History NightmareFuel / AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag

** Then there's the Observatory's 'defenses'. [[SchmuckBait They look like normal rows of light until you step into them]], whereupon you're essentially ''burned alive'' '''instantly'''. ''Anyone'' who gets thrown into that light are completely disintegrated with only a faint red mist left. And for true VideogameCrueltyPotential, the optional objectives (which the real Edward actually did via Animus mechanics) involves throwing no less than four guards into them.

* The Templar practice of manipulating and hiding events throughout history is taken to new heights in the fourth title. The animus allows a level of propaganda to reach the general public unlike anything before.
** Their monopoly on animus technology allows them to edit and alter existing real life footage to give the impression they desire. Namely vilifying the Assassins and portraying themselves as champions of order. It's one thing for a historian to say this is how history went down, it's still only an opinion, but genetic memory changes that. Any Templar backed account of history will be seen as [[WrittenByTheWinners indisputable fact]].

* Black Bart is himself highly frightening, especially when he gives his RousingSpeech to his crew; despite comporting like a pirate, he's more comfortable and less funny and odd looking than the other pirates, mostly because of his DissonantSerenity, even in his death. It's mostly the coldness in his eyes though and his nihilistic views that allow him to betray his allies and kill with flippant glee. He's every bit the scary, Satanic pirate that people imagine them to be, complete with DarkMessiah appeal.

* A bit of FridgeHorror, but after John asks you to hack the computer in Olivier's office he distracts the secretary by saying something that makes her run in the side hallway, if you go there she's nowhere to be found, then you remember the unfinished part of the building where you had to ride the window washer platform to the office...

** Diving for shipwrecks? ''[[EverythingTryingToKillYou Everything tries to kill you.]]'' But the worst are sharks, especially one that makes a flooded mineshaft its lair. The game makes a point of telling you to avoid it, as you won't be able to escape if [[OneHitKill it spots you]]. Though that makes sense considering that the shark in question is a ''great white''. This one is especially unnerving as it's encountered in a smugglers' cove, and by that point in the game most players only think to expect sharks when exploring shipwrecks.

*** The environment alone is terrifying: You're swimming along the ocean floor and most of the time the only air you have is what you can hold in your lungs. And several times you have to navigate underwear tunnels and caves, a terrifying idea for anyone even mildly claustrophobic.

** One mission has you sneaking through a swamp at night, and one conversation mentions how crocodiles roam the waters. If you miss this and decide to take a shortcut through the water, ''you'll easily miss them sneaking up on you, and suddenly you're being attacked, barely able to see anything.''
*** One poor [=NPC=] isn't even safe ''on land'' in this mission. As you move through trees and rafters to keep up with a group of soldiers rowing in a boat, one comments that he's certain there's something in the water following them. They approach an outpost and another soldier walks up to talk with them a moment and confirm their status. Suddenly, [[JumpScare a crocodile explodes from the water and grabs him]], dragging him under before anyone can even try to do anything. You're probably just as scared as the other soldiers at this.

* In the modern-day segment of the game, what [[IHaveManyNames John / Roberts / Aita had]] [[BodySnatcher planned for R-L.]] And it would have succeeded if [[DidntSeeThatComing Juno inexplicably decided not to do so.]]