Let’s start this list off with the least...“genocidey” anime character with a god complex. Keima is known throughout the gaming world as a “God of Conquest”, in that he is able to masterfully woo any 2-D sprite of his choosing amidst his large number of Gyaru Geemu dating simulators. So, when tasked with the seduction of several of his classmates (and one questionable teaching assistant) in order to rid their bodies of malevolent spirits, surely the skills learned through his video games will pass over into reality, right? That’s why every top-level Counter-Strike player is automatically drafted into the army!

Despite his self-proclaimed lady-killing prowess, it seems girls in the real world aren’t as quick to warm up to Keima’s charming advances. Could it be the lack of a perfect pickup line? Or could it be the unrelenting tsunami of insults he rains down upon his would-be lovers? Regardless, Keima is ready and willing to defend his title as the God of Conquest, boasting confidently that he has the ability to conquer any female mind, fictional or otherwise. Let’s just say, there is a reason his injuries number enough in total to compile several successful Youtube compilations...

Kayaba Akihiko had a simple dream. To plunge the world into a death game filled with so much despair, that the rehabilitation alone would take an entire second season. Kayaba Akihiko, in a sense, does not suffer from a God complex. He is, in fact, the god of Aincrad, the virtual world in which SAO takes place. Being obsessed with computers led to Kayaba viewing the world as nothing more than a simulation. As such, he has little regard for human life, made clear by not only his imprisoning of millions inside of the NerveGear but more minute actions such as his striking and seemingly murdering of Asuna.

Kayaba is probably the most relaxed God complex character on this list. Upon being bested in combat by Kirito, he humbly admits his defeat without any further resistance. He always designed SAO to be beatable, just an incredibly tough challenge for those who lacked the skill. In a sense, Kayaba is the most like our own perception of God. Life is hard and filled with struggles. However, it’s never too late to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move forward toward a brighter tomorrow. Just as long as you don’t accidentally spawn a trap and have your entire Guild murdered in cold blood before your very eyes, sending you spiraling into a never-ending wave of depression. Amen.

Akito fulfills the role of “God” in the Chinese zodiac. Being raised under the notion that she would be loved no matter what atrocities she committed (thanks Akira!), Akito proceeded to both physically and mentally abuse several members of the Sohma clan. She is manipulative, arrogant, short-tempered, and selfish, not to mention - quick to throw a temper tantrum at the drop of a hat.

However, perhaps Akito herself is not to blame. Yes, her previous transgressions cannot be so easily forgiven. Yes, Akito is a god. Yes, Akito has a God complex. However, perhaps there is more to Akito than initially meets the eye. It is revealed that Akito is a woman where everyone thought she was a man. Maybe there is more to her character than one would first assume.

After awakening as a deity, Hina received the ability of precognition. Under the knowledge that the world will come to an end, she seeks out a boy with whom she wishes to spend the rest of her life. And that just about does it for ways in which Hina in any way resembles a God. Admittedly, she does use her powers to predict horse race outcomes or weather changes, but for the most part, Hina is both arrogant and mischievous in her interactions with us lowly mortals.

Despite Hina’s insistence that she hails from the land of Gods, people tend not to take her too seriously. After all, she is a little girl parading around, spouting what most of us would assume is utter nonsense. Perhaps she isn’t a God after all. However, if that was the case...just what exactly is she?

The great thing about God is, should he wish to smite you down like the degenerate sinner that you are, it’s probably going to take a few days. The time difference between the UK and Japan is eight or nine hours so I can’t imagine that the time difference between Heaven and Earth allows for next-day divine retribution. Now, imagine if God was not only living on your doorstep, but he possessed enough athletic prowess to hunt you down wherever you might flee. Tsukasa Shishio is used primarily for his hunter-gatherer abilities in the early episodes of Dr. Stone. However, upon revealing that he plans to purge the Earth of the weak and frail, selecting who he believes fit enough to continue living in his new world, things start to take a turn.

Tsukasa admits to only caring about himself, going so far as to decimate the stone statues of petrified elderly that Senku wishes to revive (Senku wanting to restore humanity in its entirety). Tsukasa additionally leaves Senku’s group upon receiving a rejection of his plan, thoroughly determined to carry it out no matter the cost. Combining the ruthless determination of those with a God complex, with the physical ability to decimate any adversaries that would oppose you, makes for more than a frightening character in our opinion.

Kibutsuji Muzan is the God of the demon world. Instilling his powerful blood into regular humans, he is able to create an army of allies who, should they ever choose to disobey him, automatically have their bodies destroyed (as seen with Susamaru, the Temari demon). Not only this, but his personality is one that exudes arrogance and domination. Upon summoning several low ranking demons nearing the end of the series, he makes it clear that anyone who doubts him, anyone with a differing opinion, or anyone foolish enough to try to escape from his stranglehold, will meet the same fate as Susamaru.

Kibutsuji however, also plays the role of the humble salaryman. When Tanjiro first encounters him, Kibutsuji appears to have a wife and young daughter, with whom he has settled down. A wise man once pondered as to whether “God stays in heaven because he too lives in fear of what he's created here on earth?” (Dr. Romero - Spy Kids 2). Kibutsuji does not seem fearful of any demons who work under him. However, with the rising advent of Demon Slayers hunting him down, not to mention the anomaly demon that is Nezuko, perhaps Kibutsuji desires a moment’s respite from ruling over his army before his arrogance comes back to breathe water on him.

Are you a closeted masochist? Do you long for the day your partner will walk up and down your torso in weighted shoes? Do you struggle to make it through the day without being called “mongrel”? Then do we have a god-complex character for you! Gilgamesh is the King of Heroes and he does not let you forget it. Gilgamesh is arrogant, cocky, boastful, and just about any other narcissistic insult, you could possibly think of.

In fact, Gilgamesh was SUCH an egotist, the gods themselves created a friend for him to learn the value of human life (this being Enkidu). Depending on which Fate series you watch, you’ll be met with a different version of Gilgamesh. Should you watch the early series, you’ll find yourself being called ‘zasshu’ more times than you can count. However, should you watch the recent Babylonia adaptation, we are met with a more compassionate, more mature Gilgamesh (in his caster form). This still all-powerful Gilgamesh, should he see you on fire, is much more likely to put you out, as opposed to using the flames surrounding your corpse to roast marshmallows.

Shu wasn’t as quick to recognize himself as a god when compared to the others on this list. During the early episodes of Guilty Crown, he fell in line like a good little sheep and used his power to draw out a weapon from someone’s soul, for the benefit of his team. However, after a catastrophic death that destroys Shu’s complacency, his character starts to sway. You see, the strength of a person is intrinsically linked to the strength of their weapon. So, Shu does what any “man of the people” would do. He categorizes his classmates by number and sees those in the lower bracket as nothing more than disposable cattle. What a guy!

He eventually succumbs to an uprising from the proletariat he oppressed leaving him with Inori as his only confidant. Shu receives a well-deserved redemption arc at the end of the series, however, leaving him with severe damage to his eyes as a form of karmic retribution. All in all, Shu’s journey from human to God to human again is incredibly insightful as to the dangers of power. Icarus flew too close to the sun attempting to emulate God and as a result, had his waxen wings melt. Man was never meant to hold so much power. Shu is a perfect example of why no good has ever come from trying to emulate the big man (or woman) himself.

Lelouch is one of the most famous anime characters with a God complex. He is much more of a supervillain than the others on this list, proudly boasting about his efforts, whilst twirling his mustache and stroking his pet cat from the safety of his evil lair. Lelouch becomes the God of the rebellion under the guise of Zero, as the former Japanese Elevens fight back against the cruel and heartless Brittanian empire. Lelouch is shown to be incredibly smart and beefing up his already engorged brain with the Geass from C.C, results in a character you don’t want to get on the bad side of.

Lelouch, however, much like Shu, also realizes the error of his ways later in the story. He uses his overwhelming power to instill the fear of a vengeful God into the minds of the populace. Uniting every human under such hatred gives way to reconciliation when he is eventually “murdered” at the end of season two. Lelouch has always been intelligent. Perhaps, that was ultimately his downfall.

Light Yagami is THE original granddaddy God complex character. After being given the opportunity to end the lives of anyone he deems sinful, Light takes it upon himself to become the god of the new world. Surely, you’ve heard the term “drunk with power” before. Well, Light skipped past the “half a glass of wine before bed”, dove headfirst into the minibar, and woke up the next morning in the back of a dumpster with a phone number from Katiie with two ‘i’s tattooed on his forearm!

Needless to say, Light is not one to shy away from the responsibility he believes himself to have been given. Starting out only purging those who have committed heinous crimes, his situation escalates to the point where he is forced to execute police members, news reporters, and even close friends in order to mask his identity as Kira. They say that God is a vengeful God. Light may as well have written the Old Testament himself in that regard.