10 Most Iconic Levels In Video Game History

7. Spencer Mansion - Resident Evil 1

resident evil spencer mansion
Capcom

You can argue it out down in the comments as to whether the Spencer Mansion counts as a "level" vs. an environment, but as an iconic location, it screams Resident Evil.

Testament to how well this place was designed, even with a couple of remasters addressing puzzle tweaks and item placement, the Spencer Mansion itself has remained largely intact.

That first zombie encounter with blood dripping from its teeth, the expertly-placed camera angles that never truly let you feel comfortable no matter how many times you've gone back and forth. One of the finest jump-scares in gaming history as you revisit a formerly safe corridor, only for two rabid zombie dogs to crash through a window in the foreground of your vision, leading to a mad scramble to stay alive.

Its graphics might be outdated and that voice acting is something else, but the original Resident Evil still has atmosphere in spades. Horror in video games doesn't get more immediately isolating and foreboding than trying to explore a seemingly dilapidated mansion, only for everything to go wrong.

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Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.