25 Best Video Game Villains #5 – #1

A proper villain isn’t just a bad, they’re manipulative. Zachary Hale Comstock, the leader of Columbia, has indoctrinated the people of Columbia so thoroughly that they worship him as a god. They believe his racist ramblings, religious zealotry, and at a word, would die for him. He is a madman that embodies some of the worst of human society. He’s memorable because his philosophy and poisonous society in the sky provided the heavenly backdrop that perfectly contrasted his evil. Comstock is one of those villains you couldn’t wait to set straight with your fists and destroy his version of utopia, which was hell for the rest of us.

Final Fantasy VII was one of the greatest games ever programmed. This is partially due to the brilliant villain behind all of the earth shattering plans. When Jenova crashed to earth and the scientists at Shinra corp injected a baby with some of her DNA, they couldn’t have even known what they were creating. He’s one of gaming's most iconic characters and is very deserving of possibly the most epic theme song in the history of gaming. Sephiroth, his long hair and sword, all make it onto our list of the 25 Best Video Game Villains.

Bowser is almost as loved as that Italian plumber himself. Few other baddies have made it so completely into society’s consciousness than Bowser. He is one of the few who have breached the sphere of gaming and reached far and wide to become an icon of gaming bad guys for people who have never even seen Super Mario Bros. He is the mountaintop of evilness that all manlike reptilians strive for. He’s bad, and we love him for it. Although, his obsession with Princess Peach is becoming a bit creepy after of these years.

Very few baddies have made it through the years and remained menacing. Gannondorf, the great and powerful dark wizard, has travelled through the ages and repeatedly tried to bathe Hyrule in his black magic. He is the perfect antithesis to everything that Link represents. His appearances in each Zelda game are legendary and his evil is known throughout the land as being without mercy. His lust for Princess Zelda and her piece of the coveted Triforce makes him that much more unhinged and dangerous. He’ll stop at nothing to control Hyrule, but thankfully you’re there, dressed in green, to stop him.

You’d better douse yourself with neuro toxin if you thought that GLaDOS wasn’t going to end up on the top of our list of the 25 Best Video Game Villains. Her presence in both Portal titles is what makes each game enjoyable. Whether she is re-arranging panels to make a brand new room of torture, or researching data banks for the perfect insult, you love her. You can’t deny that is malevolent AI has more personality than half of gaming’s characters put together. Without her, Portal would just be just some other puzzle game and wouldn’t have garnered all the affection it has. Don’t lie, you know you sometimes sing Still Alive out loud with a smile on your face. You monster.