The 10 Most TERRIFYING Video Game Cutscenes

Meeting Adam Dead Rising (2006)

Youd think being stuck in a mall filled with zombies, the only thing you would have to be wary of would be the ravenous undead. Not a chance. The real terror in this game can be found within the civilians who have been driven to insanity by the zombie outbreak. Case and point Adam the Clown. As it happens, the stress of entertainment combined with a million undead showing up turning him into a killing machine. As he demonstrates by revealing to Frank that hes chopped up countless innocents with his chainsaws, leaving their corpses on the nearby ferris wheel. Well take the walking dead any day over this guy!

I Want a Play a Game Until Dawn (2015)

While it mainly parodies the slashers of the 80s, this cinematic survival horror fest certainly wasnt afraid of utilizing some contemporary inspirations. The scene in which both Josh and Ashley are strung by the masked stalker is clearly taken right from the DNA of the Saw franchise. While the game does give you the illusion of choice, it always ends the same a giant blade slicing Josh in half while blood sprays everywhere. Its a no-win scenario that is just as gnarly no matter how many times you watch it play out.

Ludwig the Accursed Bloodborne (2015)

Its a testament to this boss unholy presence that even among a roster of horrifying, eldritch nightmares, he alone stands out as the worst thing to ever come out of Yharnam, perhaps all of Soulsborne! As the haunting narration plays out, we slowly see this hulking mesh of a monster emerge, with one of the most captivatingly disgusting designs ever committed to video games. Things are then taken to the next level in phase two where Ludwig regains some semblance of humanity, revealing the majesty of his Moonlight Greatswordbefore trying to kill us with it!

The Rat King The Last of Us Part II (2020)

The Clickers are some of the scariest enemies to ever be introduced into gaming voracious, cannibalistic infected consumed by the fungus that ended the world. After everything wed seen from both them and their variants, it seemed like the ceiling had been reached when it came to sheer panic. That is, until Abby finds herself struggling to escape from a basementand comes face to face(s) with the Rat King; a bloated, heaving abomination formed of three types of Clickers melded into one. If the apocalypse had a poster boy, it would be his majesty.

The Hive Mind Dead Space (2008)

Isaac Clarke had a pretty tough time of it on the Ishimura. What with the murdered inhabitants being transformed into the alien terrors known as Necromorphs. After facing death, betrayal and the heartbreaking revelation about his girlfriend Nicole, youd think it couldnt get any worse for the engineer. That is, until tentacles start to fill the sky. After slaying Daniels, the Hivemind makes itself known a living nexus that holds sway over all other Necromorphs, with its tendrils now squarely set on tearing Isaac apart. My man did not get paid enough for this gig!

Family Dinner Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)

Forgoing the campiness of RE6 and bombastic action of RE5, this game brought horror and tension back to the forefront, and theres no greater example than when Ethan Winters awakens to find himself at the dinner table alongside the Baker Family. Inspired by the iconic scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, being forced to watch the Bakers particular band of depravity up close is beyond the pale of unnerving. The sense of claustrophobia alongside the infected familys knack for bloodshed instantly resuscitated life back into this once decomposing franchise.

The Xenomorph Alien Isolation (2014)

Following countless movies, games and comics paying their homage to the so-called perfect organism, youd think its fear factor would be long gone by this point. It might have been, had Isolation not delivered one of the greatest and chilling incarnations of the titular alien to date. As Ripleys daughter Amanda searches for her missing mother, she finds herself scrambling through a space station on the brink. The sense of dread is palpable as soon as you step aboard, all building up to the moment where the Xenomorph makes itself known. With one fell swoop, it tears Amandas companion Axel to shreds, before beginning its hunt. Youd be forgiven for not breathing throughout the entire blood-soaked spectacle.

Pyramid Head Silent Hill 2 (2001)

The supernatural forces that dwell within this sleepy little town can drive a person to madness, or manifest their traumas into physical entities. Sometimes both, as in the case of James Sunderland. While the vulgar creatures encountered upon entry were no slouches when it came to making us uncomfortable, none hold a candle to the behemoth with the triangular helm and gigantic knife. The way in which Pyramid Head, after having his morbid fun with the other Silent Hell residents, slowly approaches James hiding spot, unflinching even as hes showered with bullets it paints him as an entity that cannot be stopped. Which, as the embodiment of punishment, is all too fitting.

Under the Sea BioShock (2007)

The submerged city of Rapture is full of awe-inspiring sights. Its also home to the worst of humanity. After descending in the bathysphere, we can do nothing except bear witness as a Splicer rips apart a citizen with her implanted hooksall before she sets about trying to hack through the thin sheet of steel separating us from a gruesome end. The use of lighting, sound and atmosphere is second to none here, giving us just a glimpse of the insanity soon to be found as we take our first steps through Rapture.

Mr Gluskin Outlast: Whistleblower (2014)

When you can make every other inmate of Mount Massive Asylum look like a scared child by comparison, you know youre dealing with an individual that is truly unhinged. After being rendered unconscious and imprisoned, were forced to witness the depths of Mr Gluskins madness, as he goes about maiming and killing other unfortunate captives, all in the fruitless effort to turn them into his ideal bride. The only thing more repulsive than watching inmates being tortured to death is getting a first person view as Gluskin comes dangerously close to castrating our character with a buzzsaw.

Which of these cutscenes still make you shiver? Let us know in the comments!