The Greatest Video Game Villains Of The Last 5 Years

The last 5 years have told some amazing video game stories, filled with characters who will linger in our minds for decades to come. While protagonists so often hold the stage, a video game villain can absolutely steal the spotlight and be the difference between a good and a great game. From the silver-tongued devils of the Forgotten Realms to the brooding, mirrored shadows in the Pacific Northwest, a brilliant villain keeps players invested and engaged with the story.

Whether they are subverting ancient mythology or offering a reflection of our protagonists, these antagonists challenge our morals, manipulate our loyalties, and, in some cases, almost convince us that they might be right. The 2020s have provided so many memorable baddies so far that narrowing things down to just 10 is extremely challenging, but here goes nothing.

There will be MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS for the following games: Baldur’s Gate 3, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Alan Wake 2, God of War Ragnarök, 1000xRESIST, Triangle Strategy, Armored Core VI, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Skip any sections that you don't want spoiled

10 Louis Guiabern (Metaphor: ReFantazio)

The Perfect Blend of Aristocratic Elegance and Imposing Power

A game from such a beloved studio as Atlus comes with a lot of expectation, and Metaphor: ReFantazio certainly delivered. A large part of what made Metaphor work so well was its primary antagonist, Louis Guiabern, and his domineering demeanor.

The opening cutscene of the game shows us the lengths that Louis will go to see his dream fulfilled, and he sticks to his core beliefs all the way through the game. Louis believes might makes right, and does everything within his power to prove his worldview correct.

Louis is so assured of his righteousness that he never hides any of his misdeeds, openly admitting to murdering the king and laying out his plans. But he’s more than just a powerhouse, as he showcases his eye for strategy on more than one occasion, foiling multiple plots against him throughout the game.

Louis maintains his threatening aura throughout the story, never shying away from the inevitability of engaging people with conflicting ideals. His steadfast dedication to his cause and genuine threat level help him stand amongst some of the best villains in modern gaming.

9 Mr. Scratch (Alan Wake 2)

The Herald of Darkness Represents a Vicious Cycle

As a dark mirror to the titular character of the Alan Wake Series, Mr. Scratch is a disturbing look at the way rumor and legend can distort reality. He is, in essence, all the negative things people have said and written about Alan made manifest; he is at times charismatic, violent, and chaotic.

While the previous title, Alan Wake's American Nightmare, showed Mr. Scratch as a dancing, smooth-talking murderer, Alan Wake 2 takes him in a different direction, portraying him as a dark, brooding, and dangerous entity. The origin of Mr. Scratch has changed between these two games, which led to the discrepancy.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHO MR. SCRATCH ISIn truth, Mr. Scratch from Alan Wake 2 is simply Alan Wake possessed by the Dark Presence, acting out as he had been written to. Where the version of Mr. Scratch from American Nightmare is the personification of how the tabloids portrayed Alan as a party animal, the entity from Alan Wake 2 represents the darker, more violent version envisioned by those same paparazzi. His portrayal as a foil to Alan is fascinating, revealed to be Alan himself all along, just at different points in time.

8 Principal (1000xRESIST)

Longing for Love and Acceptance

Delivering one of gaming’s best narratives, 1000xRESIST examines topics of generational trauma, oppression, immigration, and more. It examines these subjects through its story revolving around aliens and clones in an almost theatrical manner.

At the heart of this story lie a few mysteries, but early on, we are mostly concerned with finding out the truth behind the Occupants and learning Iris’ (the ALLMOTHER) relation to them. It is eventually revealed that Principal is, in fact, the youngest clone of Iris from the original set of clones, and she has been driven mad by her desire to see her “mother” and earn her love.

Principal orchestrates all the events leading up to Iris’ death, manipulating Watcher into murdering their ALLMOTHER and fully taking control of the orchard. From there, Principal rules with an even tighter grip on her sisters after consolidating her power. Unfortunately, killing Iris brings no relief from her insecurities and burdens, and her deteriorating grasp on the world and community around her ends up being her undoing.

7 Gustadolph Aesfrost (Triangle Strategy)

Cold and Efficient, Breaking the Monopoly on Salt

Many villains have some justifications for their actions, and Gustadolph Aesfrost from Triangle Strategy is no different. In the world of Triangle Strategy, salt is a scarce commodity, with a single nation controlling its distribution. Gustadolph aims to end this monopoly.

Of course, he is no saint himself, conniving and killing his way across the land into a position to take control of the limited salt supply for his nation, Aesfrost. To do this, he rules Aesfrost with an iron fist, transforming the nation into a meritocracy where the strong flourish and the weak perish.

His personality is cold and uncaring, and he’s not afraid to use people for his own ends and discard them when they fail him, including family members. Gustadolph engages in slave trading, creating weapons of mass destruction, and manipulating others to serve his ends.

Given the complexities of the choice system and the war-driven story, things can shake out a bit differently depending upon the route you take. However, in the true ending, his callous attitude and shortsightedness engendered no friends among the other nations, and his plans ultimately failed to materialize.

6 G5 Iguazu (Armored Core 6)

Pure Spite Drives Him

It may be more difficult to name the “good guys,” if there are any at all, in Armored Core 6 than to list off the villains. Yet G5 Iguazu stands out from the crowd, though he doesn’t seem like much at first blush.

In the early game, Iguazu is a bit of a whimpering nobody on the allied side of a mission, constantly belittling the player character Raven and their mercenary status before and after his introduction. After this mission, Iguazu promptly goes AWOL, but shows up later to confront the player as an enemy.

Unfortunately for us, this isn't the last time we'll see him. Iguazu shows up periodically throughout the game, making his hatred and jealousy of Raven known. In the end, Iguazu becomes a pawn for ALLMIND in order to fulfill his own violent goals and to have a chance to destroy the player character.

During the course of the game’s final battle, Iguazu is finally able to shut out the voices that had been plaguing him during the course of the story, while also disconnecting the player from Ayre. This allows him to combat Raven one-on-one without interference one final time. Though unsuccessful in defeating Raven, Iguazu was still a compelling and worthy rival.

5 Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)

A Fallen Angel Looking to Rewrite History

Few villains in all of gaming history are more iconic than Sephiroth. His combination of excellent characterization, intimidating aura, and personal attachment to Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud make him one of the most beloved antagonists of all. His design is wonderful, too, as evidenced by the ubiquity of Sephiroth cosplayers at gaming events and conventions.

While his role in Final Fantasy 7 is more of a looming threat, or as a sort of mythological figure in the world, in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Sephiroth takes a more direct approach to his manipulation and interference with Cloud and company. He constantly shows up to isolate Cloud from his team and to guide events toward his end goals.

This version of Sephiroth also seems to know about the events that transpired in the original game, opening up questions about the Remake project’s status as a true remake or sequel title, which may explain some of the changes made to the story. Still, Sephiroth remains intimidating throughout, taking multiple opportunities to showcase his power, both in terms of physical strength and his ability to bend Cloud to his will.

4 Yutaka Yamai (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

Broken and Unpredictable

The Yakuza series has a long history of compelling characters for its players to engage with. From the stoic Kiryu to the unhinged Majima, every game has at least a few standouts that boost each title. In this respect, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is no different, introducing its fair share of interesting folks for Ichiban and crew to bounce off of.

Of these, Yutaka Yamai is a major standout. First introduced as an antagonist, Yamai is cunning and ruthless, ordering the murder of Ichiban without concern for consequences. The party has continual run-ins with Yamai, with the gangster updating his tactics along the way and showing an admiration and respect for Ichiban as the two come to blows.

As the game progresses, we learn more about Yamai’s backstory and motivations, painting him as a more sympathetic figure than we had previously assumed. Eventually, Yamai becomes allied with the team, cementing himself as one of the best examples of the enemies-to-allies trope.

3 Renoir (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)

A Painter Desiring to Save His Family

In a game full of complex characters, Renoir stands out as one of the most fascinating. First crossing paths with the expedition after their arrival on the beach, Renoir massacres the landing party, leaving only Gustave, Maelle, Lune, and Sciel alive.

While the entrance certainly makes an impression, Renoir is more than meets the eye. In fact, the version we met on the beach is not truly him, but instead a painted facsimile of the real Renoir, who is a much warmer and more sympathetic man.

Still, despite his understanding of the circumstances that led the party to fight against him, Renoir remains resolute in his desire to destroy the world, all to save his family that he loves so dearly. While the truth is a bit complicated, some people come to see Renoir as the hero of the story, citing his desire to heal his family and honor his son’s legacy in his own way.

2 Raphael (Baldur’s Gate 3)

His Charming Theatrics Belie His Evil Aims

As one of the best games in recent memory, Baldur’s Gate 3 has earned its fair share of praise and accolades. While much of the conversation surrounding the game has been geared toward its astonishing amount of player agency and the romanceable companions, Baldur’s Gate 3 gets so much right with its villains, as well.

Out of all the villains in Baldur’s Gate 3, perhaps none exemplifies this more than the devil Raphael. Despite being a secondary antagonist, Raphael steals the spotlight every time he’s on the screen. A good thing, too, as he’s present more than any other villain in the game, accosting the player and probing for deals from the very first chapter.

Throughout the game, Raphael’s scheming, obfuscation, and flair for the dramatic make him a delight to deal with. He’s always plotting something and trying to rope you in, and his continual appeals for your assistance may start to wear your patience down, but he’s so amiable it can be difficult to stay mad.

Actually fighting Raphael isn't necessary, as you can go along with his schemes to an extent or otherwise just ignore him, but should you betray him, you’ll face the toughest fight in all of Baldur’s Gate 3. Not only is he a level 16 fiend with 666 HP, but he also comes with his very own vocal track—sung entirely by Raphael himself!

1 Odin (God of War Ragnarök)

A Master of Information Warfare

Subverting the sort of majestic and wise persona that most media portrayals of Odin present, God of War Ragnarök’s depiction comes off as more of a sly, conniving figure. Despite this, one thing remains consistent in all portrayals: his love of knowledge.

While Odin is no doubt a powerful combatant, his greatest strength lies in his ability to gather and use information. Driven by his desire to avoid Ragnarök, Odin uses his vast network of spies to learn more about the things happening in the nine realms, aiming to control every aspect to avoid his prophesied fate.

Richard Schiff breathes life into his role as Odin, giving him an almost gangster-like appeal. Rather than a powerful physical force, Odin preys on people's doubts, insecurities, and weaknesses to manipulate them into doing his bidding.

Eventually, his paranoia and inability to discern fact from fiction are his undoing, but at every point up to his final moments, he kept Kratos and friends guessing.