The Scariest Games Ever Released For The N64

Compared to their competitors at the time – the PlayStation and SEGA’s Saturn and Dreamcast – Nintendo had gained a reputation for gearing its consoles more towards kids and families. Noticeably, their Nintendo 64 console used cartridges instead of discs, lacked many of the popular M-rated games of the era, and couldn’t play audio CDs, leading many older gamers to choose other consoles.

However, the N64 did release some games that were filled with suspense, thrills, and even genuine frights. While they might be harder to come by, the N64 did indeed release some scary games, some of which were even Nintendo exclusives.

10 Hybrid Heaven (1999)

Hybrid Heaven was an ambitious game that combined elements of RPGs, adventure games, and survival horror. The plot centers around a fictional base located beneath Manhattan, where aliens are making human-alien hybrids.

Some hybrids come out looking more like people, while others become full-blown monsters. The game is an oddity for the N64, as both RPGs and survival horror titles were few and far between on the console.

9 GoldenEye 007 (1997)

Though not technically a scary game, N64’s massive hit, GoldenEye 007, included some absolutely phenomenal atmospheric horror and suspense. The level “Surface” took place above the underground facility, during the dead of winter, creating a feeling of bleakness and isolation that fills the entire level.

Other levels, like Caverns, take place underground, through narrow passages, creating a good amount of suspense over who might be waiting around the corner. As a whole, GoldenEye 007 was so successful because it managed to blend action and suspense, creating hours of tension-filled adventure.

8 Perfect Dark (2000)

After developer Rare struck gold with 007, they went on to create their own game based on the structure that made GoldenEye work so well: combine elements of first-person shooters with the tension of a stealth game. Perfect Dark was praised by critics and successfully took everything that worked with GoldenEye 007 and upped it to the next level.

The game had a slightly slower pace, due to the incorporation of more stealth elements. Not only did this help build tension, but it also allowed for a much deeper story to be told. Some levels even had to be played using night vision, which, for the N64, made for a truly heart-racing experience.

7 Castlevania (1999)

While some might be shocked to hear that the N64 lacked zombie and vampire games, it’s also important to note that the revival of the two genres didn’t happen until the mid and late 2000s, long after the N64 had already given way to the GameCube. For genre fans, however, the N64 did get a game in the popular Castlevania franchise.

Simply titled Castlevania, but often referred to as “Castlevania 64”, the game centers around Dracula’s re-awakening and two vampire hunters who wish to stop him. The game was released two years after the now-beloved Symphony of the Night game, and, while the gameplay wasn’t perfect, it was praised for moving the series from 2D to 3D.

6 Quake 64 (1998)

Though the game was simply titled Quake (a direct port of the PC game), it almost instantly became known as Quake 64. The plot follows the unnamed protagonist (in later games he becomes known as Ranger) who must travel through teleportation portals to chase after the villain, whom the government has codenamed “Quake”.

It’s a sci-fi first-person shooter, similar to Doom, and a majority of the game takes place in dimly-lit temples where players must fight against monsters. It was another excellent example of an N64 first-person shooter incorporating a great amount of suspense and terror.

5 DOOM 64 (1997)

At the time of release, Doom 64 was the most graphically advanced Doom game on the market, and the franchise wouldn’t get its next sequel until Doom 3 in 2004. The game was a hit and sold well for the console, but Doom had also developed a reputation of being scary, violent, and linked to the occult since the game centers around Hell and demons.

In 1999, two students at Columbine High School murdered 13 people, then committed suicide. It became known that the shooters were a fan of the Doom series, and suddenly, Doom was blamed for the acts, with some even claiming they “prepared” by playing Doom. Before long, the game was feared, despised, and many parents destroyed copies owned by their children.

4 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

Often hailed as one of the greatest games ever made (and in fact is the highest-ranked game on Metacritic), Ocarina of Time was a standout success that perfectly combined story and adventure, and led the way to modern Zelda games. Ocarina of Time was also, at times, downright horrifying.

From the barren and desolate market, filled with the ReDead, to the absolutely terrifying Dead Hand boss at the Bottom of the Well, there was never a Zelda game that had so many scary moments. As a whole, though, these moments only further proved how engrossing and captivating the game truly was.

3 Shadow Man (1999)

In Shadow Man, gamers become the titular character, a warrior who protects the world of the living from the world of the dead. After it’s discovered that the dead are planning the apocalypse and want to take over the realm of the living, Shadow Man must embark on a journey to stop it.

The game is filled with a sense of dread and isolation, as Shadow Man is the only human character through most of the game, forced to journey through bleak and unforgiving environments while battling monsters.

2 Nightmare Creatures (1998)

Nightmare Creatures is a unique game. It’s survival horror, but it plays like a third-person adventure game. The story centers around London in the 1800s, which is under attack by demonic monsters called nightmare creatures.

One of the coolest features of the game is that it takes place entirely at night, and players are surrounded by total darkness. Only a few tiles in each direction light up as the character progresses, keeping an ever-present state of fear and suspense high throughout the entire game.

1 Resident Evil 2 (1998)

In a remarkable move, a two-disc PlayStation title was condensed into an N64 cartridge, marking the first time a Resident Evil game had ever appeared on a Nintendo console. Resident Evil 2 centers around the events of Raccoon City after the first game, where the entire town has been turned into zombies.

The game is often considered as one of the best in the Resident Evil franchise and introduced the world to series mainstays, Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy. For fans of modern gaming, Resident Evil 2 was remade and refreshed in 2019, creating a whole new gaming experience that critics and players loved.

About The Author

Keith Langston
(155 Articles Published)

Keith Langston is a writer for ScreenRant, as well as Travel Channel and Passport Magazine. He holds a deep passion for film, travel, and adventure. He fully believes that ‘The Faculty’ is the greatest movie ever made.

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