Top 10 Spooky Levels in Non-Horror Games

The life of a SWAT team member is never easy, but it got unusually terrifying in this segment of the tactical FPS. Like the other missions, you get a briefing at the beginning on what you and your five-man team can expect, but nothing can prepare you adequately for the sheer terror you experience. The creepy building is the home of the freakish psychopath Lawrence Fairfax, the primary suspect in a number of kidnappings to do ... well we don’t even wanna know what he does.

This platformer has outstanding level design, and this terrifying castle really changes the pace from the happy upbeat worlds from earlier in the game. Take on a haunted Minecart ride, explore the titular haunted castle, and every minute will be just as likely to creep you out, thanks in large part to the fittingly eerie music and the mysterious enemies like Ghost Books. Not only that, but you get an unforgettable boss fight with the King Kut Out, unforgettable since it’s a giant cardboard cutout of K. Rool.

There’s an infinite list of reasons why this action-adventure title is among the greatest games ever made, and this scary level is one of them. Most of the platforms, pits and enemies are invisible, and Link needs to make use of the slippery Hover Boots and magic draining Lens of Truth to survive this area. The highlight of the level however, is without question the ghost ship that Link takes towards the end of the level as it sails though the ghastly tunnels.

Another Nintendo title on the list, but they wouldn’t be on here if they didn’t know how to inspire terror as well as they do. This level, from the revolutionary platformer, is filled with creepy Boos. The small ones that you see at first will probably be enough to creepy you out, but things manage to get even spookier once you face off against the giant ones. Don’t get us started on the disturbingly detached eyeballs or that merry go round.

This was from back when the proportions of Lara’s body were frighteningly unrealistic, but even those weren’t as unsettling as this level. Her mission to recover the pieces of the mysterious MacGuffin known as the Scion leads her to the creepy underground Egyptian sanctuary, which, unfortunately for her, is infested by terrifying mummies and flying demons. Also just like the Shadow Temple, it too is filled with invisible platforms, better watch your step.

Frog is here to avenge his friend Cyrus and get revenge on Magus for… turning him into a frog, but first he and Chrono have to deal with this haunted abode. What you think are save points wind up being traps, characters related to the party members show up as illusions, and there always seem to be bats stalking you. Regardless, you’re going to have to put aside your fears if you’re going to get through to the antagonist Magus, and through the entire ordeal that errie laugh in the background starts to wear out your nerves.

Ok so the game wasn’t one of the best games out there receiving mixed reviews, but this action RPG still has this redeeming stage. It’s a mostly abandoned hotel, except for one inhabitant—a deeply disturbing spirit. Throughout the level, the spirit will be responsible for flying objects, creepy sounds, and more seemingly unexplainable occurrences that are sure to test your nerves. It’s plenty terrifying at the beginning, but it only gets worse the further you go, because the spirit gets more and more violent.

Before Dead Space and System Shock 2 may have also done the creepy derelict space shit thing, but Samus Aran also got a chance with this spooky outing. This Galactic Federation ship was attacked by the Space Pirates, prior to the start of the game, leaving it desolate. And worse is that there’s hints of Metroid activity here, as the area is littered with the charred remains of soldiers that have been reduced to dust. Samus has been through creepy environments before, but this place takes the cake.

(We don’t go there anymore) Unfortunatly you have no choice. The evil alien Combine bombarded this old mining town with Headcrab Shells, leading to it becoming overrun with Zombies. As if that weren’t enough to deal with, there’s not much ammo in the town to use against them, so you have to make use of your newly acquired gravity gun. On the bright side, Ravenholm was apparently home to a circular saw factory before it was overrun, so there’s plenty for you to use.

Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:

Mirror, Mirror
“Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure” (2007)

Lavender Town
“Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow” (1998)

Land of the Livid Dead
“Rayman: Origins” (2011)

Cave of the Past
“Earthbound” (1995)

What better game to take the top spot than this 4th wall breaking, brain shattering terror. Scarecrow attacks the titular hero with his homemade toxin that brings out his greatest fears, which if you know your Batman lore, would of course be his murdered parents. Naturally, these are pretty disturbing on their own, but they combine with the threat of instant death from the scarecrow’s lamp-like gaze in this masterfully created nightmare world. And you thought tripping out on hallucinogens would be fun…

Do you agree with our list? Which spooky level made you regret not wearing diapers? For more terrifying top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.