Game Characters Who Are Too Into Themselves

Have you ever encountered a video game character you absolutely despised, someone who made you want to turn off the game? Characters like Hope from Final Fantasy 13, who constantly complains, or Abby from The Last of Us Part 2, who committed terrible acts, can really get under your skin. While those characters are annoying, there are also those who are incredibly self-absorbed and act as if they’re superior to everyone else.

Whether it’s their appearance, abilities, smarts, or a combination of everything, these characters act superior. They don’t just need a simple reprimand; they need a humbling experience to knock them down a peg, especially if their games didn’t already teach them a lesson. These game characters are too self-absorbed and require a reality check.

The entries for BioShock and Ratchet & Clank will contain spoilers.

Bowser (Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars)

The King Of All Koopas

The Mario series features many strange enemies, but the strangest of them all is arguably Mario’s biggest enemy, Bowser. He plays a key role in the SNES game, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, where he loses his castle and unexpectedly teams up with Mario.

Despite receiving help to reclaim his castle, he always finds a way to boast about being the greatest and insists he’s the true hero, not Mario. It seems he feels the need to project a tough image to boost his own ego, and he does this consistently across both the original game and the more recent, readily available remake on Switch. He needs to maintain this persona just to feel better about himself, and it’s evident in both versions of the game, including the easily accessible remake.

Handsome Jack (Borderlands 2)

Never Stops Talking

Handsome Jack is the primary villain in Borderlands 2 and also serves as the president of Hyperion, a weapons manufacturing company. He’s not just interested in making money from selling guns; he’s after the incredible treasures and abilities hidden inside Vaults. This is why he’s always contacting and scolding players who try to interfere with his schemes.

He constantly boasts about his appearance, his authority as a leader, and how superior he is as a hero – something players can see for themselves in the prequel, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. His personality is further explored – and often in an irritating way – in Telltale’s Tales from the Borderlands.

Hojo (Final Fantasy 7)

He Never Asked If He Should

Final Fantasy 7 has a lot of enemies, even more than other games in the Final Fantasy series. While Sephiroth is the biggest bad guy as the main villain, another key antagonist is Hojo, a cold and ruthless scientist.

Despite working for Shinra, Hojo isn’t interested in what they’re trying to achieve. He’s driven by a desire to defy a higher power. He believes he was born to conduct experiments on anything and anyone, justifying it with his own perceived brilliance. Hojo has no empathy for others, or even for himself, but he firmly believes he is exceptional.

Ichiryusai Madarame (Persona 5)

Plagiarizes Children’s Art

Persona 5 is fundamentally an RPG where a team of teenage thieves attempts to reform dishonest adults. They do this by entering their inner worlds, called “Mind Palaces” – a concept similar to the mental landscapes explored in Inception. One of the corrupt individuals they target is Ichiryusai Madarame, a famous painter throughout Japan who is incredibly self-important.

What’s particularly upsetting is that he steals work from his students to advance his own career, and somehow convinces them this is acceptable due to his perceived status as a “mentor.” This deception ultimately leads to a significant discovery within the game – one we won’t reveal here. Simply put, Madarame is a complete narcissist.

Andrew Ryan (BioShock)

Would You Kindly?

Andrew Ryan is introduced at the beginning of BioShock as the creator of Rapture, a huge city built underwater. Although he intended it to be a perfect society, Ryan begins to see himself as a godlike figure due to his achievement. He tries to appear kind and benevolent, but his words are often used to control others.

He’s truly manipulative, compelling the main character to follow his orders through the use of secret code words – a major reveal during the game’s climax. By the end, Ryan transforms into a godlike being, fulfilling his long-held desire, before players have the chance to end his controlling grip on what remains of Rapture.

Captain Qwark (Ratchet & Clank)

Never Meet Your Heroes

Ratchet & Clank is the initial installment in the series, introducing Ratchet as a mechanic who aspires to be a hero, much like Captain Qwark. Qwark is intentionally created as a classic, flawless hero-the type reminiscent of those featured in old-time radio plays, going all the way back to the 1940s.

Qwark is celebrated as a galactic hero, but secretly, he’s past his prime. To keep up appearances, he often collaborates with bad guys or even *creates* problems, just so he can swoop in and be the savior. This is disappointing for Ratchet, who always admired him. Fortunately, throughout the Ratchet & Clank series, Qwark’s excessive pride slowly begins to fade.

Prince Laharl (Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness)

A Fight For The Throne

Prince Laharl is the main character in Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, a famously chaotic tactical RPG for the PlayStation 2. When his father passes away, Laharl inherits the throne, but he’s unprepared for the responsibility. He believes his royal bloodline automatically makes him a rightful ruler, and he lacks the self-control needed to govern with kindness or fairness.

This sparks a revolt among Laharl’s people, who desire to take the throne. Throughout the game, Laharl learns valuable lessons on how to improve as both a ruler and an individual in the netherworld.

Disco Kid (Punch-Out)

A Bad Sport For Looking Good

Disco Kid is a competing boxer in the 2009 Punch-Out!! video game for the Wii. He’s a perfect example of a character overly concerned with his appearance, as his looks are the defining trait of who he is.

He’s so sure of his boxing ability that he’ll even stop mid-match to admire himself in the mirror, assuming he doesn’t need to focus completely. It’s strange that someone who cares so much about his appearance, like Disco Kid, would choose to box, considering his face is his most prized possession. Boxing seems like a risky choice for him.

2025-10-02 06:05