Anything like Cthulhu or other deep-sea monsters like giant whales or squids are absolutely terrifying to me.....almost no horror games ever actually focus on this kinda thing, though.

Ghosts and Animals, with humans following behind.

Edit: Inventory systems are my greatest horror enemy.

I chose "aliens" because the Alien in Alien: Isolation is my greatest nemesis in the history of video games.

@steadying: Deep water terrifies me as well. I couldn't even do the Oculus underwater demo.

I voted for the top 4, that makes me feel... normal.

Psychological horror is what gets me but not the peek-a-boo kind, but the one that creeps onto you and starts on the back of your head and works it's way to your FACE!

OURSELVES

How many people are afraid of ghosts but don't think ghosts exist?

So that game Patrick did for the Oculus with the <o> <o> eyes would legit be the scariest thing ever, if it actually encapsulated the feeling of drowning. Like, being out swimming and having a random tendril grab your leg and pull you under is such a slower, more terrifying death than "yo dawg, shark is eating you".

When I actually stopped and thought about it, I guess I was surprised that I fear humanoids the most. There's something about the nostalgic fear of RE2 and 3 zombies that still gets to me sometimes, despite beating those games more times than I know. Plus, I know it's super cliched and standard, but the effect of RE4 Regenerators - and that ONE Iron Maiden - on my psyche a decade later cannot be understated.

"Snooooooort, heave, snoooooort, heave* Fuck that sound.

Deep water gets an honorable mention, because I'm legit terrified of the ocean etc. despite so little use in games. Does SOMA scratch that horror itch well, or is the underwater theme underplayed?

Metal Gear.

Enemies that cannot be defeated are the scariest. A lot has been said in the years since Amnesia's release about the importance of helplessness in horror games, and all of that is correct. Feeling helpless is really the scariest part.

Additionally, enemies that defy your expectations of how things should work are also fucked up. Children's toys that come to life to hurt you, for example, betray the trust you have given them since childhood, and defy your expectation that they are there to make you feel good and safe. I think the same is true for evil children, and I think that's why both of these things are such common horror tropes.

I think my fear might actually have to do with "almost" drowning in a pool. I say almost in quotes because I wasn't in any real danger since there was a lifeguard 10 feet away, but for my stupid 6-year-old brain that didn't really matter. Ending up in deep water when you can't swim is the worst.

@getz said:

The scariest part is what if I'm wrong? Then I'll have to deal with a spooky haunting AND my entire world view falling apart.

Humanoid Monsters for sure.

To this day the scariest monster I've even seen in a video game has been that weird two headed baby monster in Silent Hill 4: The Room, that points and stares at you when your to far away. Still gives me chills and the occasional nightmare.

How did significant others not make this list?

Children.

Dr. Salazar

Ghosts, especially the kind that you can't actually kill. The ghosts in Silent Hill 4 are undoubtedly some of the scariest enemies I've faced in video games.