Myths, legends, religions, and various creeds and ideologies are often used as source material for some of the most wondrous fantasy titles in gaming. After all, Kratos wouldn’t have a killer legacy if it weren’t for the Greek and Norse mythologies.
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Often, demons make highly qualified and deliciously sinister enemies. And typically, where there are demons, their counterparts from heaven above aren’t far behind. Angels have long been a part of gaming as protagonists, allies, and even deadly foes. In fact, angelic characters are among some of the most memorable. We expect a demon to be evil. But sometimes, it’s much more difficult predicting what may come from a heavenly, winged warrior.
8Abaddon - Darksiders Series
This wayward Hellguard angel is responsible for the end of humanity. That’s right. Abaddon triggered the apocalypse prematurely and was fully intent on dominating the legions of hell and heaven. In effect, he became The Destroyer. He was once a loyal warrior who held a bitter disdain for all things demonic.
Everything changed after he fell and became corrupted by the demon Lilith. The horseman, War, is forced to into battle with The Destroyer ultimately killing him. Still, Abaddon’s actions reverberate throughout the entirety of theDarksidersseries, making him one of the most formidable angels in gaming history.
7Tyrael - Diablo Series
If you’re a fan of theDiabloseries, you’re keenly aware of Tyrael, a once powerful Archangel who is now a mortal. In Diablo lore, however, he was a mighty warrior who fought in the Eternal Conflict — you know, your standard war between Heaven and Hell. Following the war, his exploits confrontingthe most sinister denizens of the Diablo worldare legendary.
He would later become mortal by his own hand. He removed his wings seeking to bridge his angelic race with humanity and find some semblance of unity. Tyrael is unmistakably one of the most notable characters in the Diablo series.
6Rodin - Bayonetta Series
If you’ve played any of theBayonettagames,you won’t soon forget Rodin. It’s easy to think of him as a demon, as he is rather carefree and always wears sunglasses to hide his piercing red eyes. By definition, he is a fallen angel. Now, he is an arms dealer who proves to be a useful ally to Bayonetta throughout her adventures.
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Of course, you can fight Rodin if you so choose. And he certainly holds nothing back, even transforming into his angelic form in the process.
5Samael - Painkiller
Developer People Can Fly brought us this first-person-shooting gem in 2004. With inspiration from fast-paced shooters likeDoomandQuake, Painkiller features a recently departed man who is given a chance to escape purgatory and go to heaven if he eliminates Lucifer’s top leadership.
This offer comes by way of Samael, an angel. In the initial game, Samael is seemingly a “good guy” for all intents and purposes. In a future expansion, however, he shows his true colors as an angel whose lust for power knows no bounds. At that point, you will have to confront him in a flashy duel to the death.
4Angel - Tekken Series
Don’t underestimate this competent fighter. Angel is as ruthless as they come. She first appears inTekken 2as the counterpart of Devil. On-the-nose aliases aside, Angel and Devil naturally represent lightness and darkness. Not much is known about Angel as she’s only appeared in the series a few times.
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One thing is for certain, however. She lives up to her name. Angel has been depicted helping others and doing all that she can to vanquish evil.
3Pit - Kid Icarus
Pit hails from theNESclassic Kid Icarus, a game featuring the angel Pit on his quest to save Angel Land. To do so, he must confront the nefarious Medusa of Greek legend. While the series is littered with Greek mythology, make no mistake that Pit is, in fact, an angel who serves the Goddess of Light, Lady Palutena.
Pit dons ancient Greek-style garb with majestic white wings that clearly signify his angelic origins. Kid Icarus may be a bit old for newer generations, but we can all enjoy the character inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateas a highly capable fighter.
2Angelus - The Darkness 2
The Darkness duology of games that launched in the era of the PS3 and Xbox 360 are highly underrated. They are first-person shooter games based on the comics of the same name, where you control Jackie Estacado, a young mafioso who has just been infused with a hereditary demonic curse known as The Darkness. Naturally, he butts heads with this demon and its power to stay in control of his body. But, of course, the demon’s power comes in handy.
A post-credits scene set the stage for the future of the series if it ever comes to fruition. Jackie’s late girlfriend, Jenny, becomes the host for Angelus, an angel who enforces light. Therefore, The Darkness naturally becomes her enemy.
1Khan Maykr - Doom Eternal
While the Makyrs are a race of extra-dimensional beings inDoom Eternal, they are positioned as the arbiters of light and the seemingly “angelic” force in the universe. In appearance, they’re cloaked in white and gold armor, and the Maykr race was created by an ancient deity known simply as The Father.
Khan Maykr fancies herself the ultimate ruler over her kind and is an Archangel. In the Doom world, Argent energy comes from the souls of the dead. Khan Maykr plotted the destruction of Earth by unleashing Hell despite the demons traditionally being enemies to the Maykrs. She hoped to replenish the supply of Argent energy using the souls of humankind, making her much worse than any demon.
