Video game villains differ from their various media counterparts in one fundamental way: the player gets to face off against them in battle. Gamers interact with video games villains on a whole other level, repeatedly fighting them and studying how they move so they can defeat them. Before the game is over, players know the villain almost as well as the protagonist does.
Certain video game villains become so iconic they transcend the medium. They find their way into popular culture, even recognized by those who don't play the villains' games. That they have become such prominent figures in video game history remains a testament to the designs and stories that bring these characters to life.
10 Ridley Is A Member Of A Very Exclusive Club
Samus Aran's archenemy has appeared in almost all the Metroid games, starting with the first one in 1986, playing host to frantic and chaotic battles. He may seem like nothing more than a brutal monster, but he is actually cunning and intelligent, as proven by his creation of Mecha Ridley.
That Ridley is one of only a few villains on the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster shows how quintessential he is. The pterodactyl-like creature even takes up most of the space on the iconic Super Metroid cover.
9 M. Bison Is Very Charismatic
The square-shouldered M. Bison is the leader of the international crime syndicate, Shadowlaw. As the main boss in Street Fighter II, players quickly become acquainted with Bison's daunting strength and combat proficiency.
The central role Bison plays in the Street Fighter live action and anime movies reflects his prominence in the video game and further cements his iconic status. From tossing his cape away at the beginning of battle to his signature Psycho Crusher technique, Bison remains one of the most charismatic villains in gaming.
8 The Ghosts From Pac-Man Made The Game Fun
The ghosts in Pac-Man are arguably as iconic as the yellow pellet eater himself. They've appeared in movies and been turned into street art. Their design is simple, but their mechanics create the tension that made Pac-Man so much fun to play. Generations of people have had their heartbeats increase on account of the ghosts, and breathed huge sighs of relief upon eating them. There's not a whole lot of people in the world who wouldn't recognize the Pac-Man ghosts if shown a picture of them.
7 GLaDOS Takes The Cake
The well-written GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System) proved a success concept, making it hardly a surprise when she became one of the most popular villains in gaming. GLaDOS might be an artificial intelligence, but she's smart, funny, and evil.
The idea that this machine, devoid of reason or emotion, controlled the player's environment created a sense of anxiety and terror that made Portal an unforgettable experience. GLaDOS' unfulfilled promise to supply the protagonist Chell with cake went down in gaming history.
6 The Joker From The Arkham Series Is Unique
The Joker is first and foremost a comic book character, as well as a movie and TV character. However, his video game iteration from the Arkham series is its own entity, with quirks and traits not seen anywhere else.
Interacting with such an iconic character in a video game allows the player to feel Joker's power and presence in a way that's impossible in other mediums. The character design, story, and Mark Hamill's stellar voice work ensure this version of Joker stands on his own among the various portrayals of Batman's lethal nemesis.
5 Andrew Ryan Is As Enigmatic As They Come
Andrew Ryan created Rapture, the dystopian setting for the first two Bioshock games. For the majority of the first game, Ryan is nothing more than a voice, using audio logs and speakers around Rapture to espouse his philosophy to Jack, the protagonist.
In essence, Andrew Ryan is the voice of the city itself. Stringing the players along as they discover more about Ryan lends the villain an air of mystery. When players finally meet the enigmatic man himself in his office, it's like encountering some kind of mystical being.
4 Sephiroth Is A Villain With Multiple Dimensions
Cloud Strife's archenemy Sephiroth didn't just wreak enormous amounts of havoc, he also had an intriguing backstory. He was once a top-ranking SOLDIER officer, but spiraled after learning of his true origins: the megacorporation Shinra has experimented on him while he was a baby.
Sephiroth's long silver hair, trench coat, and sword gave him a striking appearance, and his strength and abilities made him extremely tough to beat. He made several guest appearances in non-Final Fantasy games, including Kingdom Hearts. The image of Sephiroth holding Mario up with his sword in his Super Smash Bros. Ultimate announcement trailer burned into many gamers' memories.
3 Ganondorf Is The Very Embodiment Of Evil
Ganondorf is the Gerudo warlord from the Legend of Zelda series. What makes him such an iconic villain is the fact that no matter what Link does, Ganondorf always comes back and plagues Hyrule once again. The battles with Ganondorf are always intense and have a sense of importance, given that failure on Link's part will leave the world in ruin.
Wielding the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf gains immense power and influence, commanding all kinds of monsters at his disposal to do his bidding. The Dark Lord has taken many guises, from Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda to Calamity Ganon, a gigantic boar in Breath of the Wild.
2 Dr. Robotnik Became So Iconic He Got His Own Game
Dr. Robotnik, or Eggman, as he's known in Japan, needs no introduction. He's been Sonic the Hedgehog's nemesis since 1991, trying to conquer the world across dozens of main series titles and spin-offs. His rotund appearance and whacky moustache make him instantly recognizable.
Likewise, Robotnik's quirky machines and gizmos provided countless memorable battles. An evil scientist, Robotnik harbored a gigantic ego and a pure hatred of Sonic. He got his own game on the Sega Genesis with Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, a falling block puzzle game.
1 Bowser Is The Quintessential Video Game Villain
Bowser became so iconic that he transcends video games. Parents and even grandparents of gamers likely saw Bowser in a commercial or heard his name somewhere. He quickly established himself as Mario's mortal enemy, and from his very first appearance in Super Mario Bros., he's given the plumber a tough time.
No matter how many times Mario defeats him, the giant turtle will always return. Equipped with incredible strength and the ability to breathe fire, Bowser has even shown he's talented at many sports. He's not bad behind the wheel of a car, either.