20 NPCs That Are Secretly More Powerful Than The Protagonist

Video games frequently make players feel powerful by letting them play as heroes destined to overcome great challenges. Interestingly, game creators often include supporting characters who are secretly far more powerful than the player. These characters might seem like simple shopkeepers or those who give out quests, but they’re actually gods or beings from other dimensions. This adds richness to the game’s story and helps players realize they’re just one piece of a much bigger world.

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015)

Geralt of Rivia meets numerous powerful sorceresses, but none are as frightening as Gaunter O’Dimm. This being appears as a simple merchant, but he has the ability to control time and people’s souls. He can stop time whenever he wants, even to chat with Geralt, and he grants wishes that always backfire, destroying the lives of those who make them. O’Dimm is an ancient evil that Geralt can’t fight with his sword; he has to use his wits and solve a riddle to overcome him.

‘Planescape: Torment’ (1999)

The Nameless One journeys through the city of Sigil, always under the gaze of the enigmatic Lady of Pain. She rules Sigil with absolute power and can instantly and painfully destroy even the most powerful creatures with a simple gesture. Gods aren’t even allowed within her city, as she destroys them immediately. Players soon realize she isn’t an enemy to defeat, but a dangerous force to be avoided at all costs.

‘Half-Life 2’ (2004)

Gordon Freeman fights off aliens and creatures called headcrabs, all while being observed by the enigmatic G-Man. This strange, powerful figure can travel through space and time, and he puts Gordon on hold between adventures. The G-Man subtly changes events and removes people as needed, working towards the unknown goals of his unseen employers. Essentially, Gordon is just a piece in a huge, complex plan orchestrated by this mysterious man with the briefcase.

‘Dragon Age: Inquisition’ (2014)

Solas joins the Inquisitor as a skilled elven mage to help seal the Breach. However, he later reveals his true identity as Fen’Harel, the Dread Wolf – the ancient being who originally created the Veil. This shows he has the power to fundamentally change reality and overthrow the existing world. Throughout the game, Solas acts as a companion, secretly possessing immense, god-like power far exceeding that of the player character.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)

Players find and revive Withers, an ancient being who offers to resurrect fallen companions at their camp. Through conversations, it becomes clear he’s likely a manifestation of Jergal, the god of death. Withers openly scoffs at other deities and casually alters destiny to bring people back to life for a small price. His calm disregard for death highlights that he’s a powerful, divine being far removed from the concerns of the player characters.

‘Undertale’ (2015)

Sans is a laid-back skeleton who playfully follows the human through the Underground, constantly telling jokes and playing pranks. He seems harmless at first, but if the player chooses to fight, he reveals incredible power. Sans doesn’t just attack – he breaks the rules of the game itself, even messing with the interface, to prevent the player from continuing. He’s uniquely aware of time and save files, making him the most formidable character in the entire underground world.

‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)

Booker DeWitt journeys to the floating city of Columbia on a mission to save Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned in a tower. Elizabeth soon reveals she can create tears in the fabric of reality, opening pathways to other dimensions and even different timelines. As her powers develop, she gains the ability to foresee every possible future and control the very structure of the universe. Booker fights with guns and special abilities called ‘Vigors,’ while Elizabeth’s powers allow her to move beyond the limits of space and time.

‘Dishonored’ (2012)

Okay, so I’m playing as Corvo Attano, and I’m all about getting revenge. This mysterious dude called the Outsider gave me some seriously cool supernatural powers. He basically lives outside of reality in this place called the Void and just watches everything go down. Apparently, he’s the one who gives magic to people, but he can also take it away or mess with time itself. I’m caught up in a political mess trying to fix things, and it’s all tied to the Outsider – he’s basically the source of all magic in this world.

‘The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind’ (2002)

The hero, known as the Nerevarine, journeys to the island of Vvardenfell to fulfill a prophecy connected to the god Vivec. Vivec is a powerful warrior and poet who uses his will to hold the Ministry of Truth floating above the city, preventing disaster. He became a god through the Heart of Lorkhan and is aware that he exists within a video game. The player can defeat him, but only because Vivec permits it, allowing him to break his connection to the Heart.

‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ (2011)

The Dragonborn ventures into the mind of a crazed king and meets Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Sheogorath sees the world as his personal playground, turning serious dangers into jokes with ease. He magically transports the player and changes the surroundings to match his unpredictable and chaotic feelings. This encounter demonstrates that even Skyrim’s strongest warrior is no match for a Daedric Prince.

‘Bayonetta’ (2009)

Bayonetta gets her weapons and supplies from Rodin, a powerful, fallen angel who runs a shop at the Gates of Hell. Rodin is a master craftsman, creating tools strong enough to defeat gods and other incredibly powerful beings. He easily defeats the toughest demons in Hell, but intentionally holds back to keep things running smoothly. When players finally get to fight him as a boss, they discover he’s almost as powerful as Bayonetta herself.

‘Persona’ (1996)

Throughout the series, many heroes gain their abilities thanks to a mysterious being called Philemon. He watches over humanity from a realm of shared dreams and bestows the power of Persona on those with strong spirits. Philemon represents hope and light, constantly opposing forces of darkness and death. He quietly influences world events, all while remaining a masked observer.

‘Katamari Damacy’ (2004)

The Prince travels around Earth collecting things to rebuild the stars his father mistakenly shattered. His father, the King of All Cosmos, is an enormous being prone to accidentally destroying planets when intoxicated. He tasks the Prince with fixing the universe, all while making strange observations. The Prince is incredibly small in comparison to his father, who casually tosses galaxies around like playthings.

‘Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines’ (2004)

A newly turned vampire tries to make his way through the complicated world of Los Angeles politics, and unexpectedly crosses paths with a seemingly ordinary cab driver. This driver is actually Caine, the very first vampire – an immensely powerful being who has witnessed countless ages. Caine watches the approaching apocalypse with a distant calm, choosing to influence events only in small, indirect ways. Meanwhile, the player character fights to stay alive against the city’s vampire leaders, unaware that Caine could easily destroy them all if he chose to.

‘Super Mario Galaxy’ (2007)

Okay, so I’m a huge Mario fan, and the latest game is just incredible! Mario blasts off into space to save Princess Peach, but this time he’s teaming up with Rosalina, who’s basically the guardian of the universe. She lives in this amazing Comet Observatory and looks after these little star creatures called Lumas – they’re how new galaxies are born! Seriously, her powers are insane; she can literally reset the entire universe if something goes wrong, like if a black hole threatens everything. It’s wild! While Mario’s doing his thing – you know, jumping on baddies – Rosalina feels like this all-powerful, motherly figure watching over everything. It’s a really cool dynamic!

‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ (2022)

Trainers venture into the ancient land of Hisui on a mission to complete the very first Pokédex, following clues from enigmatic messages. Arceus, a powerful being considered the creator of the universe, lives in a realm beyond our own. This extraordinary Pokémon can freely change its type and has the power to shape the world itself. Throughout the journey, players capture wild Pokémon while being observed by Arceus, who is essentially a god within this world.

‘Kid Icarus: Uprising’ (2012)

Pit battles the forces of the Underworld while Hades provides a running, sarcastic commentary. Hades isn’t just commanding his army; he’s creating endless waves of enemies and even breaks the fourth wall to taunt the player. He enjoys causing chaos between the gods and gains power from the souls he collects. Pit needs powerful weapons and help from the gods just to have a chance against him.

‘Red Dead Redemption’ (2010)

While traveling through the desert, John Marston meets a mysterious, well-dressed man who seems to know everything about his troubled past. This man challenges John’s sense of right and wrong, and remarkably, isn’t hurt when John shoots him. He hints that he’s a kind of supernatural judge, or even death personified, roaming the Wild West. The Strange Man doesn’t follow the same rules as everyone else, defying the natural laws that govern John and his world.

‘Dragon Age: Origins’ (2009)

The Grey Wardens are saved by a mysterious old woman known as the Witch of the Wilds, Flemeth. However, Flemeth is far more than she appears – she’s actually the ancient elven goddess Mythal, able to shapeshift into a huge dragon. She’s been secretly influencing events for centuries, ensuring her own survival and protecting ancient magic. With her incredible power, she can control people’s destinies and manipulate events like a game of chess.

‘Pokémon Gold’ (1999)

A new Pokémon champion climbs Mt. Silver to challenge the mysterious trainer waiting at the top. This trainer is Red, the hero from the previous games, and he has incredibly powerful Pokémon. He doesn’t speak a word before launching into a difficult battle that pushes the player to their absolute limit. This fight establishes Red as a legendary master trainer, and the new champion aims to become even stronger than he is.

2025-11-24 14:19