Not every villain in anime is a pure embodiment of evil. Many choose ruthless paths to pursue noble goals, while others are victims of tragedy or unjust societies. Because of this, many villains make viewers wonder: What if they had won?
Here are 10 anime villains who, from another perspective, might have deserved to achieve their goals more than fate allowed.
10. Pain (Naruto)
Pain was once Nagato, an orphaned boy who witnessed his homeland destroyed by endless conflict. He and Yahiko founded Akatsuki to protect the weak. After Yahiko’s death, Nagato believed only immense pain could make humanity understand the value of peace.
Though his methods were extreme, Pain truly wanted to dismantle the old ninja system and build a world without war. Later, even Naruto partially inherited this ideal.
9. Kyubey (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
Kyubey is a villain many love to hate but whose logic is hard to deny. This alien creature turns girls into Magical Girls, then harvests their despair to generate energy that prevents the universe from falling into heat death.
In other words, Kyubey sacrifices a few to save all life in the universe. This is a moral dilemma without a clear answer.
8. Scar (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Scar is a survivor of the Ishvalan genocide, where his family and people were slaughtered by the Amestris military. Fueled by hatred, he hunts down State Alchemists responsible for the tragedy.
Had Scar succeeded earlier, Father might never have had the chance to execute his world domination plan.
7. Gendo Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Few villains spark as much debate as Gendo Ikari. Through the Human Instrumentality Project, he aims to merge all humanity into a single consciousness, erasing pain, loneliness, and conflict.
This idea means losing individual identity, but in return, humanity would be free from war and suffering.
6. Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)
Makishima is a serial killer but also someone who sees the corruption of the Sibyl system. In Psycho-Pass’s world, people can be arrested or executed based on AI predictions of future crimes.
He wants to prove that a society handing all judgment to machines cannot be truly just. Though he fails, the issues he raises persist until the end.
5. L (Death Note)
It may seem odd to call L a villain, but from Light Yagami’s perspective, he is the greatest adversary. Unlike Light, who wants to build a new world through mass killings, L believes everyone deserves fair legal judgment.
If L had won sooner, many tragedies in Death Note might have been avoided.
4. Jessie and James (Pokémon)
Jessie and James are definitely not heroes, but they deserve at least one win. Throughout hundreds of episodes, Team Rocket’s duo constantly schemes to catch Pikachu but always fails.
Their persistence, humor, and charm make many fans wish they could succeed just once.
3. Stain (My Hero Academia)
Stain calls himself the “Hero Killer” and sees the hero society as rotten. He believes too many heroes chase fame, sponsorships, and popularity instead of truly helping others.
While his killings can’t be justified, Stain highlights problems My Hero Academia’s society must face, and his influence lasts long after his capture.
2. Squealer (From the New World)
In another story, Squealer might be seen as a hero. As a member of the oppressed Monster Rat race, he leads a rebellion to gain freedom for his people.
From humans’ viewpoint, he is a villain. But to his own kind, Squealer is a freedom fighter against enslavement.
1. Satan (Devilman Crybaby)
Few villains have a fate as tragic as Satan in Devilman Crybaby. As Ryo Asuka, he loves his friend Akira Fudo but ends up killing him in the war between humans and demons.
The pain is deeper because this is not the first time. The ending reveals God created an eternal loop, forcing Satan to witness the world’s destruction and repeat this tragedy endlessly as an unending punishment.