The 90s was definitely a good time for video games, and it was a great time for Nintendo. Just in that decade, Nintendo came out with 78 video games, and many of these games made history. It’s amazing that this company released that many games in only 10 years.

I think my favorite Nintendo game from this decade would be The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This game was the first Zelda game in 3D and it really delivered, showing us what was possible in gaming. It’s thanks to this game that we got later games like Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild.

And what’s awesome about the games in this decade are the amazing characters that came out of them. From the iconic to the obscure, Nintendo has a wide variety of heroes in their games. It’s really thanks to these heroic characters that a lot of Nintendo’s games have gotten as popular as they have.

But what of some of Nintendo’s heroes were not so heroic? What it would they be like if they were actually the villains of the game? Would they look different? How would things change? Well that’s what some artists decided to find out. There’s a lot of interesting fanart dedicated to explore the darker side of Nintendo’s heroes.

So here are 20 Nintendo characters from the 90s that have been reimagined as villains. Let’s get in touch with our inner darkness!

Think we missed some great fanart? Make sure to let us know in the comments section below!

20 It’s A Shadow Mario!

Via: raygirl12.deviantart.com

Mario is a pretty iconic hero in Nintendo. Who doesn’t know about this brave plumber’s adventures to save the princess from the clutches of the villainous Bowser? He may not look like much, but Mario is brave and determined to help save his kingdom.

A villainous Mario is a spooky concept, but there have been theories where Mario is actually the bad guy. And this art piece captures him in a pretty dark look. I like the use of grey tones since they make the red in his eyes pop out even more. He looks pretty good for a villainous guy. Don’t mess with this shadow plumber!

Art by Raygirl12.

19 He’s A Demon Street Fighter

Via: game-art-hq.com (Grapiqkad)

Ryu is a popular character in Street Fighter, and for a good reason. He’s got some great moves and his story is pretty interesting. In general, while he can be reckless, Ryu is a good guy who’s just out to stop villainy.

But what happens if Ryu goes to the dark side? According to this artist, you’d better run. This basically looks like a demonic version of Ryu and he looks both spooky and awesome. I definitely wouldn’t want to run into him on a dark night, or ever. He looks like he can destroy the entire world with just one blow.

18 He’s Not So Timid Anymore

Via: emeraldwolfs12.deviantart.com

Luigi may not be as well-known as his brother, but he’s still a pretty awesome guy. Though Luigi seems like the guy that gets dragged on his adventures. He does tend to get scared more easily than Mario, but that doesn’t stop him from doing his best to fight bad guys. That’s pretty admirable.

A villainous Luigi is kind of scary. 

It’s kind of hard to imagine Luigi as a villain since he’s generally a pretty nice guy. But this artist came up with a pretty creepy version of a dark Luigi. And he looks awesome! I think the glowing eyes are a nice touch and they really stand out from the darkness in this piece. This is a Luigi I definitely wouldn’t want to fight.

Art by EmeraldWolfs12.

17 The Princess Of Darkness

Via: clamyart.deviantart.com

Fans tend to either love Peach or hate her. Some see her as the annoying damsel in distress, while others think she’s a pretty awesome princess who packs a punch (especially in Super Smash Bros.) No matter what, she is a constant in most Super Mario Bros. games, and it’s usually up to Mario and Luigi to help her out.

It would be interesting to see what a bad Princess Peach would be like. Maybe the Mushroom Kingdom isn’t as nice of a place as we think. Maybe Bower’s actually trying to stop a greater threat. Well, this artist did create an amazing villainous Peach. She proves that you can be intense and still look amazing!

Art by ClamyArt.

16 The Cosmos Is Doomed

Via: daniel-link.deviantart.com

Rosalina is a fairly recent addition to the Super Mario Bros. cast, since she first shows up in Super Mario Galaxy. While she isn’t from the 90s, she’s still pretty cool, so we’ll count her. She’s also a very powerful being, and she watches over the entire cosmos. This is one lady you really don’t want to mess with. While she is very kind, she will take you down in a second.

A villainous Rosalina would probably doom us all. This artist decided to go the vampire route and make Rosaline a vampire. While this doesn’t strictly make her a villain, she does look very creepy. I definitely wouldn’t want to go up against a vampire Rosalina. Let’s just hope she doesn’t go dark on us any time soon.

Art by Daniel-Link.

15 That Is One Spooky Princess

Via: twilit-arawen.deviantart.com

While Daisy isn’t as well-known as Peach, she does seem to be a bit more likable to fans. Daisy is a bit of a tomboy so she is rather different from the ladylike Princess Peach. And I think people like that Daisy is a love interest for Luigi. (The two are pretty cute together).

Daisy with a mallet is a dangerous combination. 

A mean Daisy would be just as intimidating as a mean Peach (maybe even more). And this art piece of Daisy is pretty crazy. Imagine the damage Daisy could do with that mallet. (The fact that she can even lift that mallet is impressive.) I can imagine crazy Daisy being pretty violent. This is one princess you really don’t want to cross.

Art by Twilit-Arawen.

14 It’s A Pink Puffball Of Doom

Via: sonicsmash328.deviantart.com

It’s safe to say that Kirby is probably one of the cutest characters in the Nintendo verse. It’s hard to remember that this little guy has taken on some pretty impressive enemies. And the fact that he can swallow up enemies and weapons and take on their characteristics is both amazing and spooky.

It’s hard to imagine cute pink puffball Kirby as a villain, but this artist did manage to create a pretty cool dastardly Kirby. This Kirby seems a bit more demonic, which is an interesting look. I’ve never been more intimidated by the color pink in my life. Let’s stay on his good side.

Art by SonicSmash328.

13 That Is One Crazy Dinosaur

Via: marivin.deviantart.com

Who doesn’t love Yoshi? Though the fact that Nintendo took a dinosaur that has some seriously freaky abilities and made it adorable is incredibly impressive. If you think about it, Yoshi has some crazy abilities that would be spooky in a realistic sense. But he’s just so cute that we kind of forget that.

So, imagining a crazy Yoshi (or at least a more creepily realistic Yoshi) isn’t super hard. And this artist decided to showcase that Yoshi can be seriously freaky when he wants to. If Yoshi ever went rogue and decided to take over, I don’t think Mario would stand a chance.

Art by Marivin.

12 He’s Not So Honorable Now

Via: reddit.com (Kaejunni)

Not a lot of people knew about Marth until Super Smash Bros. Melee. But the Fire Emblem series has been going on for a long time and had a few games in the 90s. Marth is known for being quite an honorable person, and he’s got some mad sword skills.

What if Marth was a little more psychotic? 

But what would Marth look like if he was a little less honorable and a little more psychotic? That’s what this artist decided to find out. An intense Marth looks so freaky. Seriously, between the red eyes and the dripping mascara, this swordsman is not someone to mess with. You definitely don’t want to go up against this guy. You will lose, badly.

11 That Is One Creepy Child

Via: eeveetachi.deviantart.com

I think a lot of people forget about the Earthbound games, which is a shame because they’re pretty amazing and unique. And Ness is a seriously cool character since he’s got all these awesome powers and he’s just a kid.

Mean Ness would be unsettling to say in the least. The fact that he’s a kid makes the idea of him going villainous even more spooky. What would it take for a kid to go to the dark side? Nothing good, I’ll tell you. And this art piece captures the idea of a rather creepy Ness. I really wouldn’t want to come across this kid.

Art by Eeveetachi.

10 The Darker Side Of The Triforce

Via: eddy-shinjuku.deviantart.com

In most Zelda games, Princess Zelda has been the force that was holding Ganon at bay. Some people may think she’s weak, but she’s really the force that keeps threats from taking over. It’s no wonder that Ganon is trying to capture her.

This art piece is technically of Zelda from Twilight Princess, but we’ll count it. A dastardly Zelda would be pretty creepy, especially considering her powers and abilities, and the whole part where Ganon controls Zelda like a puppet is seriously spooky. And this art piece really captures the atmosphere of that battle. Let’s hope this lovely princess doesn’t go crazy anytime soon.

Art by Eddy-Shinjuku.

9 These Two Are Looking Creepy

Via: saikyoryuuougi.deviantart.com

The two most iconic characters in the Star Fox series would likely be Fox and Falco. It probably helps that they were both in the Super Smash Bros. games. Fox and Falco are both pretty similar since they’re a bit reckless and headstrong. And while the two clash sometimes, they’re always there for each other.

Those eyes are seriously freaky. 

Falco and Fox as vampires is an interesting idea. While they aren’t strictly villains in this art piece, they do look pretty sinister. Those eyes are going to be haunting my nightmares for a while. (Though I’m not sure how a bird can be a vampire since they don’t even have teeth, but details.)

Art by Saikyoryuuougi.

8 Don't Mess With The King Of The Jungle

Via: tohad.deviantart.com

Did you know Donkey Kong was actually a villain when he first appeared? He had taken the beautiful Pauline and it was up to Jumpman to save her. Donkey has been the sort of villain in a few Mario vs Donkey Kong games. So, imagining this big guy as a villain isn’t too far-fetched.

While this art piece isn’t strictly of Donkey Kong as a bad guy, it is an intimidating one of him. This is what Donkey Kong would look like in a more realistic setting and he is spooky. I definitely wouldn’t want to make this ape angry.

Art by Tohad.

7 This Bounty Hunter Has Issues

Via: knowyourmeme.com (Daft Punkjet)

Samus is probably one of my favorite female characters to come out of Nintendo. This fierce lady is a strong bounty hunter who’s gone up against some seriously spooky foes. She’s even had to face a dark version of herself and battled her own body getting corrupted by Phazon. Not much phases this brave woman.

It’s hard to imagine Samus as a villain, but if she ever did go dark, it would be spooky. We have seen a dark version of Samus show up in a few games, so the idea isn’t too crazy. And this art piece really captures the horror behind a scary version of this bounty hunter.

6 He’s A Dark Swordsman

Via: tixielix.deviantart.com

Link is probably the most famous swordsman in Nintendo. You can always count on him to fight and risk his life to save Hyrule from the forces of tyranny. And he’s gone up against some powerful and crazy foes. But no matter what, Link will never give up, and he will never stop fighting to protect what he loves.

Dark Link is frightening and intriguing. 

An intense Link would be just wrong. And we have seen a dark Link in a couple of games, most notably The Legend of Link, and Ocarina of Time. What I love about this art piece is that it’s subtle but very powerful. This is a dark Link that’s both scary and intriguing.

Art by Tixielix.

5 Mr. Roboto Has Gone Rogue

Via: kansbar.deviantart.com

Chrono Trigger is seen as one of the most famous and classic RPG video games. It has also brought a lot of awesome characters. And one that I always had a soft spot for is Robo. The concept of a robot becoming sentient and having emotions is always fascinating. And I always loved the friendship between Robo and Lucca.

Considering Robo could be reprogrammed, it wouldn’t be too crazy to have this guy become a villain. And while this art piece doesn’t exactly make him a villain, it does put him in a pretty intense light. I love the electricity surrounding him; it really makes this robot look and feel dangerous.

Art by Kansbar.

4 Where’s Your Princess Now, Mario?

Via: pinterest.com

Where Princess Peach is, Toad is usually to follow. This guy is the definition of loyalty. And he’s also known for being that guy to tell you that your princess is in another castle. While he could be annoying, you have to credit Toad for being dedicated to his princess and his kingdom.

But what if Toad’s intentions were a bit more malicious? That’s what this artist decided to play around with, and the results are pretty awesome. The idea that Toad is just leading you on a goose chase and keeping the Princess out of your reach is not too crazy. And Toad looks seriously creepy.

3 She’s A Dark Fighter

Via: game-art-hq.com (phrenan)

Chun-Li is one of the most popular fighters in the Street Fighter games. She’s flexible, she’s got some amazing moves, and her story is pretty interesting. She’s dedicated to taking down the man who ended her father. Put that together with her pretty awesome outfits, and you’ve got an amazing lady.

Chun-Li would make a pretty interesting villain. 

But what happens if Chun-Li was a bit darker? She’d be a pretty cool villain, and she’d have a good motivation to become one. This artist decided to give dark Chun-Li quite the edge, and she looks absolutely fantastic. You definitely don’t want to go up against this lady.

2 This Little Mouse Isn’t So Cute Anymore

Via: shadowhatesmochao.deviantart.com

Pikachu is definitely the most popular Pokémon in any of the Pokémon games. This lovable, electric mouse has become one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters. Even if you aren’t a big gamer, you’ve at least heard of Pikachu. And he’s even bigger over in Japan.

It's hard to imagine Pikachu as anything remotely sinister since he looks pretty cute and harmless. But we do forget that the little guy packs a pretty powerful punch. And I like what this artist did with Pikachu. The red markings and eyes really give him a pretty sinister look. Don’t mess with this little mouse.

Art by Shadowhatesmochao.

1 This Princess Got A Little Dark

Via: leebigtree.deviantart.com

As far as princesses go, Caeda is a pretty awesome one. She joins Marth on his quest and proves to be an impressive warrior and tactician. She’s kind and patient, but also stubborn and driven. And the fact that she and Marth eventually get married is pretty sweet.

But what if Caeda wasn’t so kind? This art piece of a dark Cadea is seriously impressive and paints this princess in a much creepier light. It would be interesting to see this princess take a darker turn, though it’s probably better for everyone that she stays with the good guys. You definitely don’t want to mess with her.

Art by LeeBigTree.