10 Video Game Villain Plans That Make ZERO Sense
The Enclave
Fallout 3 (2008)
In Fallout 3, the Enclave's master plan involves "purifying" the Capital Wasteland by releasing a modified FEV virus through Project Purity. Their logic? Kill everyone who is mutated which is nearly everyone, leaving practically no one left to rule. Making matters worse, their internal drama between Colonel Autumn and President Eden further sabotages their goals. The Enclave's confused ambition shows they're less a government-in-exile and more a Saturday morning cartoon villain club, whose plan essentially boils down to destroying humanity to save it. You can't rebuild civilization if you've conveniently exterminated its entire population first.
Abby
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
Revenge can blind anyone, and Abby's mission against Joel in The Last of Us Part II is no exception. Initially justified by the killing of her father, Abby's brutal murder of Joel triggers endless violence. Yet later, despite numerous opportunities, she inexplicably spares Ellie, who clearly wants her dead. Abby's inconsistent mercy leads to further tragedy and chaos. Her entire revenge mission spirals into pointless bloodshed, proving that revenge narratives often make villains out of everyone. Abby embodies the confusion of someone who thought killing Joel would fix everything, only to realize too late that revenge is just like trying to extinguish a fire with gasoline.
Wheatley
Portal 2 (2011)
Portal 2s lovable moron sphere becomes an unstable mess after seizing control of Aperture Science. Initially intending to improve things, Wheatley quickly spirals into incompetence, nearly blowing up the facility. His plan to outperform GLaDOS collapses hilariously, highlighting how dangerous unchecked stupidity can be. You almost kind of feel bad for the guy with how out of control things get once hes in power until his multiple attempts to take your life. Wheatley's inability to grasp even basic consequences makes his villainy feel less sinister and more like a comedic sketch gone wrong, demonstrating clearly why intelligence-dampening spheres should never be allowed near control rooms.
Vaas Montenegro
Far Cry 3 (2012)
In Far Cry 3, chaos has a face, and that face belongs to Vaas Montenegro. Thriving on chaos without any coherent end goal, Vaas repeatedly kidnaps and releases Jason Brody, actions that serve no strategic purpose besides showcasing his warped view of insanity. His random acts violence and cryptic rants suggest he's more interested in philosophical speeches than actual criminal enterprise. Ultimately, his lack of coherent planning makes him utterly terrifying yet totally ineffective, turning a potentially feared villain into just another unstable pirate who enjoys self-sabotaging his own grand plans.
Liquid Snake
Metal Gear Solid (1998)
The entire plot of Metal Gear Solid centers around the bizarre insecurities of the antagonist, Liquid Snake. A man obsessed with proving he inherited "inferior" genes compared to Solid Snake, despite both being identical clones, his elaborate scheme to trigger global war via Metal Gear REX paradoxically involves repeatedly trying to kill Snake before he can even fulfill his role. Liquid's insecurity-driven plot is more self-defeating than strategic, showing that irrational hatred combined with flawed genetic theory is probably not the best foundation for world domination or anything else, for that matter.
Dr. Eggman
Sonic Adventure (1998)
Imagine giving steroids to an angry gorilla, hoping it'll calmly sit through tea-time afterward that's basically Dr. Eggman's strategy in Sonic Adventure. Releasing Chaos, whos an uncontrollable monster, Eggman believes he can harness its power to rule the world. Predictably, Chaos quickly spirals out of control, nearly destroying everything. Eggmans brilliant idea to continuously feed Chaos more chaos emeralds until it becomes unstoppable highlights his constant short-sightedness. Repeatedly trusting chaotic entities to play along nicely showcases Eggman as a villain whose scientific genius is continually undercut by plans so absurd they might as well be drawn in crayon.
Zinyak
Saints Row IV (2013)
The Illusive Man
Mass Effect 3 (2012)
Attempting to control entities known explicitly for brainwashing and destruction is fundamentally flawed, yet this is exactly what the Illusive Man tries in Mass Effect 3. Believing he alone can harness the Reapers' immense power, he willingly subjects himself to indoctrination. I think we all know just how well this plan turned out. Predictably, he becomes a Reaper puppet, sabotaging humanitys chance of survival rather than securing it. His delusional belief in his superiority blinds him to basic logic, transforming him from shadowy mastermind into a tragic cautionary tale about ego and hubris.
Albert Wesker
Resident Evil 5 (2009)
In Resident Evil 5, Albert Wesker envisions a new world shaped by his twisted idea of forced evolution. Convinced that only the strongest should survive, he plans to unleash the Uroboros virus globally, expecting it to purge the weak and leave behind a superior breed. What he fails to consider is that the virus is far more lethal than selective. It kills nearly everyone and mutates survivors into monstrous abominations. Weskers logic is fatally flawed, highlighting the depths of his god complex. Rather than guiding humanitys next step, hes really just clearing the board for a lonely kingdom of mutants.
Handsome Jack
Borderlands 2 (2012)
Handsome Jack sees himself as the savior of Pandora, a misunderstood genius destined to bring order to a chaotic world. Unfortunately, his version of order includes mass murder, brutal dictatorship, and using his own daughter Angel as a glorified power source. Jack talks like a hero, but acts like a Saturday morning cartoon villain with better PR. His plan to open the Vault and unleash a warrior he thinks he can control is built on arrogance and blind spots. The more he tries to save the planet, the more he tears it apart, proving the biggest threat to Pandora is Jack himself.
Which one of these nonsensical villain plans left you scratching your head in confusion? Let us know in the comments!