Due to a villain’s inherent role in a story, please note this article contains spoilers.While many players regard 2023 as one of the best years ever in terms of quality game releases, part of what has made this year’s releases so great were the villains they had to face. This year boasted some all-around top-notch stories in games, which brought with them equally complex and intimidating villains to act as foils for the heroes of these titles. It can be hard to create a villain as iconic asMario’s Bowser, as terrifying asSilent Hill’s Pyramid Head, or as sympathetic asMetal Gear’s Big Boss, but this year’s best villains ranged from maliciously evil to misunderstood and tortured.
Some of this year’s best villains stood out even against their associated protagonists in the minds of many fans, with big names returning to their respective franchises and newcomers establishing themselves as major threats. In a year where great games likeBaldur’s Gate 3andAlan Wake 2claimed top prizes at The Game Awards, it’s easy to see the role villains played in shaping great games in 2023. These are thebest video game villains of 2023, listed in alphabetical order.
Barnabas Tharmr (Final Fantasy 16)
Final Fantasy 16contains a solid cast of compelling antagonists, but the most notable of the group isBarnabas Tharmr, King of Waloed and Dominant of Odin. Barnabas is a complex character who is heralded as a great warrior king who conquered the continent of Ash and established the Kingdom of Waloed, but the game reveals glimpses into his psyche that show he is apathetic and often bored with humanity. To this end, it’s Barnabas' fanatical worship of Ultima that leads him to seek a world free of human consciousness wherein he utilizes Odin’s power to challenge those like Clive who would stop him.
Final Fantasy 16
WHERE TO PLAY
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
Bode Akuna (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)
Bode is the epitome of a tragic villain, and his story inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorhas earned him a place in the hearts of many players. He starts out as a companion to Cal, helping him escapeCoruscantnear the start of the game and aiding the crew of the Mantis throughout. It’s not until the game’s final act that Bode’s duplicitous nature is revealed, leading to a tense final showdown and one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the series.
Unbeknownst to Cal and his crew, Bode is actually a former Jedi who hid as a mercenary after the Great Purge. After his wife was killed by the Imperial Inquisitorius, Bode made a deal with the Empire to work as a spy for Jedi activity in exchange for the safety of his daughter, Kata. What makes Bode’s story so compelling is the clear hesitancy he has about fighting Cal, whom he considers to be a genuine friend, but his commitment to Kata means he’ll stop at nothing to protect her, which ultimately forcesCal to kill Bode, tragically leaving Kata orphaned.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
Arguably one of the most iconic villains in gaming returned in a huge way in 2023, as the Demon King Ganondorf plunged Hyrule into chaos once again inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. After being absent from the past few mainlineZeldatitles, many fans were excited to see the newly redesigned look of Ganondorf, along with the fact that he was beingvoiced by the illustrious Matt Mercer. The combination of these elements made Ganondorf a crucial part of the hype behindTears of the Kingdomand would go on to be one of the game’s most memorable aspects.
Ganondorf’s role inTears of the Kingdomfollows a similar arc to that of his other appearances in the series but with an interesting twist. The story ofTears of the Kingdomtells of how Ganondorf led an attack on Rauru and the Kingdom of Hyrule long ago, only being stopped when Rauru sealed him away using the power of his magical arm. With Ganondorf being revived in the modern day, Link must recover the strength of the sages of the past along with theMaster Sword to defeat Ganondorf.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
Jack Krauser (Resident Evil 4)
While Krauser is a secondary villain to the leader of Los Illuminados andResident Evil 4’s main antagonist Osmund Saddler, he is arguably the more impactful and more memorable villain from the game. Krauser worked alongside Leon Kennedy during a past incident known as Operation Javier and suffered a severe wound to his arm which ultimately led him to seek the help of Albert Wesker in repairing it. Becoming convinced of the practical applications of Wesker and Umbrella’s work,Krauser faces off against Leonduring his mission to rescue Ashley Graham, resulting in two epic fights: one intense knife duel, and later, a game of cat and mouse in a trap-filled maze.
Resident Evil 4
Survival is just the beginning.Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City.Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals.And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.
Kosei Shishido (Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name)
Kosei Shishido plays the role of both ally and villain inLike a Dragon Gaiden, keeping his true intentions a secret from Kiryu and the player until the final act. After clawing his way up from poverty, he was forced into servitude as a fighter in the Kijin Clan’s Coliseum, where he suffered abuse at the hands of Homare Nishitani before being rescued by Yuki Tsuruno and joining the Watase Family. After Shishido learns of Watase’s plans to dissolve the Omi Alliance, he works to undermine this scheme so that the life he had built for himself would not go to waste, leading to an intense final showdown at the Omi Alliance Headquarters.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE: Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding. Under the codename “Joryu,” Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat in vibrant locations filled with exciting characters and activities.ULTIMATE COMBAT WITH TWO HIGH-IMPACT FIGHTING STYLES: Dynamically switch between the Yakuza and Agent fighting styles in visceral melee combat. With the Yakuza style, strike fear into enemies by unleashing wildly aggressive moves powered by Kiryu’s unparalleled strength and flair. Or up the ante with the Agent style by delivering blows with absolute speed and precision, while using an array of high-tech gadgets like electrified bind wires to stun enemies then send them flying. Strategically adapt to the situation and leverage both styles to dominate and destroy hordes of enemies.ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENTWhether you’re brawling in the secret Battle arena, singing a new karaoke song, enjoying a drink at the live-action cabaret club, or racing in the pocket circuit, the world offers a variety of immersive experiences. An intriguing informant named Akame also provides thrilling sub-missions, drawing you into an epic showdown that unfolds the more you explore and enjoy Sotenbori and Yokohama.
Kraven (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2)
Insomniac’sSpider-Man 2does a great job of building up classic Spider-Man villains to be complex, and at times, sympathetic antagonists for the Wall-Crawler. The way the game handles an iconicenemy like Kraven the Hunterdoes the character justice and makes him a menacing yet tortured enemy that players will have to contend with throughout the game. Although there are multiple villains players will battle inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, Kraven’s arc makes him a driving force in the game’s plot while leaving players feeling sympathy for the hunter.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
Lilith (Diablo 4)
Lilith made her grand debut in theDiablofranchise in 2023 with the release ofDiablo 4,with the Mother of Demons taking center stage as the primary antagonist of Blizzard’s ARPG. As the daughter of Mephisto and co-creator ofDiablo 4’s world of Sanctuary, Lilith seeks to gain the power of her father to aid in her rebellion against the Burning Hells, leading players to hunt her down and put an end to her sinful crusade. Lilith was such an iconic part of 2023 that players could offerprayers to Lilith in exchange forDiablo 4beta codes, and the first thousand players to reach level 100 inDiablo 4’s Hardcore mode had their names enshrined on a Lilith statue.
Diablo 4
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
Mr. Scratch (Alan Wake 2)
Perhaps one of the darkest villains from 2023 wasAlan Wake 2’s main antagonist, Mr. Scratch. Originally created byThomas Zane as a mirror version of Alan Waketo take his place while Wake was trapped in the Dark Place, Scratch bears an identical resemblance to the titular protagonist. During this time, Scratch became possessed by the Dark Presence and was corrupted into a psychotic serial killer based on the rumors that Alan Wake had killed his wife Alice. The intrigue and eerie implications surrounding Mr. Scratch and his parallels to the real Alan Wake make him a clear standout fromAlan Wake 2’s cast and among this year’s best villains.
Alan Wake 2
A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.Anderson and Wake are two heroes on two desperate journeys in two separate realities, connected at heart in ways neither of them can understand: reflecting each other, echoing each other, and affecting the worlds around them.Fueled by the horror story, supernatural darkness invades Bright Falls, corrupting the locals and threatening the loved ones of both Anderson and Wake. Light is their weapon—and their safe haven — against the darkness they face. Trapped in a sinister horror story where there are only victims and monsters, can they break out to be the heroes they need to be?
Orin (Baldur’s Gate 3)
It’s clear fromBaldur’s Gate 3’s dominance at The Game Awards 2023 that there are a lot of elements of the game that helped it stand out from the rest of this year’s crowd. One of the best aspects of the game is its cast of complex characters, especiallyBaldur’s Gate 3’s fantastic villains. Out of these villains, Orin is the best of the bunch and her story and background make her one of the game’s overall most interesting and tragic characters.
Orin is one of the three Chosen of the Absolute, specifically the Chosen of Bhaal, God of Murder, and this status shows through in her conniving, murderous personality. Players will have to delve into the Temple of Bhaal to saveOrin’s kidnapped party memberand face off against her amid her fellow Bhaalspawn. Players who do some digging will learn this villain has a dark backstory, being the result of an incestuous relationship between Sarevok Anchev and his daughter Helena, later being forced by Sarevok to kill her mother and claim her place as Bhaal’s Chosen.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
Venom (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2)
One of Spider-Man’s most iconic foes took center stage this year inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. While Insomniac delivered a different version of Venom than what many players might have expected, this version of the symbiote stood out for his menacing design and personal connection to Peter Parker.Spider-Man 2even allowed players to play as Venomduring one of the game’s missions, delivering what many fans were hoping for when the villain was announced to be in the game.
Insomniac’s version ofVenom deviates from the comics' Eddie Brock, instead opting to make Peter’s close friend Harry Osborn the host of the symbiote. InSpider-Man 2, Dr. Curt Connors and Oscorp acquire the symbiote from a meteorite that fell to Earth, with Dr. Connors later using its regenerative abilities to develop a healing suit for the gravely ill Harry. The symbiote’s amplification of Harry’s anger leads to his transformation into Venom, where players get to control his rampage through New York City which ends with Venom finally giving Kraven the hunter’s death he desired.
