Villians in video games need to carry some kind of menace. But it doesn’t have to be physical. They can be mentally or financially dangerous. The important thing is that they create some kind of friction or obstacle for the hero. Some antagonists, however, go beyond menace and become downright terrifying, either through their visual appearance or their villainous actions.
Of course, scary villains are most often seen in the horror genre, but this is not a requirement. Role-playing games, action games, and even platformers used to feature creepy antagonists. The following horror examples are from a few different genres.
7 Mr. X (Resident Evil 2)
As a series, Resident Evil is full of all sorts of creepy monsters. The most terrifying villain in the series, however, has to be Mr. X. This great tyrant is terrifying in more ways than one.
You don’t know anything about him to begin with, he’s just a silent killing machine. Second, you can’t kill him outside of the final battle. Lastly, the way it’s implemented in the Resident Evil 2 remake makes it a lot scarier than it would normally be. That’s because he’s stalking you around the police station. This creates the feeling that you are always being followed, which is a terrifying thought.
6 Pyramid Head (Silent Hill series)
One of the most recognizable villains in the horror genre is Pyramid Head from the Silent Hill games. His name is very telling, as he has a pyramid instead of a head – although his canon name is Red Pyramid Thing, which isn’t any smarter.
This powerful and terrifying monster is usually covered in blood and carries a large blade. His lack of a face means he can’t be humanized at all, which really helps his scare factor. Its thirst for blood and the fact that it is almost invincible also add to the creature’s fearsomeness.
5 The Unseen Elder (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
The Witcher 3 is an RPG, but it dips into horror for certain moments. In fact, it contains some of the creepiest scenes in non-horror history. One takes place in the Blood And Wine DLC. This is the scene where you meet the Invisible Elder. He is a vampire leader who is so powerful that the other vampires do not hesitate to do as he says.
This is all the more impressive when you discover that vampires are one of the most powerful creatures in The Witcher universe. This can instantly kill the main character, Geralt, if the wizard speaks in turn. That’s why he’s so scary.
An underrated creepy villain is the Colonel from Metal Gear Solid 2. For most of the game, he seems like a typical commanding officer who tells you everything you need to know. In fact, he seems like the most trustworthy person in the game.
However, late in the adventure he begins to behave erratically. He says strange things, his voice distorts, he starts to resemble a skull, and he occasionally looks directly into the camera at himself. It’s all very exciting. Turns out he’s not the right person. The colonel is actually an AI that manipulates you all the time.
3 Scarecrow (Batman: Arkham Series)
The Batman Arkham series features a lot of great villains. Scarecrow is among the most problematic for Batman. The antagonist spreads terror with his deadly poisons, causing his victims to hallucinate their greatest fears.
When he uses these things on you, you are forced to witness some very strange and scary sequences. If that wasn’t enough, the guy looks terrifying, especially in Arkham Knight, with his deranged mask and creepy eyes. So, just looking at the villain is enough to give you goosebumps.
2 Xenomorph (Alien: Isolation)
Thanks to the Alien film series, Xenomorphs are one of the most iconic creatures in all of horror. Their time in the video game world was mixed. But it’s fair to say that the Xenomorph from Alien: Isolation lives up to those from the movies.
This is mainly because the alien is terrifying. He’s big, smart, and can kill you instantly. So you have to hide from the beast whenever it is near. When you do, the creature aggressively chases you. It’s in these moments that the Xenomorph earns a reputation as one of the most terrifying villains in gaming.
1 Alma Wade (Fear series)
Creepy young girls and the horror genre go hand in hand. In fact, girls with piercing looks and strange voices are a trope of the genre. And it’s a trope that the Fear series uses well with Alma Wade.
She is the villain of the series, opposing you throughout most of the games. Not everyone is a young girl, but regardless of age, Alma is scary. Not only is she visually terrifying, but she regularly freaks you out and generally messes with your head. In addition, he has extraordinary supernatural powers that he can use to kill people. So there is a mental and physical threat.