10 Worst Video Game Villains in History

Some of the worst video game villains are also some of our favorite because they are the main antagonists that keep us entertained, challenged, and fighting ruthlessly until the end. What makes a villain memorable? Is it their terrifying persona? How difficult they are to beat? Or is it the video game itself that makes the villain within it memorable, as is the case for Handsome Jack? Here are some of our best picks for favorite video game villains of all time, and the reasons for why we chose them.

Mario’s arch-rival in Super Mario Bros is one of the worst video game villains in history and the most famous villain, because Bowser is a huge spike shelled dragon who is always getting thwarted by a tiny Italian plumber. It’s an interesting match-up, but it seems that Bowser’s size works against him. If you’ve ever played Super Mario Bros, you know that Mario beats Bowser by crawling through his legs, hiding behind him, and ultimately, finding ways to stealthily get away. Bowser remains in our hearts as a favorite villain, but not necessarily a successful one.

Ganondorf, also known as Ganon, in The Legend of Zelda, is one of the top video game villains of all time, because he gets under the skin of all players. He is pure evil, he’s hard to beat, he’s repulsive to look at, and, overall, he plays his role well! Villains aren’t supposed to be likable, and Ganon is not likable. He’s the worst. So, I guess you could say, he’s doing something right.

Kefka from Final Fantasy 6 is terrifying because he is so powerful. His man/god combination means he is hard to beat and hard to reckon with. Add to this Kefka’s angry toddler persona underneath all that power, and you’re in for a real treat. Kefka can destroy the world, so when playing this game, players are working against a lot of factors. This is a hard villain to fight with, which makes him one of the worst villains of all time.

Sovereign from Mass Effect is one of the worst video game villains of all time because this starship Reaper is huge, terrifying, and makes the player feel completely powerless. Sovereign’s scariest line in the game is, “You exist because we allow it, and you will end because we demand it.” Hearing those words makes the player feel as though they cannot win, and Sovereign has completely predetermined their every move. This is the workings of a truly skilled villain.

Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat is one of the worst video game villains because he goes above and beyond what a normal villain does. He is psychopathic and taunts his slaves. He plays mind games with humanity, and it is extremely hard to beat him at his own game. Shao Kahn will go until the final battle, and will refuse to stop until death. He is a force to be reckoned with, and this is what makes a great villain.

The Illusive Man in Mass Effect 3 is one of the most interesting, as well as one of the worst, video game characters of all time because he is a human, just like the player. The Illusive Man is very vocal, and so playing this game is like watching a movie where the villain is just like any other character instead of a fictional monster. The Illusive Man is smart, calculated, and knows what he’s doing with every move he makes—which makes him an excellent villain.

What makes Arthas from World of Warcraft one of the worst video game villains of all time is that he used to be one of the good guys, and he moved to the dark side after falling into madness. He was once a loyal protector, but then he became the Lich King. This transition caused him to gain so much power, which allowed his turn to evil. He then raised an army of ghouls and demons. Now, there is no turning back for him.

Revolver Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid is a professionally trained agent, who is also a professional when it comes to betrayal, lies, and the conquering of civilization. Revolver Ocelot is hard to beat, because he is quick, slick, and deceptive. He will come from behind, fight with his hands and his weapons, and give you a run for your money no matter where you are and when you’re there. So, be sure to watch out for this guy!

Your friends on Mario Kart are the worst video game villains of all time because you never really expect them to be as ruthless as they are. Until your friends are all competing to win the race, you don’t realize that they are also your enemies! Each player in Mario Kart is equipped with different weapons throughout the game to dupe their opponents and slow them down, or run them right off the track. You may be in first place and suddenly end up in last place because your friend has bombed you or made you slip on a banana peel. Just remember when playing Mario Kart, that the people you love the most may be your worst enemies. Don’t trust anyone.

Darth Vader in Star Wars takes the cake for worst video game villain of all time. He is the most famous and the most evil character around because of the betrayal that we all know to be true when his secret is revealed. Luke Skywalker ultimately finds out that Darth Vader is his father, and everyone is stunned. No other video game or fantasy story villain will ever top Darth Vader as having a better villain, and here's everything you need to know about him to prove that.

This concludes our list for the best of the worst video game villains of all time. Do you have some favorites of your own? Go play some of these games and see for yourself which villains you like, or dislike, the best; or, if you're looking for a new perspective, try some of these video games where you play the villain.