Summary
- Pyramid Head is an iconic, terrifying monster due to his otherworldly appearance and role in James' story.
- Dead by Daylight incorporated Pyramid Head, making him a scary killer with unique abilities.
- Pyramid Head's presence in movie adaptations and video game crossovers contributes to his lasting impact.
As far as horror monsters go, Pyramid Head is a top contender for not only being one of the most iconic, but also one of the most frightening. Though his stature is mostly humanoid, the ginormous metallic pyramid placed where the head should be gives him an otherworldly appearance, making him even more frightening to encounter.
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His very existence is stringently tied to James and his state of mind, but that hasn't prevented Pyramid Head from bleeding into other games, franchises, and media, to the chagrin of die-hard fans who cite his role in James's story. But as such an iconic monster with such a strikingly nightmare-inducing appearance, it comes as no surprise that he earned a place in the movie adaptation and even other franchises.
6 Dead by Daylight
No Survivor is Safe from the Executioner's Reach
Dead by Daylight
- Released
- June 14, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Behaviour Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Switch, Mobile
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Dead by Daylight has snatched several famous IPs, from killer movies such as Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street, celebrities such as Nicolas Cage, and of course, other games, such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Inducting a collection of new Killers and Survivors, fans saw franchise-famous protagonist Cheryl Mason and antagonist Pyramid Head join the fog. Though there were some complaints about severing Pyramid Head from his role in Silent Hill 2, many more were glad to have the chance to play him or come up against him during their survival endeavors.
Though Dead by Daylight isn't necessarily terrifying just from what type of game it is, there are those killers that are a little scarier than the others to catch a glimpse of, and Pyramid Head definitely falls into this category. His very appearance, the sheer size of his weapon, the one ability that allows him to damage survivors through obstacles, and one perk that allows him to become undetectable make him one of the scariest killers to run into in the fog, and one of the scariest versions of Pyramid Head.
5 Silent Hill (Movie)
Surrounded by a Miasma of Giant Beatles, Pyramid Head is a Striking Figure in the Movie Adaptation
Silent Hill
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 21, 2006
WHERE TO WATCH
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Director
- Christophe Gans
Most movie adaptations of video games, unfortunately, always seem to miss the mark, as evidenced by series such as the ill-fated Resident Evil adaptations, despite starting off as passable with its first movie. But there are those that arrive as pleasant surprises to their fans, such as the first Silent Hill movie adaptation, which largely does a faithful retelling of the first movie. Sharon, adopted daughter of Rose and Christopher Da Silva, runs off into the titular town, and Rose gives chase into a land of monsters, where a human cult takes refuge inside a church, and takes not too kindly to outsiders.
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Pyramid Head is the most feared creature in the town, and for very obvious reasons. His presence is always heralded by the giant beetles that swarm every possible surface. Once one sees them, it is likely too late for them. Armed with his iconic giant sword, Pyramid Head isn't afraid to silently pass judgment on anyone he comes across, sentencing everyone to death. Though Cybil and Rose manage to evade justice, other characters, such as Anna, meet their gruesome fate at his hands. Out of all the monsters that made it into this movie, Pyramid Head is the last one any viewer would want to run into, even those unfamiliar with the games.
4 Dark Deception: Monsters and Mortals
A Relentless Stalker
- Platform(s): PC
- Release Date: October 16th, 2020
- Developer(s): Glowstick Entertainment
- Genre(s): Multiplayer/Horror
There certainly is no shortage of multiplayer horror games on the market, and Dark Deception: Monsters and Mortals entered as a new contender back the late 2020, based on the first-person horror maze-navigation game, which was similar to what Pac-Man would be, if it were more horror-driven. Such a simple premise could easily be turned into a multiplayer version, and this is exactly what happened, with some excellent DLC to boot.
Silent Hill was one such expansion, which was only available for a limited time. Players who purchased it had the option to play as either monsters or mortals, as the title suggests, running in fear or terrorizing the mortals. Pyramid Head, or the Red Pyramid Thing, served as the boss monster, slow but intimidating as he relentlessly hunts down his prey. Armed with his signature staggering weapon of choice, no mere mortal would want to even give him the chance to put it to use. What's even worse is that there are two of them, and their arrival summons the dark otherworld into the map, which can make it hard to spot them at a distance.
3 Silent Hill: Homecoming
Beware the Bogeyman
Silent Hill: Homecoming
- Released
- September 30, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- Double Helix Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
The legendary first four Silent Hill games were handled by Team Silent, but it was time for new talent, so the torch was passed to other developers, Double Helix in the case of Homecoming. Returning home from hospitalization following his military service, Alex Shepherd sees that his brother and father are missing, his mother is now catatonic, and his home, Shepherd's Glen, isn't quite how he remembered it when he left. The trail for all the answers to his problems leads him to the titular town of nightmares and monsters.
One particular monster players will encounter may be familiar to long-term fans of the franchise due to the triangular nature of its head and the oversized sword it wields. Despite being a creature tied to James's story, Pyramid Head was brought back, now called the Bogeyman. It is explained that Bogeymen can be made, meaning that there can be more than one, which is evidenced by the double Pyramid Head boss fight in Silent Hill 2. Though his return was met with some contention, the bloody antics and terror his presence brings to Homecoming cannot be denied.
2 Silent Hill 2
No One Can Ever Forget that First Chilling Encounter
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- September 25, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Silent
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Following on the success of the first Silent Hill game, Silent Hill 2 had its own standalone story and characters, introducing players to James Sunderland and his tale of tragedy. Three years following his wife's passing from her illness, he received a letter inviting him back to their 'special place' within their favored holiday vacationing spot: the titular town itself. Though he is barely able to believe it himself, he does arrive in the city, but finds that it's not quite a peaceful resort town any longer.
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Though he meets a few other unfortunate souls drawn here, he also finds more than his fair share of monsters, including the iconic Red Pyramid Thing. The first time players encounter him is in the apartments, separated by only a few rusty metal bars. He appears sporadically through the story again, until the final encounter sees James release himself from guilt and finish them off for good. Even during that climactic boss fight, the Red Pyramid Thing is never terrifying. His imposing and otherworldly appearance is always sure to deliver frights and nightmares.
1 Silent Hill 2 (2024)
The Remake Improved Upon Many Things, Including the Signature Boss Monster
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- October 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Silent Hill 2 remake was met with much skepticism, as fans were unsure Bloober was able to make a product that could even hold a candle to the beloved original title. Yet, they surpassed all expectations, resulting in a truly fantastic remake that paid its due and then some to its source material. The game was expanded without it feeling too padded out, leaving a little room for extra time with Pyramid Head.
The remake helps him feel like more of a true stalker enemy, with some extra segments included in which players need to evade his reach, which makes his presence feel even more stifling than usual. Not to mention, the gorgeous graphic gave everyone, including Pyramid Head himself, a makeover. The improved graphics create a more immersive atmosphere, making enemies like Pyramid Head even more terrifying to come across. The remake nailed almost everything across their board, and the new version of Pyramid Head was just another measure of success.
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