Best Gaming Villains of 2019

Higgs – Death Stranding

Hideo Kojima is a master of creating enigmatic villains, just look at the wealth of ambiguous baddies in Metal Gear Solid. Thus enters Higgs, the golden-mask wearing villain of Death Stranding, named after the Higgs Boson god particle.

Voiced by the legendary Troy Baker, Higgs serves as a villain that seems to stop Sam in his tracks at multiple points, always having the upper hand, at first.

It’s both Baker’s performance and the mystery of the character that make Higgs so memorable.

Mr. X – Resident Evil 2

Mr. X was terrifying enough in the original Resident Evil 2, but that terror practically goes off the charts with the 2019 remake.

After a certain point in the game, Mr. X will relentlessly pursue you, and pretty easily kill you if he manages to catch up. You constantly hear his footsteps thudding through the police department and other areas, growing ever louder as he hones in on you.

It doesn’t help that the creature is literally three times your size, blasts through walls and doors, and can attack you anywhere and everywhere except a save room.

Being chased by Mr. X is certainly something we won’t forget for a while.

Xehanort – Kingdom Hearts 3

Kingdom Hearts 3 is the culmination of years of storytelling, and it’s finally where we see Master Xehanort’s plan finally come to fruition.

Sora and company have to face off with nearly every villain they’ve ever encountered in Kingdom Hearts 3, and all of it is orchestrated by Xehanort.

The final few hours of the game are absolutely unforgettable and feature some serious fan-service and catharsis. Ultimately things culminate in a massive battle with Xehanort that has you running up buildings and dashing through the air, like you’re playing a fight scene from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

Xehanort, once again, proves to be a treacherous and intimidating villain, laying Sora lower than he’s ever been at one point.

Second Sister – Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Star Wars has no shortage of memorable villains, but the Second Sister is one of the more interesting original ones in recent years.

A member of the feared inquisitors, the Second Sister is integral to the entire story of Fallen Order, and she hounds Cal’s every move around the galaxy.

The most exciting battles in Fallen Order are the ones that have you facing down the Second Sister, with lightsabers duels that could rival the best the series has to offer.

What makes the Second Sister even better, however, is that there’s an interesting character underneath that intimidating exterior.

King Boo – Luigi’s Mansion 3

Now for a change of pace, you have Luigi’s Mansion 3, and its creepy but almost cute antagonist, King Boo.

The regal specter once again returns to torment Luigi, chasing him through the sights of a new hotel. King Boo is behind the disappearance of Mario, Peach, and the others.

The ghost wears an even bigger scowl than ever before, and he delights in nothing more than making Luigi’s life miserable.

Vitalis Benevent – A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence has the siblings Amicia and Hugo struggling to survive in the wilds of France, while for unknown reasons the Inquisition chases them.

Vitalis Benevent doesn’t reveal himself until quite a bit into the game, but once he does the threads all start coming together. He’s about as despicable as you can get, seeking Hugo to gain his power and create a new world order.

Vitalis is frail and thin, but still manages to be incredibly intimidating, especially during the game’s climactic final battle.

The Mole – Judgment

Judgment is a slow-burning mystery that slowly unravels as you play through the game, with multiple layers of conspiracy and crime that layer in.

At the heart of everything is The Mole, a horrific serial killer stalking the streets of Kamurocho and leaving victims with eyes gouged out in their wake.

The identity of the Mole is a fascinating mystery, and we’ll make sure not to spoil anything as it’s best seen for yourself.

However, what we will say is that everything culminates in a fantastic and emotional final boss battle that’s easily one of the best Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio has ever created.

Genichiro Ashina – Sekiro

Genichiro Ashina is the first boss you’re introduced to in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and boy what a boss battle it is. After getting thoroughly thrashed by Genichiro, he cuts off the Wolf’s arm, which in turn causes you to start using Shinobi Prosthetics.

Genichiro is central to the happenings in Sekiro, and the one responsible for abducting the young lord in the first place.

After improving your skills facing down the mighty warrior once again is a terrifically difficult boss battle that’s one for the ages.

Juzo Mido – Code Vein

Juzo Mido might just be the penultimate boss of Code Vein, but he’s the man responsible for many of the tragic events of the story, but also responsible for your newfound Revenant powers.

Mido was one of the leading researchers on both the Revenant and Queen programs, and the cruelty he’s willing to inflict on others in the name of science known no bounds.

Mido is a fascinating villain who pushes and pushes to bring humanity closer to his idea of “evolution.” Finally getting to bring down this monstrous villain is one of the most satisfying moments in Code Vein.

Calypso Twins – Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 already has iconic villains, like Handsome Jack, but Borderlands 3 adds two new characters to that list with the Calypso Twins.

These eccentric villains lead the Children of the Vault, and are basically what you’d get if a couple of high-energy streamers had mystical powers and decided they wanted to conquer the universe.

They may be a bit loud and annoying, but they certainly work as villains you love to hate.

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