In this article, I’ll take a look at some of the most terrifying enemies and monsters to feature in video-games. Please note that I am talking scary as opposed to difficult. If it was just the latter, you’d be able to pick most of them from either theDark Soulsseries orBloodborne.
The most terrifying videogame enemies
Pyramid Head, also known as the Red Pyramid, is a monster appearing inSilent Hill 2. Representing main character James Sunderland’s guilt over his wife’s death, Pyramid Head is a hulking monstrosity. He can’t be reasoned with. Pyramid Head is the Judge, Jury and Executioner and he knows you’re guilty. Nice knowing you. Here’s a look at James Sunderland’s first memorable meeting with Pyramid Head.
2) Eddie Gluskin, aka The Groom - Outlast
This one’s from theOutlast’sWhistleblower DLC. In my opinion, The Groom was scarier than Chris Walker. He’s a deranged patient who was convinced that he was to be married to the woman of his dreams and will go to any lengths to find her. As there are no women in the game, The Groom had to make one. After a chase you may’t escape, you’re captured, drugged and tied to a band saw. The fact that you’re naked makes you feel all the more vulnerable. Hearing the Groom talking about wanting to “purify” you and “remove the vulgar tissue” is pretty unsettling.
3) Lisa, P.T
The P.T demo was one of the scariest gaming experiences I’ve had. It’s tragic that the game was never made. The whole thing is disturbing but it contains one big jump scare when your deceased wife - who it sounds like you killed - attacks.
4) Xenomorph, Alien Isolation
To get the full effect of this one, you have to play it in the dark, with noise detection on. Trying to keep silent in real-life when the alien is crawling right above you makes it a truly scary experience. It’s great that somebody finally made a scaryAliengame.
5) Kaernk, Amnesia: The Dark Descent
InAmnesia: The Dark Descent, you have no weapons to defend yourself with. You’re vulnerable and that feeling of vulnerability is never felt as strongly as when facing Kaernk. Because in the Flooded Archives, you’re able to’t even see your enemy. All you can do is look out for the small ripples of water, as this invisible, lethal enemy approaches.
6) Mannequins, Condemned: Criminal Origins
Mannequins can be creepy at the best of times. And when you come across these ones inCondemned: Criminal Origins, you’ve already had to face more than your fair share of crazies. So this isn’t the best of times and you’re bound to be jumpy. That feeling will only get worse when the mannequins start moving. I really liked Condemned: Criminal Origins. If you haven’t tried it yet, you can probably pick it up for a couple of dollars now.
7) Alma, F.E.A.R
Want to know what’s creepier than mannequins? Creepy children. Whether it’s The Grudge, The Ring or those Grady twins in The Shining, for a long time horror movies have shown us just how scary children can be.F.E.A.Rcrafted a whole game around that concept. You face Alma Wade. She was a young girl with tremendous psychic powers who was experimented on severely throughout her childhood. The experiments resulted in her being forced into a coma. Believed to be long dead, she returns to haunt you throughout the game
8) Twin Victim, Silent Hill 4: The Room
Want to know what’s creepier than a creepy girl? Well, how about a conjoined infant twin monster? Siblings Billy and Miriam Locane were victims of serial killer Walter Sullivan. He slaughtered both of them with an axe. The tormented souls of Billy and Miriam were reborn as the Twin Victim monster (aka Doublehead). It isn’t just the times that this monster charges towards you by crawling on its grotesque arms that are scary. When it stays still, blankly stares at you and then points at you also ramp up the fear.
9) Nemesis, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Arguably the most terrifying monster from theResident Evilseries, Nemesis hunts Jill Valentine throughout the entirety ofResident Evil 3. He has a nasty habit of bursting through walls when you least expect it. Nemesis carries a rocket launcher and has been known to mumble “S.T.A.R.S.” under his breath, which makes him more intelligent than a lot of theResident Evilfoes.
10) Skeleton Beast, Dark Souls
Okay, I had to put at least one creature fromDark Soulson the list. It’s not the most powerful…it’s not even a boss…but there is something creepy about it. It may be the sound it makes. When I first heard it, I gradually became more and more nervous. What’s that sound? Where’s it coming from? Then I basically walked into the thing, briefly panicked and died.Dark Souls' Mimic also gets a good jump-scare the first time that you face it but for me personally, theSkeleton Beastaffected me more. It’s an odd choice perhaps given that there are much more powerful opponents in the Souls' series but it’s a personal list and I did say at the start that it wasn’t about being the toughest battle.
What video game enemies scared you the most? Please comment below and let me know.
Want more opinion pieces? You could readHe’s not bad, he’s just misunderstoodnext. Alternatively, you could readThe Curse of the Crappy Videogame Movieinstead.
