My vote goes for Tomb Raider II and the floating islands levels. The game is a relativity normal globe trotting affair for Lara until she gets transported into the fucking shadow realm here. This level gave me major scares as a kid since you’re traversing a giant void being chased by animated statue warriors out to kill you.
I think Outer Wilds qualifies, when you encounter a certain giant creature the very first time
Night in the Woods.
The Shalebridge Cradle in Thief: Deadly Shadows is to this day one of the most unexpectedly pants-shittingly frightening sequences I’ve experienced in a game.
on that note don’t know if VTMB counts as a horror game, but goddamn that hotel level fucks with me no matter how much i know that i’m supposed to be the scary thing in the dark
it is impressive that they managed to give people playing as immortal creatures of the night the willies
Gone Home.
