It doesn’t matter whether you love them or hate them; villains only care about one thing – getting their way. Whether they wish to destroy the world, rule it unconditionally, achieve God status or simply enjoy wrecking the place, they have opposed the forces of good for years now. In our top ten villain countdown we bring you the best of the worst as we relive some of their best and most frightening moments.
10. Shang Tsung – Mortal Kombat
The diabolical wizard from Outworld firs made his appearance in 1992; this master of the dark arts was consumed with destroying Liu Kang and the other Mortal Kombat fighters and eventually taking over both Earth and Outworld. Wielding dark arts and the ability to shapeshift Tsung was and still remains one of the deadliest and more resilient fighters in the fighting series, with his latest appearance being in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe crossover game.
9. Bison – Street Fighter
Next up is another fighting game villain but Bison stands higher than Tsung simply because we are more afraid of this sociopath. The ruler and founder of Shadaloo, an organisation hell-bent on taking over the world, Bison rules with an iron fist and crushes anyone who dares oppose him. Utilising his ‘Psycho Power’ to beat down his opponents most of the other characters in the Street Fighter series have a vendetta on this tyrant, including Chun Li, Guile and Rose.
8. Sofia Lamb – Bioshock 2
Nothing says villainess like stepping in after chaos and making things worse. Sofia Lamb is a neuro psychologist who was originally employed by Andrew Ryan to help soothe the masses of Rapture. Instead the good doctor used the situation to her advantage and began to turn the people against their original leader. With an army of twisted Splicers under her control, Lamb is someone we’d never want to meet down a dark corridor.
7. The Covenant – Halo
They came! They saw! They attempted to annihilate us off the face of the Universe! A military alliance of several alien races, they came together under a common religious ideology and a worship of the Forerunners. When it is passed that the humans and humanity are an affront to the Gods they believe, the alien alliance turns its destructive force against the plant and begin a genocidal campaign against our race. Driving us almost to the edge of extinction these religious fanatics are a force to be reckoned with.
6. Lich King – World of Warcraft
The following video depicts the rise and fall of one of Azeroth’s most powerful forces ever…
5. Gary – Pokémon
Gary Oak, grandson to Professor Oak has long been an adversary for many Pokémon fans and players across the world. This pint sized twerp always picked the opposing element to our first Pokémon just so he could get the advantage. Every time we faced him in a duel the brown spiky haired trainer always had a sly dig and sharp quip to make against us even if we won he knew how to put us down!
4. Ganondorf – Legend of Zelda
One third of the mystical Tri-Force, Power, is emblazoned on the Ganondorf, Hyrule’s greatest and most evil foe. Starting out as a leader for the Gerudo, a Desert tribe, the young man found mystical powers and soon became the diabolical lord of evil we know him as today. However with only a third of the Tri-Force Ganondorf’s power alone is not enough and he is on a never ending quest to capture Zelda and Link and retrieve their Tri-Force pieces too.
3. Pyramid Head – Silent Hill
One of the most terrifying and twisted creatures we have ever faced, Pyramid Head first appeared in Silent Hill 2 way back in 2001. The huge monster drags a blade of sheet metal as a sword and his head is masked by a large and heavy pyramid shaped helmet. The most harrowing appearance by this creature is when we watch as he rapes and kills two Mannequins, Pyramid Head is one of the most frightening villains we’ve ever encountered.
2. Sephiroth – Final Fantasy VII
The One Winged Angel and a herald for chaos and destruction, Sephiroth is a villain that will forever live on in infamy. Originally regarded as one of the greatest soldiers working for Shinra, when he discovers the origin of his birth, he begins a journey of pure evil and destruction, intent on cleansing the world and freeing his ‘Mother’. Killing the innocent and pure Aerith (after we spent ages levelling her!) was perhaps his most dastardly deed…that or trying to ram a comet into the planet…
1. Bowser – Super Mario
If you have been living under a rock you should still be aware of the world’s greatest tyrannical villain. King Bowser is one reptile that doesn’t take no for an answer. He has attempted to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom dozens of times, kidnapped royalty and even the main character of the series. Everywhere he goes Bowser makes life miserable for Mario and pals and he’s even taught his kids his evil ways!
