10 anime villains who really should have won

Anime has countless unforgettable villains who challenge the heroes in ways that are both thrilling and often intense. Many of these antagonists are known for their cunning, ambition, and sheer power or knowledge that drive the narrative forward and keep the protagonist on their toes. They raise the stakes and add to the series’ complexity, leaving behind long-lasting impressions.

Some of these villains stand out beyond their role in the narrative, with many questioning how the heroes found a way to triumph over the villain's sheer power or meticulously crafted plots. Every so often, there comes a villain whom viewers can’t help but feel that they should have succeeded in their schemes.

Frieza (Dragon Ball)

Frieza is a major antagonist in Dragon Ball Z, known as the tyrannical emperor of the universe and infamous for his ruthless domination and cold-blooded cruelty. He commands armies, can effortlessly destroy planets, and instills fear across the galaxy, making him one of the most notorious characters in the franchise.

Frieza is also one of the most recurring antagonists in the series, appearing in several episodes of Dragon Ball Z and Super. While he’s lost to the heroes on several occasions, his power and cunning make him a formidable opponent and a near-perfect conqueror. Frieza is easily one of the most powerful villains and is capable of achieving mass destruction.

With every opportunity he’s been given and the power he has achieved, it feels somewhat shocking that Frieza hasn’t won a single battle against the heroes. While in the manga he manages to take down Goku and Vegeta in a single blow, it was after they were winded from battle and not a true confrontation.

Tetta Kisaki (Tokyo Revengers)

Tetta Kisaki is the manipulative mastermind behind much of the chaos in Tokyo Revengers. He mainly operates from the shadows, orchestrating conflicts, manipulating both allies and enemies alike, and is the driving force behind many of the series’ darkest events, both in the past and in the future.

His schemes constantly unravel Takemichi’s persistence to fix the past in order to save the future. Kisaki is able to take control of events in ways that create long-lasting consequences without the same knowledge that Takemichi has, making his feats, while reprehensible, impressive, and proving his level of intellect and tactical foresight.

Ryomen Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Ryomen Sukuna, also known as the King of Curses, is a malevolent force feared across the jujutsu world in Jujutsu Kaisen. Even bound within Yuji Itadori, his power is immense and catastrophic. Paired with his ruthless nature and strategic cunning, Sukuna is one of the most dangerous villains in modern anime.

Yet, despite his overwhelming might, his full potential is never realized, preventing him from acting without restriction. However, in spite of this, his power, even while confined within Yuji’s body, proves to be immense and capable of taking down powerful sorcerers, suggesting that he could have reshaped the jujutsu world entirely.

All For One (My Hero Academia)

All For One is the overarching antagonist in My Hero Academia, wielding a terrifying quirk that allows him to steal and bestow powers at will. As the ultimate villain and mastermind behind decades of conflict, he stands out as a dark, looming presence over the series, especially after his battle with All Might in Kamino.

Despite his OP quirk and commanding an army of villains, his plans unravel in the final chapters. All For One’s mastery of manipulation, strategy, and combat could have cemented his control and allowed him to reshape society on a larger scale. With his vast network and impressive quirk, it feels as though All For One’s fullest potential was never truly realized.

Isabella (The Promised Neverland)

Isabella is the Mama of Grace Field House in The Promised Neverland. She is a calculating and resourceful antagonist whose role is pivotal in the series for maintaining control over the children and raising them until they’re ready to become food for demons; however, this truth is uncovered by Emma, Ray, and Norman.

Despite Isabella's resources and intelligence, the children successfully plot an escape and leave Grace Field. She accepts their departure and stands out as a tragic and sympathetic antagonist, yet the story almost makes it seem as though she wasn’t used to her fullest potential.

Isabella had more experience, knowledge, and the capability to stop the children before events spiraled beyond her control. Her defeat may have been handled with grace, yet it felt preventable as well, due to the fact that she had demonic backing and knew that the children were plotting to escape.

Madara Uchiha (Naruto)

Madara Uchiha stands out as one of the most legendary figures in Naruto as a shinobi whose power reshaped history itself. As a co-founder of Konoha and a wielder of the Sharingan and Rinnegan, Madara had overwhelming power and presence within the story. His eventual defeat comes about by betrayal after activating the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

If not for Black Zetsu’s betrayal, Madara would have triumphed. He had the upper hand and was immensely powerful, yet due to oversight and his own hubris, he became sidelined at the peak of his power to make way for Kaguya Otsutsuki. His ideology, power, and near-victory felt practically assured until the final moments.

Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)

Shogo Makishima is a highly intelligent and charismatic antagonist in Psycho-Pass who operates outside of the Sybil System. He challenges societal norms and exposes the flaws in their seemingly utopian world by demonstrating their inability to judge true evil and prevent crimes before they occur. Makishima proves that technology could never truly protect society in the way it attempts to.

While he is eventually defeated, his brilliance and cunning plots make him stand out as a skillful and formidable villain. With his vision, intelligence, and sheer audacity, Makishima should have been able to dismantle the Sybil System and achieve some sort of widespread, lasting influence.

Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)

Meruem, the Chimera Ant King in Hunter x Hunter, is an overwhelmingly powerful antagonist. He was born with extraordinary strength, intellect, and combat skills that allowed him to command both fear and loyalty. With his near-immortality and unparalleled abilities, he stands out as one of anime’s most fearsome villains.

His unmatched power, intelligence, and capacity for growth suggest that he had every advantage; however, after radiation poisoning from the Miniature Rose, he slowly met his end. While his victory would have resulted in worldwide catastrophe, everything about his character and innate strength makes him out to be a truly dominating force that was capable of so much more.

Father (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Father is the central antagonist of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He’s a godlike being whose ambitions span decades, crafting a plot to achieve ultimate power by absorbing the Truth and sacrificing the entire nation to do so. Father had orchestrated countless wars, massacres, and sacrifices to achieve his own ends.

His defeat comes at the combined efforts of the State Alchemists, the Elrics, and Greed, who played a crucial role in his destruction. Despite Father’s vast knowledge, years of preparation, creation of homunculi, and seemingly invincible power, his overconfidence and underestimation of humanity's resolve led to his downfall.

Light Yagami (Death Note)

Light Yagami is the protagonist and villain of Death Note, who wields a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written within it. He aims to rid the world of criminals; however, this crusade captures the attention of world-renowned detective L, sparking an intense, high-stakes cat-and-mouse game that will determine their fate.

Light eventually faces his downfall at the hands of Near, L’s successor, despite outsmarting every other opponent who has crossed his path. Light’s intelligence, strategy, and underhanded defeat of L proved his capabilities and how far he was willing to go, yet it was his overconfidence and underestimation of Near that led to his defeat, which, while technically fitting, felt unsatisfying.