One thing commonly links great games across every narrative genre: great villains. But a great villain isn't just how they act or look, it is also found in their name. Is it a minor aspect? Sure. But a great name will help an already memorable villain stand out among their peers.
And what genre has better villains than RPGs? These titles thrive on providing great foils to their heroes. It is also a genre that isn't afraid to get a little weird with it occasionally. For some of the best villains, with some of the best names, this is the place you should look.
8 ✃ Rasputin, Shadow Hearts
This one feels like a bit of a cheat as it isn't just paying homage to a notable figure; it is a notable figure. Rasputin is a villain that Shadow Hearts pulled straight out of the history books. Often portrayed ominously, and depicted as being nearly invincible, this very real historical figure has a name that has become synonymous with powerful, dark magic. We also think it just sounds villainous.
Now, we readily admit, that is likely because we have had a hundred years of 🎀people referencing him (and almost always in a villainous context). Nonetheless, the association is there.
7 ♊ Kefka, Final Fantasy 6
This is a name that you can find people talking about to this day, decades after 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Final Fantasy 6 was released. There are a number of theories about where it comes from. Some say that it is tied to the Hebrew word for laughter, others claim there are clown connotations. For us, when we⭕ hear the name "Kefka" the immediate association we make is Kafka.
Which fits extremely well as Kafka's stories are filled with both surreal horror and utter despair while being awash in absurdity. And does that not just perfectly encapsulate this classic villain? Kefka is a Kafka-esque character, there is no doubt about it and that association alone makes his name top-tier.
6 ౠ Lancelot Tartarཧos, Tactics Ogre
Lancelot Tartaros is the primary villain in Tactics Ogre. This name is great for a variꦜety of reasons, but one of our favorites is how it creates a parallel between him and one of the 𒐪heroes of the cast: Lancelot Hamilton.
Rarely do you see games (or any media for that matter) that feature two characters who have the same names. This draws 🔥attention to their connection to each other and helps sell the idea tha༒t they are different sides of the same coin. This is a great example of using a name to establish a narrative connection.
5 🍨💮 Luca Blight, Suikoden 2
For those not in the know, Luca Blight is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Suikoden 2's most intimidating villain. Canonically, he is quite possibly the most powerful fighter to have ever lived. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:He is likღe a nigh-unstoppable forc🌄e of nature. You can probably see where we are going ﷽with this one...
Look, sometimes you just need a name to get to the point, and Luca is ✤absolutely a blight on the world of Suikoden. And hey, it is a touch more subtle than his peer: Neclord (not that we are hating on the vampire). Luca Blight is an excellent antagonist with a fantastic name that gets to the point.
4 Saren, Mass Ef𒀰fect ♛
Saren is an absolute snake. That is unquestionable. He is also the best villain Mass Effect ever had (168澳洲幸运5开奖网:sorry Kai Leng). N♏ot only is Saren an interesting character, but he has a great name that fits him to a tee.
Firstly, there is something about Saren that sounds vaguely serpentine. Though maybe that is just his character influencing our reading of hi🌠s name andꦛ drawing that "s" out. His name is also pronounced the same as the toxic gas. While that is probably coincidental, it is still an easy association to make.
3 ꦜ Sephiroth, Final Fantasy 7 ♌
Look, we get it: there is palpable Sephiroth fatigue. The internet has had to deal with two decades of people celebrating this 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Final Fantasy 7 villain. However, you have to admit, that♉ is one hell of a name. It has a certain ephemeral elegance to it. It is aesthetically pleasing, while also being vaguely otherworldly.
That is probably because that name is immediately reminiscent of the seraphim, which is, of course, a name tethered to celestial, angelic beings. His theme song being "One-Winged Angel" only furthers this connection. We don't want to overstate the importance of his name, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:this🗹 is a villain that has a lot going for him, but we feel like he may not have had as much traction if his name hꦕad been Jimbob.
2 ♉ Eve, 🌜Parasite Eve
Eve is a great villain, but more than that, she is a great villain with a great name. For starters, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:her name has a biblical angle. On🧸e that is tied to defiance, sin, and creation as a whole. Then there i𝓀s her full name: Mitochondria Eve.
Her full name is drawn from a rea♒l scientific theory of the beginning point for the modern strain of mitochondrial DNA that exists in humans now. It is a diverse name that has a number of points of contact with a bunch of interesting intertexts.
1 Kaiser Obliv♓ion, Bravely Second
Kaiser Oblivion is the type of name that you would get if you gave a ten-year-old free rein to name a villain. And you know what? We need more of that energy in the world. Make fun of Kaiser Oblivion's name all you want, but it is a name that plants a smile firmly on our faces every time we read it.
Better yet, this isn't the villain's actual name. This is a pseudonym! His real name is Denys Geneolgia. This means that he, a grown man, chose that name for himself. This tells us everything we will ever need to know about this character. What a legend!
