Evil in video games comes in many forms—some villains are chaotic maniacs, others cold manipulators. But a few go beyond being just the “bad guy.” These are the video game villains who personify pure, unrelenting evil—the ones who leave lasting emotional scars on characters and players alike.
10. Handsome Jack (Borderlands 2)
Why He’s Evil:
He thinks he’s the hero—but leaves a trail of corpses. Jack nukes cities, kills beloved characters (RIP Roland), and tortures his own daughter to power a weapon of mass destruction. His charm makes him more disturbing—he believes he’s justified.
9. The Illusive Man (Mass Effect Series)
Why He’s Evil:
Charismatic and calculating, The Illusive Man believes the ends always justify the means. He experiments on innocent people, manipulates Shepard, and tries to control the Reapers themselves. He’s a corporate warlord who slowly loses his humanity.
8. GLaDOS (Portal Series)
Why She’s Evil:
She’s a homicidal AI who floods a science facility with neurotoxin, murders all the scientists, and uses deadpan sarcasm to torment you with cake jokes. GLaDOS doesn’t just kill—she plays with her victims.
7. Kefka Palazzo (Final Fantasy VI)
Why He’s Evil:
A jester with a god complex who succeeds in destroying the world mid-game. He poisons cities, commits genocide, and delights in suffering. Kefka isn’t just insane—he’s gleeful about it.
6. Dr. Fredrich Steiner (Call of Duty: Black Ops)
Why He’s Evil:
As a Nazi scientist, Steiner helped develop Nova 6, a bioweapon designed to kill indiscriminately. He conducted human testing and betrayed even his allies. His legacy? Mass suffering.
5. Shao Kahn (Mortal Kombat Series)
Why He’s Evil:
Shao Kahn is the ultimate tyrant—ruling with bloodsport, merging realms, and enforcing cruelty through sheer brute force. He embodies conquest and suffering.
4. The Origami Killer (Scott Shelby) (Heavy Rain)
Why He’s Evil:
Spoiler alert: The killer is one of the playable characters. He orchestrates elaborate child death traps to test a father’s love—all as part of a deranged trauma response. It’s personal, calculated, and monstrous.
3. The Joker (Batman: Arkham Series)
Why He’s Evil:
The Joker doesn’t want money or power—he wants chaos. He manipulates, tortures, infects Batman with his blood, and tries to tear Gotham apart psychologically. His evil is senseless and unstoppable.
2. Albert Wesker (Resident Evil Series)
Why He’s Evil:
Once a scientist, Wesker injected himself with a virus, becoming a near-immortal megalomaniac. He manipulates events across Resident Evil titles, triggers bio-terror outbreaks, and tries to “cleanse” humanity.
1. Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3)
Why He’s Evil:
Vaas blends madness and sadism. He tortures Jason, kills without remorse, and delivers the iconic “definition of insanity” monologue. He’s unpredictable and terrifying because he seems so real—a human monster shaped by a violent world.
Evil That Sticks With You
What makes these villains stand out isn’t just their body count—it’s how deeply they get into your head. Whether it’s manipulation (The Illusive Man), unpredictability (Vaas), or psychological horror (GLaDOS), they linger long after the game is over.
Who Did We Miss?
Who do you think is the most evil villain in video game history? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on socials!
Fantastic Nerdom 