The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a vast, open-world game with expansive stories and missions throughout. You play as monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia, interacting with witches like Yennefer and Triss, bards like Dandelion, and dwarves likes Zoltan. The Witcher 3 has hundreds of characters, big and small in role and stature.
Many of the characters you come across in the game are of a more villainous variety. There are war-waging Emperors, evil mythical warriors, vampires, monsters and beasts, criminals and many, many more. Not all the villains are as interesting or as captivating as others though.
10 The Crones
The Ladies of the Wood, also known as The Crones, are a trio of witches. Disfigured and creepy, they are horrendous exaggerations of evil witches from a fairytale book. The locals appreciate what they've done for the harvest, but there's always a sense of unease about them.
The Crones are characters you cannot trust. They are manipulative and evil to the core, making it very satisfying when they eventually get what's coming to them.
9 The Caretaker
The Caretaker is one of the best villains primarily on a visual level. He appears in the Hearts of Stone DLC very briefly as a boss fight. He has a look very much like Death himself, accompanied by a scythe too.
The Caretaker is a tough, but fun fight. He is creepy, with an almost faceless, alien look to him. Not much is known about him on a personal level because he isn't much of a talker. Despite his small role, the atmosphere and aura surrounding him make him a memorable standout villain.
8 Sigismund Dijkstra
Dijkstra is the head of Redanian Intelligence. A spy. He's a character whom you come across numerous times throughout the game. While he's unpleasant and most definitely untrustworthy, he's often the most intelligent man in the room at any given time.
His knowledge and resources are of great value. But, as the game progresses, his desires and motivations come into question. Depending on your views and choices, Dijkstra can become a villain you have to put down, lest he take over the rule of the land.
7 Radovid V
There are always at least two sides to any war. Throughout The Witcher 3, you see witches being hunted and prosecuted in horrific ways. You hear a lot about Radovid's evil ways and views, as well as his questionable sanity.
Eventually, you get to meet the man himself. His sanity is still a matter of opinion, but his skills in strategy are never in doubt. The man showcases them rather bluntly in games of chess. Radovid is the type of villain with the brains and the power to win it all, but his lack of likeability is his one major flaw.
6 Imlerith
Imlerith is one of the generals in The Wild Hunt. He has an imposing visual element to him, with a tall stature, intimidating armor, and warpaint/tattoos. Not only is he an unpleasant man, but he's also someone who does bad things and makes the battle between good and evil a personal one for the heroes.
Having killed Vesemir, he angers the heroes to the point of revenge, and it's a very satisfying moment when you finally get vengeance. Imlerith is a villain designed purely to anger you, to cause havoc and then get his comeuppance.
5 Emhyr Var Emreis
Emhyr var Emries is the Emperor of Nilfgaard, the most powerful nation on the planet. A nation that is currently pushing north, conquering and pillaging everything in its path. Emhyr is a man who seeks everything, and won't stop until he gets it.
Voiced by the legendary Charles Dance, Emhyr has a sophistication to him, a gravitas. While he doesn't appear much in The Witcher 3, we often hear throughout the game what he's doing and how he's manipulating events and the war. Emhyr is a villain all about brains and power.
4 Eredin
Eredin is the commander of the Wild Hunt and the primary antagonist of the game. Like other members of The Wild Hunt, he has an imposing figure and intimidating armor, giving him a very villainous look and presence.
Eredin is an almost emotionless individual, making him a tough character to like or dislike. His goal is simple: capture Ciri for control of her powers. His methods are what makes him a villain though, with no remorse and absolutely no giving in.
3 Olgierd Von Everec
Olgierd is an interesting villain because for many players he may not be considered a villain at all. He is first introduced in The Hearts of Stone DLC, where he is presented as a selfish, villainous individual. As the DLC progresses, more of his backstory and motivation is revealed.
Plus, after a while getting to know the man, your actions can start to influence him. He can become very sympathetic, change allegiance and start a redemption arc. He's a villain only so long as you treat him as one. And a symbol that all people can change, whether they deserve to or not.
2 Sylvia Anna
Sylvia, aka Syanna, is a character many might relate to and sympathize with. She is a character born to circumstance, when many people believe she is cursed purely because she was born at a certain day and time. Shunned and chastised for this, she developed into a vengeful villain.
Sylvia is a character who looks out for herself, who isn't afraid to be nasty and malicious. While you can attempt to persuade her and guide her to some extent, one false word can make her a deadly enemy.
1 Gaunter O'Dimm
Gaunter O'Dimm, also known as Master Mirror or the Man of Glass, appears very early in The Witcher 3, offering Geralt some information in a tavern. It's not until the Hearts of Stone DLC when he returns, and you realize just how significant a character he is.
Gaunter is a near-omnipotent, mysterious manipulator. He's a villain that uses his powers and trickery to his advantage, and he isn't afraid to speak in riddles to anger his foes and show off his intelligence in the process.