Top 10 Antagonists in Modern Video-Gaming

10. Adolf Hitler (any WWII game)

This one could be argued for and against as an antagonist, hence the reason he’s so high on the list. Hitler (and the Nazis) was once the go-to bad guy for video games, now they’re relegated behind zombies and Terrorists. But when they do, you can bet that this guy’s pulling the strings from behind the scenes somewhere (be he mecha or no). Plus with the Nazis winning the war in the upcoming Wolfenstein game, he’s back!

9. Andrew Ryan (Bioshock)

Bioshock was an interesting game. On the one hand it was an FPS with more depth than the average. On the other, it fell apart after meeting Andrew Ryan. Throughout the first part of the game, you’re treated to a build up of all the terrible things that Ryan has done during the rise and fall of Rapture, leading to a climax that is truly up to par.

8. The Joker (Arkham Asylum; Arkham City)

Need I say more? This guy has been the bane of Batman since his introduction in the comics. Causing destruction for the sake of it, setting up a devious plan to get himself and his gang imprisoned in Arkham Asylum, thereby setting up the plot for the first game. He may have died at the end of Arkham City, but you can almost guarantee he’ll be back.

7. Bowser (Mario series)

Is Bowser an antagonist anymore? He keeps getting put in the role, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. And the less said about what happened between Bowser and Peach in Super Mario Sunshine, the better.

6. Forrest Kaysen (Deadly Premonition)

From the moment you meet him, you know that something’s not right, and that feeling grows stronger every time your paths happen to cross. An emissary of the Red World, he is ultimately responsible for all the murders that you’ve been trying to solve throughout America. Combine this with the grand finale of the game and you’ve seen true evil.

5. The Reapers (Mass Effect)

The scourge of the Galaxy. Every few thousand years, they come along and destroy any civilisation that has made large enough technological strides that could result in an all out war between biologicals and robots. If that’s not enough, they also harvest the best bits of the races they’ve destroyed to build the next generation of Reapers.

4. Alduin (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

Known as the World Eater. Banished by heroes, he returned to bring about what he was meant to do. He also raised the once extinct dragons from their graves and tried to kill the protagonist at the beginning of the game, a gesture that somewhat backfired, as his intervention spared you from the executioner’s block, setting up his downfall.

3. David (The Last of Us)

David is only in The Last of Us for a small segment of the game, but that section is absolutely terrifying. Leader of a cannibalistic cult, he kidnaps Ellie and keeps her locked up with the intent of using her to repopulate his group. The most disturbing thing about David is the calm, almost fatherly way he deals with Ellie, as though she were his daughter. He finally snaps after Ellie kills his lieutenant and escapes. Nearly raping and killing her in a burning restaurant.

2. Ganondorf (The Legend of Zelda)

First appearing in Ocarina of Time. Ganondorf is the wielder of the Triforce of Power, and will stop at nothing to obtain the other two parts. He returns time and again throughout the series, defeated each time by a young child dressed in green (that must be embarrassing!).

1. Revolver Ocelot (Metal Gear Solid)

The true mastermind behind the entire Metal Gear saga (...I think). Ocelot has flipped more sides than the coin at the Olympic Coin Toss, all in the name of destroying the Patriot AI that runs America and set up the war economy. He’s able to do that despite having an arm that is possessed by the twin brother of Solid Snake (the main protagonist of the series). He’s a crack shot with a revolver, and a master of torture to boot. Every game unveils more and more of his machinations with it all culminating in a fist fight on top of a massive nuclear submarine. How can you top that?

Super Special Secret Bonus Entry: Zombies

That's right, zombies. Because if they weren't in the game when it came first came out, there sure as hell was some sort of DLC which put them in it.

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