Unleash Your Inner Villain: Final Fantasy Games Where You Play the Bad Guy!

Summary

Playable villains add engaging twists to Final Fantasy games, offering unique perspectives and gameplay experiences.
Iconic villains like Sephiroth and Seymour become playable, showcasing their powers and abilities in a new light.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy features a diverse roster of playable villains, providing a unique fighting game experience.

In role-playing games (RPGs), few antagonists rival the depth and impact of those found within the Final Fantasy series. These villains often stand out due to their impressive power levels, unique designs, captivating dialogue, and other notable traits. One character who has become synonymous with the series’ villainy is Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7, a figure that has come to symbolize the franchise’s formidable antagonists.

It’s quite thrilling to battle against antagonists, but it becomes even more intriguing when Final Fantasy games allow players to assume the role of villains, either for extended periods or brief instances. This has been a part of various scenarios, ranging from spin-offs to primary series.

Ahead, you may encounter spoilers, especially concerning “Final Fantasy X” and “Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.” Some parts might be slightly confusing due to their intricacy.

7. Final Fantasy 4: The After Years

The Forgotten Sequel

Final Fantasy 4: The After Years initially debuted in Japan as a collection of episodes for mobile devices. However, it gained significant popularity when it was made available on the Wii through the digital store. This game served as a sequel to the original title, preserving the same 16-bit visual style, and setting the story years later with characters like Cecil and Rosa having grown up and had children.

In this new version of the game, the roster boasts a massive array of playable characters, such as Golbez – initially a significant antagonist in the original game who has since reformed his ways. Unlike his role in the first game where he was merely a temporary member of your party, Golbez now holds a pivotal position as one of the strongest and most important members within the game’s party.

6. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Behold The Masamune’s Might

In the original “Final Fantasy 7”, fans got a glimpse of Cloud’s past when he was still a young, aspiring SOLDIER. Sephiroth, although not completely playable, took part in some battles during this period. However, it’s in the remake, “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth”, that Sephiroth becomes more interactive and is fully playable, as his role in the flashback sequence has been expanded upon.

In addition to being longer than other flashbacks, players have extended opportunities to control Sephiroth in Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis, and he exhibits considerable power. This mobile game, which recounts every story within the Final Fantasy 7 universe, also offers additional playable moments featuring Sephirooth in other parts of the series. However, it seems that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is where players will find the most immersive experience playing as this renowned antagonist.

5. Final Fantasy 10

A Summoner Goes Rogue

In the game Final Fantasy 10, the main antagonist is a colossal creature resembling a whale called Sin. This beast resurfaces periodically, compelling Summoners to embark on a spiritual journey to put an end to it. Yet, another adversary lurks in the shadows – Seymour, who manages to maintain a beloved image among the people of Spira despite his sinister intentions.

As a devoted player, I can’t help but mention that Seymour could make a brief appearance at our party for a climactic boss battle, and his magical prowess is among the most potent in this game. His transformation into an antagonist might seem a bit predictable, given his immense popularity, yet it was a captivating decision to incorporate him into the game’s cast.

4. Final Fantasy 15

His Own DLC

In its initial version, Final Fantasy 15 does not allow players to control any antagonists. However, if you count Aranea, she initially opposed the party but later joined them for a short while. The primary villain of the game is actually Ardyn, who subsequently received his own prequel DLC titled Episode Ardyn.

The way he plays in the primary game is a bit unusual, and I can’t quite figure out his reasons, but his downloadable content does well in providing some resolution for fans. His weapons and spells are on par with Noctis’, the main character, but unfortunately, his time is limited as the DLC lasts only about two hours.

3. Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

The Ultimate Twist

In Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, the storyline centers around assuming control over Garland, a major antagonist from the initial Final Fantasy game. However, this perspective provides an unexpected twist. Initially, players are led to assume that the game is a fresh retelling of the original story featuring a new group of Light Warriors, with Jack as the lead character, but this isn’t the case.

Ultimately, what we find is that the game is actually a precursor, and Jack transforms into Garland to restart the time cycle, in hopes of new Light Warriors emerging to shatter the curse once and for all. It’s quite an engaging revelation for the series, and the gameplay offers a refreshing take on the Soulslike genre.

2. Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

A Villain For Every Fan

The “Dissidia” series was initially developed as a battle-centric game where characters from the primary “Final Fantasy” games face off against their adversaries. Specifically, “Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy” is the superior sequel in this series, boasting an extensive roster of playable characters and a narrative that grants both heroes and villains equal limelight. Among those playable characters are “Golbez” and “Sephiroth“. Instead of Seymour from “Final Fantasy 10”, the game features “Jecht“.

Among the roster of villains, there’s Garland from the initial game, The Emperor from Final Fantasy 2, Cloud of Darkness from Final Fantasy 3, Exdeath from Final Fantasy 5, Kefka from Final Fantasy 6, Ultimecia from Final Fantasy 8, Kuja from Final Fantasy 9, and Gabranth from Final Fantasy 12. Interestingly, there’s no main villain representing Final Fantasy 11 on this list. However, a side character from Final Fantasy 5, Gilgamesh, is a secret unlockable character, as well as Feral Chaos, the original antagonist from Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.

1. Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary

A Level Playing Field

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Released: October 19, 2017 (Japan)
Platforms: PS Vita, PS4

To round things up, another exciting crossover game is Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary, providing a more relaxed social gaming experience. Essentially, it’s like playing Monopoly but in an RPG setting, featuring playable characters from the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy series as both villains and heroes.

As a gamer myself, I can tell you that Golbez, Gilgamesh, Kefka, and Sephiroth are all playable characters in this game, each appearing cuter than ever before! Although Itadaki Street was initially launched exclusively in Japan for the PS2 and PSP systems, dedicated players can figure out how to bring a Western copy of it if they’re up for the challenge.

2025-05-28 05:54