2023 gave us not only a lot of great projects, but also characters. Of course, the most memorable among them are the villains. We had to fight all sorts of people over the past year: from almighty wizards to alien parasites. We decided to collect the best villains that were in 2023 and became one of the reasons why we remembered some projects.

Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Let’s start with a memorable return for the series, as Ganondorf made his first appearance in The Legend of Zelda franchise back in 2006 in Twilight Princess. The developers of Tears of the Kingdom decided to remind the fans of the series about his existence and brought this character back in an even more epic form. After all, he was once the one who could defeat Link with a single left.

In Tears of the Kingdom, almost everyone talks about Ganondorf, but you only have to meet him a few times. It is the final battle that is remembered, which is perfectly set up and offers the maximum intensity of passions. This epic massacre is the perfect conclusion to Tears of the Kingdom, which each player can come to in their own way.

Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

For some people, Craven the Hunter may be the most memorable villain in Spider-Man 2, but you have to admit that Venom is the best character in the game. At the very beginning, he is just a symbiote used to treat Harry Osborn. Then he becomes a great weapon for fighting crime when you play as Peter Parker. And all of this suddenly leads to the fact that the alien creature drives everyone crazy, and in the end takes the form of the bloodthirsty Venom.

It is Venom that affects almost all the characters in Spider-Man 2, and in different ways. Like a real parasite, he gradually creeps into the story and makes sure that the main focus remains on him in the ending. And the final battle, in which only two Spider-Men can defeat the monster, is the pinnacle of staging and drama. Venom may not be the best villain of 2023, but it’s certainly one of the most significant.

Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 1

After the announcement of Mortal Kombat 1, there was a lot of speculation about who would become the main villain of the game, as we were promised a full-fledged relaunch of the series. In the end, it was Shang Tsung, which surprised many people, since this character has not been the main villain of the franchise for a long time. Surprisingly, he coped with this role with an A+, and if you pay attention to the Mortal Kombat 1 campaign, you will definitely enjoy the story and the final battle with Shang Tsung.

It is in this game that Shang Tsung becomes a serious threat because he wants to destroy not only all opponents but also the entire universe. Not everyone can cope with such an opponent, and it is up to you to make every effort to prevent the villain from getting his way. Shang Tsung gathers a whole army of villains to stop you, and he almost succeeds several times, but don’t despair. If your skills are at the appropriate Mortal Kombat 1 level, you will achieve your goal, and the final boss will finally get what he deserves.

Ultima in Final Fantasy 16

And not to stray too far from PlayStation exclusives, I would like to remind you of Ultima from Final Fantasy 16. Since the series is quite long and has hundreds of characters, there has always been room for memorable villains. However, Ultima has become one of the most striking and memorable, given what he does and what he pursues.

Ultima is a god-like creature that wants to enslave the entire world. Only the protagonist of Final Fantasy 16 is able to defeat it, but to do so, he has to regain his strength and go through a difficult path to become a true hero. By the way, in the world of Final Fantasy 16, Ultima is an ambiguous character. Some people consider him a savior, while others are simply afraid of him. You will have to not only defeat this creature but also restore civilians’ faith in real heroes. And the final battle with Ultima, like all the other boss battles in Final Fantasy 16, is a miracle.

Bowser in Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Yes, you saw it right. Bowser is on this list because the next Mario game was released in 2023. It would be a real crime not to add this villain to this selection, as he has long been considered a legendary antagonist of all time. In addition, in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, he was made into some kind of super-powered evil that is ready to do anything to prevent the mustachioed plumber from saving the world once again.

In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, you’ll have to face Bowser in perhaps his most powerful form yet. Needless to say, in one of the battles, he can turn into an entire castle, and you will have to think on the fly how to deal with him. The developers of Super Mario Bros. Wonder gave the legendary villain several forms and partially changed his character. However, everything turned out so cool that it seems that Bowser will never go out of style and will forever remain one of the best Nintendo villains.

Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Let’s be honest, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is not a masterpiece. It’s just a good game that you should definitely play with your friends. However, it is thanks to this game that we got a classic villain from youth slasher movies in 2023. What other year did this happen? I can’t remember, but the way Leatherface is made in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is truly awe-inspiring and admirable.

The developers have taken into account all the little things that made this villain unforgettable in the movies. Even before you meet him, you will already be frightened by the slow footsteps and the ringing of the chainsaw in his hands. The next wave of terror will come when you finally see him. And then there’s Leatherface’s cold temper and confident movements when he finally attacks you. He’s the perfect villain with his own backstory and a unique and memorable image. In fact, this is the only reason to try The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Osmund Saddler in Resident Evil 4 Remake

We should also mention Osmund Saddler, who made an epic return to the gaming industry in 2023 with the release of the amazing Resident Evil 4 Remake. This is the case when Capcom once again showed how to make remakes to make them better than the original and loved by everyone. But let’s get back to Osmund, who appears closer to the end of the game. Despite the fact that he is not given much time, he is the main problem for the protagonist.

It is through his manipulations that the president’s daughter is kidnapped, and then he puts a spoke in Leon’s wheel during the mission to rescue the girl. It’s also worth noting that Osmund Saddle has become much scarier and more menacing in the remake. The developers have redesigned his appearance, and this design has clearly benefited the old man. And we can’t help but mention the final battle, which is literally saturated with doom, and every second it seems that Leon is about to go to the next world, and Saddler will prevail. In fact, it’s one of the best boss battles of 2023, perfectly set up from start to finish.

Catherine Torm in Baldur’s Gate 3

In fact, those who have played Baldur’s Gate 3 will likely agree that this selection could have consisted entirely of the game’s negative characters. However, it wouldn’t have been as interesting as it turned out, and there is a character in the project who is a cut above the rest in terms of his villainy. Thanks to his rich backstory filled with tragedy and incredible power, Ketterik Torm is a villain you simply have to reckon with.

Add to all of this a stunning first appearance by Torm, followed by an unforgettable battle, and you have one of the best villains of the year. Not to mention the dialogues, which are written in the best fantasy traditions. Ketterik Torm is a classic fairy tale villain who is immediately memorable and evokes incredible disgust right off the bat. And you believe in his power from the first seconds, so the battle with him is full of emotions. Definitely one of those villains that will be talked about for a long time.