#7. The Bottom of the Well [Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]
Why does Nintendo want to freak us out so much? Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is full of creepy stuff — the ruined Hyrule market guarded by zombies, anyone? Or how about the creepy Forest Temple, or the undead-infested Shadow Temple? They’re all creepy in their own ways, but the Bottom of the Well is the worst location of all.
The Bottom of the Well is a mini-dungeon. After draining the water, you’ll have to navigate of maze of secret walls, lined with skeletons, and guarded by some very strange enemies. Crawl through a narrow shaft, and you’ll meet the Dead Hand — a bloody creep that shambles around the room, summoning distended arms from the ground to grab Link. Wall Masters and ReDeads are gross, but Dead Hands might be the creepiest of all.
#8. The Ruined Palace [Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow & The Flame]
Prince of Persia 2 is a rollicking adventure, filled with fast-paced escape sequences and some light puzzle-solving as you dodge spooky threats like skeletons and the occasional pit lined with spikes. Unlike the first Prince of Persia where you’re mostly trapped in a dimly lit dungeon, Prince of Persia 2 doesn’t have an aggressively oppressive atmosphere. There so much more swashbuckling adventure!
Until you reach the Ruined Palace island. This crumbled edifice is full of falling floors — and flying ghoul heads! You’ll also have to watch out for swinging blade traps that cut the Prince in two. The snakes aren’t great either. Really, it’s the screaming flying heads that we have a big problem with.
Discover more nightmare-inducing moments in gaming on the next page.
