Over the years, Game of Thrones has built up a reputation for being ruthless and brutal in the handling of its characters and storylines. Naturally, the world that plays host to all of this carnage and chaos is extremely unforgiving. While not much is known of Sothoryos, the other two continents of Westeros and Essos are shown in the TV series — the joys and the horrors.
Westeros and Essos are full of unique people and places, but a lot of them are to be avoided. Game of Thrones thrives in its suspense and tension, especially when it can apply horror vibes to as many situations as possible. Numerous scary locations in Game of Thrones are abandoned, haunted, or simply play host to some horrifying moments.
10 The Iron Islands Can Be Unforgiving
The Iron Islands are one of the main regions of Westeros. Despite being ridiculed for their past failures, they are home to the intimidating and dangerous ironborn. The ironborn are known for their ships, which comes into play later on in Game of Thrones when Euron joins Team Cersei.
The Iron Islands are ruled by the Greyjoys at the formidable Pyke Castle. While it looks intimidating enough during the day, Pyke at night is another story entirely. In Season 6, Balon Greyjoy is pushed off one of many treacherous bridges to his death by his own brother, Euron. The villainous Euron at the helm of Pyke and the ironborn is a terrifying prospect for the rest of Westeros.
9 Meereen's Deepest Issues Become A Big Problem For Daenerys
The great city of Meereen serves as a test of a character for Daenerys Targaryen as she prepares for her eventual conquest of Westeros. However, her reputation for freeing slaves in neighboring cities has reached Meereen, who send a warning of crucified slave children along the approaching road.
Everything about Meereen is unsettling, even after Daenerys' conquest of it. The Sons of the Harpy quickly rise to become the new threat, and it never seems like a feasible goal to expect peace and tranquility. Yet still, it appears to toughen up her resolve in time for the trip to Westeros.
8 The Haunted Forest Is As Ominous As It Gets
The Haunted Forest lies beyond the Wall, but not as far as the open icy plains of the Lands of Always Winter. It is where the first scene of Game of Thrones takes place, with the three men of the Night's Watch being ambushed by White Walkers. Uncle Benjen is also believed to have gone missing while searching these woods.
Craster's Keep is also located in this area. Craster is the disturbing old man who lives with and marries his daughters in a vicious cycle, while he casts out any newborn baby boys as offerings for the White Walkers. This entire region is terrifying, even if it is grounded closer to humanity than further beyond.
7 The Lands Of Always Winter Are An Icy Wasteland Of Nothing But Dread
The Lands Of Always Winter is the name given to the uncharted lands on the far outskirts beyond the Wall. Glimpses of this frozen wasteland are shown towards the beginning of the White Walkers' march south. For instance, it is where the male babies offered by Craster are taken to be turned by the Night King.
The Lands Of Always Winter was once inhabited by the Children of the Forest and other races such as giants and was rich with nature and life. Now, it is just endless cold and not much else.
6 The House Of The Undying Preys On The Minds Of The Weak Or Troubled
The House of the Undying is introduced when Daenerys and her followers arrive in Qarth. It is a headquarters for warlocks, in particular, the creepy Pyat Pree. He takes Daenerys' dragons there and the Khaleesi is greeted with multiple disturbing illusions. The illusions tease the destruction of the Red Keep in King's Landing as well as taunt her with her dead husband, Drogo, and their son.
Pyat Pree is intent on keeping Daenerys captive there forever, but he never really stands a chance. Once found, the dragons are free enough to attack the warlock and burn him alive. The House of the Undying shows Daenerys more horrors in the books, that make this place even more disturbing.
5 Below King's Landing Is As Dangerous As Above
King's Landing is a horrifying place. Kings and queens rule, satisfying their own egos and thirst for power at the expense of everybody else. Over the course of eight seasons, King's Landing is home to countless murders, schemes, and betrayals. This is only brought to an abrupt end by Daenerys and her descent into madness when she burns the entire place down.
However, there are horrors lurking beneath King's Landing, too. Not only are there caches of wildfire stored beneath the city, but Qyburn's various experiments also take place below the surface. Whether it is testing out the modified scorpion on a dragon skull, or experimenting with black magic, Qyburn uses the depths of King's Landing as his playground.
4 Harrenhal Is A Ghostly Fraction Of What It Once Was
Harrenhal was once a huge towering fortress before the Targaryens and their dragons came calling. It has been considered an ill-fated castle ever since, mainly just being used for strategic purposes in war. It serves as a reminder of the havoc that dragons can wreak at their most powerful.
Much of Harrenhal remains in ruin, with many of those who have since taken charge of it not being willing to undergo the huge but necessary reconstruction. It serves as the location where Arya meets Tywin Lannister, who seemingly remains unaware of her true identity. The haunting setting playing host to this intense interaction makes for some captivating television.
3 Old Valyria Is An Eerie Reminder Of The Past
Valyria was once the capital of the greatest civilization the world had ever seen. Its legacy still lives on, but other than the remaining Valyrian steel swords and the dragons that used to call it home, there isn't much left. The Doom of Valyria was a volcanic catastrophe that destroyed everything.
Tyrion and Jorah pass through Old Valyria on the way to Meereen in Season 5. The ruins cast a gloomy yet unnerving shadow over the surrounding area. The only life they see here is Drogon flying overhead and a surprise attack by the Stone Men.
2 The Hall Of Faces Is A Disturbing Reminder Of What The Faceless Men Do
The House of Black and White is where Arya goes to train in Season 5. Despite being unsure of what to expect when she arrives in Braavos, she quickly learns more about the guild of assassins known as the Faceless Men. These assassins learn to become "no one," shedding their old name and life and allowing them to put on new faces and assume new personalities.
The whole concept is horrifying when properly thought about, but it gets creepier. The Hall of Faces is located in the depths of the House of Black and White. All the faces that have been collected are stored here in a giant vault.
1 Hardhome & Other Sparse Areas Beyond The Dark Forest Are The First Hit By The Undead Invasion
The haunted forest and the Lands of Always Winter are treacherous regions beyond the Wall, but so is the rest of it all. Hardhome is one example of many. Jon Snow learns the hard way how Hardhome's isolated existence is extremely dangerous when a threat such as the undead comes calling.
The onslaught of wights and White Walkers make "Hardhome" one of the most intense and scary episodes of Game of Thrones. The other places north of the Wall that are covered in snow and ice are hauntingly eerie, especially where Jon and company go to retrieve a wight.