The Resident Evil games have consistently delivered frightening experiences for players. The reckless experiments with biological weapons – known as BOWs – conducted by the Umbrella Corporation have allowed the developers to create incredibly scary ideas, designs, and creatures throughout the many excellent games in the series.
Certain locations in the Resident Evil series have stuck with us even after finishing the games. Whether it’s the atmosphere, the constant feeling of dread, or the terrifying creatures, these places really showcase how scary the franchise can be.
We’ve compiled a list of some surprising details, and if you’re currently replaying older Resident Evil games to get ready for Resident Evil Requiem, you might want to prepare yourself. Let’s get started!
15. Heisenberg’s Factory (Resident Evil Village)
For a moment, let’s put aside how truly awful Heisenberg’s plan was – using Rose to take down Mother Miranda and even wanting Ethan to help destroy his own daughter. The whole idea was chilling and showed just how heartless he was.
Even now, it’s unsettling to remember exploring the underground facility and seeing villagers transformed into cybernetic weapons. While Ethan was skilled enough to handle the Haulers and Soldats later in the game, the moment we realized our bullets couldn’t even scratch the Strum was truly terrifying.
Heisenberg’s transformed state was as disturbing and frightening as we anticipated. We really have no desire to go back there.
14. Raccoon City Streets (RE3)
A constant sense of danger defines this game, as Jill struggles to escape Raccoon City while being relentlessly pursued by Nemesis. Her desperate flight is made even harder by the city’s inhabitants, now transformed into mindless zombies by the T-Virus.
As a fan, it’s really clear how dangerous Raccoon City is! Everywhere Jill turns, it feels like someone else is getting taken out, and honestly, the city itself just looks terrifying. You see wrecked cars, broken-down barricades, and… well, let’s just say there are a lot of bodies around, which really drives home how awful things are for her. It’s a constant reminder of how desperate the situation is.
The city itself felt incredibly threatening, and the possibility of an air strike only made things worse.
13. Castle Dimitrescu (Resident Evil Village)
Facing Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters means navigating a castle that feels incredibly imposing. Its blend of Gothic and minimalist Baroque design, combined with dim lighting from candles and chandeliers, creates a claustrophobic atmosphere. The sealed windows and heavy curtains further isolate you, making it feel like you’re completely cut off from the outside world.
The castle’s dark past and the stories of those who lived there are a big reason it’s so memorable. It definitely felt like we were constantly expecting to encounter one of the castle’s former residents around every corner – and that encounter wouldn’t be friendly!
This location is easily one of the scariest and best-designed environments we’ve experienced in the game so far.
12. NEST (Umbrella Lab) (RE2 Remake)
Leon’s pursuit of the G-Virus forces him to venture alone into NEST, an underground lab now overrun with zombies and stained with blood. The unsettling discoveries he makes about what happened there, combined with the difficult decision to leave Ada behind, create a truly tense atmosphere.
Surviving is tough, especially with relentless zombies constantly attacking, demanding quick thinking and reflexes. The abandoned lab feels truly desolate throughout all its floors, and can be discouraging even for long-time fans of the series. Thankfully, the updated graphics and visuals really enhance this unsettling atmosphere.
11. Ecliptic Express (Resident Evil 0)
Playing as Rebecca and Billy on the Ecliptic Express serves as a strong introduction to the terrifying events of this prequel. It effectively showcases the horrors that will unfold due to the combination of the T-Virus and leech DNA. The game’s camera and the constant rain create a claustrophobic atmosphere, making you feel truly trapped on the train.
The real highlight of the experience is the deceased passengers – you’re constantly on edge, wondering which one might come back to life and bring terrible misfortune. The atmosphere is genuinely unsettling and builds the longer you’re on the train. We were particularly startled by the sound of a zombie growling nearby while we were trying to figure out what was happening and how to escape.
This location was easily one of the scariest parts of the Resident Evil game, and the disturbing opening cutscene only made it worse.
10. Queen Zenobia (Resident Evil Revelations 1)
If you think a haunted ship used as a base for a massive attack with the T-Virus would be a great setting for a Resident Evil game, you’re right on the money. The tight corridors and scary feeling of the Zenobia are central to the gameplay in Revelations.
As you explore the ship, enemies constantly groan and snarl, often forcing you to turn and fight them before they reach you. The atmosphere is filled with tension, and it builds the longer you go without facing an enemy. These creatures, inspired by sea life, are a refreshing change from typical zombies, and their unsettling designs are truly unforgettable.
Queen Zenobia is easily one of the most frightening places in the entire series!
9. Raccoon City Sewers (RE2 Remake)
Sewers are typically gloomy and unpleasant places, and the one beneath Raccoon City is no exception. However, this sewer has a particularly dangerous resident: a gigantic alligator mutated by the T-Virus. Its mouth is full of maggots, making every encounter a terrifying struggle for survival.
Honestly, I was so relieved we didn’t have to deal with that awful smell they hinted at during the water section! But what really struck me was how much better the remake made the sewers feel. Compared to the original, it was instantly way more claustrophobic and creepy, and the monsters felt genuinely terrifying. It really upped the atmosphere!
Even the toughest fighters would be careful venturing into the dangerous depths of Raccoon City.
8. Orphanage (RE2 Remake)
The Orphanage is already a frightening place because of its dark past as a secret lab for the Umbrella Corporation. But playing as Sherry Birkin, anxiously waiting for Claire to arrive, adds another layer of fear to this section of the game.
Walking Sherry through the abandoned orphanage, a place where something terrible had happened, and constantly expecting Chief Irons to appear, was a truly frightening experience. The game’s use of quiet tension, combined with the stunning visuals, made the orphanage a location that still sends shivers down our spines whenever we remember it.
And that’s quite often, given its morbid history.
7. Derelict Ship (Resident Evil 7)
Trying to piece together Mia’s lost memories and navigate the ship unarmed, all while constantly being hunted by the Molded and not knowing what happened to Ethan, was a truly unforgettable – and terrifying – experience. It perfectly captured the essence of Resident Evil, keeping us on edge with the constant threat of a gruesome death, and effectively highlighting just how desperate the situation was.
Mia’s death really drove home how awful everything had been, but it also gave us the strength to keep going as Ethan. Being on that ship, we constantly wondered what would happen next, and the Molded were truly frightening, especially since we arrived with nothing but a strange bottle.
The Derelict Ship is on this list, but it’s not among the very worst locations – and that’s why it isn’t higher up.
6. Rockfort Island Prison (Code Veronica)
The combination of a deadly T-Virus outbreak and the bleak setting of a prison for Umbrella Corporation enemies creates the perfect atmosphere for a classic Resident Evil experience. Rockfort Prison delivers on that promise, and the complex personalities of the Ashford twins add an extra layer of intrigue.
Claire’s time in the facility was filled with constant danger and a feeling that something terrible was about to happen. Every step she took felt risky, as they constantly worried about encountering zombies, forcing them to be very cautious as they moved forward.
5. The Underground Mansion (Resident Evil Revelations 2)
Barry and Natalia’s journey through the hidden Umbrella research facility beneath Spencer Mansion was truly unforgettable. It was so immersive that it left us cautiously looking around our own homes afterwards. The experience, and the disturbing discoveries about Wesker and the experiments conducted there, stayed with us long after we finished playing – some memories we’d rather forget.
The Revenants, Glasps, and Afflicted enemies combine to make exploring the environment incredibly tense and careful, as danger feels constant. The discoveries you make along the way emphasize just how terrible Wesker’s actions were, adding even more horror to the experience.
Honestly, I’m not really excited about revisiting this game, even though I enjoyed the story and gameplay when I first played it. And there’s a good reason for that – it just doesn’t feel worth it to go back!
4. Raccoon City Police Station (RE2 Remake)
The unsettling quiet, punctuated only by the groans of the undead police officers of Raccoon City, perfectly complements the game’s locations, which depict the heartbreaking failure of those who tried to contain the T-Virus outbreak.
It’s already unsettling to fight former police officers who used to protect people, but the real fear comes from not knowing which of the bodies you encounter will suddenly come back to life and attack. The remake’s impressive graphics really make the enemy designs stand out, and the dark lighting will definitely scare players who dare to explore the RCPD headquarters.
A strong sense of tragedy and suspense make this location one of the most frightening in the series.
3. Spencer Mansion (REmake)
This mansion is famous as the original home of the Umbrella Corporation, and it’s one of the most memorable haunted locations we’ve seen in a game. Its layout is intentionally confusing, making it easy to get lost, and your fear only makes things worse. It feels like the house itself is working against you, and the enemies are there to ensure you don’t succeed.
The updated version really enhanced the atmosphere with impressive lighting and shadows. Moving shadows and darker tones made the mansion feel even more unsettling and frightening to explore.
Spencer Mansion perfectly demonstrates the strengths of Resident Evil and explains why it has remained a key title in the survival horror genre for so long.
2. Baker House (RE7 Main House + Basement)
The Baker family’s house is easily one of the scariest locations in all of the Resident Evil games, especially considering the horrifying effects of Eveline’s infection. It’s truly unsettling, and makes you question how anyone could survive the dangers and the overwhelming sense of ruin within its walls.
The game creates a constant sense of dread with terrifying creatures and the looming possibility of facing even worse threats. This tension is heightened by the story leading up to the game, and the creepy atmosphere of the mansion, combined with the disturbing history of the Baker family, keeps you feeling uneasy even after multiple playthroughs.
1. House Beneviento (Resident Evil Village)
This location is truly terrifying. Just thinking about exploring it sends shivers down your spine. From the creepy, fog-filled ravine leading to the house, complete with unsettling dolls, to the disturbing hallucinations Ethan experiences due to the homeowner’s issues, this place is by far the most frightening on the list.
I’ve always been freaked out by creepy dolls in horror games, and Resident Evil Village really played on that fear with Donna and Angie. Seriously, those dolls were unsettling! And that mutated creature? It instantly reminded me of the Botchling from The Witcher 3 – I couldn’t get the comparison out of my head, honestly. It was a truly disturbing encounter.
The game is brilliantly designed, and despite being unsettling and anxiety-inducing, we have to appreciate the developers’ skill. The atmosphere is so effectively creepy that a sense of dread constantly hangs over the player. It’s a truly classic and unforgettable horror experience.
That concludes our list of the most frightening places in the Resident Evil series. We’re eager to see what Requiem brings next month and will thoroughly explore all its dangers, surprises, and story developments as soon as we get a chance to play it.
Read More
- Sony Removes Resident Evil Copy Ebola Village Trailer from YouTube
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- The Night Manager season 2 episode 3 first-look clip sees steamy tension between Jonathan Pine and a new love interest
- So Long, Anthem: EA’s Biggest Flop Says Goodbye
- John Wick AAA Game to be Announced Soon Says Lionsgate Chairman
- Ontos Creative Director Compares its Larger Experiments to Shadow of the Colossus
- Gmail’s new “AI Inbox” feature promises faster email triage — Google still says it won’t train Gemini on your emails
- All 4 Avengers: Doomsday Trailers (So Far), Ranked Worst To Best
- Every Movie & TV Show Coming to Netflix This Week (January 12th)
2026-01-15 15:20