Across all of the Soulsborne titles, there is a stunning number of major and minor enemies, all of which have sent shivers down the spine of any series veteran at one point or another. Masterfully designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and the industry-leading team at FromSoftware, Dark Souls enemies often feature scare value that's deeper than a menacing exterior, preying on human fears and vices to manipulate gamers into their traps.
Though each enemy is frightening in its own right, several rise above the others as unparalleled nightmare fuel. Gamers in search of a fright this Halloween should be sure to return to Yharnam, Lothric, and Londor to face off against these fearsome enemies if they dare.
Monstrosity of Sin (Dark Souls 3)
These rare beasts slumber deep within the Profaned Capital of Dark Souls 3, guarding secret treasures and ancient knowledge. With a hulking swine-like body, the Monstrosities of Sin are most notable for possessing a head shaped like a human hand line with oozing eyeballs and open sores. They are capable of a devastating grab attack, which hoists players into the air and forces them into a crude mouth that appears in the hand's center. Only five of these enemies can be found in the game and should only be trifled with if players have adequately leveled up and equipped a set of the best armor in Dark Souls 3.
Sewer Centipede (Dark Souls 3)
First encountered in the sewers of Irithyll, the Sewer Centipede appears at first to be the body of a woman floating in the water. This, however, is only a ruse. Upon approach, these humanoid arachnids will rear up, brandishing dozens of clawed legs and insect-like mandibles beneath their long black hair.
Though these enemies are not very strong, they often appear in groups and in bodies of water where player movement is slowed, making them one of the most frightening enemies in Dark Souls 3. If possible, players are advised to engage these monsters from a distance with bows, spells, or bombs to avoid the reach of their spider-like limbs.
The Giant Man Centipede (Demon's Souls)
The Giant Man Centipede is represented as an arachnid with a body composed entirely of rotting human faces. Bigger and stronger than their diminutive relatives in Demon's Souls, these devils will attempt to sting players with their scorpion-like tails and can even spew armor-weakening acid from a distance. In the course of a battle, it is possible to sever the Giant Man Centipede's tail, but players should be warned that this only speeds up this horrific enemy, making an already challenging fight even more intense.
Corvian (Dark Souls 3)
Upon entering the Road of Sacrifices, players encounter strange humanoid beings feebly clutching small daggers. As the Chosen Undead approach, these seemingly timid creatures begin convulsing and wings erupt from their bodies with a pained howl. The Corvians propel themselves through the air with stunning speed and grab combos that keep their enemies airborne while dealing a punishing amount of damage. Even worse, these birds of a feather do, indeed, flock together, and they often appear in groups of two or three with a magic-wielding variant usually not far away. To make quick work of these terrors, players are advised to use the Darkdrift Katana or one of the other strongest weapons in Dark Souls 3 to inflict damage during their grotesque transformation animation.
Mimic (Dark Souls 1, 2, 3)
A classic "swords and sorcery" enemy, the Mimic is a gangly limbed monster with a tooth-filled maw shaped like a treasure chest. It is essentially a parable of greed and covetousness in monster form, punishing those players who drop their defenses at the prospect of loot. When opened, this monster attempts attempt to swallow players whole, dealing tremendous damage and delivering a heart-pounding scare.
Unique to the Dark Souls series, there's an unsettling and surprising anthropomorphism in this classic creature's design, which makes it feel all the more terrifying to fight. The Mimic is also a rare example of a monster that actively makes the player feel hunted, and their first experience colors every interaction with a treasure chest that follows.
Long Arm Centipede (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
Larger than life, outfitted with crude Wolverine-like claws, and with jagged blades emerging from beneath its bloody bandages, it's hard to find a more frightening enemy in FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice than the Long Arm Centipedes. In battle, they're ferocious, swinging their bladed limbs with abandon while giggling maniacally. These foes represent failed experiments of the mad Senpou Monks, determined to attain immortality through symbiosis with undead centipedes. As the third centipede-inspired creature to make this list, it's also worth noting that these unsettling insects play a plot-relevant role in Sekiro's narrative, evidenced in one of the best bosses in Sekiro, the Guardian Ape.
Winter Lantern (Bloodborne)
One of the final enemies players will meet in Bloodborne, the Winter Lanterns represent a total subversion of the player's allies, grotesquely composed of primordial masses resembling the Workshop Doll and the Bath Messengers. Simply making eye contact with these nightmares will cause players' to build up the Frenzy status effect, described in-game as a state of incomprehensible horror that translates in most instances to instant death. If players are able to get up close, they must remain nimble lest they get skewered by the Winter Lantern's many tentacles or its devastating grab attack. In addition to being downright horrifying, they're supremely lethal and easily rank as the most deadly enemy in Bloodborne.
Lycanthrope (Dark Souls 3)
Outside the broken battlements leading to the Crystal Sage, the Chosen Undead will encounter a figure sitting upon the ground with a wooden cross tied to its back. Players are advised to approach with caution, as getting too close causes this towering berserker to rise with a howl and ferociously pursue the player.
The Lycanthrope is particularly brutal among Dark Souls enemies, with hard-hitting physical attacks and undauntable aggression that never gives players a chance to rest. Even with the raw challenge these enemies pose, what makes them so frightening is their uncanny ability to appear seemingly out of nowhere, emerging from an obscure sitting spot in the background for a lethal grab attack or a merciless pummelling.
Mind Flayer (Demon's Souls)
Another classic monster with origins in the world of tabletop RPG games like Dungeons & Dragons, Mind Flayers represent one of the Dark Souls series first attempts at creating enemies of eldritch proportions. These foes are depicted as octopus-headed wizards with clear design inspiration drawn from the work of H.P. Lovecraft.
Ruthless mages who serve as prison wardens in the Tower of Latria, the Mind Flayers deal tremendous amounts of magic-based damage and can stun players at will, making them as frustrating in combat as they are disarming. By ringing an arcane bell, they can even summon any nearby allies to join the fight, making them one of the series' most imposing and versatile enemies.
Chaos Eater (Dark Souls)
These abyssal masses of flesh are covered in black featureless eyes above a ringed tooth-filled maw that makes the Sarlaac from Star Wars look cuddly by comparison. Luckily, the Chaos Eaters fall with greater ease than their primordial appearance might suggest, as they are highly susceptible to common enchanting elements like fire and lightning. These abominations can be found in Lost Izalith, most notably in an ambush near the five fire-breathing statues, and they have the rare ability to erode player weapons and armor with spurts of acid.