Summary

  • Bethesda games are known for their fully open worlds and immersive environments, but they also feature some of the scariest creatures in video games.
  • From zombies in Oblivion to bloodbugs in Fallout 3, Bethesda games are home to terrifying creatures that can startle and frighten players.
  • Whether it's giant spiders in Skyrim or Thornmantis in Starfield, Bethesda has a knack for creating creatures that evoke fear and make players think twice before exploring certain areas.

Bethesda is a game studio that mainly focuses on bringing players a fully open world to explore. Whether that world is set in the far reaches of space or in a fictional fantasy kingdom, the open worlds are always fun to explore with plenty of fun NPCs and creatures to interact with.

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However, this dedication to creating a fully immersive open world hasn't stopped fans from noticing that Bethesda has a knack for including some terrifying creatures in their games. This is even true for some of their more linear games, like Doom. It may not be intentional, but Bethesda games are home to some of the scariest creatures in video games.

9 Zombies

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Oblivion Zombie
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
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Released
March 20, 2006
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Franchise
The Elder Scrolls
Platform(s)
PC, PS3, Xbox 360

When exploring the darkest dungeons in Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, players will sometimes find themselves surprised to hear the sounds of pained groaning in some obscure corners of the map. This noise is normally a signal that one or more zombies are readying for an attack. The zombies in this game are slow-moving gruesome mounds of flesh. Although they are slow, their unpredictable movements can cause the player a fright if they are caught unaware.

A single zombie in Oblivion may not be much of a threat to combatants. However, if more than one of these creatures can force a player into a corner, the protagonist may not find their way out of the situation.

8 Bloodbugs

Fallout 3

Bloodbug Fallout 3
Fallout 3
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Released
October 28, 2008
Developer(s)
Bethesda Game Studios
Franchise
Fallout
Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Fallout 3 was Bethesda's first try at developing a 3D RPG in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. While the nuclear war was detrimental to society, the bugs on the planet did not fare much better. Many became overgrown pests with a hunger for human blood.

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The worst of these creatures has to be the bloodbug. These mutated mosquitos often hunt in packs and can startle the player with a swift sting if they aren't paying attention. Mosquitos aren't pleasant in real life, so the giant ones in Fallout 3 really get under the skin of some fans.

7 Thornmantis

Starfield

Thorn Mantis in Starfield
Starfield
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Released
September 6, 2023
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
Action, RPG

Exploring a planet for the first time in Starfield is a joy. However, many players were in for a surprise when they first landed on Verne 2. The barren Moon is fun to jump around with its low gravity, but spending too much time on this rock will reveal that the place isn't as uninhabited as players initially believed.

The Thornmantis is a predatory creature that appears to be nothing but a giant praying mantis. Despite their large size, these aliens can come out of nowhere in such a desolate area. They aren't hard to take out, but it isn't nice knowing that these bugs are out there lurking on Verne 2.

6 Maledicts

DOOM 3

Maledict in Doom
DOOM 3
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Released
August 3, 2004
Developer(s)
id Software
Genre(s)
FPS

DOOM 3 features a torrent of never-ending hellspawn. In fact, if players stopped shooting for a second and looked at the horrific creatures they were battling, it would force them to put their controllers down for good.

Every demon in the DOOM franchise is supposed to evoke fear, but the Maledicts are by far the best at this job. A flying, bat-like entity with a skull for a face is the stuff of true nightmares. These monsters take pleasure in swooping in from above to give players a hard time.

5 Centaurs

Fallout: New Vegas

Centaur in New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas
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Released
October 19, 2010
Developer(s)
Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Genre(s)
RPG

The centaurs in Fallout: New Vegas can have a variety of appearances. In essence, these creatures are formed from a variety of human bodies merged together into one sentient being. That means they are often a single torso and head that drag themselves across the wasteland on a random number of limbs.

These creatures aren't just hideous because of their flailing limbs. The centaurs can also vary in size. As such, a player can easily encounter one of these manic monstrosities that is twice their size. If players didn't like these beasts on a normal day, they certainly wouldn't appreciate a giant one dragging itself toward them at random.

4 Mirelurk Queen

Fallout 4

Fallout 4 Mirelurk Queen
Fallout 4
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Released
November 10, 2015
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
RPG, Action

The Mirelurks in the Fallout universe aren't pleasant at the best of times. The giant mutated crabs only have their pincers to work with, so they will continuously lunge at the player and show off some grotesque mandibles. However, dealing with these creatures gets so much worse for players who choose to liberate The Castle for the Minutemen.

This part of the map is full of Mirelurks and their giant queen. This beast is far more terrifying than the regular Mirelurk and much stronger. Any player with a fear of sea life should skip this part of the game and give The Brotherhood of Steel a visit instead.

3 Maggotmaw

Starfield

hunting maggotmaw in starfield

Starfield boasts an impressive one-thousand individual planets to explore in its base game. However, the most fearsome creature in all one hundred of these available star systems is most certainly the Maggotmaw.

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As its name suggests, the Maggotmaw is a white alien with a large maw that is suited to eating players whole. These beasts also have bulbous eyes and a wicked grin that make them all the more menacing as they slither out of the dark. Players heading to Charybdis 3 had better watch their backs.

2 Radscorpions

Fallout 4

Fallout-4-Radscorpion-Challenge-Run

The only thing more unpleasant than facing a series of giant insects in the wasteland is not knowing where they will come from. The rad scorpion is unfortunately so terrifying due to its ability to bury itself and pop out of the ground at random.

These scuttling enemies are mostly found within the glowing sea but can be encountered anywhere on the map. This means that many players will find themselves on edge as they explore the wasteland as there is no telling when a Radscorpion will jump out and attack.

1 Giant Spiders

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Skyrim frostbite spider
Skyrim
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Released
November 11, 2011
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Platform(s)
PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, PS4, PS5, Switch
Genre(s)
RPG, Action, Adventure

Any Elder Scrolls fan with arachnophobia will agree that there was no need for Bethesda to include the giant spiders in Skyrim. These eight-legged pests are found all over the map, and can really cause players problems with their propensity for jumping in a gamer's face.

It isn't just arachnophobes who take issue with the spiders in Skyrim. Giant spiders have been a prominent enemy in fantasy games for a long time, after all. However, spiders have never looked quite this angry before, and have never moved so quickly. Even when the beasts have been slain, their legs can twitch to give the illusion that they are prepared for another attack.

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