Summary

  • Players can control powerful gods like Chaos, Fen'Harel, and Kefka for engaging interactions and epic battles.
  • Iconic characters like Thor, Raiden, and Kratos offer intense battles, deep narratives, and memorable moments.
  • The role of gods in video games adds depth, excitement, and unique challenges for players to overcome.

Godlike beings are intimidating to encounter in any video game, with their divine power either aiding or abetting the player during their journey. Thankfully, there are times when players are allowed to control certain gods to make things easier for themselves.

Kratos in God of War (2018), Zagreus in Hades (2020)
5 Best Games Starring Demigods, Ranked

These excellent video games allow players to take control of demigods as they explore (and sometimes conquer) their own diverse pantheons.

Gaming has its fair share of male gods that have become mainstream in their own right. These deities are standout characters in their respective games, with players loving any interaction they have with these imposing figures.

8 Chaos

A Malevolent God Who Wants To Bring Humanity To Ruin

Chaos in Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster
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Final Fantasy (1987) Tag Page Cover Art
Final Fantasy (1987)
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Released
December 18, 1987
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DIGITAL
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ESRB
e
Developer(s)
Square
Genre(s)
JRPG, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
Final Fantasy In Game Screenshot 6

Garland's evil knew no bounds, to the point where he traveled back in time after his loss at the hands of the Warriors of Light. The darkness in him manifested to give him the form of Chaos, an evil god hell-bent on ruining humanity.

After eradicating the four elemental fiends, the Warriors of Light must travel back in time for one final encounter against Chaos. It's a cinematic and engaging battle that makes for a bombastic finale to the original game.

7 Solas

The Inquisitor's Companion Turns Out To Be The Elven Trickster God Fen'Harel

Dragon Age: The Veilguard artist shares early Solas sketches
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Dragon Age: Inquisition
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9 /10
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Released
November 18, 2014
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
Developer(s)
BioWare
Genre(s)
Action RPG
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Dragon Age: Inquisition surpassed expectations to become a worthy entry in the series, featuring its fair share of memorable companions. This includes Solas, an elven mage with a mysterious past who reveals his identity at the very end of the series.

He turns out to be the trickster god Fen'Harel, making him perfect as an antagonist for the sequel. So, it's a shame that his role was diminished greatly in The Veilguard since that took away from the impact he could've had after this reveal.

6 Kefka Palazzo

Absorbs The Power Of The Warring Triad And Becomes A Divine Being

Kefka final form in Final Fantasy 6
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Final Fantasy 6
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Released
October 11, 1994
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DIGITAL
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ESRB
T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity
Developer(s)
Square Enix, Square
Genre(s)
RPG
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

The mad jester Kefka is one of the greatest Final Fantasy villains of all time, revelling in his chaos and having no qualms about disturbing the balance of the Warring Triad. After the world was thrown into a state of ruin, Kefka decided to absorb the power of this divine trio to ascend to godhood.

Biggest Hypocrites In Final Fantasy, Ranked
8 Biggest Hypocrites In Final Fantasy, Ranked

The following Final Fantasy characters are known to contradict themselves.

He might be a pseudo-god, but that should take nothing away from his power. The Light of Judgment he uses to oppress his rebellious subjects displays the sheer power he wields. Players must ascend to the heavens in an epic final battle before finally taking on this heartless angel and beating him once and for all.

5 Vivec

Vivec Inside His Palace In The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind
Vivec
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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
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Released
May 1, 2002
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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ESRB
T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
Developer(s)
Bethesda Game Studios
Genre(s)
RPG
Platform(s)
PC, Xbox (Original)

The lore of The Elder Scrolls is fascinating and a huge reason why fans love this series to bits. The series features its fair share of divine deities, with Vivec being perhaps the most notable god in the series.

Fans of Morrowind who reached the city named after this deity could unlock a high-level locked door to seek an audience with this god. While he played a role in the story, fans loved how rewarding it felt to come face-to-face with this divine being who wowed players with his overbearing presence.

4 Thor

Makes A Huge Splash In God Of War: Ragnarok

God of War Ragnarok Thor Kratos
God of War Ragnarok Thor Kratos
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God of War Ragnarok
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10 /10
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Released
November 9, 2022
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DIGITAL
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ESRB
M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
God of War Ragnarok the crater region and lightning

Ever since the final scene of 2018's God of War, fans couldn't wait for Kratos and Thor to duke it out. Their first encounter is a riveting one where Kratos is whittled down, showing the gulf of power between the duo.

Over the course of Ragnarok, Thor is painted in a somewhat sympathetic light, making fans resonate with his struggles. This is what adds a ton of depth to his eventual rematch with Kratos, which culminates in a tragic finale after Thor angers his father and refuses to obey his command.

3 Zagreus

A Rebellious God Hell-Bent On Escaping The Underworld

Zagreus in Hades
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Hades
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10 /10
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Released
December 6, 2018
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DIGITAL
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m
Developer(s)
Supergiant Games
Genre(s)
Fighting, Action, Adventure
Platform(s)
PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, macOS, Nintendo Switch
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
Hades

The protagonist of Hades is a rebellious kid who wants to escape the Underworld and meet his mother by any means necessary. This prompts a daring escape that is repeated numerous times as Zagreus strives to meet Persephone and convince her to come to the Underworld.

Screenshots from Hades gameplay and cover picture of Zagreus
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Mods can change the Hades experience significantly, but some are arguably better than others. Here are some of the best ones available for the game.

Zagreus takes a while to grow on players, who love his determined attitude and the interactions he has with the denizens of the Underworld. Watching him get strong enough to beat his father makes for an amazing achievement after seeing the many struggles he had to overcome beforehand.

2 Raiden

The God Of Thunder Who Protects Earthrealm

Raiden fighting the amulet's temptation in Mortal Kombat 11
Raiden fighting the amulet's temptation in Mortal Kombat 11
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Mortal Kombat 1
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8 /10
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Released
September 19, 2023
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
NetherRealm Studios
Genre(s)
Fighting
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Raiden is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time from the very moment he was introduced in the first Mortal Kombat game. This god of thunder boasted powerful moves and could decimate most enemies with ease.

He serves as the protector of Earthrealm and guides the heroes in their battles against fearsome foes. While he does get corrupted in Mortal Kombat 11, it doesn't take long for the thunder god to regain his senses and join the side of good once again.

1 Kratos

A Spartan Warrior Who Becomes The God Of War

God of War Kratos angry
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God of War
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10 /10
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Released
April 20, 2018
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Franchise
God of War
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
Platform(s)
PC, PlayStation 4
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Kratos is a legendary video game character who needs no introduction. The cheers that accompanied his return made it clear that this God of War is a beloved deity whom fans love to control as he slices and dices his way through his foes.

While his character was a bit one-dimensional in the original God of War trilogy, the reboot and its sequel did a great job of humanizing Kratos' character. Watching him realize that he could become a benevolent god makes for a beautiful way to end his adventures in Norse mythology.