10 Scariest Horror Levels in Video Games
So you want to know about the scariest Horror levels in video games? The best horror games always try to one-up each other, with tension and jumpscares being key aspects that help make these titles so memorable. But, of course, one of the best ways to keep players on edge is by setting the scene with a terrifying location, and one that’s always guaranteed to give you goosebumps is an abandoned mansion.
From the Spencer Mansion in the remake of Resident Evil to the dark, dilapidated apartment complex in Silent Hill 2 and the twisted Ruvik’s Mansion in The Evil Within, we’ve collected ten of the most terrifying sections of the most memorable horror games. From jump scares to an oppressive atmosphere, these levels are the stuff of nightmares, and we could barely hold the controller in our hands while going through them.
Resident Evil
The Spencer Mansion in the remake of Resident Evil is easily the scariest section of the game. After making your way through the labs and underground waterways below the mansion, you finally make it inside, only to be assailed by the undead. Worse still, the mansion itself seems to have been infected by the virus, with some areas blocking your path until you find the appropriate key. This section of the game – along with its numerous Resident Evil remake glitches – is what cemented the Spencer Mansion as the most terrifying location in the series.
Silent Hill 2
The dark, dilapidated apartment complex in Silent Hill 2 is one of the most terrifying areas in any horror game. From the very first time you enter the building, you’re met with a number of jump scares – the most notable being a mirror reflection of the mannequin monster – and the sense that Pyramid Head is lurking around every corner.
Once you find your way to the roof and meet up with Dahlia, the true horror of the location comes to light, with a number of gruesome revelations, including facing your own doppelganger.
The Evil Within
While there are a number of great horror levels in The Evil Within, the most intense section is undoubtedly Ruvik’s Mansion. The mansion itself is no pushover on lower difficulties, but crank the difficulty up to hard and nightmare, and you’ll be hard-pressed to make it through.
Terrifying enemies, such as the Haunted, and some fiendishly difficult boss fights are found here, and with the game’s Punitive Counter system, even a headshot can kill you. And if that’s not enough, you’re constantly on the run from Ruvik himself.
Alien: Isolation
While some of the missions in Alien: Isolation are more tense than others, there’s no denying that the game’s constant sense of dread permeates every single section, from the initial flashback on the space station to the last confrontation with the Xenomorph on the refinery.
But arguably the most terrifying section is the opening few minutes of the game, when you finally board the Sevastopol and find that your crewmates have been attacked by an invisible assailant. You’re constantly under threat in the game’s Sevastopol space station hub area, but the opening minutes are a masterclass in tension, with the Xenomorph always close by.
Outlast
The opening to Outlast is unforgettable. You’re in a car with a pair of corrupt cops, and when you stop at an abandoned psychiatric hospital, you discover that it’s filled with horrific monstrosities. The sense of isolation is palpable, as you’re forced to flee from the murderous Nurse Demons and hide in the shadows.
The ensuing chase through the corridors and operating theatres of Mount Massive is terrifying enough, but the final revelation turns the game on its head and sets you on a path to uncovering the secrets behind the corrupt Murkoff Corporation.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
The prison section of Amnesia is its scariest by far. You’re trapped in a claustrophobic building with dozens of guards, each of whom is equipped with a gun and a torch. The guards are intelligent enough to check their surroundings regularly, and if they catch you, they’ll throw you in a solitary cell and let you rot.
The only light in this terrifying section of Amnesia is the torch you carry with you, which means that you’ll spend most of your time hiding in the shadows and praying that the guards don’t see you.
Silent Hill
In the first Silent Hill, the game takes a macabre turn when you enter the school. Up until this point, the game has ramped up the tension fairly well, but once you enter the school, the level twists into something altogether more disturbing. You’re tasked with finding a secret passageway that leads to a hidden basement. But, as you might expect from a school, there are a lot of locked doors and dead ends.
The claustrophobic hallways are extremely dimly lit, and you’re often forced to hide from patrolling guards. The atmosphere becomes increasingly bizarre, and you’ll eventually find yourself standing in front of a giant hand that erupts from the ground and grabs the headmaster.
Dead Space 2
As terrifying as the Necromorphs are in Dead Space, nothing quite compares to the terror of facing your childhood demons. In the second game in the series, you’re sent to an elementary school where the flesh-eating monsters have wreaked havoc.
The elementary school serves as a constant reminder of your lost innocence, and the horrors you witnessed as a child. But perhaps the most unnerving section of the game is the school’s nursery, complete with cribs for the children infected by the virus.
Outlast
In the first Outlast, the school is genuinely terrifying.
