Witches and wizards are always a fun inclusion in video games. There’s something about casting spells and manipulating the world with magic that adds an extra level of creativity and excitement to gameplay. There’s a wide variety of witches and wizards, with some of them being cooler or more interesting than others. Let’s see how some of the best stack up against each other.

12) The Eggplant Wizard (Kid Icarus)

The Eggplant Wizard is a goofy guy who transforms people into eggplants. He’s both a silly comic relief and an absolute menace. He was so impactful that he served a major role in the Captain N: The Game Master animated series. That being said, he’s especially annoying to deal with in-game, and is ultimately more of a really tough enemy rather than a named character.

11) Yen Sid (Kingdom Hearts)

Yen Sid, who was originally created for Disney’s Fantasia, fits the classic idea of what a wizard actually is. He’s an especially powerful wizard who essentially leads and mentors the main team of heroes in the Kingdom Hearts series. Legend has it that he was one of the most powerful sorcerers and Keyblade wielders of all time. That being said, we don’t actually see him use a whole lot of magic, outside of using a protection spell on his tower, giving Sora magical clothes, and watching certain events from afar.

10) Ripto (Spyro the Dragon)

Despite being introduced in the second Spyro the Dragon game, Ripto is often seen as the primary antagonist of the series and Spyro’s archnemesis. He’s an evil dinosaur who wants to use his magical scepter to take over the realm and enslave the dragons. He’s even been fun to play as in games like Crash Team Rumble. That being said, he mostly just has a complex about his height and seems super mad at the world because he’s so short. Ripto is an entertaining villain, but doesn’t always feel like a huge threat.

9) Catalyst (Apex Legends)

Catalyst is probably the most unique witch on this list in that she technically doesn’t use magic. Instead, she uses tech disguised as magic. She uses ferrofluid to terraform the world around her, like by creating spike traps, sealing doors, and “Dark Veils” to blind her foes. She has an incredible backstory involving saving the deteriorating moon of her home planet from an evil corporation. The character is also an excellent example representation for trans women in video games. She may enjoy moon rituals and crystal readings, but she doesn’t cast actual spells, which is the main reason she isn’t higher on this list filled with actual magic-users.

8) Yennefer (The Witcher)

Yennefer of Vengerberg is a powerful sorceress in The Witcher games (obviously originating in the books). There are quite a few magic-users in this world, and Yen is easily one of the most powerful. She pulls from Chaos itself to use her magic, and some fans have even said she’s their favorite part of The Witcher 3. She and Geralt’s romance is one of the best in gaming. She is, however, unfortunately absent from the first two games for the most part, and she does take a bit of a back seat to Geralt and other characters at times.

7) Magnus Rasmodius (Stardew Valley)

Magnus Rasmodius, or simply just “The Wizard,” is one of the more compelling townsfolk in Stardew Valley. You can speak with him and bond with him over time like the other characters in the game, but the Wizard manages to stand out from the rest. He’s more knowledgeable of the monsters and magical creatures that lurk near Stardew Valley than others, and uses his magic to ensure the safety of everyone. He’s mysterious and lives in a tower just outside of the town, adding a sense of intrigue. He’s one of the more helpful NPCs for the player figuring things out and for worldbuilding, making him a memorable character.

6) Gruntilda (Banjo-Kazooie)

Gruntilda fits the traditional Halloween, “Wicked Witch” look with her brimmed hat, crooked nose, black dress, and green skin. She’s also one of the few on this list who rides a broom. She’s the main antagonist of Banjo-Kazooie, proving herself to be a threat with her devilish spells. She’s able to drain beaty from Tootie to make herself beautiful, drain the life of others to resurrect herself, and even mess with the timestream. She’s also surprisingly great with machinery and rhymes in all of her dialogue. She’s overall a fun antagonist.

5) Bianca (Spyro the Dragon)

Bianca is a sorceress in training who specializes in transformation magic. Despite only being a student of magic, she has shown that she can be quite powerful. She plays a major role in the series and even serves as Hunter’s love interest. What makes her especially interesting as a character is that she renounces her evil ways of working for the third game’s big bad and decides to help the heroes out, giving her a fantastic development arc. Her sarcastic quips make her dialogue rather entertaining.

4) Vivi (Final Fantasy IX)

Final Fantasy IX’s Vivi Ornitier is an adorable little fella. He’s also a powerful black mage who employs fire, ice, lightning, and other elements into his magic. He’s become one of the most popular characters in RPGs due to his fantastic design, tragic backstory, and powerful character growth over the course of the game’s story. He’s also made appearances in other games like Kingdom Hearts II. Some have even gone on to say that Vivi is such a loveable character that he should be used as one of the main mascots of the franchise.

3) Ashley (WarioWare)

The WarioWare games have an especially diverse cast that includes the likes of an alien, a robot, a disco enthusiast, and of course, a witch. Ashley is a young witch who lives in a haunted mansion with her imp friend. As she is still young, she regularly makes mistakes, which makes her a rather relatable character. Not only does she stand out from the rest of the WarioWare cast, but she stands out from just about every other Nintendo-created character by being a more serious, gothic character who isn’t a villain. She feels unique in a world full of colorful, chipper characters. Ashley also has a theme song that’s an absolute banger.

2) Kamek (Super Mario Bros.)

Kamek is a major part of the Super Mario Bros. universe and is Bowser’s right-hand man. He’s the most powerful of the Magikoopas and has been a thorn in the sides of Mario and his allies for a long time. He’s essentially the primary antagonist of Yoshi’s Island, transforming common enemies into monstrous boss fights. As a Magikoopa, he’s able to use his wand to transform the environment around him, making anything around you a threat. He also raised Bowser, leading him to live his evil ways. This could also possibly mean that Kamek is even more diabolical than the King of the Koopas.

1) Bayonetta (Bayonetta)

Bayonetta, star of the game series of the same name, is a powerful Umbra Witch and an intriguing character overall. She can manipulate time and reality, as well as kick butt with her fighting and shooting skills. Discovering more about her past makes her story rather interesting. She’s confident, witty, and clever, further making her a badass video game protagonist. Plus, her overall design is just plain awesome. She’s a witch who is the main playable character in several games and is even playable in Super Smash Bros. Bayonetta is easily the coolest witch in gaming.

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