7 Times Video Game Villains Would've Won (If They Weren't Idiots)

Less monologuing, more shooting.

Max Payne 3
Rockstar

From movies to video games, the Achilles heel of most fictional bad guys is just how damn arrogant they are. There are countless examples of villains who think they're the smartest people in the room, more powerful than anyone else, and so above everything that they'll get their goons to do most of the dirty work for them. In their heads, there's no reality in which they lose, as they're destined for greatness.

Of course, in reality this often means they're complete idiots.

Even though video games have birthed plenty of memorable heroes across the years, strong enough and smart enough to take down even the toughest foes, in many cases it's the villain themselves who are their own downfall. Their evil plans were in reach, inches away from being fulfilled, only to be dashed at the last minute by a major lapse in logic.

From plans so convoluted you have no idea why anyone thought they could ever work to dangerously underestimating the protagonist at every turn, sometimes video game antagonists are their own worst enemies.

Advertisement
In this post: 
Uncharted 4
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor

Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.