10 Awesome Video Game Villains You Never See
All the best video game baddies hiding offscreen.
In the world of entertainment, visuals are pretty much the most powerful tool writers have when it comes to creating a memorable baddie.
A villain's appearance has also proven to have a serious impact in the world of gaming, with iconic baddies like Bowser, the Pac-Man ghosts, Dr. Eggman or the Creepers from Minecraft all becoming instantly recognisable based on their appearance, even to those who have never touched a game in their life.
But, what happens when developers purposely choose to keep the players and their villains apart?
There have been a solid few examples of developers choosing to keep their antagonists firmly in the shadows, keeping them out of the spotlight and their appearance away from players' line of sight. Sometimes this is a decision that best serves the plot or character, but it can also be a powerful tool in ramping up the tension and unsettling players.
With that in mind, here are awesome villains players will never see in their video games.
10. Molag Bal - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In the world of the Elder Scrolls, Molag Bal is the Daedric Prince of Domination and the Enslavement of Mortals, making him a pretty bad guy all things considering.
The primary antagonist of the Elder Scrolls: Online, he has his own Daedric quest and features heavily in the Dawnguard DLC in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but players are never brought face-to-face with him.
The father of all vampires in the Elder Scrolls universe, whilst his physical presence isn't in the game, his impact is arguably just as chilling as it is in Online.
Through his 'The House of Horrors' quest, players will encounter Molag Bal, whose voice (supplied by Christopher Corey Smith) alone will be enough to beat the Dragonborn into submission. The brutality of Molag Bal's dominance, his bloodthirsty attitude, and his domineering presence in both the house and with the vampires of Castle Volkihar give him an omnipresence across Skyrim, even though players will never even catch sight of him.
Oozing power, his one mission alone still stands out as one of most gripping moments in the game.