The Best Horror Levels In Non-Horror Games

Key Takeaways

• Horror-themed levels in non-horror games immerse players in tense environments, adding variety to gameplay.
• Scarecrow Nightmare in
  Batman: Arkham Asylum
  features minigames, enhancing gameplay with visuals and puzzles.
• Horror levels in games like
  Minecraft’s
  caves and
  Max Payne’s
  blood trail nightmares induce fear unexpectedly.

Horror experiences don’t need to be exclusive to horror games, not when there are unexpectedly scary and anxiety-inducing moments in non-horror games that rival even the creepiest atmosphere of a title that fits that sub-genre best. In many cases, these horror-themed levels enhance the overall story by immersing the player in a more tense and unpredictable environment, which not only switches up the gameplay style, but also saves the narrative from becoming stale by throwing in a curveball. A lot of horror levels exist as dream sequences or one-off ventures into spooky territory for a game that otherwise prioritizes action and adventure, more often than not.

For anyone who isn’t willing to go the full nine yards to try out a horror game or simply enjoys some variety in their storylines, these horror levels in non-horror games will provide all the spooks with no long-lasting psychological effects… hopefully.

8 Scarecrow Nightmare (Batman: Arkham Asylum)

Scarecrow’s Looming Figure Piles On The Pressure

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the titular Dark Knight can experience Scarecrow Nightmares if he breathes in Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin or otherwise comes into contact with it via injection or other means. In order to escape the Scarecrow Nightmare, Batman must use objects to hide from Scarecrow’s gaze — otherwise, he will be killed — all while trying to reach a Bat Signal to escape Scarecrow’s realm. There are three Scarecrow Nightmares in total, with the third one featuring skeletons for Batman to fight while still avoiding Scarecrow’s glowing amber eyes.

A fourth Scarecrow Nightmare is featured in the DLC of the same name, where Batman must face off against a skeleton horde while Scarecrow taunts him. If Batman gets hit by a skeleton, the challenge ends. Scarecrow Nightmares are similar to minigames and help break up the gameplay by switching up the visuals, puzzle-solving elements, and the perspective of Batman: Arkham Asylum.

7 Undead Nightmare (Red Dead Redemption)

John Marston Is Hunted By Hordes Of The Undead

As an expansion pack to Red Dead Redemption that also served as a standalone game, Undead Nightmare takes place in an alternate timeline with John Marston setting out to find a cure for a zombie outbreak that has not only plagued the whole town but also his wife and son. There are some encounters in Red Dead Redemption and its sequel that certainly amp up the scare factor for a game that doesn’t prioritize horror themes, but it isn’t inherently a horror game. That’s where Undead Nightmare comes in.

Rockstar felt as though the era of the American Frontier and the countryside setting were a perfect fit for a zombie game, which the developers had been keen on making for a long time. The opening voiceover sounds like Vincent Price in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the camera angles are disjointed and confusing, which makes Undead Nightmare resemble an influential horror movie like Evil Dead, and it’s often been lauded as one of the best DLC in gaming history.

6 The Ocean House Hotel (Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines)

Haunted House Tactics Create A Classic Horror Experience

Any game with “vampire” in the title certainly sounds as if it meets the criteria for a horror game, but Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines is actually an action role-playing game that’s part of a larger franchise — based on a tabletop RPG — comprising several sequels. In the quest “The Ghost Haunts at Midnight,” the player explores the Ocean House Hotel, which is haunted by the spirits of a husband, a wife, and their two children. The player arrives to put their souls to rest after learning that the husband killed his family and burned the hotel down.

As they explore the Ocean House Hotel, players are subjected to many classic horror scare tactics, such as falling chandeliers and a woman weeping as she floats through the corridors. Bloodlines implements a surprisingly effective horror segment that would catch many first-time players off guard entirely, as it doesn’t market itself as a horror game, so it’s jarring for the player in the best way possible.

5 Minecraft Caves (Minecraft)

Cave Systems Are A Constant Source of Anxiety

Minecraft could be considered the farthest thing from a horror game, especially when it’s such a cozy and therapeutic title, but it does have its fair share of fear-inducing moments. Many of the instances where a player’s life flashes before their eyes often occur inside a cave system or a mine shaft. It’s an unwritten rule of Minecraft to never, ever dig straight down — not as though anyone listens to that — as there’s a higher chance of taking a nasty fall, dropping straight into lava, or running into a horde of mobs in the dark. In Minecraft, caves can be the greatest expedition if they yield generous rewards, but they can also be exceedingly dangerous.

And there are times when the caves are terrifying, too, as running out of resources or navigating treacherous terrain with low health can be just as stressful as any jump scare. There’s nothing that gets the blood pumping quite like hearing a mob nearby and having no idea from which direction it’s coming.

4 Stalker Level — Chapter 3: Seattle Day (The Last Of Us Part 2)

Ellie Takes On A Horde Of Stalkers Alone In The Dark

Ellie’s Seattle: Day 2 not only introduces the Seraphites but also pits her against one of the deadliest types of infected: Stalkers. After entering an abandoned office building, Ellie chases a Stalker through a rupture in the floor, where she drops down to take on several of them at once. Not only is the area darker — so Ellie is operating with just her flashlight — but the Stalkers live up to their name by tracking Ellie’s movements. If she makes too much noise, they will converge on her location and ambush her. She can stealth her way through the area, but a lot of players prefer to either fight their way out or run to the window panes on the farthest side and bust through to reach a checkpoint.

A lot of players choosing to skip out on the Stalker segment altogether is a testament to how unnerving it is. this is particularly true because the Stalkers are difficult to see and their movements are so unpredictable that it’s hard to fend them off without a few spare Molotovs or the knowledge that hightailing it out of there might be the safest option.

3 Haunted Hogsmeade Quest (Hogwarts Legacy)

Players Fend Off Poltergeists and Mannequins

“Minding Your Own Business,” also known as the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop quest, can be accessed after unlocking the Fire and Vice main story quest in Hogwarts Legacy. There will be a house elf named Penny outside a vacant shop in Hogsmeade near Spintwitches Sporting Needs. Penny will prompt players to speak to the store’s owner, Cassandra Mason, who will offer to sell the shop to them. A few waves of the wand and casting Reparo will have the shop looking as good as new, but Cassandra advises the player to venture beneath the shop to open a mysterious chest.

As they explore the foyer, and the library, and meet the eccentric and flamboyant Fastidio, players will also encounter some eerie-looking mannequins. “Minding Your Own Business” is a relatively long quest that ends with a face off against Fastidio, his monster, and finally, Cassandra. It’s one of the more unique quests in the game and definitely shouldn’t be completed late at night or right before bed, since it’s certain to induce some nightmares of sentient mannequins and haunted happenings.

2 Let There Be Light (Rugrats: Search For Reptar)

Ominous Music Makes A Children’s Game Terrifying, Even For Adults

For a PlayStation 1 game largely aimed at children, Rugrats: Search for Reptar had no business including one of the scariest levels in any family-friendly game. “Let There Be Light” is a level based on the episode of the same name from the Rugrats TV show, where Tommy must navigate a dark house with ghosts around every corner. His objective is to get to the fridge, at which point he will realize that he needs Spike’s help to open it. Spike can be found in a random location inside or outside the house, and once Tommy finds him, he can return to the fridge again to complete the level.

As a young child, many gamers can attest to how unnecessarily unsettling this level could be, especially with the ominous background music. What makes “Let There Be Light” even better is the simple fact that Search for Reptar clearly never intended to make the level as scary as it was, so it was a happy accident that it became such a stand-out part of this PlayStation classic.

1 Blood Trail (Max Payne)

A Baby’s Cry Punctuates Max’s Journey Through Nightmares

The blood trail nightmare sequences in the Max Payne franchise are some of the most memorable, even if they can be a little frustrating at times. These parts of the game are thematically great and build on Max’s character in a profound way, even if they are the stuff of nightmares. It’s recommended to save (and quicksave frequently) before attempting the blood trail, as it involves a lot of trial and error unless players decide to use guides for a helping hand.

What makes these levels so horrifying is the sound of a baby crying that grows louder as players progress and restarts every time the level is failed. It’s one of the most horrific samples of sound design in any game — horror or not — and it’s a feature that fans are hoping to see in the upcoming remake. If the baby’s cries grow louder, that means Max is going the right way, which only makes the PTSD worse.