Here are some of our favorite Spooky Levels in Gaming
Gaming has a way of making our hearts race. From the light-hearted Halloween levels with nostalgic charm to the genuinely disturbing and unsettling – here are 21 of some of our most notable spooky levels in gaming that we have played.
Table of Contents
Pumpkin Hill – Sonic Adventure 2
Possibly the greatest artistically designed level in an otherwise woefully unremarkable title. So, let me start off by saying I HATE the gem levels in this game. They are boring, poorly paced, and the tracking system is as broken as it is irritating. BUT, this is the only one that gets a pass. This level is freaking epic in terms of its aesthetic—a gloomy, Halloween town-esque mountain complete with pumpkins, spiked gates, spooky trains, and spires. It has Tim Burton and Hot Topic written all over it in all the best ways.
The icing on this delicious Halloween cake is the soundtrack; it had no business going as hard as it did. I dare say it’s the best track in the whole game. Nothing beats exploring pumpkin mountains with a cool and creepy piano and rap lyrics.
Slippery Climb – Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot is on the epic quest to save his beloved Tawna from Cortex’s clutches. In order to find the evil doctor, he must first infiltrate his sinister, evil lair, Castle Cortex. Guarded by Cortex’s henchmen and cage creatures who want to make a meal out of you, the sound of thunder and lightning perfectly captures this beautiful amalgamation of all our favorite horror and sci-fi tropes.
The Castle – Resident Evil 4
While Ramón Salazar lacks the intimidation factor, the pint-sized, squeaky-voiced aristocrat more than makes up for it with the magnificent architectural beauty that is his castle. This thing absolutely drips with atmosphere and feels like something straight out of a 1930s Universal horror film. Hearing fanatical Plagas monks wander aimlessly and continuously while chanting “to live is to die” in Spanish really sets the tone for what’s to come. Not to mention, you have to flee a giant mechanized Salazar statue—B-movie horror at its finest.
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The Caverns – Clock Tower
Under the hellish mansion lie even more hellish caverns. Jennifer finds a secret passage leading underground, where she discovers her friend dying from a ritualistic sacrifice. Her friend tells her she must activate the clock tower to stop all this madness. Throughout the game, you are given hints of the “Cradle Beneath the Star.” Further venturing inside leads to a horrific discovery—a chamber housing a deformed demon that your twisted mother has been feeding your friends to.
The Factory – Inside
Inside has you play as an unassuming boy in a deeply dystopian world where an unknown organization hunts anyone showing signs of free will. At the heart of this nightmare lies the factory. This gray, lifeless hellhole is packed with nameless, faceless dissidents, all being systematically stripped of independent thought and identity. Watching them march and move to the organization’s commands paints a chilling picture of an Orwellian landscape of total control and authoritarian rule.
The Hospital – SIREN
Every horror game needs a good hospital level, and Forbidden Siren nails it to a T. The hospital is abandoned and vanished years ago, but due to a flux in reality, it has been brought back into existence. The place is rustic, blood-stained, and crawling with spider Shibito to the sound of rain pouring from outside. If that wasn’t enough, a deranged killer nurse roams the halls, eager to give you your medicine—a healthy dose of dying!
Toluca Woods – Silent Hill 4: The Room
The most secluded and scariest section of Silent Hill 4—the forest. The path is dark and intentionally dimly lit, almost as if we are venturing deeper into the black heart of the beast itself. Past the fields and cemeteries, we arrive at the very center of the madness: the SH Wish House. The Order, the infamous cult of the titular town, uses this twisted house to brainwash orphans into their sick doctrines. It’s here that Walter Sullivan was transformed from an innocent child into a monstrous killing machine.
The Lodge – Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Ethan Thomas is sent on a mission to a dark, snowy forest. An amputated leg with bite marks sets a grim foreshadowing of what’s to come. He enters a lodge to find agents mangled and torn apart. A giant grizzly bear, driven completely primal by the sound devices, is ready to make a meal out of you. Once this four-legged nightmare appears, do as the screen suggests—RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
House Beneviento – Resident Evil Village
What’s scarier than a village overrun by werewolves in Eastern Europe? The house of a deranged aristocrat who makes dolls. You are completely unarmed in this section, forced to navigate this nightmare-inducing environment with no means of defense. The climax? A mutated, unkillable baby monster that sees you as nothing more than a giant jar of Gerber food.
Lucas’ Games – Resident Evil 7
Lucas is a textbook evil genius who wants to prove his intellect over Ethan. He has decided that it’s time to play the game his way. His sick and twisted idea of fun is something straight out of a Saw movie: explosive crates, a swinging hammer of pipes to skew you, and a fiery penalty for losing his birthday cake challenge. Unlike Jigsaw, he emphatically does not want you to learn a lesson, is not above cheating, and above all, does NOT want you to survive.
Mad Monster Mansion – Banjo-Kazooie
One of the first levels I think of that encapsulates a 3D Halloween playground is MMM. This world gives off strong Tim Burton-esque vibes with a dash of that signature Rareware flair. You’re essentially jumping around a Fright Fest–themed park, searching for all the haunted puzzle pieces.
Big Boos Haunt – Super Mario 64
This level is essentially the blueprint for what would become Luigi’s Mansion. The course is shrouded in spooky mystery and atmosphere. It also features one of the most iconic enemies—the evil, chomping piano!
Subcon Forest – A Hat In Time
A modern take on everything we love about ’90s and early 2000s 3D platformers, but in spooky form. The atmosphere, mechanics, and humor all blend together into a perfect ghoulish treat across several stages. Queen Vanessa’s Manor stands out as one of the most memorable levels in the game.
Ravenholm – Half Life 2
A complete tonal shift from the rest of the game, Ravenholm trades its usual sci-fi action for pure survival horror, immersing you in an oppressive, eerie atmosphere. Every corner drips with dread, turning familiar mechanics into tools of desperation. Father Grigori’s unsettling presence sets the stage perfectly, embodying the madness and fear that define this area.
Scarecrow Segments – Batman: Arkham Asylum
Easily one of my favorite parts of the game, I love how the horror creeps up on you before it fully sinks in. You find yourself trapped in an elevator as fear gas seeps through the vents, and suddenly you’re swallowed by a living nightmare.
343 Guilty Spark – Halo: Combat Evolved
One of the greatest plot twists in gaming, it marks a dramatic tonal shift from alien-shooty fun to a total horror show, where parasitic monstrosities want to feast on your carcass and turn you into one of them. The cutscene that plays like a found-footage short film when you discover the marine’s helmet is one of my favorite moments in gaming.
Dark Bramble – Outer Wilds
Boy, does everyone ADORE this game. One area you’re enticed to explore is pure cosmic horror. The game gives you false signals to lure you deeper into its interior, until suddenly you’re being swallowed by a giant anglerfish lurking in the fog.
Haunted House – Snowboard Kids 2
My favorite haunted racetrack from the greatest video game ever made (we can all agree on that, right?). Like every course in Snowboard Kids 2, the soundtrack is an absolute banger. The obstacles drip with perfect October magic, from spooky set pieces to clever hazards. It’s challenging, chaotic, and, above all, endlessly fun.
The Cursed Spaniards – Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
Almost reminds me of 343 Guilty Spark from Halo, where the game suddenly flips from lighthearted adventure to full-on horror. Wisecracking adventurer Nathan Drake finds himself surrounded by ancient, cursed explorers, all eager to tear him to ribbons as he navigates tetanus-inducing, rusty hallways. The mix of tight corridors, flickering lights, and relentless undead makes every step feel tense and dangerous.
The School – Little Nightmares 2
This series is full of great moments, but my ultimate favorite segment has to be the long-necked, freaky teacher in the school level. These indie horror titles are tense from start to finish, but this encounter takes the… apple…
Eyeball Machine – Dead Space 2
This part is notoriously horrendous. I don’t think any other moment in a game has made me cringe as much as this. If you don’t already have this awful image in your head, it’s easily one of the most uncomfortable sections of a game I’ve ever played. Well done, guys. I’m traumatized.
Final Thoughts
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