a known fact that Silent Hill features some of the best game designs, as it uses nearly every element of the gameplay to thicken the plot and elevate the tension bit by bit.
When the game’s main character runs after a ghostly figure through an alley, the camera suddenly ends up becoming more dynamic, sweeping down a low and then switching back up as if you are from the point of view of a stalker. The environment becomes darker; the walls around you turn blood-splashed with corpses on the ground.
8. Yuki’s Confession
Doki Doki Literature Club stands as the most unique game ever crafted. Starting out as an anime-styled high school dating simulator, the narrative quickly unravels into a ghastly blend of fourth-wall-breaking and spine-chilling moments.
The standout among the tons of striking moments is Yuri’s confession. As the story starts to twist, she will ask you if you want to hear her so-called “confession.” It doesn’t matter if you say yes or no; she will end her life, forcing you to helplessly look at her lifeless body.
7. Encountering Lisa
When PT debuted way back in 2014, it took the entire gaming world by surprise. The game was initially meant to be another entry in the Silent Hill series, but developer Konami canceled the project. After all that, the game is still an icon in the horror gaming genre.
You can’t think of even a single second in PT that isn’t terrifying. However, the moment of genuine dread is when you come across Lisa in the hallway. It’s one of the title’s first scariest moments and immediately informs you that your journey is going to be much more terrible than you could have imagined.
6. The Dentist
BioShock nails the atmosphere part, unlike other games. The game has been regarded as a masterclass mixture of mechanics and various genres. Sure, you might have tons of abilities and weapons, but you can’t escape.
One of the title’s most horrifying scenes takes place in Candy Dental. If you choose to explore this optional area, the room will be filled with fog. After the air clears, you’ll hear a subtle voice from behind and a sudden jump scare from the splicer dentist.
5. Consuming Human Meat
Telltale’s adventure games often present players with more difficult choices than eliminating evil creatures, and The Walking Dead builds on that formula in uncomfortable ways. Early on in the title’s first season, there’s a scene where the characters come across a welcoming family who can help them stay warm.
Sure, they might have a lot of blood on their farm, but that’s what farmers are known for, right? The protagonist eventually finds one of his friends bleeding to death in the bathroom, only to find out he has a single leg. Suddenly, a realization hits that the meat they consumed is human, and they’re next in line to be eaten.
4. First Necromorph Attack
Dead Space is considered one of the top horror and science fiction games ever developed. The brainchild of developer Visceral Games and Glen Schofield brings tons of terrifying sequences that will leave you at the edge of your seat.
However, the introduction to the staple Necromorphs in the first game is truly ingrained in the brains of gamers. The whole scene is nothing short of blood-pumping terror as players are ambushed and dismembered by something they thought was completely harmless.
3. Escaping The Kaernk
Well, it’s not always what you can see that’s horrifying. Jump scares and extreme violence are the perfect ways to traumatize audiences, but the ultimate way to induce fear is by making the menace invisible. Amnesia: The Dark Descent does an incredible job with this.
The Kaernk is one of the scariest enemies you’ll come across in the game. It’s invisible to the naked eye, and the only way to escape it is by keeping an eye on the ripples in the water nearby and avoiding them.
2. Meeting The Xenomorph
1979’s Alien is considered to be one of the ultimate horror films. Creative Assembly’s Alien: Isolation managed to capture the familiar tone and horror from the first main game, thanks to Xenomorph’s unmatched artificial intelligence.
Each gamer will have a completely unique experience based on how often Xenomorph takes you down, but everyone will have the same first encounter; when the extra-terrestrial jumps from the vent and stands before you, it marks the start of a hunt that’s filled with horror.
1. Dogs Smashing Through the Windows in Resident Evil
Horror games didn’t really have a strong presence in the 90s; no one knew what to expect from the original Resident Evil. While the game may seem quite old by today’s standards, it established the bar for causing games to jump from their chars in the face of raw terror.
The moment that made everyone realize that Capcom’s game was something special when a pack of dogs smashed through the mansion windows.
Up until this point, the game forces you to slowly work your way through a bunch of cramped hallways. Then, out of nowhere, tons of huge, blood-thirsty dogs leap through windows to chase you down.
What is the most horrifying moment in video game according to you? Let us know in the comments!
