In Videogames It’s Good To Be Bad…
Video games are nothing without their villains. Heroes might get the spotlight, but it’s the villains who steal the show with their dastardly deeds, outrageous plans, and snazzy one-liners. Today, we count down the top 10 villains in video game history, diving into their evil plots, character arcs, and the English voice actors who made them unforgettable. Let’s jump into the chaos!
10. Dr. Robotnik (Eggman) – Sonic the Hedgehog
The rotund, mustache-twirling genius obsessed with trapping a blue hedgehog in a hamster wheel of doom. Dr. Robotnik has been building robots, capturing animals, and generally being the worst thing since stale chili dogs.
His character arc? Well, he’s pretty consistent—Eggman just wants world domination and a little respect. Sonic, however, keeps turning his dreams into scrap metal.
Voice Actor: Mike Pollock, who has been voicing Eggman since the early 2000s. Pollock’s career includes anime like Pokémon and shows like Yu-Gi-Oh!. He’s the voice of a generation’s robot-loving villainy.
9. Andrew Ryan – BioShock
“Would you kindly” remember Andrew Ryan? The philosophical architect of Rapture invites you into his utopia, only for you to discover it’s a dystopian nightmare. Ryan’s dream of freedom crumbles under the weight of his own ambition.
His arc? Tragic idealism turned hubris. He’s a guy who thought, “Let’s build Atlantis but with capitalism!” and then wondered why it all went south.
Voice Actor: Armin Shimerman. Yes, Quark from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Shimerman brought gravitas and menace to Ryan’s unhinged rants.
8. Ganondorf – The Legend of Zelda
The King of Evil, Ganondorf, spends his days terrorizing Hyrule, wielding magic, and looking fabulous in his green skin and armor. He’s the yin to Link’s yang.
His character arc is eternal: he’s power-hungry and willing to destroy entire kingdoms for it. You’d think after being defeated repeatedly, he’d take a hint, but nope.
Voice Actor: Matthew Mercer voiced Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 trailer. Mercer is a voice acting legend known for Critical Role, Overwatch, and countless anime dubs.
7. Albert Wesker – Resident Evil
Move over, sunglasses at night—Albert Wesker is here to out-cool you. As a double agent and mad scientist, Wesker betrays everyone for his twisted pursuit of power.
His arc? From shady operative to superhuman egomaniac. The man’s about one evil monologue away from starring in his own soap opera.
Voice Actor: D.C. Douglas. With a career spanning roles in Mass Effect, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Transformers, Douglas made Wesker the suave villain we love to hate.
6. Vaas Montenegro – Far Cry 3
The definition of insanity? Playing Far Cry 3 without acknowledging Vaas as one of the greatest villains ever. His unhinged behavior and violent unpredictability make him unforgettable.
Vaas’s arc is as chaotic as he is—his madness consumes him, and by the end, you’re left wondering if you’re more like him than you’d care to admit.
Voice Actor: Michael Mando. Known for his Emmy-worthy work in Better Call Saul, Mando’s performance as Vaas is nothing short of iconic.
5. Arthas Menethil (The Lich King) – World of Warcraft
Once a noble prince, Arthas takes a dark turn after picking up Frostmourne, becoming the infamous Lich King. You know, classic “sword corrupts dude” stuff.
His arc? Tragic and compelling. He starts as a hero, falls into darkness, and ends up the centerpiece of one of gaming’s greatest expansions.
Voice Actor: Michael McConnohie. A veteran of voice work in anime like Bleach and games like Diablo III, McConnohie gave Arthas a voice as chilling as the Northrend tundra.
4. Sephiroth – Final Fantasy VII
The original mama’s boy with a god complex. Sephiroth’s descent into madness is legendary, and so is his sword, Masamune, which is about three feet too long.
His arc? From decorated hero to genocidal maniac. It’s a Shakespearean tragedy, except with Chocobos and Materia.
Voice Actor: George Newbern. Known for voicing Superman in Justice League and other roles in Scandal, Newbern made Sephiroth sound as cool as he looks.
3. The Joker – Batman: Arkham Series
The Clown Prince of Crime thrives on chaos and Batman’s misery. In the Arkham series, his schemes push the Dark Knight to his limits.
His arc? Delightfully twisted. From poisoning Gotham to haunting Batman’s psyche, Joker’s antics never get old.
Voice Actor: Mark Hamill. The legendary Luke Skywalker has been voicing Joker since the 1990s, and his performance is as iconic as the character himself.
2. GLaDOS – Portal Series
Who knew a homicidal AI could be so funny? GLaDOS is your sarcastic, cake-lying tormentor throughout Portal. She’s the queen of passive-aggressive digs.
Her arc? From cruel AI overlord to begrudging ally (sort of) in Portal 2. She’s proof that villains can have layers, like an evil onion.
Voice Actor: Ellen McLain. A trained opera singer and veteran voice actor, McLain also voices the Combine Overwatch in Half-Life 2.
1. Bowser – Super Mario Series
The King of Koopas reigns supreme. Bowser has been kidnapping Princess Peach and terrorizing Mario since the dawn of gaming. Yet somehow, he’s still lovable.
His arc? Eternal nemesis. He’s like that one guy who never learns, except he has an army of Goombas and a flying clown car.
Voice Actor: Kenneth W. James. With roles spanning from Punch-Out!! to Sonic Boom, James gives Bowser his iconic growls and roars.
And there you have it! The top 10 video game villains of all time. These characters might be evil, but they’ve stolen our hearts (and our princesses) forever.
