6 Terrifying Moments In Non-Horror Video Games

BioShock: Infinite fortunately doesn't have the claustrophobic, horror-imbued atmosphere of the last two BioShocks , which were set in the middle of the collapsing, underwater city of Rapture. There are no drug-addled, horrifically deformed citizens stalking the dilapidated hallways. Instead, in Infinite and the floating city of Columbia, you mostly have to deal with faith-crazed policemen (which actually doesn't sound so bad).

Later in the game, though, the developers flip the table and deliver you and Booker to an alternate reality where the Comstock House has turned more or less into a mental asylum. Here, freakish creatures wearing huge metallic helmets shaped like brass instruments roam the halls. The only fortunate thing about this whole ordeal is that the helmets actually obstruct their vision. Only when you're too loud or you fall into their narrow field of view (which is a bright beam of light from their 'eyes') do they attack.

... but not before they give an inhuman, ear-piercing shriek first.

Usually, they can be bypassed pretty quickly by using stealth and a little bit of caution. The atmosphere can be tense during these segments.

You can probably tell where this is going.

After sneaking through all of the hordes of Boys of Silence, the game will then prompt you to flip a switch that will activate a lift and get you out of the level to safety. No such luck, though, after flipping the switch and turning around... surprise, one is right there literally half a foot from your face. To further fuel the ensuing panic, it will shriek a blood-curdling noise to call a wave of enemies down onto you.

It is a cheap jump-scare, admittedly. But it fulfilled its purpose: When I encountered this scene in the game, my mouse was almost thrown off the table.