Her Interactive’s renowned series of Nancy Drew games have been heralded as some of the best mystery games on the market. With challenging puzzles, great stories, and unique characters, it’s no wonder these games hold a special place in many people’s hearts. RELATED: The 15 Best Nancy Drew Video Games, Ranked Though some of the Nancy Drew games are starting to show their age, most are remembered fondly as genuinely scary games. With a total of 33 games, Her Interactive has explored many genres in their Nancy Drew games: comedy, horror, suspense, thriller, fantasy, and of course mystery. Here is a list of the top 10 Nancy Drew Games that were actually terrifying.

The Haunted Carousel

The Haunted Carousel boasts a great spooky atmosphere. Taking place at an old carnival filled with creepy clowns, dangerous workshops, and deadly rides, this game may not be the scariest on the list, but is still a great pick if you’re looking for a mystery with frights. And it is frightening, just what lengths some people will go to to achieve their goals. Many great spooky games have taken place at carnivals, but none so mysterious or deadly as Nancy Drew and The Haunted Carousel.

Warnings at Waverly Academy

As horrifying as a game set in a boarding school could be on its own to some people, the terror of Warnings at Waverly Academy comes in the form of mysterious accidents, disappearances, and a secret cult. RELATED: HeR Interactive Is Hosting A Delicious Nancy Drew Games Inspired Summer Cook-Off Feel the panic as you try to sneak around the school at night without getting caught! You can’t solve the mystery if you get expelled. Race against time as the threats turn to accidents, and solve the mystery before the accidents can turn deadly! Kids can be cruel, but just how cruel?

Secret of the Scarlet Hand

As one of the earliest games to attempt the scary atmosphere, Secret of the Scarlet Hand may not be the spookiest Nancy Drew game, but it still stands out. Taking place in a museum, creepy characters, violence, and near-death experiences soon ensue. The most terrifying part of this game certainly lies in the looming threats. After one character is severely injured, there’s no telling who did it, or who could be next. Secret of the Scarlet Hand is a race against time, when you can’t see the timer.

Legend of the Crystal Skull

Legend of the Crystal Skull is one of those games in the Nancy Drew line-up that doesn’t go out of its way to make you jump but does set the mood of the game squarely in ‘extremely eerie’ territory. The game takes place in New Orleans and uses every trick up its sleeve to build atmosphere. Perhaps the scariest moment of the game comes right at the beginning when, upon entering a house, Nancy is immediately attacked by a costumed burglar. Voodoo legends, cursed artifacts, and vengeful skeletons await.

Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake

Falling earlier in the series, Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake is dangerously scary right from the start. With the same feeling of utter panic from when a sibling would chase you as a child, you must run to a cabin before the dogs can tear you apart. Even once inside they bark and scratch at the door trying to find their way in. This game may not have monsters or jump-scares, but it absolutely has scenes of heart-stopping, panic-inducing terror. If you like games that send you running for your life, and cause trepidation when venturing outside, this is the perfect Nancy Drew game for you.

The Captive Curse

Taking place in a German castle, The Captive Curse centers on an old legend of a monster that’s terrorized the town for centuries. This game may not have as many up close and personal frights, but it sets the mood with haunting and deadly tales, frightened townsfolk, and good old superstition. A large part of the terror of this game are the mysteries surrounding the monster. Very little is known of the beast aside from its thirst for blood. Is it real? Is it waiting for you just outside?

Curse of Blackmoor Manor

Nancy Drew and the Curse of Blackmoor Manor was the first game in the series to really prove that Her Interactive knows how to do scary. Creepy old manor? Check. Creepy young child? Check. Family secrets, a curse, and possible witchcraft? Check. This game has it all, including possibly the best character in any Nancy Drew game: Lulu! Right from the start, this game has great scares, and it doesn’t let up till the very end. Even the games within the game are morbidly themed. What’s not to love?

The Haunting of Castle Malloy

The Haunting of Castle Malloy, like many of the games in the series is fraught with unexplained events and mysterious ghostly wailing – though this game certainly has more wailing than any other, as the one responsible for the haunting is a banshee. Is that a woman’s screams, or just a draft in the castle? Was there someone in the moor, or did you imagine it? The Haunting of Castle Malloy is an interesting mix of mystery and superstition. This game may not have the most jump scares, but who can say they wouldn’t be creeped out by a woman’s constant screaming?

Ghost of Thornton Hall

Easily the second scariest Nancy Drew game, Ghost of Thornton Hall takes place in the southern States in an old manor house and cotton mill. Disappearances, secret passages, graveyards and ghosts abound in this thrilling spook-fest. Ghost of Thorton Hall is one of the darkest games in the series as it deals with deaths past and present, loss, grieving, and madness. The pessimistic characters and dilapidated setting alone can send chills down your spine. Plenty of spooks await in this game, and it’s a perfect play for anyone who loves a good old classic haunting.

Shadow at the Water’s Edge

By far the scariest of all the Nancy Drew games, Shadow at the Water’s Edge dips its toes into the genre of J-horror. While visiting a Japanese ryokan (inn), Nancy is bombarded with the eeriest scares of any game; creepy noises, jump scares, ghost stories, and more. This game is certainly one of the most ambitious in the series. It explores a never before seen culture, adds way more puzzles, and is far more frightening than any previous game. The characters in Shadow at the Water’s Edge are some of the most memorable and fun of any Nancy Drew game, and the story is one of the most gripping – literally! NEXT: Only In Japan: 15 Japanese Games Too Horrific For American Release