The idea of having to either face or hide from a monster that can scare the living wits out of most players might not sound like a ton of fun, but the medium of video games has molded this concept within their structure so brilliantly that these experiences become truly unforgettable. The rich atmospheric nature of horror games is a major reason why most popular and lauded titles have elements of this genre present as well.
That being said, not all horror games are must-play titles. In fact, the genre is definitely populated with horrible cash-grabs and half-baked titles that are downright broken at times. That being said, some bad horror titles still have incredibly menacing and memorable villains that unfortunately don't enjoy the popularity they deserve because of the bad games they're a part of. The following villains have received this treatment in the realm of video gaming, which is a shame.
10 Slender Man – Various Games
The Slender Man is one of the most iconic video game villains of all time. This figure was all the rage when Slender: The Eight Pages was released, with a slew of titles featuring this character cropping up over time.
However, aside from the usual process of exploration and cheap jumpscares, there's really nothing all that memorable about these games. They are largely forgettable experiences...even though the Slender Man himself is nothing short of terrifying.
9 The Animatronics Of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza – Various Games
Fans of the Five Nights at Freddy's series may have noticed a steady decline in the quality of the franchise's games over the years. The first few titles in the series actually held quite a bit of promise before the franchise devolved into what some may consider a cash grab.
As a result, the once-scary animatronics of Freddy Fazbear have lost some of their appeal. It's a shame since these animatronics are genuinely creepy and can still shock the player to this day, even with their mainstream status.
8 Jason Voorhees – Friday The 13th
The video game adaptation of Friday the 13th was poised to be a massive success, especially given its multiplayer component. However, a buggy launch and a lack of any meaningful content led to this game being painfully mediocre at best.
One of the few redeeming factors of this title is Jason Voorhees himself. This crazy murdering maniac is still as horrifying as ever, and the fact that players can control him is a massive selling point of this otherwise underwhelming title.
7 Father Dagon – Call Of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth
The idea of a Lovecraftian horror game is pretty enthralling in its own right. While Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth had a ton of promise, its poor execution and a fundamental misunderstanding of Lovecraft's work is what ultimately led to the downfall of this promising title.
That being said, the game had its fair share of creepy enemies. Father Dagon is an obvious mention, with this otherworldly creature serving as the final boss of Call of Cthulhu.
6 Kayako Saeki – Ju-On: The Grudge
The Grudge is one of the most iconic horror movie franchises of all time. The series tried its hand at a video game as well, although this attempt wasn't nearly as successful.
However, props should be given to Ju-On: The Grudge for still making its antagonist extremely creepy and foreboding. Kayako is as creepy as she's ever been, and players will find themselves frantically trying to escape the presence of this eerie ghost.
5 Daniella – Haunting Ground
Haunting Ground is perhaps the most divisive inclusion on this list. The game had the potential to be a memorable horror game, but the poor execution of its concepts coupled with a general lack of anything remotely scary took the game down a notch.
The protagonist, Fiona, is constantly on the run from four pursuers in the game. The second of the lot is Daniella, and her reason for hunting Fiona down is absolutely horrifying — Daniella craves to be a complete woman, and she believes that the latent Azoth (an alchemical symbol for life in the game) within Fiona will help her achieve the same.
The gruesome manner in which Daniella seeks to accomplish her goals is easily the most horrifying thing about her character, making her the most memorable antagonist in the game mainly due to how brutal she is.
4 Val – Outlast 2
The first Outlast game was a breath of fresh air in the horror genre, even though the game veers slightly off the rails in the latter half before crashing spectacularly near the end. The sequel seems to be more inspired by its predecessor's second half, given how the complete thing treads familiar water.
That being said, Outlast 2's strong sense of horror is still present at times, fleeting as it may be. The creepy Val is a great depiction of this, serving as a pretty riveting antagonist in its own right.
3 Mr. Peterson – Hello Neighbor
Hello Neighbor was a game that wowed fans during Early Access before the final release ended up destroying everything that made this game so popular in the first place. That being said, the lore and story of this game are still pretty great.
The neighbor himself, Mr. Peterson, is easily the best part of this experience. He seems like nothing more than an unhinged neighbor who hates little kids before the truth behind his trauma comes to light.
2 The Raincoat Killer – Deadly Premonition
Another debatable entry on this list of mediocre horror games is Deadly Premonition. The game is quite charming in its own right, but a lack of polish and some odd design choices take away from what should be a wholly unique experience.
The game still succeeds in being quite creepy at times, especially when it comes to the Raincoat Killer. This riveting antagonist sends chills down the player's spine every time they encounter him, although the manner in which he's disposed of is pretty underwhelming.
1 The Red Crayon Aristocrat Club – Rule Of Rose
Rule of Rose is another promising horror game that is bogged down by its horrible combat and clunky gameplay. The game weaves a great narrative, using children as a surprising and fitting source of horror.
All the prepubescent antagonists present in the Red Crayon Aristocrat Club are horrifying, even though they might be mere children. The sheer depths of their depravity and how they mercilessly torment the people around them is what makes these girls so terrifying...and the best part of the game as well.