Summary
- Evil gods are common in open-world games, often posing as benevolent beings before revealing their true, malicious intentions.
- Deities like Bhunivelze in Lightning Returns and Ifrit in Final Fantasy 15 showcase the dangers of trusting powerful entities in these games.
- Games like Dredge, Gothic, and Elden Ring introduce evil gods responsible for chaos, bloodshed, and manipulation in their respective worlds.
The best open-world games make the most of their settings, detailing them as much as possible to appeal to the masses. In the case of role-playing games with dense fantasy settings, it's only a matter of time before divine beings enter the picture.
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These gods take on physical forms and can be imposing to interact with. In some cases, these gods end up being malicious beings or bosses that players must take out if they want to save the world from the destruction they want to inflict.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
Bhunivelze Turns Out To Be A Malicious Deity
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- November 21, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Players assume that Bhunivelze wants to save the world, giving Lightning the powers she needs to embark on this epic quest. Players are let loose into the open world of Lightning Returns, which is as riveting as they come.
However, near the end of Lightning's journey, it's revealed that Bhunivelze's plans are nowhere near as noble as they seem. This prompts Lightning to face off against this malicious god, saving humanity from his presence once and for all.
Dredge
The Deity Is Responsible For The Aberrations And Odd Happenings In The World
Dredge
- Released
- March 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Dredge is a fascinating video game with shades of Lovecraftian horror as players slowly but surely make progress in this tantalizing title. Near the end of the game, the reason behind the aberrations of the world is revealed.
Players get a glimpse of the Deity for the first time, with this godlike being responsible for all the chaos that affects Dredge's world. It's a mind-blowing reveal that recontextualizes the events of the game and makes Dredge one of the most fascinating horror games fans can enjoy.
Final Fantasy 15
Ifrit Is An Astral Who's Gone Mad And Must Be Stopped
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Noctis can prove his worth and enlist the help of several Astrals who aid him in his journey. However, there's one Astral who has gone mad and must be taken out before he burns down the world.
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The battle against Ifrit is something that's teased from the very start of the game. Players must push themselves to the very limit and take down this foe with Shiva and Bahamut's help, clearing a path for Noctis to fight Ardyn one final time.
Dwarf Fortress
Armok, God Of Blood, Craves Violence And Destroys The World If Things Become Too Peaceful
Dwarf Fortress
- Released
- August 8, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Strategy, Simulation
The lore surrounding Dwarf Fortress is surprisingly riveting and adds to the allure of the game. There's an in-universe deity called Armok, God of Blood, who loves creating conflict and erases the world if things are too peaceful.
If players want to look at his existence from a meta lens, then this god's actions can be compared to those of the player. After circumventing numerous threats and creating a thriving colony, players may get bored with the peace that ensues and start a new game, abandoning the old one in the process.
Gothic
Beliar Is This World's God Of Darkness Who Loves Causing Conflict
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Gothic is one of the greatest video games ever made, and more people need to check it out. The game's tantalizing lore reveals three deities that people worship, with Beliar being the most villainous one of the lot.
The fact that this deity is worshipped by the dreaded Orcs makes it clear that Beliar is a vengeful god who wants to lay waste to the world. His presence is what fuels most of the strife and bloodshed in Gothic.
The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Almalexia, A Supposedly Kind And Motherly God, Turns Out To Be The Hidden Antagonist Of The Bloodmoon Expansion
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Released
- May 1, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The gods of The Elder Scrolls are fascinating, with deities like Vivec and Sheogorath being some of the most iconic divine figures in gaming. Some of these gods can be pretty evil, with Almalexia being a notable example.
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Despite portraying herself as a mother to her people, this god turns out to be the hidden antagonist of Bloodmoon, an expansion for The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. She went mad after losing her power and was willing to commit unspeakable acts to regain her strength, putting her on a collision course against the Nerevarine, who just so happens to be the reincarnation of her husband.
Shadow Of The Colossus
Dormin Is An Evil Godlike Being Manipulating Wander To Help Free Him
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
At the start of Shadow of the Colossus, players have no idea that Wander is adhering to the instructions of an evil deity who was sealed by the sixteen colossi in this vast, empty landscape. By the time players realize the doomed quest they're on, it's too late.
Dormin is revived, but the people who chased Wander into this elaborate prison manage to seal this entity once again before his wrath can be unleashed on the world. Most people assume that Wander dies at the end, but Mono reveals that her love had reverted into a baby after the traumatic events he underwent to revive her.
Elden Ring
Some Of The Demigods In This Game Are Very Evil
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Almost every modern FromSoftware game features malicious gods who have gone mad or are just so evil that they will cut down anything in their way without any hesitation. Elden Ring is no exception here, with some of the game's demigods being downright horrible.
Rykard eats people and uses their corpses to forge his sword. Godrick is a coward who grafts the limbs of innocents onto his body. Mogh led the cult of the Formless Mother that conducted unspeakable acts. Miquella brainwashed and manipulated people to seek his vision of a perfect world. These characters make it clear that the gods in Elden Ring are far from noble.
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