Jump scares are a horror tradition and they’re at their most frightening in gaming. Love them or hate them, some titles do them extremely well, so much so that they’ve become iconic moments in gaming history. Here’s a look at the scariest jumpscares that have ever appeared in video games — what do you think is the scariest jumpscare of them all?
Zombie Arms in Raccoon City Police Department – Resident Evil 2
Enemies don’t repopulate areas in Resident Evil 2, so it’s easy to slip into a feeling of security once you’ve blasted all the zombies in sight. However, a surprise exists for anyone who revisits the west hallway. Zombie arms will burst through the windows as you travel past and grab you if you’re close enough. They won’t damage your character, though, only your psyche.
Interrogation Room Licker – Resident Evil 2
The interrogation room contains a key item that you need to complete the game. When you first enter, it seems like the coast is clear for once and you can claim the item with no opposition. However, as soon as you pick it up, a licker bursts through the one-way glass and attacks. After that, we never dropped our guard like that again.
Cat Locker – Silent Hill
There’s a locker room in the original Silent Hill that contains the possibility of two jump scares in the two different versions of the town. While these are optional, it’s hard to resist opening the rustling lockers, even if the contents are likely gruesome. In the real world there’s just a harmless kitten. In the other world the same locker is just filled with blood. However, just when you’re feeling safe, as you leave the room a dead body falls out of another locker.
Broke Neck Lady – Fatal Frame 2
There are plenty of scary ghosts in Fatal Frame 2, but one, in particular, sent shivers up our spine. Just before the cemetery, there’s a bridge that’s seemingly peaceful and clear of any haunts. However, if you equip the camera there, you’ll see the broken-neck lady quickly pop up and ruin your illusions of safety.
Bathtub Scare – Eternal Darkness
Eternal Darkness tries to get into the player’s head. Sometimes it does this by misdirection, and others, it’ll use plain old horror. For example, when investigating a bathroom in the Rojas estate, Alexandra suddenly sees a vision of herself dead in the bathtub, accompanied by a loud screech. It only lasts for a split second, but we remember it years later.
The Alien – Alien Isolation
The Alien in Alien Isolation is constantly poised to jump out and scare you at a moment’s notice. But what makes this experience so unique is that it’s not scripted. So, there’s a constant tension that makes the scare that much more effective.
Big Baby – Resident Evil: Village
One of Resident Evil: Village’s most memorable scares is the giant baby that appears to stalk Ethan in House Beneviento. Its strange appearance and eery vocalizations made us jump and kept terrifying us until we finally escaped the area.
Radahn’s Meteor – Elden Ring
Elden Ring isn’t (technically) a horror game, but there’s one major scare that’s caught many players off guard. During the second phase of the fight with Radahn, he leaps into the air and crashes down like a meteor. This aerial attack is a big surprise for those who don’t keep an eye on the sky.
All of It – P.T
Stand still too long? Lisa breaks your neck. Look through that crack in the wall? BAM! Weird talking fetus in a sink. P.T. might just be a demo, but it packs more scares than many full games. There are jump scares waiting around every bend, and a must-play for horror aficionados (if you can get ahold of it).
