ZD Top 5 – Creepiest Moments in the Zelda Series

This week on ZD Top 5 we talk about the creepiest moments in the Zelda series. While there are a lot of amazing and beautiful moments in the Zelda series, there are also some plain creepy ones. From hands reaching out of toilets to heart stopping jump-scares, our team listed their top weird or otherwise strange moments in the Zelda series. What are your creepiest memories from the games? Let us know in the comments below!

Jessica Capps – View Profile

5. Stalchildren (OoT)
4. Alien Invasion (MM)
3. The Infamous Yeta Scare (TP)
2. ??? – The creepy hand that needed TP. I know what you’re thinking, the other kind of TP (MM)
1. The Zora King (OoT)

Needless to say, there are countless creeps and eerie moments that I have experienced in the realm of Zelda; it was hard pinning down only five.  As a child venturing across Hyrule field at night, you can bet your rupees I played the “Sun’s Song” after every sunset to avoid the Stalchildren. Thanks to several encounters with ???, I’ve been questioning whether or not the seemingly civilized people of Hyrule have yet to invent toilet paper. Most disturbing of all has to be the Zora King’s notorious scooting-over scene in Ocarina of Time. His dreadful sound effects are horrendously cringe-worthy in the prolonged time it took him to move over. As for the rest… well (shivers), you get the idea. Regardless, if you’ve ever experienced any of those utterly creepy moments, I think we could relate to some similar reactions.

Brooke Ferdinandsen – View Profile

5. Silent Realm – Guardians Awaken (SS)
4. Alien Invasion (MM)
3. Dead Hand/Bottom of the Well (OoT)
2. Fire Temple’s Original Dungeon Theme (OoT)
1. Unexpected Yeta Scream (TP)

There are several other frightening moments I’ve encountered in the Zelda games, but these are the ones where I was creeped out the most. First off, the music alone in Skyward Sword when the guardians awaken is enough to make the top five; it’s a moment of intense pressure… especially when you see a Guardian approaching. This is similar to the Alien Invasion in Majora’s Mask where it’s a thrilling moment of intensity. And for those of you who own the original cartridge of Ocarina of Time or have listened to the removed version of the Fire Temple, you’ll understand why it made this list. I don’t find Twilight Princess “creepy” as it is dark, but my number one choice was the infamous Yeta and her possessed-scream when Link tries to retrieve the Mirror Shard. “NOT TAKE MIRROR” will forever haunt my nightmares.

Liam Orth – View Profile

5. The Yeta Scream (TP)
4. The Ghost Invasion (MM)
3. The Earth Temple (WW)
2. Dead Hand (OoT)
1. The Silent Realm (SS)

Sure, the Yeta Scream startled me for a few seconds, the Ghost Invasion wasn’t exactly what I’d call “settling”, and the Earth Temple had a creepy atmosphere overall. But a boss like Dead Hand has always been stuck in my head as the creepiest Zelda Boss/Mini-Boss by far. The only thing worse than that is the Silent Realm, which isn’t what you’d call “terrifying”, but it fills you with so much anxiety when you’re close to failure, that it sure feels like terror. These all happen to be some of my favorite moments Zelda, though!

Alexis Anderson – View Profile

5. Old Men Spirits (Four Swords Adventures)
4. Pamela’s father and Ikana Valley (MM)
3. Shadow Temple Catacombs (OoT)
2. Dark Interlopers Cut-scene (TP)
1. Meeting the Moon Children (MM)

There’s no getting around the creepy elements in Zelda, they’re present in every game and rightfully so as they leave lasting impressions. I was very young when I played Four Swords Adventures, so random spirits giving me ambiguous hints and moaning creeped the bejesus out of me! The Inside of the Moon in Majora’s Mask was just far too tranquil, and seeing little boys with the Happy Mask Salesman’s haircut wearing the masks of the bosses I’d killed pushed it over the edge- not even Majora’s Wrath could top that creepy atmosphere. But, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love the bit of fright.

Alasyn Eletha View Profile

5. Alien Invasion (MM)
4. Elegy of Emptiness Link Statue (MM)
3. Dead Hand (OoT)
2. Majora’s Wrath (MM)
1. Majora’s Incarnation (MM)

Going off of what creeped me out when I was a lot younger- and the two games I played the most while I was a kid being Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask– these are the choices for my top five. For a ten year old, the Dead Hand was frightening and the Link statue conjured by playing the Elegy of Emptiness was just downright freaky. But, so far, nothing else in the series has creeped me out more than the different forms of Majora’s Mask. I mean, who ever expected the mask itself to morph into those forms and run around screeching almost childishly? My little tween self was truly terrified.