Currently, gaming has become a marvelous icon that rivals other forms of fiction and media in providing artistic and impactful responses. The gameplay aspect might be a winning factor for any people’s enjoyment. However, in the past 20 years, the world has seen some stories arise from gaming that has won their hearts. There is, without a doubt, no one better to carry the storytelling aspect than the Protagonist and Antagonist. So join us as we discuss our list of the Top 15 best video game villains that redefined their franchises and are regarded as the greatest in their respective titles.
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The Greatest Villains in Video Games History
Whether it’s the man who brought the approaching storm or the terror of the One-winged Angel, villains in video games provide one of the most counteractive and thought-provoking storylines. Their persona instantly makes them definite fan favorites. They can be rivals to the heroes or even sworn arch-enemies of one another.
The ingredients that go into creating these villains are nothing short of pure magic and artistry. It is one of the many reasons why Video Games in our current era have become another medium to enjoy peak-tier fiction and dense narrative drama.
The List of the top-tier villains in each video game we have prepared for you is nothing of the greatest and best of their times. While we may have missed some of your favorites, we think the following 15 characters are still nothing short of the crown for being the most methodical and well-written villains in the entire industry.
Officer Tenpenny (Grand Theft Auto San Andreas)
Without a doubt, Officer Frank Tenpenny is as classic as hateful villains can go in video games. At the same time, there are people who might argue that Big Smoke may as well be added here. Tenpenny was always the root of the evil behind every action in the game.
The gritty tone and corruption in his voice performance are excellently delivered by Oscar-winning Actor Samuel. L Jackson, as well as other cast members of the game.
Rockstar does an incredible job at foreshadowing Tenpenny and his “C.R.A.S.H” goons manipulating Big Smoke during the early missions of the game. CJ is then forced to help him out across his venture in the game. While making you do pretty much all of his dirty cop work and blackmailing Carl if he tries to be the hero.
However, Despite making rare occurrences throughout the game, you can feel the destain and hatred for the character. This is why GTA San Andreas pulls off an explosive finale where you end up killing Tenpenny alongside CJ’s Brother Sweet. It makes for a satisfying end to the best video game villains for every nostalgic fan.
Monokuma (Danganronpa)
Monokuma
Danganronpa is easily regarded as the best Visual Novel title for newcomers and players looking for a fantastic mystery thriller story. The characters are exceptionally well written. But most of all, no one can deny the sheer antagonism that Monokuma the Bear brings to the Danganronpa Franchise.
He is known as the headmaster of your school, the main setting of the game. Monokuma’s entire face and body split into two different sides. It resembles the Yin-Yang symbol in which there is a balance between two opposite spectrums of Good and Evil. He can teleport throughout the school to taunt the characters.
Even looking at him as the mastermind of the murder sprees of the game. Many might call him oddly resembling Jigsaw from the horror movie franchise, SAW. Monokuma can turn from friendly to sociopathic in a second.
While the endings of the games have many spoiler-heavy twists and turns, monokuma establishes himself as one of the most devious and psychotic villains. You can never tell when he will change the rules of the killing game in Danganronpa. He will mentally detest the cast of characters with his wits and meta humor.
Shao Khan (Mortal Kombat)
Shao Khan
There are a variety of villains throughout the Mortal Kombat Franchise. But there is without no one to question the might and sovereignty of Shao Khan, Emperor of Outworld. He is quite easily one of the greatest villains to grace the genre of Fighting video games. He has several appearances throughout the entire franchise.
The latest title to be featured in Mortal Kombat 11. Thankfully, Neatherrealm Studios continues to make him still feel like a dominant character despite many alterations and roster changes in the series.
Shao Khan is notorious for being one of the most challenging final bosses in the arcade modes of the series. Almost frustrating players into beating him in his overpowered state during Mortal Kombat 9. His signature weapon is a giant hammer, and he opposes everyone within Earthrealm and mankind. Khan is one of the classic characters of the series. He is a beloved character by the entire fanbase and one that will remain so forever.
Handsome Jack (Borderlands 2)
Handsome Jack
Perhaps the most charismatic on the list of villains here is Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2. He is quick-witted and is both books and street smart. He wears his pride on his sleeves. Jack is known to torment the Vault Hunter across their journey in Pandora. Going to any means to eradicate you, even if it means using his Daughter, Angel.
His backstory and character are further fleshed out in other game titles like the Pre-sequel of Borderlands. Not to mention the brilliantly written back-and-forth of him and Rhys in Tales from the Borderlands by Telltale Games. He is pretty much the embodiment of a villain who wins the hearts of the fans in a series or medium.
But deep down, Jack is a character plagued by his insecurities and regrets. He is haunted by the death of his wife and vows to rule over the entire Galaxy as the richest and most powerful man. His monologues through the main journey, coupled with his condescending demeanor, make him one of the greatest video game villains out there.
Albert Wesker (Resident Evil Series)
Albert Wesker
The Resident Evil franchise is known to have the dearest and hardcore fans. At the same time, it has many memorable main characters like Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine, and Chris Redfield. Albert Wesker proved to be one of the most iconic villains to grace the series’ early comings.
Donning a pair of sunglasses like the Terminator and having the ability of Superhuman strength and speed. You cannot help but love his cartoonish invulnerability in a grim and ruthless game such as Resident Evil. He led the original S.T.A.R.S task force in the first game but quickly backstabbed them as a double agent for Umbrella Corps.
He makes rare appearances and cameos throughout the next few games. By the time we approach Resident Evil 5, he plans to unleash a Global Virus on the world. Despite taking on multiple Monsterous transformations, he is soon hunted down by the heroes of the game and his former teammates, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine.
Andrew Ryan (Bioshock)
Andrew Ryan
Bioshock was released back in 2007 and still gets praised beyond oblivion by fans for its mysterious and cynical storytelling. Andrew Ryan is the main Antagonist of the game and is quite a unique character of the game.
He is the man who created the underwater metropolis Rapture, the main setting of the game. Throughout the game, the player slowly unravels the mystery behind the blind ambitions of his tone and mentality. His charismatic and devoting audio logs create an idealistic man who has long forgotten his humanity.
He hopes to build a society for mankind but instead ushers in a tragic travesty. The closing moments of the game become so memorable in the minds of every player. It’s hard even to forget the excellent writing of Ryan’s ideas, turning him into a ruthless and scary villain hellbent on building his very own society.
Pyramid Head (Silent Hill 2)
The Pyramid Head
While he can be a strong foe found throughout the series, it is no question to the fans of Silent Hill that his prominent role is within the events of Silent Hill 2. Pyramid Head, also known as the executioner, is a monument of your sins materialized into the shape of a grotesque nightmare.
He plays the aspect of a more passive version of Mr. X from Resident Evil 2 Remake as he hunts James around various places in the game. His creepy design and horrifying introduction make him feel like an ever-present terror while you explore the eerie town of Silent Hill.
Masahiro Ito is one of the lead art designers of Silent Hill who created Pyramid Head. He was pleased to have him portray a major role in the second game, albeit being displeased at the team reusing him for the later titles.
The character is known to be regarded as one of the best villains to manifest, mainly due to the Protagonist, James Sunderland, wanting to suffer for failing to protect his wife, Mary. That fact alone makes him one of the greatest horror game villains of the genre.
Vaas Montenegro (Farcry 3)
Vaas Montenegro
The Far Cry series from Ubisoft is most notably famous for its memorable villains. The game formula of Ubisoft might have gotten stale. But without a doubt, the villains of the series steal the show. Vaas is no exception to that fact, as his crazy and unpredictable nature is delivered by the fantastic performance by Actor Michael Mundo.
He is the Main villain of Far Cry 3, and in an instant, he became the face of the franchise. He torments the Gap Year students in the game’s opening while taunting Jason Bordy, our hero, with psychotic speeches. Furthermore, Vaas is a pirate and Drug Trafficker who finds pleasure in mayhem and enslaving the islanders.
Throughout the game, you will never know his next moves against you. He will glorify the need to question you on the definition of insanity. But most importantly, his legacy as a villain will continue to live on in the hearts of players who grew fond of his unhinged lunatic actions and bewildered craziness.
Shodan (System Shock)
Shodan
It is said that the System Shock series paved the way for its spiritual successor, Bioshock. But before, there was Andrew Ryan and other manipulative villains. There was Shodan, the Artificial Intelligence that would send shivers down the spine of players. She goes rogue, and so you are tasked to eliminate her on the Citadel Space station.
However, she mercilessly hunts you down throughout your stay on the ship. She can track you down in every corner where you can choose to hide. She terrifyingly taunts you on every move that you try to make to steer away from her direction.
Shodan’s character affected later game villains like GlaDOS and Andrew Ryan in more ways than one. What makes her one of the best and greatest villains to exist is solely the fact that she was the first of her kind to be the most cunning and sociopathic character to change the course of the future era of Video Games.
Joker (Batman Arkham Series)
Joker in Arkham City
There is no doubt that the Joker character from the DC comics universe is the most profound and greatest villain with the best rivalries even in the Video Games medium. He is the arch nemesis of Batman, and in the Arkham Franchise, this rivalry is further transcended to greater heights.
He is voiced by the extremely talented Troy Baker, who is known for his multiple roles of character voices. Later on, after Arkham Origins, he is voiced by none other than Mark Hamill, who was born to play his role. The performance is translated marvelously into the Joker’s classic psychopathic and violent personality.
The Arkham version of Joker is written amazingly with how the games build the dynamic between him and Bruce Wayne. He is the true “bad guy” to reflect and torment the deepest weaknesses found in Bruce Wayne. The lines begin to draw as Joker slowly and painfully haunts Batman in Arkham Knight as a walking ghost of the past.
It is without any question that Rocksteady has just added more layers of Testament to the Joker’s accolades in being the most badass and well-written villains to exist in the comics medium and gaming.
GLaDOS (Portal)
Glados
So “GLaDOS,” or to be accurate, the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, is the main villain of the critically acclaimed classic title, Portal by Valve. It achieves the feat of being called the best villain in video games because of how they completely enthralled players with his over-the-top wicked sense of humor.
The quotes of the A.I, as you die trying to solve the puzzles in both Portal games, are hilarious and executed with perfection. The adventures you tread throughout Aperture Labs are highlighted by the equally snarky and depressing commentary by Glados. You can’t help but smile at the never-ending personal jabs taken from it.
In today’s era of gaming, the quotes are highly regarded as the greatest phrases spoken by a villain in a video game despite being mostly comedic in style. At the end of the day, Glados might not be as horrifying in retrospect as other villains of gaming. But it is indeed one that players will never forget for a long time.
Dutch Van Der Linde (Red Dead Redemption)
Dutch Van der Linde
Few antagonists leave a lasting impression on the same level as the main hero. The same can be said for Dutch from Red Dead Redemption. He is one of the secondary villains of the first game, but soon enough, we would get the opportunity to see his downfall play out in Red dead 2, taking place before the events of the first game.
The entire world fell in love with Arthur Morgan in the 2nd game, instantly becoming one of the most beloved protagonists in gaming with his exceptional writing and character depth. However, that was only a single aspect of many that would shape Red dead 2’s story to be the greatest of Rockstar’s franchises.
Witnessing firsthand how Dutch crumbles from a bonafide outlaw to a man hellbent on preaching faith as some sort of peacekeeping accord among his peers is both intriguing and depressing. Eventually, the threats and failures push him further into extremism until he barely resembles the virtuous gunslinger he once was.
The transformation of an idealistic man with goals reminiscent of Robin Hood to a selfish man who turned his back on his best man in need of help is one of the best character alterations you’ll ever witness in a video game.
Revolver Ocelot (Metal Gear Solid Series)
Revolver Ocelot in MGS franchise
If you’ve been on the internet for a while, there is no way you wouldn’t have heard of an infamous gunslinger who revolves a Colt Single Action around his fingers for a while before introducing himself. Revolver Ocelot is one of the few characters that has appeared throughout every single mainline entry of Metal Gear Solid.
Revolver Ocelot is quite probably the most complex character ever written by Hideo Kojima. He is a super smart, charismatic agent with affiliations to multiple secret organizations, always double-crossing one or another while having ulterior motives of his own. Making him quite an unpredictable character in the franchise.
The Final fight with his Liquid Ocelot alteration in MGS 4 is hands down one of the most emotional sequences fondly remembered by gaming fans. It is badass and adds weight to the impactful stories of Snake and Ocelot. Furthermore, the fight is a throwback to the Original MGS game fight between Liquid and Solid Snake.
As the series progresses, you will not only find him as a compelling villain but also a sympathetic man who will make you question if this man was a bad guy despite committing atrocious crimes. With these moral ambiguities, you will begin to cherish the riveting and fascinating storytelling ideas of Hideo Kojima.
Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)
Sephiroth in FF7
There is no argument for the fact that JRPGs have produced so many captivating stories to share. Whether it’s the journey and its end in Dragon Quest or the power of friendship in Persona, the characters live in your hearts, forever iconic and memorable. Sephiroth and Cloud’s rivalry in FF7 remains to be the greatest of their time.
He is a master swordsman with strength and speed capable enough to match the might of the Buster Sword. But that is only the tip of the iceberg of his complex and malicious character. He has an eerily calm demeanor that makes him a terrifying sight even in the brand new Remake of Final Fantasy 7.
Fans who grew up with the original game have nothing but distaste for him. He might be an intimidating Commander for Soldiers, but more specifically, he is an experiment that went wrong in more ways than one.
Most importantly, fans dearly hold Sephiroth as the most sinister and diabolical villain of the JRPG era. His horrifying acts of genocide and murder of Aerith send fans in disarray to this day. The main theme of Sepiroth is still one of gaming’s most legendary OSTs to exist. We can only speculate how he turns out in the remake.
Vergil (Devil May Cry)
Vergil in Devil May Cry 5
Lastly, it brings us to the villain, who can be called an Anti-hero. The man who lives on pure motivation. Vergil from the Devil May Cry series is easily one of the greatest action video game villains of all time. Just like his brother, Dante, He has also been an insanely popular influence on most action-driven titles and their fanbase.
His original appearance was in Devil May Cry 1, but the proper character of Vergil emerged in Devil May Cry 3. It is here where his popularity skyrocketed among fans of the franchise with his slick and confident personality.
The rivalry between Dante and Vergil is legendary across the franchises of gaming, like the unstoppable force versus the immovable object, Like Alpha and the Omega. Further character development and backstories were established during the events of DMC 5, and its special manga focused on the two brothers and other characters.
Most importantly, Vergil is one of the few rare instances in gaming which became a playable character in a series, and it only boosted his immense admiration in the industry of gaming even more than before.
What makes him so special as a playable villain is mainly the fact that his moveset is easily one of the coolest and most stylish arsenals in action games history. From crisp and spectacular judgment cuts to destroying enemies with Beowulf’s constant juggernaut jabs and kicks. He is truly the zenith of video game villains and rivals.
Honorable Mentions
The list may not have been able to accommodate every single influential villain in video games. But not to worry, as I still have a few more to share that left their mark on the medium. The following villains are just as special as anyone else in our list of the best video game villains of all time:
- Bowser (Super Mario Brothers)
- Gannon (The Legend of Zelda)
- Alma Wade (F.E.A.R)
- Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (Dark Souls 1)
- Revan and Darth Malak (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic)
- Illusive Man (Mass Effect 2 & 3)
- Heihachi Mishima (Tekken Series)
- General Sheperd (Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2)
We hope you enjoyed reading our list of the 15 of the most well-decorated Villains across the generations of Video Games. Feel free to let us know what you think of these characters, and share your favorite one in the comments box below!
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