Video games are filled with plenty of crafty villains. Some prove sympathetic, while others are remarkably unashamed of their actions. It can be argued that the worst villains are the ones who don’t even realize they’re evil. To them, their actions appear completely justified despite their often amoral connotations.
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“Evil” is a subjective term. Examples of it can differ depending on who is being asked. The antagonists on this list, of course, would affirmatively answer “no” if asked whether or not their actions are reprehensible. These video game characters believe in the rightness of their actions so much that they are rendered blithely unaware of their malevolent natures.
To William “BJ” Blazkowicz, any Nazi is a sworn enemy. And when it comes to Nazis, few are quite as dangerous as Wilhelm “Deathshead” Strasse, BJ’s most recurring nemesis in theWolfensteinfranchise. As the head of the SS Special Projects Division, Strasse is responsible for the Third Reich’s victory in WW2 depicted inWolfenstein: The New Order.
Deathshead cuts a rather chilling figure. His devotion and genius for science, coupled with his unwavering belief in National Socialism, render him unaware (or uncaring) of the brutality of his actions. Pushing the limits of scientific progress is all that matters to Deathshead, regardless of the human suffering involved. His principal philosophy can be summed up best when he states, “In the end we will be judged. Not by what we have destroyed……but what we have created.”
5Father Comstock – Bioshock Infinite
Religion is one of the central themes ofBioshock Infinite. Father Z.H. Comstock, the principal antagonist of the game, represents what can happen when otherwise benevolent beliefs get twisted and misinterpreted into something truly horrifying.
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Comstock sees himself as a holy prophet. In Columbia, American history and Christianity are rewritten according to Comstock’s zealous and puritanical interpretations. The result isa nightmarish dystopiawhere those who don’t fit the mold are mercilessly persecuted. Comstock doesn’t regard himself as evil. On the contrary, he believes he’s doing God’s work and is pure as a result. To reexamine his values would be unthinkable for him and would undermine the very society he created.
4The Illusive Man – Mass Effect
The Illusive Man from theMass Effecttrilogy certainly looks the part of an evil mastermind. Driven by the desire to protect humanity’s interests at all cost, the Illusive Man resorts to a variety of morally questionable methods. Hisorganization, Cerberus, is regarded by the denizens of the Milky Way galaxy as a feared terrorist group.
For the Illusive Man, the ends always justify the means. It doesn’t matter how humanity is safeguarded as long as the job gets done. The Illusive Man is also rather arrogant, thinking he can harness the power of the Reapers for Cerberus' benefit. That plan, however, fails spectacularly. At no point does the Illusive Man regard his actions as ignoble. He sticks to his guns until the bitter end.
3The Joker – Batman: Arkham
Although many other members ofBatman’s Rogues Galleryappear in theArkhamseries, the Joker is the Dark Knight’s principal foe. DC Comics fans undoubtedly know what the Joker is all about. The Clown Prince of Crime is chaos and anarchy personified, the antithesis of Batman’s code of order and justice.
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The Joker is an irrational actor. Terms like “good” and “evil” hold little meaning for him. The Joker sows destruction because he thinks it’s fun and that “life” is ultimately just a bad joke. At no point does the Joker ever engage in self-reflection. There are no ambiguities for him to ponder. The Joker’s apparent madness drive his actions, and morals rarely inform his decisions.
A word like “evil” may be a bit harsh to a character like Dutch. After all, there are so many facets to his personality that labeling him either purely good or bad is a little simplistic. Nevertheless, behind his charismatic veneer, Dutch clearly isn’t a heroic individual. InRed Dead Redemption 2especially, players find that vanity and self-interest color Dutch’s decisions more than anything else.
Players soon realize that Dutch’s noble philosophy rings hollow when the chips are down. When things get tough for the gang,Dutch’s charm gives way to paranoia and resentment. Furthermore, he believes his own lies, deluding himself into thinking that everyone else has let him down. His arrogance and self-righteousness prevent him from being honest, even with himself.
1Handsome Jack – Borderlands 2
Believing in oneself is typically considered a positive character trait. Handsome Jack fromBorderlands 2believes in himself a littletoomuch. Similar to Dutch van der Linde,Handsome Jack can be downright likable at timesdue to his charisma. However, with that also comes unmistakable megalomania.
Handsome Jack, as the CEO of the Hyperion Corporation, strives to bring order to Pandora. His methods, however, appear brutal and dictatorial to the outside observer. And yet, Jack refers to himself as the “hero” on several occasions in the game. Far from seeing himself as evil, Jack believes he is imposing much-needed discipline on the (admittedly) chaotic world of Pandora.
