Open-world games are no stranger to their fair share of creepy moments that will scare players out of their wits. However, the most effective scary events in games are ones that aren’t all that obvious, rewarding inquisitive players with a shock to the system.
Thebest and most immersive open-world gamesknow how to scare players with these secrets, enhancing the worldbuilding of these titles. If everything is executed to perfection, these horrifying secrets can become notable urban gaming legends.
Far Cry 5was an injection of creativity this franchise desperately needed, doing just enough to change the core gameplay loop while also building upon the things that made this series so special. This includes some memorable secrets, including a haunted house that will scare players out of their wits.
It houses one of the most elaborate Prepper Stashes in the game, with the eerie house being full of jump scares and eerie vibes that will compel players to get out of this place as soon as they possibly can. It’s a shame that unique secrets like these were missing inFar Cry 6, contributing to this sequel’s blandness.
Assassin’s Creed 2is one of the greatest open-world games of all time, with some eerie secrets that fans can uncover. One of these is a giant squid present in the flooded underground section of the Santa Maria della Visitazione, which will swim past and eventually attempt to attack Ezio if he lingers around for too long.
Another eerie secret can be found if players head back to Ezio’s burned manor. He will find ghosts of his family members scattered about the ruined house, which can be rather disturbing for some players to handle.
TheGrand Theft Autoseries is no stranger to its fair share of secrets, and the fifth mainline entry is no exception. From the very first level, players can head under a bridge to see an alien frozen in the water, which can be pretty terrifying to behold.
The machinations of the Zodiac killer and the ghost of Mount Gordo make for creepy sights that will stick in the minds of fans. Finally, ifplayers attain 100% completionin the game, then they can possibly unlock a bunch of UFO sightings across the world that can be rather unnerving.
TheArkhamgames are dripping with atmosphere, making it the perfect staging ground for a bunch of scary secrets.Arkham Cityunderstood the assignment byhiding Scarecrow’s lair in a hard-to-reach areaon the map that isn’t obvious at all.
If players enter the lair, the view will switch to first-person as players walk towards a thug strapped to a chair. It’s a bit predictable, but watching him get up at the last second to jumpscare players before breathing his last makes for a terrifying sight, especially once players find out the rough experiments this person had to deal with.
One of the many reasonswhyFallout: New Vegasis such a masterpieceis because of its environmental storytelling. Every optional area in the game houses something interesting, whether it be tough combat encounters, powerful weapons, or some great worldbuilding.
In Vault 11, players will stumble upon one of the most chilling stories inFallouthistory, which says a lot. The Vault was a social experiment that would reward its residents for refusing to sacrifice anyone, but the dwellers never figured this out and elected people who’d serve as Overseers for a year before sacrificing them. A woman looking out for her husband is caught in this crossfire, having to sell her dignity to save her husband, only to be betrayed. What follows is a bloodbath after she swears vengeance on the people who did her wrong before causing anarchy to reign in the Vault after a doctrine that would start electing Overseers at random.
Red Dead Redemption 2is full of so many scary secrets that it will boggle the mind. A serial killer on the rampage, a man in the swamp who does horrible things to Arthur, and the vampire of Saint-Denis are just a few of the many secrets fans can find in the game.
However, one of the scariest secrets has to be the Ghost Train that players can find at night, which will send shivers down their spine. The same can be said for a UFO encounter that makes players feel trapped, as cool as it may be to find this classic Rockstar easter egg.
The Witcher 3: Wild Huntwas made with a ton of love and care, and this can be seen in the wealth of secrets scattered across this RPG. Some of these hidden things can be especially sinister, with the ghost ship in Skellige being an obvious mention that will scare players out of their wits as they explore the high seas at night.
There’s also the Weeping Angels in the Lindenvale Graveyard, which stalk Geralt and move their positions when players aren’t looking. This easter egg is a nod to Doctor Who and makes for one of the creepiest sights in the game.
UnlikeBreath of the Wild, the bosses inTears of the Kingdomall feel unique from each other in terms of both design and fighting style, which is appreciated for obvious reasons. Fans love the idea of facing off against these tough foes and using the unique ability of their companion to make things easier.
After this battle,players who explore the Depthswill be shocked when they find the same bosses appear at different points underground. This can make for some shocking and challenging battles, scaring players out of their wits as they try to deal with these bosses once again in the Depths.
