An unlikely candidate.
The first game I can remember actually scaring me is, ironically, Super Mario 64. Honestly.
[Insert raucous laughter]
The first time I played the game, I was probably five years old or so. By that point, I’d actually watched someone play through most of the game, but I had never played on my own from the beginning. I finally rented it, and had a good time running and bouncing about outside Princess Peach’s castle.
My attitude changed when I made it to the entrance. As the door slammed shut behind me, I was met with an unexpected burst of ominous music and a deep, demonic laugh. I suddenly felt very vulnerable, sitting in the basement by myself. I slapped the system off as fast as I could and ran outside with the rest of my family.
At some point, I finally summoned my bravery and played past that traumatizing introduction, but to this day I’ll never forget the first time I heard Bowser’s dark, resonating chortle.