The Most Terrifying NPCs Ever – Gaming's Creepiest Encounters

The Creepiest NPCs in Gaming History – You Won't Forget Them

Video games have introduced us to some seriously disturbing characters—the ones that send chills down your spine, make your palms sweat, and leave you questioning why you ever turned the console on in the first place. These aren't just your average villains or creepy NPCs; these are the nightmare fuel of gaming history.

From serial killers lurking in dark alleyways to twisted scientists with god complexes, these characters have cemented themselves as some of the most unnerving in video game lore. So, grab a nightlight, hold onto your controller, and prepare for a list of characters that made our skin absolutely crawl.

10. Eddie Low (Grand Theft Auto IV)

The most unhinged guy you’ll ever meet in Liberty City.

The GTA franchise is full of wild and dangerous characters, but Eddie Low? He’s on a whole different level. First appearing as a seemingly harmless NPC in GTA IV, Eddie immediately gives off serial killer energy—rambling about disturbing thoughts, talking about hunting humans, and eventually revealing that he’s, well…been doing exactly that.

At first, Niko Bellic doesn’t even react much—which says a lot about the world of GTA—but eventually, Eddie’s true nature is fully exposed. It turns out he’s the city’s most notorious serial killer, and his twisted monologues make it clear he enjoys every second of it. The fact that you can find newspaper articles detailing his crimes before you even meet him just makes the whole experience even creepier.

9. Dr. Mercer (Dead Space Remake)

When your doctor is way more interested in Necromorphs than saving lives.

The Dead Space franchise is already peak body horror, but Dr. Challus Mercer takes it to another level. As the ship’s chief scientist-turned-Unitologist-lunatic, Mercer fully embraces the Necromorph infestation. Instead of trying to survive like a normal person, he actively worsens the situation—experimenting on crew members and even creating the unkillable Hunter Necromorph to stalk Isaac Clarke.

In the Dead Space remake, Mercer is somehow even more terrifying, with extra scenes that dive into his twisted mind. His calm, almost soothing voice while discussing horrific mutilations makes him even more unsettling. His fate? Being dragged into the abyss by the very creatures he worshiped.

8. Carl Semken (SOMA)

"Hey, I know I’m a robot, but I swear I’m still Carl."

SOMA’s whole premise is unsettling, but Carl Semken is one of its earliest and most horrifying introductions to the game’s existential horror. When you first meet him, he’s a corpse lying on the ground—but nearby, a damaged robot claims to be him.

At first, you might think it's just some glitch, but no—the robot fully believes it's Carl. It even feels pain when you mess with the power supply, screaming and begging for you to stop. This messed-up moment is a brutal introduction to the game’s themes of identity, consciousness, and what it truly means to be "alive."

7. The Dung Eater (Elden Ring)

With a name like that, you know he’s bad news.

FromSoftware knows how to create deeply disturbing characters, and The Dung Eater from Elden Ring is one of their most revolting yet. His goal? To curse the world by creating an entire bloodline of suffering souls.

When you first meet him, he’s locked in a cell, muttering about spreading his defilement to as many people as possible. If you choose to help him, you end up aiding one of the most twisted characters in the Lands Between—and possibly dooming the world forever.

6. Eddie Dombrowski (Silent Hill 2)

He went from awkward loner to murderous psychopath real fast.

At first, Eddie in Silent Hill 2 just seems like an awkward, overweight guy who’s out of place in the nightmarish town. But as the game progresses, it becomes clear he’s just as dangerous as anything else in Silent Hill.

By the time you have your final encounter with him, Eddie has fully embraced his violent side—coldly describing how much he enjoys killing people just because they looked at him funny. His gradual descent from bullied outcast to full-blown murderer makes him one of the most psychologically disturbing characters in horror gaming.

5. Namira (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

Want a cool ring? Hope you don’t mind eating a dude first.

Skyrim might not seem like a game that would have deeply unsettling moments, but Namira, the Daedric Prince of Decay and Cannibalism, is pure nightmare fuel.

Her quest, "The Taste of Death," forces you to sacrifice an innocent priest and consume his flesh to earn her favor. What’s worse? If you go through with it, she rewards you with a ring that gives you bonuses for eating more human corpses.

It’s one of the darkest moments in Skyrim and a reminder that the Daedric Princes are always ready to ruin your day.

4. The Parasite (Scorn)

*When your worst enemy is literally attached to your spine. *

Scorn is a grotesque, H.R. Giger-inspired nightmare of flesh, bone, and suffering. In the middle of all this horror, you find The Parasite—a skinless, deformed creature that latches onto you and starts draining your life force.

Not only does it slowly kill you, but it also physically squeezes your ribs, causing blurry vision and pain at random moments. There’s no escape from it—it’s just part of you now.

3. Sander Cohen (BioShock)

"Ah yes, I do consider murder an art form."

Rapture is full of insane people, but Sander Cohen tops the list. A "visionary" artist, Cohen is obsessed with creating "art"—which mostly involves brutally murdering people and preserving their corpses in plaster.

His grand masterpiece? Forcing you to kill his former protégés, then posing their bodies for his "gallery." His over-the-top personality and sinister obsession with artistic perfection make him one of the most unforgettable—and unsettling—characters in BioShock.

2. Our Lady of the Chalice (Blasphemous 2)

A slow transformation into pure horror.

At first, Our Lady of the Chalice just looks like a giant, solemn figure holding a cup. But over time, her cherubs slowly peel off her skin—revealing the blood-red skeleton underneath.

This grotesque transformation happens over the entire game, making each encounter with her increasingly unsettling.

1. Curly (MOUTHWASH)

The most unsettling character in one of the darkest games ever.

Curly is a mangled, bandaged mess of a man in the sci-fi horror game Mouthwash. He has no hands, no feet, and no skin—just a single glaring eye and a mouth constantly begging for painkillers.

His screams echo through the ship, his suffering a constant reminder of how horrifying the situation is. His story only gets worse as you learn more, making him one of the most disturbing characters in gaming history.

Video games have given us plenty of disturbing characters, but these ten? They left permanent scars on our brains. Whether they’re serial killers, grotesque monsters, or people trapped in a fate worse than death, they’ve earned their spot in gaming’s hall of nightmares.

Stay spooky with more gaming deep dives at Land of Geek Magazine!

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