The 5 Most Unlikable Horror Game Villains

Summary

Skizzo from Days Gone lacks likability due to betrayals and inappropriate behavior among the community.
Rais from Dying Light is criticized for being a cliché villain with cringey actions and lack of depth.
Maria from Silent Hill 2 divides players with her annoying personality and burdening presence during gameplay.

In various forms, horror video game antagonists can range from psychotic human killers to evil spirits. Often serving as the opposite of the main character, they act as a force driving change and development in the hero, while also creating captivating conflicts within the game storyline. To maintain player engagement, it’s crucial that these villains are thoughtfully crafted.

Some villains in horror games are deliberately unsympathetic, or possess intriguing pasts that hint at a glimmer of human emotion, making them somewhat relatable. However, there are others who leave players feeling uncomfortable or disconnected. These can be irritatingly obnoxious, poorly developed, or just plain wicked – here we explore some of the least likable villains in horror games, whether intentionally so or not.

Spoiler Warning: some of these entries contain plot spoilers for their respective games.

This list omits stories where the antagonist and protagonist are one and the same, like in “Mouthwashing” and “Layers of Fear.” Simply put, these titles feature characters who act as both heroes and villains.

10. Skizzo (Days Gone)

A Poorly Chosen Persona

In certain aspects, the game Days Gone struggles (specifically during stretches of repetitive gameplay), but it seems to possess all the elements for an enjoyable open-world zombie experience: motorcycle rides, swarm battles, and a captivating main character. Notably, Bend Studio excelled in creating a truly detestable villain as well.

At Iron Mike’s camp, Skizzo held the position of security chief; however, he had strained relationships with the rest of the community there. Behind Iron Mike’s fictitious gangster image and oversized pride, Skizzo shows no qualms about backstabbing Deacon. Furthermore, Skizzo has a troubling past of invading the privacy of other camp members—a serious blow to his likeability.

9. Rais (Dying Light)

A Cookie-Cutter Villain

In the game “Dying Light,” Rais serves as the main adversary, a ruthless warlord who is infamous for his cruelty. His actions in the game demonstrate an unsettling lack of reason, relying instead on fear to maintain control over much of Harran. Through brutal force and lacking any sense of compassion, he wields power over those around him.

Although often stereotyped as a villain, Rais has faced criticism due to his cheesy portrayal, characterized by awkward dialogue and unnecessary, theatrical “villainous” behaviors. While there’s always room for an unhinged adversary, the disparity between Rais’s in-game character and his intriguing backstory leaves little reason to become invested.

8. Maria (Silent Hill 2)

A Divisive Antagonist

Similar to James, Maria in “Silent Hill 2” is often seen as a controversial character. As an embodiment of James’ idealized version of Mary, she isn’t designed to be endearing. Many gamers find her persistent flirting off-putting, and her persistent presence as a temptation often leads them to urge James not to stray from his wife.

Beyond just the deliberate factors that make Maria seem unappealing, many people also find her generally grating – this is especially true in the remake. In fact, even during her supportive and sympathetic moments, she can still be irritating. While traveling with James, Maria tends to become more of a hindrance, making some parts of the gameplay quite tedious.

7. Joan (The Walking Dead: A New Frontier)

A Manipulative Dictator

In “The Walking Dead,” while numerous antagonists exist, many questionable situations are driven by factors such as family ties, fear, and survival needs, making them somewhat relatable and deserving of understanding. However, Joan stands out as a character who is hard to find any appealing traits in.

Under a veneer of kindness and tact, Joan’s true character eventually emerges as she is unmasked as a cunning and merciless leader. From plundering peaceful survivor encampments to backstabbing and falsely accusing fellow New Frontier members, her numerous transgressions lead to a well-deserved fall from grace.

6. Simon Carver (Little Hope)

Pulling The Strings

In the games by Supermassive, there have been some intriguing adversaries ranging from wendigos to werewolves to serial killers. Specifically, in the game titled “Little Hope,” Simon Carver serves as the antagonist. This game chronicles a group of students who embark on an expedition to Little Hope, which later leads them to flashbacks depicting the town’s historical witch trials.

During the trial period, Reverend Carver was the one in question. There’s much debate and many guesses about his real intentions and background, but it’s indisputable that he’s hard to like. It seems plausible that he exploited and tormented young Mary, perhaps even conversing with the devil. Carver appears to be a sly character who takes pleasure in causing pain to innocent souls.

5. Fontaine/Atlas (BioShock)

Gives Players A False Sense Of Security

BioShock is renowned for its unsettling narrative and exploration of dystopian ideas, tackling political, societal, and economic concerns. The character Atlas, who is eventually unmasked as Fontaine, the power-hungry adversary of city founder Andrew Ryan, initially serves as a guide to the protagonist, Jack, before his deceitful intentions are exposed.

In his single-minded pursuit to bring down Andrew Ryan, Fontaine pays scant attention to others and seems untroubled by the act of exploiting the genetically altered Little Sisters for their ADAM. From Jack’s conception onward, Fontaine has been skillfully orchestrating events for his own benefit. Even if Atlas’ revelation of his true identity comes as a shock, it is difficult to accept his deceit.

4. Chief Irons (Resident Evil 2)

Sleazy & Corrupt

Chief Irons is merely one of the numerous adversaries in the Resident Evil series, serving as a striking illustration of institutionalized corruption and abuse of power. Before the Raccoon City Disaster, Irons held the position of police chief within the city, accepting bribes from Umbrella to overlook their clandestine experiments, often collaborating with them.

Beyond using his position for abuse, numerous pieces of evidence hint that Chief Irons might be a serial killer, focusing on young female victims – a pattern consistent with his violent past. This despicable character certainly doesn’t deserve admiration, but saving Sherry from him undoubtedly counts as a significant victory.

3. Dr. Angus Bumby (Alice: Madness Returns)

Preys On The Vulnerable

Alice: Madness Returns offers a captivating take on Lewis Carroll’s classic story and the complexities of dealing with trauma. Throughout its intricate puzzles and action-packed combat, Alice encounters distorted representations of her real-world tormentors, such as the character Dr. Angus Bumby.

Initially, Bumby comes across as arrogant and smug, but this behavior intensifies when we discover his real intentions. As a psychiatrist, he manipulated his orphaned patients for sinister, inexpressible reasons. In the realm of Wonderland, Bumby is known as the Dollmaker, symbolizing his malevolent and domineering character.

2. Dahlia Gillespie (Silent Hill)

One Of The Worst Mothers Of All Time

The Silent Hill series is recognized for its collection of unsettling antagonists and convoluted narratives. One particularly infamous villain hails from the initial Silent Hill game – none other than Dahlia Gillespie. As the high priestess of the Order cult, Dahlia was consumed by her desire to facilitate the birth of their deity and establish a subsequent Paradise.

Sadly, to accomplish this, she was prepared to subject her young daughter to intense mistreatment and an unwanted pregnancy. In a broader context, Dahlia bears significant responsibility for the pain that unfolds in subsequent installments of the franchise, as she effectively hands down the role of antagonist to Claudia in Silent Hills 3, who is remarkably more compassionate by comparison.

1. Sullivan Knoth (Outlast 2)

Depraved Puppeteer Of Suffering

This article, as well as the game titled “Outlast 2,” delve into potentially upsetting experiences that might prove challenging for certain readers or players.

It’s undeniable that the game Outlast boasts numerous terrifying antagonists, each intriguing in their unique ways. Characters like Chris Walker and Father Martin might give you a glimpse into insanity, but the sequel, Outlast 2, presents an antagonist who is more deliberately malevolent: Sullivan Knoth. Knoth was the charismatic leader and founder of the Testament of the New Ezekiel cult, claiming to have heard God’s voice through radio static.

Gathering a crowd of vulnerable, distressed, and optimistic individuals, Knoth and his cult associates established themselves at Temple Gate, where he persistently advocated for incest, sometimes using force. His belief in the prophecy of the anti-christ’s birth fueled paranoia, causing him to murder any children born as a result. Although Murkoff might have played a role in some of the delusions, there is no question that Knoth is a warped individual with reprehensible ideals and an expert at manipulation.

2025-03-02 06:37