10 Times Video Games Brutally Trolled You

This is perhaps the most famous WTF mechanic in all of Gamecube-era horror, which is why it stands the test of time roughly 20 years later.

Given the name of 2002’s Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, it’s no surprise that the Silicon Knights-crafted creation revolves around numerous characters confronting ancient evil – and their own manipulated perceptions of reality – across multiple millennia and locations.

While its handful of puzzles, magick spells, and other distinctive attributes help set it apart, Eternal Darkness’ Sanity Meter gimmick is easily its standout feature. Basically, it consists of a green bar that gradually decreases whenever a character sees a monster, resulting in several bizarre changes to what, where, and/or how things unfold around them.

There are dozens of possible effects, ranging from cool yet relatively insignificant shake-ups (altered camera angles, unnerving sounds, etc.) to major causes of malaise (bleeding walls, shifting rooms, various deaths, etc.) At times, the game will even break the fourth wall by pretending to freeze, erase your memory card, or flat-out end prematurely.

Whether scripted or random, these moments routinely mess with players in delightfully sinister ways, ensuring that they’re always on their toes and never quite sure what’s coming next.