3 Beloved Game Villains Who Were Right All Along (One Tops the List for Good Reason)

While video game villains play an important role in a story, they often get the short end of the stick. Painting them as power-hungry tyrants, tragic misfits, or relentless forces of evil typically leaves players wanting to rid the world of them. And this is true for the most part: villains are the antagonists for a reason. They represent the opposite of the hero and stand as the final barrier to a happy ending, so it’s only natural that their quest is wrong and their methods are extreme. Defeating a compelling villain can be so satisfying, especially when it concludes with the narrative ending smoothly.

But the truth is more complicated than this. Villains aren’t always obstacles; sometimes, they are mirrors that force players to question the heroes they cheer for and ask an important question. What if, all this time, the villain was right, and they were on the wrong side? Three villains exemplify this quandary, standing away from other villains because they were right all along.

3) Pagan Min – Far Cry 4

Upon first glance, Far Cry 4’s Pagan Min looks like every other over-the-top villain trope. An eccentric fashion sense, outlandish meals, and a penchant for violence. Pagan Min is charming, terrifying, and unpredictable. Everything about this dictator screams villain, but scrutinizing his goals and reasoning reveals he isn’t as crazy as he seems. His cause may seem violent and selfish, but there is an underlying reason for his actions.

Pagan Min wants to liberate Kyrat from chaos and restore it to a country of stability. His actions and methods are brutal, but are not so different from the “good guys” who stand against him. Pagan Min is no true villain, but a good man who has been corrupted by a good cause and left with no other option to obtain it. He is an excellent example of the phrase, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

This can be seen in the various endings of Far Cry 4. Players are given countless opportunities to kill or spare Pagan Min, but one of the most surprising endings can be achieved early on. If players do not leave the table at the beginning of the game, Pagan Min will simply lead the protagonist to theirs, spreading their mother’s ashes, and share a bonding moment. This pleasant and peaceful ending is proof that Pagan Min is merely a misunderstood leader trying to do what he thinks best, in the way he can.

2) King Dedede – Kirby

Few villains in history have been as misunderstood as King Dedede in the Kirby series. The self-proclaimed ruler of Dream Land may have initially been set up as a villain, but he has since come to be one of Kirby’s closest allies and best friends. Even when King Dedede was more villainous, he was little more than a comic relief, a nuisance whose motivations rarely went beyond hunger or selfishness and did little harm in comparison to other villains.

But where King Dedede is most misunderstood is in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, a game where Kirby could technically be seen as the villain. In the game, King Dedede takes the Star Rod and breaks it into pieces, giving them to his most trusted allies. However, he did not do this for nefarious purposes, but rather to save Dream Land from Lord Nightmare. The thing is, Kirby misinterprets his actions, believing Dedede did this to steal the dreams of Dream Land’s residents. And so, Kirby unknowingly gathers the Star Rod, freeing Lord Nightmare and unleashing the true evil upon Dream Land.

In this way, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land subverts the villain trope and flips it on its head, making Kirby the bad guy, albeit temporarily, until Lord Nightmare is free. King Dedede’s infamy comes from a selfish and often misguided attempt to help others. Unfortunately, his higher sense of purpose leads him to believe he is the only one who can save Dream Land, so he resorts to controlling the world rather than working with those within.

1) Scorpion – Mortal Kombat

There is a good debate about the fact that Scorpion isn’t even a villain despite his labeling. His entire journey in Mortal Kombat is driven by loss, the murder of his family and clan. Love and vengeance are what consume him, not power or greed. Scorpion’s rage is caused by a desire for justice against those who destroyed his life. But his persona, appearance, and misguided actions after his resurrection have cemented him as one of the most iconic villains in gaming.

Now, Scorpion does get some redemption in the games. Mortal Kombat X saw him regain his humanity and develop into a prominent supporting character. This shows the effect the anger and loss had on him, with him becoming a strong force for good after coming to terms with the death of his clan. This shows that the true villains all along were those who inflicted this pain on Scorpion: Quanchi and Sub-Zero.

Scorpion’s tale shows just how powerful grief is. It drove him to do terrible things in the name of revenge. But underneath is the tale of survival, of one who refused to suffer quietly. His actions can be seen as evil, but once players learn of Scorpion’s motivation, it becomes less black and white.

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