What's the Scariest Roller Coaster in the World? 10 Contenders

Do you really need to know the details about the number of inversions or exact height when you hear that the launch speed on some of these is over 100 mph (161 km/h)? Craig Russell / Shutterstock

Some people scream their lungs out on roller coasters. Others hold their arms high and beg for more. Which camp would you fall into if you rode the scariest roller coaster in the world?

Whether you're chasing thrills at massive amusement parks or cautiously watching from the sidelines, roller coasters have evolved into high-speed steel beasts that defy physics and sanity. These are the rides that push limits with height, speed, and dizzying inversions.

Contents

Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey, USA)
Eejanaika, Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Japan)
Takabisha, Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Japan)
Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point (Ohio, USA)
The Smiler, Alton Towers (Staffordshire, UK)
X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain (California, USA)
Fury 325, Carowinds (North Carolina, USA)
Do-Dodonpa, Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Japan)
Red Force, Ferrari Land (Salou, Spain)
Tower of Terror II, Dreamworld (Queensland, Australia)

1. Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey, USA)

This coaster was the Goliath of speed and height. Kingda Ka rocketed riders from 0 to 128 mph (206 km/h) in just 3.5 seconds. That speed launched you up a 456-foot (139-meter) tower before freefalling back to Earth.

Built in 2005, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world at 456 feet (139 meters) until its closure in 2024.

2. Eejanaika, Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Japan)

Eejanaika doesn't just flip you upside down; it rotates your seat independently from the track. That means 14 inversions and movements so unpredictable, you might not know which way is up.

It's one of the few 4D coasters ever built, creating a disorienting, intense ride you won't forget. Opened in 2006, it's a must-ride for serious thrill seekers visiting Japan's top theme parks.

3. Takabisha, Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Japan)

Another entry from Fuji-Q Highland, Takabisha held the world record for the steepest roller coaster drop at 121°, until the TMNT Shellraiser coaster surpassed it with a 121.5° drop in 2019.

That means you go beyond vertical.

Combine that with seven inversions and a launch reaching 62 mph (100 km/h), and you get one of the scariest coaster experiences anywhere. Since opening in 2011, it's become a bucket-list ride for anyone who loves extreme angles and breakneck speed.

4. Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point (Ohio, USA)

roller coasters — Millennium Force (left) and Steel Vengeance (right). PhotosByLarissaB / Shutterstock

Steel Vengeance isn't just a wooden coaster. It's a hybrid, combining wood and steel to create one of the smoothest yet most intense rides out there.

It features four inversions and a top speed of 74 mph (119 km/h), with a layout packed with airtime hills and near-miss elements. Since its 2018 debut, it has consistently ranked among the world’s top roller coasters.

5. The Smiler, Alton Towers (Staffordshire, UK)

The Smiler is infamous for its 14 inversions—a tie for the most on any roller coaster in the world. Opened in 2013, its twisted steel track looks like a pile of spaghetti, and the psychological theme only adds to the unsettling vibe.

Despite a rocky history, it remains a major draw for coaster fans seeking something truly unhinged.

6. X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain (California, USA)

X2 flips the script with its rotating seats and onboard audio. Debuting in 2002 as X—the world’s first “4th Dimension” coaster—and rebuilt as X2 in 2008, it delivers controlled chaos with 360° spins, drops and flips that create a total sensory overload.

7. Fury 325, Carowinds (North Carolina, USA)

Named for its height (325 feet or 99 meters), Fury 325 combines massive drops with blistering speed. It reaches 95 mph (153 km/h) and sustains high G-forces over a three-minute ride.

Opened in 2015, it's often ranked among the best steel coasters for its smoothness and intensity.

8. Do-Dodonpa, Fuji-Q Highland (Fujiyoshida, Japan)

This launch coaster goes from 0 to 107 mph (172 km/h) in under two seconds. That acceleration hits harder than most supercars. The ride features a huge vertical loop and terrifying speed, making it one of Japan's most extreme attractions.

Opened in 2001 and updated in 2017, it's a standout in a park full of jaw-dropping rides.

9. Red Force, Ferrari Land (Salou, Spain)

roll — Red Force. Pit Stock / Shutterstock

If you're after European speed, Red Force is your ride. It climbs 367 feet (112 meters) and reaches 112 mph (180 km/h) in just five seconds.

It's the tallest and fastest coaster in Europe and part of the Ferrari Land experience, where quality speed is always the main event.

10. Tower of Terror II, Dreamworld (Queensland, Australia)

Although closed in 2019, this ride deserves a spot for its legacy. It shot riders backward up a 377-foot (115-meter) tower at 100 mph (161 km/h). Then, gravity did the rest.

It was one of the earliest rides to combine extreme speed with a vertical element, helping to shape the modern thrill ride landscape.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.