The 20 Most TERRIFYING Moments In Horror Games

The 20 Most Terrifying Moments In Horror Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we are letting the hairs on the back of our necks stand upright, because these are the 20 Most Terrifying Moments in Horror Games. Terror is sometimes subjective, so we’ve got a good spread of atmospheric scares, context scares, and of course jumpscares... Let’s go!

The Mirror Circle

“Visage” (2020)

My only goal in life is to make sure everyone learns that Visage is not only one of the best horror games of the last decade, but one of the best horror games of all time. There are only about one thousand moments we could pick from this game for this list, but we’re going with the mirror circle. The mirror circle is terrifying because it combines psychological dread with unpredictability. As players enter the dark room, they find a circle of mirrors facing outward, each reflecting the dark space behind the player that they can’t see. The uncertainty of whether what you see in the mirror is what is actually behind them is what keeps you on your toes right up until the perfect jumpscare that reveals itself a beat after the moment you think it would happen, making it land perfectly for 95% of players.

The Bear Attack

“Condemned 2: Bloodshot” (2008)

The bear attack sequence in Condemned 2: Bloodshot is terrifying because it suddenly shifts the game from psychological horror to intense, physical danger, something the player feels ill equipped for. The player is forced into a cramped environment where the bear’s massive, relentless attacks create a sense of helplessness. Its unpredictable movements and deafening roars make you feel like you are way out of your depth. The claustrophobic setting amplifies the tension, as there’s no room to maneuver or escape. Raw power against total vulnerability is the perfect combination for fear.

Fort Frolic Splicers

“BioShock” (2007)

Splicers are the main enemies of BioShock with the many variations of them spread across the game. But, in Fort Frolic, players get the wonderful opportunity to come face to face with the Plaster Splicers, who are essentially Splicers covered in plaster. Are they alive? Are they going to move? Are they strong? All of these questions, and more, are answered at the perfect moments in Fort Frolic, and it certainly causes some big scares.

Deleting All Your Saves

“Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem” (2002)

Eternal Darkness’s ingenious use of a “sanity meter” that triggers hallucinations is one of the most impactful mechanics in horror gaming history. Yet, this brilliant concept reaches its peak when one of the game's sanity-induced freakouts makes you believe your save files are being deleted. Even when you’re aware that the game will mess with you in these ways, nothing prepares you for the true "meta" terror of thinking all your progress has vanished. It’s a perfect embodiment of a fear that every gamer from a certain era has experienced, making it a masterclass in psychological horror. This moment was only matched by my brother saving over my FFX save... Not a horror game, but truly terrifying regardless.

Laura

“The Evil Within” (2014)

The Evil Within is a chilling game overall, but nothing in its early moments quite compares to the terror of encountering “Laura,” a grotesque, spider-like creature with a human face that bursts from the floor to give you a greeting you never asked for. It’s the brutal, sudden nature of Laura’s appearance that makes this moment unforgettable. The game doesn’t allow any time to process the horrifying sight before forcing you to flee from the creature, whose spine-chilling scream echoes through the room, shaking you to your core.

The Rat King

“The Last of Us Part II” (2020)

The Last of Us doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves for its effective use of horror, but the series’ most terrifying moments come when you have to put those goddamn gas masks on, and the worst of these moments comes in The Last of Us Part 2, during a confrontation with the almost indescribable monstrosity known as The Rat King. This grotesque, mutated creature is so unlike anything players have encountered in the game up to that point that no amount of foreshadowing can truly prepare you for the horrific reveal. You know you’re at ground zero, you know that the infected here have had the most amount of time to grow, and yet this moment, and its full-on 90s gross-out horror style, is shockingly unexpected.

The Child’s Room

“Layers of Fear” (2016)

Just when you think you’ve seen it all in Layers of Fear, you’ll find yourself in a child’s room, where a music box casts innocent illustrations on the walls. The moment you interact with the music box, you’re thrust into what can only be described as a descent into Hell, where each rotation leaves you dreading what’s next. While the scene itself is undeniably eerie, what truly sets it apart is how seamlessly it ties into the game’s lore, making you feel exactly like the protagonist, helpless and trapped, forced to navigate a nightmarish journey through your deepest fears.

The Wendigo’s First Appearance

“Until Dawn” (2015)

One of the scariest moments of Until Dawn comes when the Wendigo is first revealed and interacted with. This isn’t the first time they’re heard, and definitely not the first trace of them, but it is the first time you see them clear as day and use the infamous “don’t move” mechanic against them, training you for the final moments of the game.

The Ladder

“F.E.A.R.” (2005)

2005’s F.E.A.R. masterfully combines innovative FPS mechanics with the jump-scare horror that was popular in films at the time. This blend reaches its peak in a memorable moment when you initiate a “climbing the ladder” sequence, only to be startled by Alma, the game’s unsettling child, standing directly in front of you. What makes this scare so effective is how it completely disrupts the player’s control and perspective, forcing you to surrender to the game. It’s a rare, unavoidable scare that leaves a lasting impact, making you question your trust in FPS games from that point forward.

The NoonTech Diagnostic Machine

“Dead Space 2” (2011)

Considering how terrifying the first two Dead Space games are, it speaks volumes that fans generally agree the NoonTech Diagnostic Machine sequence is the franchise’s most unforgettable moment. After all, how else can you describe a scene where you're forced to carefully insert a massive needle into your character's eye? Eye trauma has been a chilling horror device since the genre’s early days, and Dead Space 2 takes this fear to the next level by making you the one to perform the gruesome act. Even the developers themselves questioned if this moment was pushing the limits too far. I for one sweated through my PS3 controller, and my spare PS3 controller.

Running From Mr. X

“Resident Evil 2” (2019)

There have been many memorable "stalker" moments in gaming, but few can rival the pure terror of encountering Mr. X in Capcom’s masterful Resident Evil 2 remake. We knew Mr. X was probably coming, but we didn’t expect him to come in with such force… That didn’t sound right. The most effective slashers and stalkers make you feel like escape is hopeless, and Mr. X nails that feeling perfectly. The initial “Oh no!” moment when you first spot him is only surpassed by the chilling realization that outrunning him will be just as hard as you dreaded. Nobody will ever forget the sound of Mr. X’s feet thudding through the halls of the police station.

The Mirror

“Silent Hill 3” (2003)

Silent Hill 3 offers a terrifying and quiet moment, perfectly representing what makes the series so solid. You enter a grimy room and face a mirror. Suddenly, the nearby basin begins to bleed, but as the blood in the reflection and the room start acting differently, unease sets in. The blood spreads across the walls and floors, and you begin to panic, wondering what's happening and how you'll escape this now-locked room. The scene is frightening on its own, but when you realize the blood is a real threat and you need to escape, the pressure truly builds. The visual scares BECOME the threat, and that’s when horror is at its peak.

The Falling Woman

“Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly" (2003)

Fatal Frame is a terrifying series, the mechanics offer so many chances for pure terror, but The Falling Woman from Fatal Frame 2 stands out as one of the series' finest moments of terror. The Falling Woman is a tragic figure who seems to have taken her own life, now cursed to endlessly relive her death. Her tortured spirit manifests in a grotesque form, chasing you across the room. Much like the Pyramid Head sequence, it's the blend of visual horror and emotional unease that makes this moment unforgettable. Everything about it feels wrong, it feels off, it feels so uneasy, and it leaves you not exactly knowing what to expect.

The Flooded Room

“Amnesia: The Dark Descent” (2010)

It’s no exaggeration to say that Amnesia revolutionized the horror game genre, and its most iconic moment has to be this heart-stopping sequence where you must navigate a flooded hallway with an invisible monster lurking. On a purely conceptual level, this moment is terrifying, but what makes it worse is how it doubles as a complex physics puzzle, making the already nerve-wracking situation even more intense. Are you brave enough to take the leap into its possible path, hoping to spot its movements in time? Amnesia demonstrated that the future of horror would make you feel like you’re truly in the heart of the terror, and without resources.

Pyramid Head’s Introduction

 “Silent Hill 2” (2001)

The classic “what the hell is that?” moment has long been one of the most effective scares in horror, and few video game moments have done it better than Silent Hill 2, which lands more in the category of “what the f*** is that?” In this unforgettable scene, we walk into a room to witness the creature known as Pyramid Head brutally assaulting mannequin-like figures. While the visual shock alone is enough to unsettle you, it’s what this moment signifies within Silent Hill 2’s warped narrative that makes it truly unforgettable. It’s also yucky yuck yuck, and terrifying to boot.

Dog Scare

“Resident Evil” (1996)

There was a brief moment of debate on whether to include this jump scare, as today its original impact is fairly watered down, but we also have to account for historical impact, and the moment when the camera shifts in that infamous Resident Evil hallway just as a dog leaps through the window is truly a masterful scare. At the time it was a masterclass in terror for other horror devs. It terrified an entire generation of gamers still adjusting to the idea that games could be this scary, and as rare as it is, if someone played this blind today, it would STILL work.

Encountering the Xenomorph

“Alien: Isolation” (2014)

Ridley Scott's 1979 Alien is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made. The developers of Alien: Isolation perfectly captured the film's tense atmosphere and terror, primarily due to the xenomorph's exceptional AI, and this game needs to reenter the gaming zeitgeist. While each player's experience will differ depending on how often the Xenomorph catches them, everyone shares the same initial encounter. When the terrifying extraterrestrial emerges from the vent and lands in front of you, it marks the beginning of a terrifying chase. And avoiding the Xenomorph is as terrifying as it gets. This game needs another round of love.

The Groom

“Outlast: Whistleblower” (2014)

Okay, I’m trying to keep this light, but The Groom from Outlast: Whistleblower makes it really difficult. The Groom has an obsessive desire to find a bride, but being surrounded only by men leads him to horrifying extremes. His victims are subjected to unspeakable procedures in his twisted attempt to create the "perfect" partner. While I’m not usually a fan of horror that leans heavily into shock and gore for its own sake, this sequence pushes those boundaries further than almost any game I’ve experienced. It throws you into an absolute nightmare and forces you to helplessly wonder just how much worse things will get, and it’s this disconnect from reality that makes your encounter with The Groom one of the most terrifying moments in the whole series.

The Baby Chase

“Resident Evil Village” (2021)

Nobody can land on what the hell is in the basement of House Beneviento. People call it the baby, but I’ve always referred to it as the giant foetus, which I BELIEVE is way more accurate. From its eerie, wailing cries to its bloated, nightmarish form and the horrifying way it consumes anyone unfortunate enough to get caught, everything about it is pure terror. What makes this thing even worse is the complete lack of explanation for its existence. Donna Beneviento specializes in illusions, yet this monstrosity is very real, because it can properly take you down.

Lisa and the Hallway

“P.T.” (2014)

Choosing the single scariest moment from P.T. is nearly impossible, but Lisa’s first appearance in the hallway is a strong contender. The sheer sight of her looming figure is enough to send chills down your spine, but it’s the context that makes it truly terrifying. As one of the game’s earliest scares, it instantly establishes that you’re trapped in something far more horrifying than you’ve ever experienced, and it was one of the first PS4 games. New generation, new scares... P.T. is often considered one of the scariest games ever made, and this moment, this single image of Lisa staring you down, is more famous than the game itself.