10 Best Villains Who Only Appeared On PlayStation 3

Some villains are so memorable that it may come as a surprise to find out that they only appeared on one console. As one of the best-selling consoles of all time, the PlayStation 3 is still fondly remembered by fans, even two console generations later. Fittingly, many of the PlayStation 3’s most popular games have been ported to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but some have yet to receive this treatment, leaving many of the best PS3 exclusives (and their best villains) still only playable on the older hardware.

In the future, these games may receive ports of their own, but currently, the only way to see these great villains in action is on the PlayStation 3.

10 The Diviner – Lair

Metascore: 53

Although Lair received poor reviews upon its release and has become a mostly forgotten title, this 2007 fantasy epic’s main strengths were its world-building and mid-point twist. These strengths are perfectly embodied by the game’s primary antagonist, The Diviner. As the zealous leader of the Asylians, the Diviner’s hatred of the Mokai people initially aligns with the feelings of the player’s character.

As the story progresses, however, the player learns of the Diviner’s attempts to delay peace and maintain power through murder, lies, and subterfuge. Only through the Diviner’s defeat can the two tribes have a chance at reconciling their differences.

9 The Outlaw – Starhawk

Metascore: 77

The revelation that Starhawk’s big bad was the main character’s brother all along might not be that surprising, but the Outlaw (aka Logan Graves) still poses a major threat throughout the game.

Leading an army of ‘scabs’, former humans infected by Rift energy, the Outlaw is a force to be reckoned with, but his familial ties add another level of intrigue. In his final throes, the Outlaw is transformed into a Rift entity, the final boss of the game. Once the Outlaw is defeated, the player is left to wonder; did Logan die that day or was he killed long ago?

8 King Bahon – Heavenly Sword

Metascore: 79

Voiced by the ineffable Andy Serkis, King Bahon is a despotic ruler hell-bent on gaining the titular Heavenly Sword for himself. Although only appearing as an indirect antagonist throughout the game, the player does at last get to fight him in Chapter Six when the King takes on his final form as possessed by the Raven King.

Interestingly, Bahon is one of few villains who receives a redemptive arc when his life is spared, and he finally refers to his child, Roach, as his son. Bohan also features in the animated prequel series and the animated film, but for video game appearances, players can only find this villain on the PS3.

7 Tetsuo Nikaido – Yakuza: Dead Souls

Metascore: 64

As the leader of the Go-Ryu Clan, Tetsuo Nikaido is the main bad guy in Yakuza: Dead Souls, a non-canon game in the Yakuza series as it takes the story in a different direction with the introduction of the chemical, ‘Thanatos’, which turns people into zombies.

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Nikaido is a threatening presence throughout the game, killing Hiroshi Hayashi early on, simply for being rude and showing an apparent disregard for his own life. As is the fate of many video game villains, Nikaido transforms into a giant monster for his final boss fight.

6 Sgt. Morgan Duvall – Haze

Metascore: 55

Like the game he appears in, Duvall may be more notable for what he’s not rather than what he is. Dubbed, ‘The Halo Killer’ before launch, Haze failed to live up to expectations and was met with middling reviews upon release. Similarly, Duvall is initially on the side of the game’s protagonist, but once the player realizes the Mantel Corporation is evil, Duvall becomes the primary antagonist of the game.

Although a threat throughout the story, the player’s final image is of a pathetic, beaten man, enhancing Haze’s core theme of the impotence of war.

5 Moon Bear King – Puppeteer

Metascore: 80

Like many characters in Puppeteer, the Moon Bear King gets his name from a constellation, in this case ‘the Little Bear’, his original name. However, after stealing the Moon Goddess’s moonstone and magic scissors, he declares himself the Moon Bear King and spreads chaos across the world, including devouring the soul of Kutaro and setting the events of the game into motion.

Despite being evil, the Moon Bear King has a levity to his characterization, making him a unique and memorable villain from the PS3 era.

4 Scarecrow – Folklore

Metascore: 75

Appearing only in Folklore, Scarecrow has a unique arc, beginning initially as the player’s guide into the Netherworld but ending as the game’s final boss. This effectively captures the clash between his views on death and life.

As revealed at the end of the game, Scarecrow was created to make people value life more. Like wishing on a monkey-paw, the unwanted consequence is that Scarecrow spreads death throughout the world. Scarecrow absorbs all the malice and hate and takes on a frightening and challenging final form. This twist, coupled with his surprising origin, makes for a truly memorable villain.

3 Kessler – Infamous

Metascore: 85

Kessler is a remarkable villain, displaying all the ruthlessness and ambition players want to see in a ‘big bad’. As the leader of the First Sons and the very person who killed Cole’s girlfriend, it would appear that Kessler is irredeemable.

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Kessler’s enhanced electricity powers, however, hint at a secret connection to the player character, and it is eventually revealed that Kessler is in fact Cole from the future. Kessler traveled back to ensure that Cole stayed and fought the Beast rather than fleeing as Kessler did in his timeline.

Metascore: 94

Despite the Metal Gear series having a huge roster of characters, many of whom appear in multiple games, Screaming Mantis and the other members of the Beauty and Beast Unit, which Mantis leads, only feature in MGS4.

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All members are tributes to previous Metal Gear bosses and Screaming Mantis takes her name from Psycho Mantis but with an altered moniker as she is still haunted by the screams of the tortured villagers of her childhood. Screaming Mantis’ unique abilities include telekinesis, psychic abilities, and fourth-wall-breaking, making her a formidable boss.

1 Colonel Mael Radec – Killzone 2

Metascore: 91

Probably one of the most memorable villains in gaming, not just PS3 games. Colonel Radec is the secondary antagonist of Killzone 2, acting as bodyguard to Scolar Visari (who appears on other platforms), but Radec shines all on his own, becoming a memorable villain for fans of the series.

From his initial Arc Tower ambush at the beginning of the game to his relentless pursuit of the protagonist, Radec is unforgettable as an unstoppable villain so dedicated to his cause that he would rather die than lose to the ISA.

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