Top 10 Mad Scientists in Video Games

Many things about our first pick is unknown. Questions like “Why did he lose his medical license?” or “Why is he chopping up those corpses?” are never explained. What we do know about Dr. Zed is that he is responsible for maintaining the medical vendors that are scattered all around Pandora. He even has a brother, named Dr. Ned who is ‘totally not Dr. Zed in disguise’, whom you must work with to stop a zombie outbreak, which he started.

Dr. Nefarious was bullied in High School by the bumbling superhero Captain Qwark. After they graduated Nefarious created a plan to end all life, but when Qwark catches up with him, he decides to give him a wedgie for old times sake. Trying to avoid this he fell into machinery and was turned into a robot. Since then he has been trying to end all organic life so he can rule over the machine race. This has led him to trying to turn everyone else into machines or destroy space and time – think about that next time you give someone a wedgie.

After following your father to Vault 112 to help him locate a water purification device, you are brought into Tranquility Lane, a simulation created by Dr, Braun. In this simulation, Braun takes on the form of a little girl named Betty and uses you to cause havoc in the virtual town for his amusement. It starts off harmless enough with you making a kid cry, but soon you’re destroying marriages and killing people, slasher movie style complete with creepy mask and a knife. Things aren’t so tranquil anymore.

Cortex is another mad scientist who wants to take over the world because he was ridiculed in school. Much like a scientists who shows up later on this list, he wants to take over the world using animals, only he mutates them to use for his army. When the titular Crash Bandicoot didn’t live up to his standards he tried to get rid of him, but since then has become his nemesis. Despite his incompetence Cortex does have powerful allies in the form of his fellow scientists.

Dr. Loboto’s policy is that bad brains are like bad teeth, they need to be removed. Dressed in a shower cap and armed with a prosthetic arm, his goal is to capture all the campers of Whispering Rock and use their brains to power his death tanks. His weapon of choice special powder that makes his victims sneeze out their brains. Also helping his evil plan his assistant Sheegor, who he blackmails with threats of cooking her beloved pet turtle. Turtle soup anyone.

A top researcher for the Umbrella corporation, Dr. Birkin discovered and worked on the G-Virus. After betraying Umbrella Birkin was gunned down and his research was taken. In his last breath Birkin injected himself with the G-Virus turning him into a hideous creature. He then hunted down and killed most of the team that shot him and during the struggle vials of the T-Virus smashed, infecting a couple of rats which triggered the Raccoon City outbreak. Birkin’s destructive reign was eventually halted by Leon and Claire, but at least he got to go all monster on everyone before he was done.

This is the man who created one of the most iconic video game villains. However, he is also Sephiroths birth father. He injected his son with Jenova cells hoping that he could become a mystical being which would be able to open a doorway to a fabled promised land. Ah the hopes we put on our kids. Hojo has also appeared in most of the other Final Fantasy VII games in antagonistic roles due to his research for the Shinra corporation. He’s also experimented on characters like Red XIII and created the SOLDIER program, quite and impressive resume.

Next on our list is the syringe throwing psychotic doctor who created Hitlers mutant army. When the hero William “BJ” Blazkowicz' confronts Dr. Schabbs in Castle Hollehammer he is greeted with a creepy laugh. Schabbs then runs out and starts throwing syringes at you, syringes filled with a chemical that can turn you into an undead mutant. When taking on this Nazi doctor, experienced players know that it’s best to find that secret ammo room beforehand in order to even the odds.

As his name implies this mad scientist is shaped like an egg, and is one of the most psychotic antagonists in gaming. To combat his nemesis, Sonic, he constructs robots and ships which are powered by fluffy woodland creatures. With an IQ of 300 he is super intelligent, but often overlooks tiny details that allows his enemies to take advantage of him. His ultimate goal is to take over the entire world and create an egg-based utopia, The Eggman Empire or any of the other names he comes up with depending on which game you’re playing.

Before we lock up our number one pick in a straight jacket, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions.

Andross
“Star Fox” series (1993-)

Professor Monkey-for-a-Head
“Earthworm Jim” (1992)

Dr. Cid
“Final Fantasy XII” (2006)

Taking our top spot is the mad scientist who has been tormenting the world longer than any of the others on our list. Rival of Dr. Light (the creator of MegaMan), Wily is responsible for taking robots meant to help humanity and reprogramming them as his Robot Masters to help him take over the world. Dr. Wily’s exploits make him so infamous that even hundreds of years in the future he is considered a legendary mad scientist. What’s more, even after death Wily still managed to influence the events of the X series.
Do you agree with our list? Which video game mad scientists have you wanting to perform controversial experiments? For more insane top 10’s published everyday be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com