Summary
It is common for enemies in RPGs to be adults, it is expected that even if the heroes being controlled by the player are on the younger side, the villains facing off against them will usually be older. However, this isn’t always the case, and there are several times when child villains have terrorized players even more than the adult ones manage.
Child villains are nothing new, and there is something particularly menacing about a child with power and evil in their heart, something that makes them far less predictable, and less manageable. It also feels stranger to end up fighting against a child, but it has to be done, particularly againstsome of these especially evil ones.
6Betty (Fallout 3)
One of the strange things about the child Betty inFallout 3is that she doesn’t exist. Betty is only a creation inside the Tranquility Lane Simulation, created by Stanislaus Braun. While Braun is the real villain in this situation, he works through the appearance of Betty while players are trapped in the simulation, making her a memorable villain despite not existing.
Fallouthas a strange history with simulations, with one providing one of the most boring missions in the franchise’s history. But theTranquility Lane Simulation was a much better oneand provided players with the memorable horror of Braun’s terrifying voice taking over from Betty’s innocent, child-like one at a certain point.
5Little Sisters (BioShock)
BioShockis hardly an RPG franchise, but the first game has enough role-playing elements to it that players feel like it borders on becoming one. There is so much customization and upgrading that it fits the role of an RPG, and the Little Sisters are one of the more memorable childlike villains in gaming history, even ifplayers should spare them.
Despite not being strictly evil, the Little Sisters are a constant presence inBioShockas players try to save them from their fate. While players can save the sisters, they can also choose to kill them, absorbing their strength completely. The level to which the Little Sisters are villainous toward the player depends on the player’s own choices, though in general, they run around shoving needles into corpses, which doesn’t make them seem all that friendly.
4Vaati (The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap)
Vaati is a villain who appears at various points throughout theLegend of Zeldafranchise. While he is normally presented in a more monstrous form, he is shown in humanoid and Minish forms throughoutThe Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
Vaati appears young, even more so in Minish form, and players have to tackle him several times throughoutThe Minish Cap. While he is young in appearance, he is no ordinary child, and players should beware of his sorcery as they attempt to continue on their adventure. Vaati’s lust for power turned him into something completely different from the young child that seemed to be a simple, happy apprentice. Fans still hope to see more of Vaati ina potentialMinish Capremake someday.
3Tiny Tina (Borderlands 2)
It is difficult to call Tiny Tina an outright villain in theBorderlandsfranchise, it is much safer to refer to her as completely unstable and constantly in danger of doing more harm than good. Tina was first introduced inBorderlands 2and has become a mainstay NPC of the franchise from that point onwards.
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Tina was first introduced as a crazed thirteen-year-old who had been sold into slavery alongside her parents. After escaping and vowing revenge on those who enslaved her, Tina helps the Vault Hunters to take out a Hyperion supply train. Since that first appearance, Tina went on to receive a starring role inTiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon KeepandTiny Tina’s Wonderlands,which may yet get a sequel. She has gone on to become one of the most notable figures in theBorderlandsfranchise history.
2Vivian (Paper Mario)
Vivian is a fascinating character, one who was revealed inPaper Marioto be transgender, prompting her to become an LGBTQ+ community icon in short order. An early example of a wonderfully interesting transgender character in gaming, Vivian only starts as a villain and opponent against Mario, she later joins his party and adventures alongside him in his quest.
Paper Mariois a much beloved 2D RPG take on the Mario franchise, and Vivian was one of the most notable of theoriginal characters introduced in the game. When first seen, Vivian is one of the Shadow Sirens, alongside her two sisters. This group attempts to halt Mario’s progress, but Vivian becomes much more friendly towards the plumber after discovering his kindness, and noticing how much it contrasts with how her sisters treat her.
1Skull Kid (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)
AnotherLegend of Zeldacharacter that appears in various roles and forms, Skull Kid was a somewhat mischievous but certainly not villainous character who later puts on Majora’s Mask and becomes possessed by it, turning into one of the more dangerous villains the franchise has ever seen.
Skull Kid is a youngster with a cheeky personality, but he certainly wouldn’t want to bring the moon crashing down upon his homeland. Fortunately, Link manages to gather the four giants to stop this from happening. Nevertheless, outside Ganon, Skull Kid and his tenure wearing Majora’s Mask makes for one of the more memorable villains in the franchise andan iconic character who fans still love.
