10 Most Terrifying Monsters In Video Game History

10. Silent Hill 2 - Pyramid Head

The best horror comes from within. The Silent Hill series is the thinking man’s Resident Evil, adding a psychological depth to the survival horror genre. Its best creation is Pyramid Head, who appears in the eponymous town as a physical manifestation of protagonist James’ guilt over the death of his wife.

Pyramid Head is an avenging angel of sorts, a force of judgement summoned so that James might atone for his sins. Silent, brooding, and iconic in appearance, the monster stalks James across the game, swinging his blade like the Grim Reaper’s scythe.

Beyond the psychological elements, he’s simply a great piece of game design, imposing and seemingly unstoppable. Pyramid Head has become the distinctive image, the totem of the Silent Hill series, and unsurprisingly has been dragged out in further games, but the initial appearance remains by far the best, impactful and ingenious.

After so many years of pop cultural prominence, Pyramid Head’s fear factor has perhaps diminished, but he remains one of the best designed villains in gaming, as well as a lesson in diminishing returns.