10 Most Disappointing Video Game Villains

BioWare's Mass Effect had a decent main villain in Saren. Unfortunately he only truly resonated if you read the prequel novel that preceded the release of that original title. If you did, then the question the game raises of whether or not Saren is being controlled or influenced by some outside force becomes much more compelling.

Of course, in the end we find out that he has, in fact, been indoctrinated (brainwashed) by his "ship," which is actually one of a swarm of synthetic lifeforms called Reapers who wipe out life in the galaxy every several thousand years.

After a reveal like that, you'd expect to face them in some form in the sequel. Instead, we get the Collectors - mindless insectoid drones abducting humans as biomass to create their equally disappointing human Reaper (which its literally a giant Terminator.)

Learning the sad fact that the Collectors are what became of the Protheans - an ancient and extremely advanced alien civilization now reduced to mindless drones was a juicy bit of lore... but not when they've been wiped of everything that made the Protheans interesting. They're identical worker ants with no culture, personality or worthwhile connection to their past.