Top 10 Final Fantasy Villains

As a fan of RPG games or just video games in general, it is highly unlikely that you have never heard of the Final Fantasy series. In case you have no idea what Final Fantasy is about, well, you do not need to play right from the first instalment of the series to understand the story because each game features a whole different set of characters and plot. One of the main reasons Final Fantasy games are so popular is due to the characters who are visually stunning and full of character. This does not only apply to its main characters as the villains can be highly likable as well. Now, allow us to present the top 10 villains from Final Fantasy!


10. Genesis Rhapsodos from Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

  • System/Platform: PlayStation Portable
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Release Date: Sep. 2007

Genesis Rhapsodos, also known as G, was a SOLDIER First Class initially loyal to Shinra. After he suffered from genetic degradation as a result of an imperfect infusion with Jenova’s cells, he rebelled and wanted to find a cure. When Genesis experiences degradation, his hair would turn white, and his clothings and wings would become lighter in shade.

Genesis has an androgynous look and he is designed based on the famous pop/rock idol named Camui Gackt. Genesis is obsessed with a famous poem entitled LOVELESS and he spent his life trying to understand it. To be honest, we find that quite cringeworthy so he only made this far into the list.


9. Caius Ballad from XIII-2

  • System/Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Release Date: Dec. 2011

Caius Ballad is a tall, slender man with purple eyes, and well, kinda purple everything. He looks similar to Bahamut in Final Fantasy XIII. As Caius does not openly display his emotions often, it is difficult to know what he is thinking. Noel described Caius as being the type who would rather do the dirty work instead of letting others do it for him.

Not all villains are totally bad. In some cases, they might actually seem good if only they are the main characters and stories were told from their point of view. Caius Ballad isn’t exactly a bad guy. His motives of doing evil is not just simply just to cause suffering to others, but to save the one he loves.


8. Ardyn Izunia from Final Fantasy XV

  • System/Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Release Date: Nov. 2016

Enough of all the bishies, sometimes an uncle wants to stand out too. Ardyn Izunia is a middle-aged man who is flamboyant and eccentric. This personality of him is expressed through the way he dresses. A humorous man who often speaks in riddles, he seems like a man with no worries.

Ardyn strikes us as a mysterious person with conflicting nature. At times, he helps Noctis, but then he torments Noctis so his true intentions are hard to decipher. However, this shows that he is good with words and skilled at manipulating others. Kinda like the frenemy whom you aren’t sure whether to be nice to.


7. Zeromus from Final Fantasy IV

  • System/Platform: SNES, PlayStation, WonderSwan Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, iOS, Windows Phone,Microsoft Windows, SteamNES, PlayStation, WonderSwan Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, iOS, Windows Phone, Microsoft
  • Publisher: Square
  • Developer: Square, Square Soft
  • Release Date: Jul. 1991

Another non-bishie but this time, it isn’t even human. Zeromos is the final boss in Final Fantasy IV which is a hatred and spirit of Zemus. Zemus is a Lunarian who hates mankind but after he was killed, his resentment lives on in the form of Zeromus due to his unwillingness to accept death.

As Zemus’ spirit lives on due to intense hatred, we wonder if Zeromus’ spirit might live on too for the same reason, but we guess it just have to stop somewhere. Zeomus has 2 major moves which are Black Hole which nullifies any status effects, and Big Bang which causes significant non-elemental damage. Due to its non-bishie status, Zeromus isn’t exactly popular but we think it is still a cool villain worth remembering.


6. Garland / Chaos from Final Fantasy

  • System/Platform: Android, Arcade, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone, Mobile phone, MSX, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Entertainment System, GameCube, iOS, Ouya, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation
  • Publisher: Square, Square Enix
  • Developer: Square, Square Enix
  • Release Date: Dec. 1987

Garland used to be the best Knight of Cornelia, but he is then corrupted by power and pulls a Bowser (plus points if you know who he is!) by kidnapping the princess. Garland demands the king to hand over the ruling power to him in exchange for the princess’ life, and the Warriors of Light set out on a mission to rescue the princess.

Garland is obsessed with the concept of time loop which would enable him to live forever. As he has mastered time travel, he seems like an unbeatable opponent. And that’s not the end of it as he merges with the Four Fiends and crystals’ power which result in him being an enormous, invincible beast known as Chaos. Well, good luck defeating him.



5. Ultimecia from Final Fantasy VII

  • System/Platform: PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
  • Publisher: Square
  • Developer: Square
  • Release Date: Feb. 1999

Ultimecia is a sizzling hot sorceress who intends to use Time Compression to restructure the world as she would like it. As she is not capable to perform the act alone and requires the help of others, Ultimecia torments others especially Rinoa. Being able to control time and space makes her a formidable villain.

Her Hell’s Judgement is annoying to players as it reduces the HP of the entire party to 1 point. Ultimecia can do many things with her power, such as controlling a person’s body and mind throughout different eras. She can also give life to subconscious thoughts, as shown when she brings life to Griever which is manifested from the subconscious thought of Squall.


4. Emperor Mateus from Final Fantasy II

  • System/Platform: Famicom
  • Publisher: Square
  • Developer: Square
  • Release Date: Dec. 1988

Emperor Mateus is a true villain whom players would learn to hate as they play the game. He is pure evil which is why he can take all the powers of hell. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see his potential as the heroes kill Emperor Mateus before he gets to use the powers of hell. That is such a letdown but perhaps logical, as he would have been too powerful that it makes no sense that anyone could ever defeat him.

Emperor Mateus is truly an evil person whom most people would hate because he not only kills a party member, but four of them. Imagine all your wasted efforts in levelling up those members. That alone is enough to make anyone hate him even if you usually adore the bad guys.


3. Seymour Guado from Final Fantasy X

  • System/Platform: PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Square
  • Developer: Squaresoft, Sony Computer Entertainment Square
  • Release Date: Jul. 2001

Being part human and part Guado, Seymour is tasked with uniting with linking those 2 races together. Under this pretence, he is a revered person loved by many. Seymour has feelings for Yuna but mainly due to his yearning to gain her power so he can become Sin. He manages to get Yuna to accept his marriage proposal, but the marriage did not happen in the end as his true colours are revealed.

One thing really cool about Seymour being a villain is due to his political position. When the heroes killed him, they are labelled as traitors. It is easy to hate Seymour due to his two-faced personas in which he tries to act like the good guy in public when in actuality, he is a cold-hearted person who murdered his father.


2. Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII

  • System/Platform: PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, iOS, PlayStation 4, Android
  • Publisher: Square, Sony Computer Entertainment, Eidos Interative
  • Developer: Square
  • Release Date: Jan. 1997

It’s undeniable that the 7th instalment of Final Fantasy is one of the most popular one. Therefore, Sephiroth is an iconic Final Fantasy villain who leaves an impression to many gamers. He was created to be the ultimate soldier but when he learned about his origins, he was angered and wanted to summon Meteor to doom the Earth.

Even though the characters in Final Fantasy 7 look like Lego characters so even the villains look cute instead of badass, the visuals were considered good at the time of release. Plus, there were 2D illustrations of the characters so you can actually see that Sephiroth is a hunk, which is obviously an important factor of his popularity. Besides, he has one of the best theme songs ever.


1. Kuja from Final Fantasy IX

  • System/Platform: PlayStation, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows
  • Publisher: Square
  • Developer: Square
  • Release Date: Jul. 2000

Kuja was created by Garland as an Angel of Death, but he is deemed to be a failure due to a lack of childhood. Thus, Garland creates another Angel of Death named Zidane, which angers Kuja. Thus, Kuja dumps Zidane at Gaia in the hopes that he would die there.

As Kuja was originally created as an Angel of Death, his purpose is to bring destruction. However, he later finds out that he is a mortal and his main purpose now is to exist until the Zidane come of age. As Kuja is a narcissist, he wants to destroy the world for the sole reason that he does not want the world to exist without him! Kuja is elegant and speaks in metaphorical patterns, for example, he refers to Brahne as the elephant-lady.


Final Thoughts

Do you think we have made a mistake with our top 10 Final Fantasy villains? Tell us which villains struck as the most memorable to you, whether it is because you love them or hate them. Maybe Square Enix should produce a Final Fantasy game with villains as the main characters. That would be fun!

Crisis-Core-Final-Fantasy-VII-Genesis-Rhapsodos-wallpaper Top 10 Final Fantasy Villains

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Author: IngoKnox

My ultimate dream is to be a pampered dog or a really cool anime character. Perhaps being an anime dog would work too.

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