28 Years Ago, Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Gave Us Gaming’s Most Horrifying Level

Zelda: Ocarina of Time has held up well on the Nintendo 64, especially when it comes to its spooky elements that pop on older hardware. Published Oct 1, 2026, 5:01 PM EDT Chris is a Gaming Editor at ScreenRant. He has been a professional writer since 2009, and has written for top TV, comics, movie, and video game outlets like Engadget, Polygon, Destructoid, and more. He brings with him an expertise in every game genre, no matter how niche or mainstream. You may know him as the former Managing/Reviews Editor of Destructoid, where he published hundreds of game reviews across every genre, including MMOs, sports games, and Metroidvanias. Find Chris on Twitter @_SRChris. Zelda: Ocarina of Time has a massive legacy, and a big part of it comes from its locales. When you first enter Hyrule Field, it feels incredible, but slowly making your way across the map to each zone is a blast, too. No matter where you are in the adventure, there's always something new to discover. The Temples in Ocarina of Time are also memorable in their own right, and they're what I recall most about Ocarina. The Water Temple made sure I would never forget it after wading through deep water for the first time, but plenty of others stood out, like the excellent Forest Temple. In particular, one horrifying location stands out and was a true nightmare-maker for kids and adults everywhere. The best part? It's not even a Temple. Nightmare Fuel In Zelda Form I wasn't truly scared by video games as a child, but the Bottom of the Well mini-dungeon in Ocarina of Time came really close (as did the dogs jumping out of the window in Resident Evil). Found inside an unassuming well in Kakariko Village, you'll descend into what is essentially the hell of Hyrule. The Bottom of the Well has a host of enemies that will haunt your dreams, including Big Skulltula popping out of nowhere, Poes wandering around, Skullwalltula on the walls where you'd least expect, Floormasters skittering about, and mummy-like Gibdo's for good measure. The creepiest portion of the well comes near the end, when you go toe-to-toe with the Dead Hand, one of the most horrific creatures ever crafted for a Zelda game. It's covered in blood and has multiple hands, which it can use to grab you from below the ground and consume its prey, including Link. To make matters worse, it laughs at you in an unsettling way that especially comes across as creepy-coded on the Nintendo 64 sound chip. After you've bested this ghastly mini-boss, you'll earn the Lens of Truth. Although it's an optional dungeon, you'll really want the Lens of Truth to navigate a lot of Ocarina of Time, especially if it's your first time playing it. You can forgo this pit of woe, but you'll probably want to tough it out. Plus, the Lens is useful when you fight another Dead Hand in the equally creepy Shadow Temple later on. Much to the chagrin (or delight) of certain fans, the gore in the Bottom of the Well was toned down on 3DS. Whatever version you prefer, both of them are out there. Bottom Of The Well Is A True Horror Classic Between the Bottom of the Well and the Shadow Temple, horror fans had a lot to cling to with Ocarina of Time. Since the description of the Shadow Temple (which is intrinsically linked to the well, thematically) reads "here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of greed and hatred," it's clear that the development team was trying to make a comment about how lawless and scary Hyrule could get without a Hero of Time to set things right. If you're a fan of scary games and haven't played Zelda: Ocarina of Time yet, do yourself a favor and try it out. Although the entire game isn't framed around the horrors found in the well and the Shadow Temple, you won't forget what you see down there. Released November 21, 1998 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Zelda 64 Engine Franchise The Legend of Zelda