Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
Blocky as he might have appeared in 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth certainly made an impression on legions of young gamers. Infamous for plunging his ludicrously long katana into the back of fan favorite character Aerith, Sephiroth remains one of the coldest and most unsettling characters in video game history (and he’s even more so in the recent remake).
Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
While Ganondorf has featured in virtually every Zelda instalment in one form or another, it’s in 2006’s Twilight Princess that he’s the most terrifying. Drenched in midnight-black armour and wielding the very sword intended for his execution, Ganondorf lurks in the realm of Twilight as a banished demon, twisting his peons into horrific monsters.
Mr House (Fallout: New Vegas)
Whether Mr House can strictly be considered a villain depends on the point of view of the player – after all, surviving in a post-apocalyptic wasteland would put a strain on anyone’s ethics. That said, manipulating the world from the confines of a creepy life support chamber as a semi-mummified husk would be a step too far for most. Indeed, the game technically categorises House as an abomination.
Odin (God of War: Ragnarok)
In a franchise filled with staggeringly buff characters, not least ‘God of War’ Kratos himself, Odin’s relatively diminution and frailty is surprising. What makes the All-father so terrifying, however, is how he manipulates Kratos’ son, Atreus, in furtherance of his own goals: the stifling of Ragnarok and a path to immortality. Cold, calculating, and self-obsessed, Odin proves more vicious than any other foe you’ll encounter.
Ghetsis (Pokémon Black & White)
Where most Pokémon villains are some combination of wild-eyed scientist and cutthroat mafioso, Ghetsis is instead an Illuminati-robed magician who uses his son (“a freak without a human heart”) as a tool for world domination. Perhaps more striking is when Ghetsis returns in sequels Black 2 and White 2; once defeated, he canonically suffers a psychotic break.
Mr X (Resident Evil 2)
Treading a fine line between villain and beast, Mr X is a hulking bioweapon who pursues Leon Kennedy throughout the Raccoon City Police Department. Adding to his menace is his unrushed gait and imperviousness to damage. In the 2019 remake, Mr X is given greater intelligence and stalks the player ever more diligently.
Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
BioShock, as well as being a terrifying depiction of drug abuse and genetic augmentation, is a political tale of free-market libertarianism run amok. At the head of Rapture City is Andrew Ryan, who remains a true believer in his disastrous underwater project until the very end. Indeed, so convinced is he of his principles that he orders the player to beat him to death with a golf club as a demonstration of free will.
Bowser (Super Mario World)
One of the contenders for video gaming’s original villain (alongside arcade dastard Donkey Kong), the self-styled ‘King of the Koopas’ has become a goofier and more inept bad guy in recent years. In SNES classic Super Mario World, however, Bowser appears as a vicious demon with a seemingly random and certainly unhealthy obsession with clowns.
Professor Pyg (Batman: Arkham Knight)
While Lazlo Valentin, aka Professor Pyg, first made an appearance in comics, there’s no doubt that his most memorable incarnation is in 2015 Batman bone-cruncher Arkham Knight. Pyg is a deeply disturbed scientist who creates agendered, brainwashed ‘Dollotrons’ from vulnerable human subjects while snorting and singing opera. Less camp than much of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, Pyg ranks among gaming’s most disturbed and disturbing antagonists.
M Bison (Street Fighter II)
Muy Thai enforcer Sagat serves as the final boss of the original Street Fighter, but it wasn’t until the second instalment that fighting game fans would meet Shadloo’s true head honcho. Depicted with white eyes and noticeably despot-inspired attire, Bison seeks to achieve immortality and world domination through his so-called ‘Psycho Power.’
Kerrigan – StarCraft
Buoyed on by betrayal and being left for dead, Kerrigan has one thing on her mind: to destroy everything in front of her. She is the leader of the almost endless Zerg swarm, who obey her every order. As well as having an army in the palm of her hands, Kerrigan looks every bit like a villain, with boney wings and a tentacle hairdo, making her bark equally as bad as her bite.
Illusive Man – Mass Effect 3
The Illusive Man is the enigmatic leader of the pro-human paramilitary group Cerberus in Mass Effect 3. With prosthetic eyes that could cut through you if you were to stare into them for too long, Illusive Man has the sort of antagonistic presence and charisma that will make its mark on players. He also has a plan to raise the human species high above any other races.
Handsome Jack – Borderlands 2
Mix all the charm in the world with a relentless desire to kill both animals and humans, and you get Handsome Jack, the main antagonist in Borderlands 2. He even lives in a satellite in the sky, visible at all times, with a tendency to fire lasers down to the surface of the planet. Eccentric and unhinged, he’s not the sort of guy that you’d happily invite round for dinner.
The Joker – Batman: Arkham Knight
There’s not much that hasn’t been written about The Joker, Batman’s most famous enemy. In Batman: Arkham Knight, The Joker is even more gruesome and terrifying looking than in any of his silver-screen portrayals, making him a truly horrifying figure to come up against. His storyline in Arkham Knight is based more on his similarities with Batman rather than their differences, making for a psychological spectacle of a game.
Dr. Eggman – Sonic the Hedgehog
Dr. Eggman represents the archetypal bad guy that gamers have come to know and love over the years. World domination is his aim, and you guessed it, he’s willing to destroy everything in front of him in order to achieve it. The worst part about his plot to take over the world is that he’s using innocent, cute little animals to do so, putting them in robot bodies and sending them out to halt Sonic the Hedgehog’s progress.
Vaas Montenegro – Far Cry 3
Regardless of his effect on the plot of Far Cry 3, Vaas Montenegro just isn’t the sort of guy you’d want to cross paths with. A drug trafficker, kidnapper, and pirate, it’s safe to say, he’s a bad egg. His narcissistic, psychotic persona, excellently portrayed by voice actor Michael Mando, makes for a genuine, unpredictable gaming experience.
Micah Bell – Red Dead Redemption 2
Micah Bell is the very definition of a snake. Manipulative and antagonizing, he knows how to get through to anti-hero Dutch Van Der Linde in a way that you, as Arthur Morgan or John Marston just cannot. What makes him even more frustrating is the way that he flaunts his bad nature on you as you progress through the game, making you wish you had aborted the prison rescue mission earlier on in the story.
Frau Engel – Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
For Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, game developers MachineGames decided to ramp up the focus on Frau Engel’s sociopathy. Complete with the typical Nazi swagger and arrogance that is depicted in many a war game, Engel’s sadism makes for sickening viewing. What it does give you though, is an added motivation to bring her and her tyranny down.
GLaDOS – Portal
One of the key features of Portal games is how excellently written they are. They’re full of humor, some subtle some more obvious, and it was perfectly written into the script for GLaDOS. Her constant jibes as you meander through the game are there with the sole purpose to provoke and annoy you. She’s also trying to kill you, which is never a trait that you want to see in someone.
General Shepherd – Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
The release of Modern Warfare 2 represented a peak in the franchise, with a storyline littered with plot twists and surprises. There was no plot twist greater than General Shepherd’s betrayal of Ghost and Roach, which led to the most heartbreaking deaths of the Call of Duty franchise. The smug look he gives the player as he is committing his evil deed is almost enough to make you want to throw your controller at the screen.
Albert Wesker – Resident Evil
Albert Wesker was another video game villain who oozed charm and sophistication. He had the charisma to steal scenes, as well as the dogged determination and resilience to keep coming back time and time again. He would eventually meet his end in a highly unforgettable death scene in Resident Evil 5.
LeChuck – Secret of Monkey Island
LeChuck is a versatile villain, capable of reinventing himself into zombies, pirates, and demons. He’s not blessed with brains and isn’t a scheming sociopath like some other villains on this list, which ultimately makes his villainy even worse. His bitterness was based on his obsession with the female protagonist Elaine, who just isn’t interested.
Dr. Wily – Mega Man
Dr. Wily isn’t the first, or the last, mad scientist to act as a villain in a video game. He is, however, one of the most memorable. He’s also a very hard worker, as no matter how many times you destroy his self-invented hardware, he just keeps coming back with even better machines. While he isn’t the most threatening looking of villains, he is wonderfully eccentric
Bloody Mary – The Wolf Among Us
Bloody Mary is another one of those characters who just cannot keep herself away from violence. She is sadistic, using her fighting ability to torture her opponents. When she’s in full Bloody Mary mode, her teeth sharpen and her eyes bleed, making her one of the creepiest villains on this list. She is the very epitome of a nightmare.
Lady Dimitrescu – Resident Evil Village
Part of Lady Dimitrescu’s story involves her joining a cult and being implanted with a parasite that allows her to turn into a creepy dragon lady. She is another villain that genuinely loves being evil, staring at her victims with piercing eyes. She stole the show in Resident Evil Village, which has sort of come to be expected from a franchise that has produced many terrific villains.
Revolver Ocelot – Metal Gear Solid
Revolver Ocelot is undoubtedly one of the coolest names for a character on this list. He also looks how you’d expect, always carrying a revolver and always ready for a gunfight. He’s not to be trusted, building a reputation in the game for being manipulative and two-faced. His depth of character makes him all the more intriguing, and all the more dangerous.
SHODAN – System Shock 2
In a world dominated by talk about the possible risks of AI, SHODAN from System Shock 2 has become all the more terrifying. She is an example of an AI character who turns on their creator, following them around and attempting to kill them at any given opportunity. She has also conducted biological experiments that have spawned parasitic entities. The thought of her existing in real life does make you want to turn all your tech devices off.
Pyramid Head – Silent Hill 2
Pyramid Head isn’t a constant threat in Silent Hill 2, only appearing in moments throughout the game. This doesn’t detract from his scariness though, with his metal-encased head and penchant for carrying around huge blades coming off as very uneasy. All in all, Pyramid Head serves as a frightening metaphor in a game centered around self-reflection and defeating inner demons.
Zoran Lazarević – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Tall, overtly masculine, and always carrying around a bemoaning look on his face, Zoran Lazarević is in every way a well-crafted villain. He appears in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves as a war criminal, believed to have been long dead by the authorities. Throughout the game he is a ruthless killer, once executing a man for stealing a coin, before being beaten to death by multiple guards at the end of the game.
Alduin – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Alduin, who is also known as The World Eater, is the main antagonist in The Elder Scrolls V. Other names for him include The Harbinger of the Apocalypse, which effectively sums him up. He is the biggest threat in the game, and you can often hear NPCs and villagers talk about how much they fear him. When you see pictures of him, you can fully understand why.
343 Guilty Spark – Halo 3
Despite 343 Guilty Spark being a mere light-up metal ball, it is one of the most hated characters in the Halo franchise. It is snarky, provocative, and antagonistic, but lacks the wit and humor of GLaDOS from Portal. Eventually, 343 Guilty Spark turns on you, and you have to do everything you can to avoid succumbing to a floating metal ball.
General Raam – Gears of War
Nobody likes to judge a book by its cover, but on first impressions, General Raam doesn’t appear to be too friendly. That’s mainly because he isn’t. With the leathery skin, gruesome teeth, and the fact he is huge, Raam is certainly a character to be afraid of. He is a ruthless killer, having brutally slaughtered hundreds of COG soldiers with no mercy whatsoever.
Dutch Van Der Linde – Red Dead Redemption 2
He starts off a little rough around the edges, but he’s got Arthur’s best interests at heart, right? Wrong. What we witness throughout Red Dead Redemption 2 is Dutch Van Der Linde’s descent into madness/delusion. Even to the point where he believes camp rat and relative newcomer over the two men he has raised since they were kids. It is a very tough journey seeing Dutch fall so low.
Sentinels – Stray
Stray is one of the cutest, loveliest games to ever be released, but that doesn’t mean it is free from dangerous bad guys. Originally created to protect humans in the outside world, the Sentinels are drones that quickly fell into the hands of the rich and powerful. They patrol restricted zones in the game, and will not hesitate in trying to kill you if they spot you in their eyeline.
Slender Man – Slender Man
Remember Slender Man? It wasn’t the sort of game you could spend hours on, but it was the sort of game that would scare you into a frenzy and have you awake for the rest of the week. The tall, thin, faceless man originated as an urban legend but became a viral hit because of a free-to-play horror game, that involved him appearing right behind you in a dark forest you were trying to escape.
Admiral Kotch – Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Here’s a face you might recognize. Admiral Kotch, played by Kit Harington, is a dictator for a Mars-based political faction that eventually aims to take control of the entire solar system. Ambitious. Kotch is a cold, uncaring character who will shoot any of his men for no reason. While the game may not have been memorable, Admiral Kotch certainly was.
Vitalis Bénévent – A Plague Tale: Innocence
Vitalis Bénévent is a schemer, using religion to raise himself on a pedestal and manipulate others for his own betterment. In his quest for power, he tries to extract the miracle curse, Prima Macula, from young protagonist Hugo de Rune. He believes that collecting Prima Macula will allow him to reinvent the world, taking control of the plague that the game is based around. Eventually, he gets what was coming to him – a very gruesome death.
Scabrous Scrotus – Mad Max
As villains go, Scabrous Scrotus is up there with the worst of them. Despite it being hard to initially take him seriously because of his name, after witnessing him kill people and animals for a bit of fun, you soon learn that he’s not the sort of guy you can joke around with. Thankfully, you get the chance to end him once and for all come the end of the game.
General Di Ravello – Just Cause 3
The final General to appear on this list is General Di Ravello from Just Cause 3. Adorned with the stereotypical army-man moustache and always wearing his uniform, Di Ravello is a classic territorially obsessed dictator with a dear love for power. Thankfully, he didn’t continue to go about his business unchallenged, as your final mission in the game is to destroy the helicopter he is using to flee Medici.
Pagan Min – Far Cry 4
It’s safe to say, Pagan Min is certifiably insane. The first interaction you have with him in Far Cry 4 sees him repeatedly stab an officer for not following his orders correctly, complain about the blood on his shoes, and then take a selfie with you. Pagan Min is unhinged and unpredictable, but very forgiving towards the playable character. He is a well-written, well-thought-out bad guy, that’s for sure.
Gwyn – Dark Souls
In case you were skeptical about his powers, Gwyn once fought (and won) a war against dragons, ending the age of Ancients. Dark Souls is chock full of brutal bosses but it’s Gwyn you’ll find right there at the end. Players must defeat him to either succeed him by sacrificing their soul to the First Flame, or to bring on the Age of Darkness.
Zeus – God of War
Zeus is a mean guy. After murdering his own son Kratos, he then kidnapped Kratos’ younger brother and sent him to be tortured by the God of Death, before banishing his mother to Atlantis. Basically, he has no moral compass and thinks nothing of sacrificing his family for his own benefit, which makes him a very nasty villain.
Dr Neo Cortex – Crash Bandicoot
Cartoonish and preposterous, Dr Neo Cortex didn’t anticipate one of his critter-to-soldier mutations to result in the unruly bandicoot named Crash. Over the course of several games, Cortex has had to raise his game that little bit more every time as Crash unglues his pesky plans, making him a refreshing and highly-entertaining villain.
Akuma – Super Street Fighter
With a name that literally translates to ‘Devil’ in Japanese, its hard to leave out Akuma from a list like this. First appearing in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a hidden boss, Akuma is afraid of no man. His various forms have spelt trouble for many gamers, infuriated by his difficulty level. M. Bison will always be number one, but Akuma is a close second.
Father Comstock – Bioshock Infinite
Father Comstock dreamed so big that he created a city in the clouds, influenced by feelings of Puritanism and American exceptionalism. Up until you, the player, turn up to rescue his daughter, Comstock thinks of his city as a utopia. As such, he is very unhappy to be disturbed. This is an understood and sober villain.
Master Hand – Super Smash Bros.
Master Hand is a Super Smash Bros. stalwart, floating in the space above Final Destination. Most final bosses employ swords or guns. Master Hand is sheer mass. Whether he slams a fist at you or squeezes you to death, Master Hand is going to make sure your demise is comically brutal. He has yet to be bested. Don’t mention Crazy Hand, please.
Mother Brain – Metroid
Super Metroid’s final section, Tourian, is comparatively calm compared to the lava chambers and haunted ships you have to maneuver to get there. At first, it just seems like a series of metallic halls. And then you reach the end. More importantly, you meet Mother Brain, a huge brain-shaped monster with a single eye. Enough said.
Dracula – Castlevania
Of course, technically, Dracula isn’t an invention of Castlevania, but they did add a few things to the character that didn’t exist before. This recurring villain boasts a larger stature and snake-like grace, and it makes his fits of violence and anger all the more shocking. Fans of Castlevania have a special place in their heart for Dracula.
Luca Blight – Suikoden 2
Sometimes known as the Mad Prince, Luca Blight isn’t that well-known, but if you ask us, he has every right to be. Unlike a lot of throwaway villains, he has a pretty layered backstory – growing up with a cowardly father and mother who were mistreated, Blight developed a fervent and dangerous taste for revenge at any cost.
Arthas – World of Warcraft
At one point a man sworn to the Light, the Lich King was teased and converted by darkness which makes this villain all the more interesting. Arthas has regrets but his power is so mighty he can’t let go. He also believes his belief system is necessary to save the world. Hint: it isn’t! Hijinks ensue throughout WoW.
Vergil – Devil May Cry
Vergil has tried to kill his brother multiple times, cut off his own son’s magic arm and almost caused an apocalyptic event more than once. In short: he’s a pain in the backside. But pains in the backside make for really good villains 99% of the time. Vergil has been memed over the years, but fans respect him all the same.
Flowey – Undertale
After entering the world of Undertale, the first character you come across is Flowey, a talking flower with a cute smile. But don’t fall for his charms. Flowey is a real piece of work. A former Prince of the monsters, he was killed and had his consciousness transplanted into a flower, which made him even crazier and unhinged.
Bendy – Bendy and the Ink Machine
If you don’t know Bendy just imagine a less-detailed, cursed version of Betty Boop. Who would have thought a 2D character could carry so much weight? What makes Bendy so terrifying is that you can’t really defeat her. All you can do is escape, and escaping is a hard process. Apply deodorant before taking her on.
Kefka Palazzo – Final Fantasy VI
Kefka Palazzo must have been through some stuff growing up, because there’s no reason anyone would be that unforgiving for the sake of it. In the early stages of the game, he seems like a bit of a joke. Not somebody you would need to take seriously, especially in a violent context. Oh boy, are we all wrong when push comes to shove.
The Devil – Cuphead
The message is clear from the get-go. If Cuphead and Mugman mess things up, the Devil will take their heads. He may look like a mischievous cartoon cat from the 1940s, but the Devil is not to be messed with. You think you can take him on. You think you can outsmart him. And then you meet him. Over before you know it.
Giygas – Earthbound
Earthbound is a comedy. Your main foes are “new-age retro hippies” and “unassuming local guys” until you get to the end boss, Giygas, a strange entity that embodies the purest form of evil. To take it down you have to team up with other characters. Your combined energy chips away at its health, bringing down a truly bad villain.
Scissorman – Clock Tower
Orphan Jennifer Simpson is locked in an old mansion high in the mountains, being chased by the gleefully psychotic Scissorman, a scissor-wielding killer, who wants to do to you what he’s done to all your orphan friends. Survival horror Clock Tower is a great, underrated game, and Scissorman is a great, underrated villain.
Majora – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Majora is arguably the scariest villain in The Legend of Zelda universe. Not only is it pure evil, but it’s without any foundation (that we know of). There’s no reason or trigger for why Majora wants to destroy anything in its way. Some people just want to watch the world burn, and when “people” is a tormented-looking love heart on legs, you know you’re in the presence of a great villain.
Shang Tsung – Mortal Kombat
Keeper of many souls, Shang Tsung can change into any character he defeats, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to take him down. Shang Tsung isn’t the strongest but his shapeshifting can thwart any attempt to thrive in the land of Mortal Kombat. Tsung has been over-shadowed his fellow villains, but he deserves recognition.
Psycho Mantis – Metal Gear Solid
Psycho Mantis cemented his place in gaming history after breaking the fourth wall at the end of the first Metal Gear Solid by pretty much conversing with the player. In order to beat him, you have to do actual real-world things like switch controller ports, making him all the more complex and interesting.
Andross – Star Fox
Andross isn’t the hardest villain to beat, but he’s still pretty iconic. His longevity has been helped by several different forms. More brainy than brawny, Andross loves to build technology, supernatural powers and battle tactics. As a player, his evil mad scientist gimmick is what you most need to look out for.
Big Boss – Metal Gear Solid
Big Boss is a military marvel. Always one step ahead, always hungrier, always braver. He has the skills to back up his bravado, skills he actually invented (Big Boss creates a new form of martial arts to better combat his foes). Some have argued that Big Boss is actually the protagonist – but we’re not having that and neither is he.
Ridley – Metroid
Samus’ worst nightmare, Ridley, is sometimes known as the Cunning God of Death. Big boots to fill and fill them he does. Ridley doesn’t care what happens. Kill or be killed, he’s always ready for a tussle. One of the more visually stimulating villains in gaming, Ridley is more than just a dragon, he’s a menace to society.
Ansem – Kingdom Hearts
Every fight with Ansem was a slog, wasn’t it? Trying to swing for him feels like a child trying to swing for an adult holding their forehead. You can hack and hack and Ansem with barely flinch. You don’t just need experience to take on this fella, but skill. It’s as simple and frustrating as that.
Wheatley – Portal 2
Wheatley serves as a cute and welcome comic relief in Portal 2. And then he switches places with GLaDOS and goes plum loco. Your former friend is now a murderous and clumsy psycho with a real taste for violence. Unlike a lot of grunting villains, Wheatley is efficiently scripted and acted, making their threat all the more intense.
Lavos – Chrono Trigger
The final boss of Chrono Trigger, Lavos is one alien parasite you could do without in your life. If you were defeated by this thing in battle, you would witness the destruction of the world, so the stakes are pretty high. Oh, and while he is the final boss, players can challenge him throughout the game. Make sure you’ve got what it takes.
Wolf O’Donnell – Star Fox
Wolf O’Donnell may only get a few lines of dialogue in Star Fox 64, but it works. A classic case of quality over quantity, O’Donnell was cooler, smarter, and crucially, faster, than his team of pilots. This final fight requires a steady hand, nerves of steel and an unbreakable spirit. O’Donnell doesn’t mess around.
G-Man – Half Life
G-man is an enigma. What we do know is pretty intimidating. He has the ability to stop time, the ability to conjure and control aliens, and can apparently predict the future. He also has a fascination with Gordon Freeman, who he observes everywhere. G-Man isn’t physically imposing but you must keep your eye on him.
Wario – Super Mario franchise
Wario has been prone to friendly moments over the years. He’s even gone golfing and karting with Mario. But ultimately, he’s still the same snide, greedy, garlic-loving troublemaker he was back in Super Mario Land 2. Anyone who creates a business out of plucking someone’s nose hairs has to be on a list like this.
King Dedede – Kirby
To be bad, you don’t have to be aesthetically scary. In fact, it’s often the most cartoonish villains that pack the biggest punch. King Dedede suckers you by being a big, adorable penguin and then he tries to hammer you to an early grave. And that hammer is too big for him. Put it down, Dedede, and let’s be friends.
