The Creepiest Legend of Zelda Dungeons and Mini-Dungeons

Different people who play Zelda games are drawn to different places. Whether you prefer the light, airy dungeon or the dark, creepy dungeons, it’s the latter that are the most memorable for me. Let’s revisit these here, in chronological order of release date.

1. A Link to the Past: Skeleton Woods

A Link to the Past had the unique feature of the Dark World. The Dark World can be triggered at any time using Link’s Magic Mirror. It simultaneously changes the terrain and the atmosphere. When Link has to enter the Skeleton Woods, the soundtrack is really catchy. Plus to enter the Skeleton Palace, there are dark holes to jump down or open skeleton mouths to enter. I figured I would mention this one just to tie in older Zelda games with the newer 3D versions.

2. Ocarina of Time: The Forest Temple

Link has just had a crazy experience accidentally unleashing Ganondorf on the world by giving him access to the spirit realm. Actually, it happened seven years ago. Now, he is an adult who has lost his childhood and has to find the six Sages. The Forest Temple is very much haunted. It makes his adulthood more serious than his childhood.

The music sets the scene when Link enters this Temple. Fans all over the world will agree that it just gives off tip-toe spooky vibes. I don’t know about you, but entering the main room and having to go off into four different sections to explore didn’t appeal to me when I was ten years old. Plus, the minor enemies (Stalfo’s, Blue Bubble’s, Green Bubbles, and ultimately the Floormaster) had me eager to just duck my head down and avoid them altogether. Run awayyy! Right...toward...Phantom Ganon…

3. Ocarina of Time: The Shadow Temple

Across the board this is every dungeon crawlers favorite. If you have played more than one Zelda game, chances are this is the one for the books as most creepy. Entering the temple, the walls are outright dank. The music dips into place and you think, hm. This will be interesting. There are mind tricks played in this dungeon. Using the Eye of Truth to navigate it, the things you discover may take you by surprise.

The décor is both bold and macabre, unusual for Legend of Zelda games. The scream of the Re-dead, the sight of the Gibdo’s, Stalfo’s, the Like Likes, Red Bubbles, and of course the Wallmaster contribute to the scare factor. Then there are traps. Those familiar with the French Revolution will remember the thousands of brutal deaths at the Guillotine. Here, there is a series of Guillotine Traps waiting for you to time them wrong. The Whirling Scythe also threatens decapitation, adding to the ambience. Later, the torture crosses bring the rare sight of blood to the Zelda games, pooling around them.

4. Shadow Temple Mini Dungeon: Bottom of the Well

Obviously this is every child’s nightmare. As an adult I shudder a little before dropping in. The best part of the Bottom of the Well for me was getting out with the Eye of Truth. I refrained from exploring the entire thing, and when I accidentally fell through into the basement I felt dread at prolonging this dungeon. It’s safe to say that it is on par with the Shadow Temple and deserves its own credit. It even has a crypt!

5. Majora’s Mask: Ikana’s Canyon, Well, and Castle

Everything in Ikana’s Canyon was eerie, filled with restless souls. Link may have come for the Stone Tower Temple but he gets a lot more out of it than he expected. In the land where the dead roam, Link lays them to rest.

Sharp, the composer, has taken to lulling victims to sleep with his song. When Link plays the Song of Storms, Sharp is thrown into his memories of his brother, Flat, and the curse on him is broken. The river flows into town and the Gibdo’s in the square are each lain to rest. Then Link is able to enter the house of the young girl Pamela and her father. Her father is ailed by a horrible affliction, and Link heals him too.

Link has to drop down into Beneath of the Well, once again, to obtain the Mirror Shield. While the Bottom of the Well from Ocarina of Time was a torture chamber, this is actually more of a mysterious maze. Wearing the Gibdo mask from Pamelas Dad, you can actually speak with the Gibdos and give them what they desire. They then move on to the afterlife. Still, there is a Wallmaster, the Gibdos can take you by surprise, and make no mistake they are not your friend. Taking the mirror shield, Link is on his way to Ikana Castle, former home of the deceased Royal Family.

Ikana Castle starts out with a striking soundtrack to add to the ambience. It is very regal, and although the castle isn’t that scary it is ominous. There is a sense of foreboding in all of Ikana and when Link reaches the end of the castle dungeon it becomes apparent why. The King and his two advisors have not moved on to the afterlife. Putting their souls to rest is finally what Ikana needed. Link has experienced a true ghost town.

6. Wind Waker: The Earth Temple

This temple proves that even in the Wind Waker’s brightness, eerie darkness can be found. The overall temple is merely dark, without many threats to Links Life. This temple is well known for it’s jump scares and moments of horror. These moments include the re-dead freezing you into place, and the floor-masters taking you into their dark portals.

7. Wind Waker: Beneath the Cabana at the Private Oasis

Beneath the Cabana you will find Re-dead. If you are spooked by going underground, this is a pocket of fright in the Wind Waker. Yeah I know it isn't technically a dungeon.

8. Twilight Princess: Arbiters Grounds

The Gerudo Desert once held a prison built to hold the worst criminals this land has ever known… The criminals who were sentenced to death were sent directly to the underworld by accursed mirror that was kept in the prison… It still holds the cursed mirror and the malice of the dead inmates.” - Twilight Princess

The Arbiter's Grounds from Twilight Princess are, in fact, intended to be a prison. As you can see from this quote, Ganondorf was allegedly executed here. Running through sections of darkness, Link sometimes finds himself chased by pygmy skeletons. On a more serious note, famous enemies from previous creepy dungeons are reimagined in Twilight Princess animation style. The Re-Dead are now filthy. The Stalfo’s and Stalkin appear to be ancient bones. The Staltroop are dead warriors, still clothed in rags.

Not only are there filthy, ragged skeletons, but there are Big Poe. The macabre decoration is back with chains, lanterns, skulls, and abandoned weapons. Sometimes Link is crawling with ants! All of this leads to the mini boss Death Sword, who looks like a demon. Invisible at first, the demon is revealed after Wolf Link attacks it.

9. Skyward Sword Ancient Cistern: Basement

Skyward Sword throws in an uncharacteristic surprise: Another basement. Wow, there are actually a lot of basements in the Legend of Zelda. Link goes from bright cistern, down to the murky poison bog. Cursed Bokoblins rove, and when Link attempts to climb out on a rope they pursue him. Trying to avoid being grabbed, Link desperately hurries to climb out of there.

Conclusion

Whether a die hard Zelda fan, or just in it for the dungeons, I hope this list appeals to you. Thanks for reading, and feel free to check out my other articles in my blog.

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