Scariest RPG Dungeon?

[United Nations]

Dungeons in most RPG's are tough, often the most entertaining parts of their respective games, and contain the best loot and high level bosses. But, very few, are actually creepy.

Of all the RPG's I have played, the only one that comes to mind in terms of being legit creepy is Arx Fatalis. Because the entire gameworld is subterranean (above ground is a frozen wasteland), the Crypt in the middle of capital city is present from the beginning of the game, only it's locked due to adventurers being attacked and going missing.

Once you gain access to the Crypt, you face a giant stone sarcophagus with multiple levels, dangerous traps, and the undead. The ambient music is totally on point: it's foreboding and drops in tempo and bass the deeper you go.

I can't think of any other RPG, aside from maybe the Plains of Despair in Diablo II, that had a genuinely creepy dungeon.

Are there any I've missed that have been released in the last 15 years?

 

[Sacred82]

I have fond memories of playing Wizards & Warriors while going through a psychotic episode. Dat Naga temple man

 

[Lady_Error]

Eye of the Beholder 2 catacomb levels where you could not rest.

 

[Nekot-The-Brave]

Diablo in general was p.scary when I was a kid. I don't think I ever made it to the Hell levels.

 

[Saduj]

I remember feeling some genuine creepiness while playing Diablo.

Edit: ninja'd

 

[vmar]

Ocean House Hotel in VtMB was the first thing that came to mind, at least until you realize it's all jump scares.

When I was a kid the crypts with all the ghosts in Morrowind were kinda creepy, especially when they were pitch black and you could barely see anything, then you turn around and there's some spirit heading towards you that's immune to your regular weapons.

 

[Alienman]

Tomb of Giants, Dark Souls. This dungeon had me on edge. Almost didn't finish the game thanks to this area. Skeletons aplenty and in complete darkness.

 

[Ash]

Dungeons in most RPG's are tough, often the most entertaining parts of their respective games, and contain the best loot and high level bosses. But, very few, are actually creepy.

Of all the RPG's I have played, the only one that comes to mind in terms of being legit creepy is Arx Fatalis. Because the entire gameworld is subterranean (above ground is a frozen wasteland), the Crypt in the middle of capital city is present from the beginning of the game, only it's locked due to adventurers being attacked and going missing.

Once you gain access to the Crypt, you face a giant stone sarcophagus with multiple levels, dangerous traps, and the undead. The ambient music is totally on point: it's foreboding and drops in tempo and bass the deeper you go.

Arx Fatalis is too underrated.

 

[abnaxus]

Daggerfall, King of Worms lair.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Stygian Abyss is creepy and feels very organic.

I also liked the creepiness of some of the dungeons in Dragon's Dogma.

Way back in the NES days, Immortal had a scary dungeon.

The first Diablo was fairly creepy in spots.

 

[Excidium II]

Tomb of Giants, Dark Souls. This dungeon had me on edge. Almost didn't finish the game thanks to this area. Skeletons aplenty and in complete darkness.

Fuck I hate those skeleton dogs. Fun times when I fell into that place from catacombs not knowing a way out and only reinforced weapon being a sword.

Got reminded of bone charms only after I rested at the bonfire there.

Way back in the NES days, Immortal had a scary dungeon.

That whole game is just pure terror. I don't think I ever got anywhere.

 

[Excidium II]

Ocean House Hotel in VtMB was the first thing that came to mind, at least until you realize it's all jump scares.

I was a lot more spooped of the sewers with the tzimisce meatballs running around.

 

[Jaesun]

Play Chaos Strike Back.

/End of Thread

 

[btbgfel]

System shock 2, the entire game is a mega dungeon. And creepy sierra madre.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Although I think it's only a borderline RPG, since someone considered Dark Souls an RPG above, I'll vote for the Tower of Latria from Demon's Souls. Though I might be biased, since it takes inspiration from some of my favorite artwork.

Spoiler

The Fool's Idol boss fight in level 3-1 is the creepiest in any Souls game.


That said, Dungeon Master and Daggerfall both managed to instill a sense of dread simply from the sound of monsters lurking somewhere in the dungeon, outside your vision but close enough to be an imminent threat.

 

[Excidium II]

That said, Dungeon Master and Daggerfall both managed to instill a sense of dread simply from the sound of monsters lurking somewhere in the dungeon, outside your vision but close enough to be an imminent threat.

Yeah I love this kind of thing.

 

[Tito Anic]

System Shock 2

 

[V_K]

Play Chaos Strike Back.

/End of Thread

You're forgetting Legacy: Realm of Terror - it can give CSB quite a run for its money, both in terms creepyness and in terms of being nail-bitingly hard.

 

[covr]

Pool of radiance, that new version. I was afraid that it might format my hard drive.

 

[Konjad]

 

[octavius]

Play Chaos Strike Back.

/End of Thread

You're forgetting Legacy: Realm of Terror - it can give CSB quite a run for its money, both in terms creepyness and in terms of being nail-bitingly hard.

Heh, I was just about to mention that. Especially in the beginning when you don't know how to deal with certain enemies, and you are afraid of just opening a door. L:RoT captures that Lovecraftian kind of fear as he expressed it himself "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown".

 

[Cynicus]

They're not RPGs obviously, but creeping around in the Thief games could be pretty intense and dungeon-like at times. Shalebridge Cradle for example.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Exanima, particularly at the start where pitch black actually means pitch fucking black and you are blind without a torch. And also because you are very likely to be inept at the combat.

 

[DemonKing]

They're not RPGs obviously, but creeping around in the Thief games could be pretty intense and dungeon-like at times. Shalebridge Cradle for example.

Oh yeah - I loved Down Amongst the Bonehoard - all those creepy zombie moans. Some of the later levels in the haunted city where also good.

 

[Neanderthal]

Ultima VII had some weird shit going on in some o the dungeons, i'm thinking of test of courage from Forge o Virtue, the sacrificed babby, the summoned Lich, the masses o torn apart bodies lying around an all that. All o Skara Brae were fairly creepy an all.

New uns i'd probably opt for the Ruined Asylum in Witcher 2, bloody well told little tale, creepy as all fuckin hell, an reveal o Loredo's Mum as escaped patient is brilliant.

 

[Tito Anic]

MJ12 oceanlab was eerie place