It’s rare for a video game just to have one villain. After all, heroes often need to have multiple villains to deal with before they finally make it to the main one. Ideally, the main antagonist will be the most notable and memorable in the game. However, that isn’t always how it works.
Sometimes, there are secondary villains that are so great that they overshadow the main ones or, at least, are equally as good as them. As a result, there have been a bunch of excellent secondary antagonists over the years. The following ones are the greatest examples.
8Revolver Ocelot
Metal Gear Solid Series
Revolver Ocelot is the perennial secondary antagonist of the Metal Gear Solid series. He plays the role in Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Metal Gear Solid 3. Only once he becomes a combination of Ocelot and Liquid Snake in MGS4, he becomes the main villain. In the first three games, he supports the main bad guy, giving them intel and occasionally torturing or attacking the main protagonist for them.
However, this is usually a facade, as Ocelot is constantly working for multiple people at once and typically planning on stabbing the so-called main villain in the back at some point. This is what makes him such an intriguing character, as he has this incredible ability to be one step ahead of everyone. On top of that, he does cool tricks with his twin revolvers and looks like he’s from an old Western. These are other reasons why the character is so great.
7Raphael
Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a very long game, so there is plenty of time for multiple villains to make their mark. One of the secondary ones is Raphael. He is a smooth-talking and sharp-dressed fellow, but he’s also an archdevil, making him one of the most powerful creatures in BG3.
That reputation alone makes him a scary antagonist, even if he doesn’t show much aggression. In fact, he doesn’t actively try to be your enemy, and you can avoid his wrath by making certain decisions. This makes him a bit different from your average video game rogue. And if you do get into a battle with the villain, you get to participate in an entertaining andvery tough boss fight.
6Andrew Ryan
Bioshock
Andrew Ryan appears to be the main villain for much of Bioshock until his bitter enemy Frank Fontaine emerges. He might not be a friend of the main antagonist, but it doesn’t make Andrew Ryan a good guy. He is still a villain in his own right.
He is a complex evildoer, as he wasn’t always evil. The man attempted to create a utopia underwater called Rapture - the place in which the game is set. It fell apart, though, and he became a much worse version of himself in the process. All of this happened before the events of the game. So, he is already a bad guy once the story begins. And there is never a redemption arc for him. He doesn’t revert to the better man he used to be since he is already too far gone.
5The Illusive Man
Mass Effect 3
Anyone who hasn’t played the Mass Effect games, but has heard of The Illusive Man, probably thinks he’s the series' main villain. However, he’s initially introduced in the second game as an untrustworthy ally, then in Mass Effect 3, he becomes the secondary antagonist behind the Reapers.
The Reapers are a galactic threat that promises to wipe out all of the main civilizations living in the Milky Way Galaxy. Like the protagonists, The Illusive Man wants to stop them, but his methods of doing so are questionable. He desires to control the Reapers and harness their immense power, which is a dangerous plan. Plus, while he doesn’t know it, the Reapers are influencing his mind, so he would never actually be able to control them anyway.His motives are understandable, though, and the fact that he’s a secondary antagonist who is trying to fight against the main villain makes him unique.
4Dutch Van Der Linde
At times, Dutch feels like the main villain of the Red Dead Redemption games, but he really isn’t. The main villain of the first game is a Government agent named Edgar Ross, who is forcing you to do his bidding. As for the second game, the repulsive Micah Bell is really the main antagonist. Dutch, however, plays a huge role in both games.
In RDR2, he spends much of the game as you’re mentor and the leader of the main gang. Yet, over the course of the story, he begins to lose his mind as the gang starts to fall apart. Then, in the first game, which takes place after the second one, he is more of a fully-fledged bad guy, whom you are hunting. While he’s mentally all over the place during the games, he is always a smooth-talking, charismatic, and captivating figure.
3Goro Majima
Yakuza And Yakuza Kiwami
For much of the Yakuza, aka Like A Dragon, series, Goro Majima is on the protagonist’s side. In the original game and its remake, though, he is one of the secondary antagonists. He is a member of the Yakuza and has his own Family within the organization. The fact that he has the nickname The Mad Dog of Shimano gives you an insight into his personality.
He is a wild and unpredictable individual who is obsessed with battling the protagonist, Kiryu. The guy isn’t really evil. He simply loves violence and finds fighting Kiryu a lot of fun. As a result, he sometimes hides and wears disguises so he can be ready to ambush his rival. It’s hard not to enjoy his silly antics.
2Scarecrow
Batman: Arkham Asylum
The Batman Arkham series has a lot of great secondary villains, as the game uses the Dark Knight’s deep rogue gallery from the comics. In Arkham Asylum, the secondary antagonist that stands out the most is Scarecrow. This is partially down to having one ofthe most creative boss fights in gaming history, in which he severely messes with your head.
Mind games are what Scarecrow is all about, as he uses his deadly fear toxin to force you to witness your greatest fears. This leads to some exceptional and creative scenes where Batman has to see his worst fears come true, all the while, you don’t actually know what’s real or not.
1Vaas Montenegro
Far Cry 3
Even big fans of Far Cry 3 barely remember the game’s main villain. Yet, it’s impossible to forget Vaas Montenegro. His speech on the definition of insanity, delivered directly to your face, is incredibly compelling and well-performed by his voice actor, Michael Mando.
That’s definitely his most famous scene, but it’s just one of many captivating moments he has throughout Far Cry 3. Every conversation he is involved in is fascinating, and he steals every scene. He’s not all talk, though; the man is shown to be brutal and sadistic several times throughout the story, which makes him all the more intimidating.
