Summary
- The best Final Fantasy villains have complex backstories and could have been heroes in an alternate timeline.
- Memorable villains like Sephiroth and Ardyn were used by others or faced tragic pasts that influenced their descent into villainy.
- Characters like Seifer and Kuja could have redeemed themselves if they made better choices or had a different upbringing.
Final Fantasy is a series known for its iconic heroes, many of whom fight against insurmountable odds in order to save the world time and time again. However, their struggles would be nowhere near as compelling if the villains they face didn't push them to their limits.
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Some of the best Final Fantasy villains boast incredible backstories and intimidating presences that make them downright unforgettable. In certain cases, fate deals these villains a bad hand, since they could've easily been heroes in an alternate timeline.
Warning: Major Final Fantasy story spoilers ahead!
8 Sephiroth
A Better Childhood And Open Communication Could've Led This SOLDIER To Fight For A Good Cause
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 7, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
One of the most iconic video game villains of all time, Sephiroth's long silver hair and ridiculous blade made him a legend from his very first appearance. His descent into madness is hard to digest, with him realizing that he was nothing more than a lab experiment made from JENOVA cells by Shinra.
While he wasn't an outright villain early on, he failed to process his emotions and broke down, causing him to burn Nibelheim and its innocent people to the ground. It sparked his rise to infamy as he established himself as a horrid villain who could've still fought for the side of good if Shinra hadn't used him as a tool.
7 Ardyn Izunia
His Selfless Attempts To Absorb The Starscourge From Others Ended Up Corrupting Him
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 15
In Final Fantasy 15, Ardyn is a charismatic villain who wants the world to die with the threat of the Starscourge. To prevent this from happening, Noctis and his allies must stop him in a final fight in Insomnia - one that has major consequences.
Episode Ardyn does a great job of elaborating on his character, presenting him as a sympathetic figure who genuinely looked out for people who were affected by the Starscourge. However, the corruption of this disease made him unfit to sit on the throne as his brother schemed against him, with the death of his loved one further plunging a once-good Ardyn into despair and turning him into a villain.
6 Seifer Almasy
His Rivalry Overcame His Common Sense And Made Him An Easy Target To Brainwash
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 8
Seifer Almasy is one of the most hated characters in the series. He took his rivalry with Squall way too seriously and failed to see the bigger picture when he was being mind-controlled by Ultimecia.
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However, he didn't lose his grasp on his morality and eventually redeemed himself by saving the heroes in the game's final act. If Seifer had developed a moral compass sooner, then it's very much possible that he could've buried the hatchet with Squall and accompanied him on his quest to save the world.
5 Kuja
Things Could've Unfolded Differently For This Genome If Garland Hadn't Used Him Like A Tool
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 9
Though initially portrayed as a villain, Kuja ended up being used as a tool for other nefarious figures to get their way. He was a Genome created by Garland, who ultimately dubbed him a flawed creation and decided to create Zidane, giving him the memories he needed to unlock the power of Trance.
This didn't sit right with Kuja, who hated being overlooked and eventually developed a deep resentment towards the world and everything in it. If he had enjoyed a better childhood, then it's possible that Kuja would've fought to save Gaia instead of destroying it.
4 Golbez
Cecil's Brother Was Brainwashed By Zemus To Serve As A Thorn In The Heroes' Side
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy 4: The After Years
Golbez is a powerful antagonist who stands in the way of the heroes and causes irreparable harm time and time again. However, with the threat of Zemus and the Lunarians uncovered, it's revealed that Golbez was actually being brainwashed by these heinous figures.
He is revealed as Cecil's brother, with the duo reconciling their differences before they team up to stop Zemus before he destroys Earth. If Golbez had overpowered Zemus' mind-control powers, he could've easily fought for the side of good.
3 Garland
A Noble Knight Who Somehow Lost His Way Because Of His Thirst For Power
- Appears In: Final Fantasy, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Final Fantasy 9
A legendary villain who needs no introduction, Garland is perhaps the only character in the series who actually was a hero in another Final Fantasy game. While his presence in Final Fantasy 9 makes him irredeemable as a villain, the same can't be said for his first legendary appearance.
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Garland was once a noble knight corrupted by power who eventually became Chaos after being defeated and sent back in time. He could've walked a different path had he just abstained from his thirst for power, and Stranger of Paradise's unique exploration of his origins further cements this.
2 Edea Kramer
Became Ultimecia's Tool For The Majority Of The Game, Despite Serving As A Mother To The Heroes
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 8
Edea is yet another Final Fantasy villain who was being manipulated behind the scenes. Ultimecia had her claws wrapped around her brain, forcing her to turn against the very children she served as a matriarch for.
Eventually, she is freed of this brainwashing and even accompanies the party when they head to Esthar City. If she had somehow avoided Ultimecia's magic, she could've united the heroes and made them aware of their shared past well before the reveal actually happens.
1 Gilgamesh
An Iconic Bumbling Antagonist With Heroic Tendencies Who Was Simply Fighting For The Wrong Side
- Appears In: Final Fantasy 5, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 8, Final Fantasy 12, Final Fantasy 13-2, Final Fantasy 15
One of the most jovial and beloved Final Fantasy party members of all time, Gilgamesh's legacy speaks for itself. He stands against the heroes in Final Fantasy 5, but it's clear that this lackey is nowhere near as evil as his master, Exdeath.
This can be seen in the final stretch of the game, where a banished Gilgamesh comes back to save the heroes and helps them in their quest to take on Exdeath before he can destroy the merged world. The popular theory is that this version of Gilgamesh traveled across multiple worlds, making appearances in numerous Final Fantasy games along the way.
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