7 Worst Video Game Worlds That Would Be a Nightmare to Live In

You always feel overpowered playing a video game, but if real life were anything like some of these worlds, it’d be a different story. Video games have some of the scariest worlds in all of entertainment, because it’s not about being intrigued in a passive way, but living and breathing the experience through a screen. For instance, imagine the pain of dying on repeat to one of Dark Souls‘ bosses. The word excruciating wouldn’t do it justice.

With that in mind, there are so many video game worlds that would be a nightmare to live in. Some of them are so horrific or intense that they make surviving a zombie apocalypse sound like child’s play. So, if you’re curious about testing your mettle in nightmare scenarios, then this list is for you. Ahead are some of the scariest, brutal, and deadliest video game worlds ever created. Maybe you are someone who can take them head-on.

1. Warhammer 

In Warhammer, aliens and monsters are taking control of the galaxy, and the humans are resisting them. Other genetically-engineered giant humans who wield heavy machinery called Space Marines exist, too. As for if you ever found yourself in Warhammer’s universe, that wouldn’t be good. For one, it’d guarantee you’ll never see your family again. Warhammer soldiers are always on duty; fighting till their dying breath is their creed. With a busy schedule like that, the only family you’d have is the Space Marine beside you.

But when homesickness isn’t a problem, you’ll find yourself invading Ork and Necron-infested territories back-to-back. And then there are Demons with supernatural powers, like mind control, and creatures strong enough to destroy entire planets. Your rights aren’t any better, since you have none. In Warhammer, worshipping the Emperor is the only religion, and not doing so would be heresy.

Asking for rights would be heresy, as a matter of fact. Anything you’d do besides fighting would go against the crown. So, if you can stomach violence every single day for the rest of your life in a sci-fi setting, then Warhammer’s Space Marines need you. If you can’t, you should be thankful Warhammer isn’t real life.

2. Frostpunk 2

An ice age has taken over the world. Everything has frozen over. The only place warm enough to live near is a generator in the recently established New London area. Moreover, you are the governor of the city, and it’s up to you to manage the resources. But that’s easier said than done, since politics is never easy.

On one hand, you have homes to build, food to secure, factories to construct, and people to employ. On the other hand, people fall sick quickly, the generator has a limited fuel supply, and snowstorms are fast approaching. The city needs roads. The police force and houses of prayer need to be established. Then, there’s the problem of incoming refugees that are growing by the day. There aren’t any horrors in the world of Frostpunk 2. Instead, stress and limited time are your top enemies.

If you’re good at strategy, then there’s hope for humanity yet. But if you fail to replenish resources and take care of the people, the world of Frostpunk 2 will quickly eat up your sanity.

3. Elden Ring

FromSoftware has created some of the most merciless video game worlds. They ushered in the age of difficulty in games with Dark Souls, and now with Elden Ring, they have taken it to the extreme. The world of Elden Ring features over three hundred bosses, numerous hostile NPCs, as well as brutal environmental threats.

The enemies and bosses in particular are a nightmare to deal with in-game, so imagine if you awoke as a Tarnished. Your daily life would look like plotting a path from Limgrave to Lyndell. Along the way, you’d be forced into fighting so many of Elden Ring‘s NPCs and bosses such as Margit, Godrick, and Malenia. That’s at least a guaranteed good two hundred deaths before you beat just these three.

Basically, an endless loop of dying over and over again. The ultimate try-hard experience. As such, Elden Ring’s world clearly seems like the worst to inhabit from FromSoftware’s entire catalog.

4. Outlast

If you’ve played Outlast, you already know why it’s a nightmare scenario to be in. As the protagonist, you have nothing but a night vision camera. The people around you are monsters, and then there are literal monsters as well. You have nothing but a camera — and the peak experience is hiding in a corner, praying you don’t get caught by the savages outside.

That’s because if you do get caught, things like torture chambers, deranged cult members, and man-eating monsters await. It’s like Outlast is a scary horror movie, and you’re the helpless star. In every Outlast story, the goal is to navigate through an area, find what you’re looking for, and get out.

However, with you possessing no offensive capabilities and the sheer number of enemies around you, it becomes a terrifying survival-horror experience. Outlast is hands down the worst video game world to live in, and barely anything comes close, except, well, Silent Hill.

5. Silent Hill

The reason Silent Hill is so scary is that it’s a manifestation of your biggest guilts and regrets. For example, in Silent Hill 2, James comes to the titular town to find his missing wife and fights monsters. At the end of the game, it’s revealed that James killed his wife, and the monsters were only a manifestation of his guilt.

Now imagine you’re in Silent Hill. Every small and big regret from your lifetime will take on a horrific form and haunt you. Your daily life will be facing the worst moments from your past, and that’s a mentally brutal experience. There’s also the spine-chilling fog that covers every direction.

You won’t be able to look clearly at anyone standing right next to you. So, yes, Silent Hill is right up there in the list of the most nightmarish video game worlds to live in.

6. Sons of the Forest

A travelling accident happened, and now you’re stranded on a remote island in the middle of nowhere. This island is also home to cannibalistic tribes, monsters called Mutants, and predatory animals. Being stuck in Sons of the Forest wouldn’t be anything short of a nightmare. Firstly, because the resources for survival are severely limited. Then, there’s the problem of shelter, defense, and food. Everything you’ll need to source from the island itself, and that’s no easy task.

To survive in the terrifying world of Sons of the Forest, you’ll need to be clever about what you do. You’d have to build a base fast by chopping down trees and gathering sticks. Then, setting up defensive walls and crafting weapons would be next on the agenda. For food, you’d either have to hunt deer, capture rabbits, or cook turtles. But the biggest problem you’d face is the enemies.

The cannibalistic tribesfolk are always patrolling the island. They’ll often find you, and then it’ll be a life-and-death situation. They are super smart and can find your base, destroy it, and bring others from their clans to end you. And when that’s all said and done, and you go cave diving for resources, the mutants are there to worry about. In Sons of the Forest, everything is out to kill you. How long you last, though, is entirely up to how smartly you prioritize between survival aspects.

7. DOOM

Living in the DOOM universe would be hellish, literally. Advancements in technology led to the construction of portals, and they accidentally became the gateway for the demons to invade everywhere. Earth, Mars, the moons of planets, you name it. Human civilization is on the brink, and it’s only because of the soldiers (and Doomguy) that they haven’t been completely wiped out yet.

Now, there are some ways to survive. Either you could have a desk job at the Union, even though that isn’t safe since demons could invade at any moment, or you could become a soldier. Of course, that’d mean marching headfirst into demon campsites. But if you’re lucky enough to become Doomguy, then it’s a whole different situation.

You’d have tons of unique, overpowered weapons at your disposal. Your strength would be insane, and the gear you’d get just as amazing. There is no doubt that surviving in the DOOM universe as a civilian sounds like a nightmare. But if you’re Doomguy, then you can rip and tear as many Revenants and Dread Knights as you like.

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