Major League Baseball announced that opening day in 2023 falls on March 30th, with 30 teams slated to play 15 games. Baseball players are athletic, clever, and—surprisingly—steeped in bizarre superstitions.

Why Bizarre Superstitions Were So Popular in the 19th Century

From the post‑Civil War boom to the professional era of the 1870s‑1905, players searched for any edge, often turning to odd rituals that today would raise eyebrows. Below are ten of the most outlandish practices recorded from that golden age.

10 Drinking Hot Turkey Gravy

In 1894 the Baltimore Orioles clinched the National League pennant by winning 24 of 25 games. Their lineup boasted six Hall of Famers, with every starter batting above .300 and five players driving in over 100 runs. Yet the team credited a far stranger habit for their luck: each player gulped a glass of hot turkey gravy before batting practice. The ritual had nothing to do with their on‑field dominance, but the Orioles also resorted to sneaky tactics—icing balls, spreading soap around the mound, and even skewing baselines to make bunts roll past the foul line.

9 The Evil Eye

William “Billy” Moffat Earle, a catcher who bounced among five clubs between 1889 and 1894, earned a reputation as much for his creepy demeanor as for his glove work. He claimed to be a hypnotist, and teammates whispered that his stare possessed an “evil eye.” In 1887 a Mississippi River boat crash left one of his companions dead; the survivor recalled Billy’s unsettling gaze as the tragedy unfolded. Publications even suggested he wielded magnetic powers, and the legend of his evil eye lingered long after his playing days ended.

8 Not Speaking to His Own Starting Pitcher

Cap Anson, a future Hall of Famer who spent 22 seasons with the Chicago White Stockings (later the Cubs), was notorious for his racist attitudes and alleged KKK ties. Beyond those controversies, Anson adhered to a peculiar pre‑game rule: he never spoke to his own starting pitcher. While most teammates chatted before a game, Anson kept his mouth shut whenever the pitcher was involved, a superstition whose origins remain a mystery.

7 Believing His Bats Had Individual Personalities

Louis Rogers “Pete” Browning, dubbed “The Louisville Slugger,” played outfield from 1882 to 1894, mainly with the Louisville Eclipse/Colonels. He was the first player to commission custom‑made bats, a practice still common today. Despite chronic deafness and frequent headaches, Browning took his bat obsession to another level: he gave each bat a name, spoke to it, and retired it after a brief spell, convinced each piece held a limited number of hits.

6 Putting Pebbles in His Back Pocket

Shortstop John Wesley “Jack” Glasscock, a dominant player from 1879 to 1895, earned the nickname “Pebbly Jack” because he collected tiny stones from the infield and tucked them into his back pocket. He believed the pebbles prevented bad hops, and indeed teammates who ignored the habit suffered more erratic grounders. Glasscock’s superstition may be the only one that offered a tangible performance boost.

5 Believing a Cross‑Eyed Woman Hexed a Game

John Joseph “Blackjack” Burdock, a second‑baseman who played over two decades, was famed for his fielding tricks and hidden‑ball maneuver. A June 1879 Chicago Tribune story recounts that Burdock spotted a cross‑eyed woman in a storefront window on his way to face the Cincinnati Reds. After his team lost, he blamed the loss on the woman’s hex, a superstition that lingered despite the article’s problematic language.

4 Never Proceeding from the Bench to Second Base

Bill “Bad Bill” Eagan, a rough‑mannered player known for suspensions and late‑night bottle‑throwing, adopted a quirky routing rule. He would never run directly from the bench to second base. Instead, he would detour via third base or loop around first, believing the indirect path would ward off bad luck.

3 Always Swinging at the First Ball

John W. “Bud” Fowler, one of the first African‑American players and a ten‑season veteran, developed a simple yet stubborn ritual in 1889 while with the Michigan State League. No matter how high or wild the pitch, he would swing at the first ball that crossed the plate, trusting that the initial offering held good fortune.

2 Using Children, Dogs, and Monkeys as Good Luck Charms

William “Buck” Ewing, a stellar catcher who hit over .300 ten times, surrounded himself with mascots. He recruited street‑wise boys like William Breslin, kept a ring‑tailed monkey, and even a toy barking dog as talismans for the New York Giants, believing each charm could turn the tide in his favor.

1 Bat‑Carrying Redheads Were Bad Luck

Shortstop William “Bill” G. Gleason, who played from 1882 to 1889 and famously shared an infield with his brother, harbored an aversion to red‑haired bat carriers. An 1884 interview in the Harrisburg Telegraph reported that Gleason turned ghostly white at the sight of a red‑haired boy lugging a bat bag, convinced the sight spelled the worst kind of bad luck.

These ten bizarre superstitions illustrate how 19th‑century ballplayers blended folklore, personal quirks, and sheer desperation in the quest for victory. While many of the rituals would raise a laugh today, they remind us that the love of the game often walks hand‑in‑hand with a dash of the irrational.

[NOTE: The term “football” in this post refers to Soccer, not American Football.] The debate over who truly belongs among the greatest footballers is as lively as a derby on a rainy night, and rightfully so – the sport’s history is brimming with talent. With FIFA boasting more member nations than the United Nations, the game truly spans the globe. Below is my take on the top 20 football legends, a list that will surely spark discussion, and I welcome any constructive criticism you might have!

20. Lilian Thuram

One of France’s most celebrated defenders, Thuram etched his name into history by netting two decisive goals in the 1998 World Cup semi‑final against Croatia, overturning a deficit to secure a 2‑1 victory. France went on to clinch the trophy with a 3‑0 win over Brazil. At club level, Thuram showcased his talent with stints at AS Monaco, Juventus and FC Barcelona, cementing his reputation as a world‑class defender.

19. Raúl González

Raúl spent eleven glorious years at Real Madrid, where he amassed four La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League crowns, and two Intercontinental Cups. He joins an elite group of players who have featured in over a hundred Champions League matches. Notably, he dazzled fans with a thunderous free kick against France on June 3, 1997, striking from 35 metres out.

18. David Beckham

David Beckham rose to fame at Manchester United before his high‑profile marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams in 1999, turning the duo into one of Britain’s most famous couples. Renowned for his curling free kicks and powerful long‑range shots, Beckham’s right foot became a national treasure for England, cementing his status as both a football star and a cultural phenomenon.

17. Oliver Kahn

Oliver Kahn stands among Germany’s most successful players, having secured eight Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, a UEFA Cup in 1996, and both the UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup in 2001. His individual brilliance earned him four straight UEFA Best European Goalkeeper awards, three IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year honors, and two German Footballer of the Year trophies.

16. Zico

Often dubbed the White Pelé, Zico is celebrated as one of the most skilled dribblers and finishers of his era, and arguably the best player of the early 1980s. A master of free kicks, he could bend the ball with both pace and precision, while his powerful shot made him a feared opponent in any match.

15. Lev Yashin

Lev Yashin, affectionately known as the Black Spider, is regarded as perhaps the greatest goalkeeper ever. Spending his entire club career at Dynamo Moscow, he helped the team capture five league championships and three cups. Internationally, Yashin guarded the Soviet net in three World Cups and was instrumental in their 1956 Olympic gold medal triumph. He remains the sole goalkeeper ever to be named European Footballer of the Year.

14. Ronald Koeman

While primarily a centre‑back, Ronald Koeman was equally feared for his thunderous right‑footed free kicks. He famously scored the winning goal for FC Barcelona in the 1992 European Cup final from a set‑piece. Over his career, Koeman netted 193 league goals in 503 matches, outscoring many pure attackers and holding the record for most goals by a defender.

13. Luis Figo

Born in Portugal, Luis Figo first shone at Sporting CP before moving to Spain’s FC Barcelona and later Real Madrid, before finishing his career at Inter Milan in 2005. Known for his swift stop‑and‑go dribbling and aggressive style, Figo was more a creator than a pure scorer. He burst onto the scene in 2000, guiding Portugal to the Euro 2000 semifinals and earning the European Footballer of the Year award, before his record‑breaking €56 million transfer to Real Madrid.

12. Alberto Recoba

Alberto Recoba’s game was built on dazzling dribbling, technical finesse, blistering pace, and a lethal left‑foot shot. A free‑kick specialist, he delivered memorable goals, including a brace on his Inter debut and a slew of strikes for Venezia. While his natural ability seemed otherworldly, critics often pointed to his occasional lapses in crucial moments.

11. Alfredo Di Stéfano

Nicknamed the “Blond Arrow,” Di Stéfano was a powerful, versatile forward with exceptional stamina. Capable of playing anywhere on the pitch, he also contributed defensively. He ranks third in all‑time Spanish league scoring with 228 goals in 329 games and remains Real Madrid’s top league scorer with 216 goals in 282 matches.

10. Michel Platini

Michel Platini captained France to the 1984 European Championship, earning both the tournament’s best player and top scorer honors. As part of France’s famed “carré magique” midfield quartet, Platini was renowned for his passing precision, free‑kick expertise, and finishing ability, holding the record for most goals in a European Championship final.

9. Carlos Alberto Torres

Carlos Alberto Torres is celebrated as one of Brazil’s finest defenders. He captained the 1970 World Cup‑winning side and was named to the World Team of the 20th Century, as well as the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. His iconic strike against Italy in the 1970 final is widely regarded as one of the tournament’s greatest goals.

8. Ronaldo Nazário

Ronaldo, nicknamed “The Phenomenon,” dazzled the 1990s as Brazil’s premier striker. His club journey spanned Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, amassing countless titles. Internationally, he featured in Brazil’s World Cup triumphs in 1998 and 2002, finishing as the top scorer in the latter tournament.

7. Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller’s unorthodox build belied his lethal instincts: explosive short‑distance acceleration, aerial dominance, and uncanny goal‑scoring sense. He could turn on a dime, maintaining perfect balance in tight spaces, and often scored in the most improbable situations. His records include 68 goals in 62 international caps, 365 Bundesliga goals in 427 matches, and a European Club record of 66 goals in 74 games.

6. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff, a Dutch legend, earned three European Footballer of the Year awards and was voted European Player of the Century in 1999, second only to Pelé in the World Player of the Century poll. Celebrated for technical flair, speed, and vision, his greatest asset was his ability to read the game and orchestrate attacks, extracting the utmost from his teammates.

5. Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer, dubbed “Der Kaiser,” revolutionized the sweeper role, blending defensive solidity with attacking flair. He uniquely captained (1974) and later managed (1990) World Cup‑winning German sides. His club career at Bayern Munich yielded three European Cups and four domestic titles. He claimed European Footballer of the Year in 1972 and 1976, cementing his status as Germany’s greatest ever player.

4. Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona remains an Argentine legend, revered for taking his nation to unprecedented heights. His career highlights include the infamous “Hand of God” goal and the breathtaking solo effort against England in the 1986 World Cup, both etched into football folklore. Despite off‑field struggles, his on‑field brilliance made him a cultural and sporting icon.

3. Pelé

Pelé, known as the “Black Pearl,” is widely hailed as the greatest footballer ever. Scoring a staggering 1,280 career goals, he became a global phenomenon and was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee in 1999. Though he never competed in the Olympics, his 1970 World Cup jersey fetched $220,850 at auction, underscoring his enduring legacy.

2. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine “Zizou” Zidane, a French midfield genius, lifted the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and claimed the 2002 UEFA Champions League. He is one of only two players to win FIFA World Player of the Year three times. Zidane earned Golden Ball honors in the 1998 and 2006 World Cups, famously scoring twice in the 1998 final to help France defeat Brazil.

1. Antonio Gentile

Antonio Gentile earned his reputation as one of football’s most tenacious man‑markers during the 1982 World Cup. His defining moment arrived on July 11, 1982, when he helped Italy defeat West Germany 3‑1 to claim the title. Gentile’s aggressive defending shone in the second‑phase clash against Argentina, where he relentlessly contained Diego Maradona, and later in the showdown with Brazil, delivering a hard tackle on Zico and even ripping the Brazilian’s shirt in the heat of battle.

When you’re deep in the groove of a favorite title, the last thing you want is a glitch to yank you out of the fun. The top 10 most maddening in‑game bugs have a knack for doing exactly that—making you want to hurl the controller across the room. We’ve all felt that surge of irritation, and today we’re counting down the ten most infuriating glitches that can drive any player absolutely insane.

Top 10 Most Frustrating Glitches

10 The Uninstallation Bug: Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor

The uninstall nightmare in Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor tested gamers’ patience like few others. Back when RPG fans were diving headfirst into the Dungeons & Dragons universe, this title promised endless quests and epic loot.

Unfortunately, the act of removing the game turned into a quest of its own. Attempting to uninstall triggered a catastrophic error, leaving stray files that destabilized systems and, unsurprisingly, amplified frustration.

What made this glitch truly exasperating was its stubborn persistence. Players tried everything—from manual file deletions to third‑party uninstallers—yet the remnants clung to hard drives like a digital specter, refusing to be fully erased.

9 Game Erasure: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team

Glitches often crop up, but some push players to the brink. The game‑erasure bug in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team is a prime example of pure aggravation.

Picture pouring countless hours into dungeons, leveling up your Pokémon, and forging an unbreakable bond with your partner. Then, out of nowhere, all that progress vanishes as if it never existed.

This glitch primarily plagued the Game Boy Advance version, randomly corrupting save files and wiping hours of advancement without warning, leaving even the most dedicated trainers feeling emotionally wrecked.

8 The Killer Doll: The Sims 3

The Sims 3 delights with its quirky charm, yet the infamous killer doll glitch turned that charm on its head. Imagine crafting the perfect home for your Sims, only for a seemingly innocent doll to morph into a deranged menace.

The once‑harmless toy began moving on its own, even chasing Sims around the house. Your virtual family’s peaceful moment quickly turned into a nightmarish chase, making the doll feel like it had a personal vendetta.

Adding to the irritation, there was no simple fix. Resetting or replacing the doll didn’t halt its creepy behavior, leaving players helpless against this relentless, animated terror.

7 The Sketch Bug: Final Fantasy VI

The notorious sketch glitch in Final Fantasy VI can drive even the calmest player to the edge. While wielding Relm’s unique ability to copy enemy attacks, a specific encounter triggers a catastrophic failure.

When Relm attempts to sketch the mysterious “Invisible” enemy, the game freezes or throws unpredictable errors, effectively crashing the battle and halting progress.

This bug isn’t just a nuisance; it highlights the complex coding challenges of early RPGs, where pushing mechanics to their limits sometimes uncovered hidden, game‑breaking flaws.

6 The Missingno Glitch: Pokemon Red and Blue

The Missingno glitch in Pokémon Red and Blue is a legendary slice of gaming history that still haunts players. Short for “missing number,” this pixelated anomaly appears when performing a specific set of actions.

Surfing along Cinnabar Island’s edge can summon a glitched Pokémon instead of the usual water‑type. While tempting to catch, Missingno can wreak havoc—multiplying items, scrambling Hall of Fame data, and potentially corrupting the entire save.

The sheer mystery of its existence, combined with the constant fear of ruining a hard‑earned game, made Missingno an infuriating, yet iconic, glitch for countless gamers.

5 The Shivering Isles Mega Glitch: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

The Shivering Isles mega glitch in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion turned a vibrant expansion into a ghost town. Players venturing into Sheogorath’s realm found essential NPCs—quest‑givers, merchants, guards—vanishing without a trace.

With key characters gone, entire questlines became unfinishable, leaving adventurers stranded in a bizarre, empty landscape. The glitch’s persistence, combined with Bethesda’s lack of an official patch, forced players to rely on community mods or console commands for relief.

It felt like being handed a puzzle with missing pieces, a maddening experience that left many feeling abandoned in a world that should have been alive with madness.

4 Too Many to Count: Assassin’s Creed: Unity

Assassin’s Creed: Unity quickly earned a reputation for a barrage of in‑game glitches that marred its otherwise stunning recreation of Revolutionary Paris.

The floating face bug detached characters’ facial features from their heads, creating eerie, disembodied visages that roamed the streets. Meanwhile, the falling‑through‑the‑world glitch sent protagonist Arno plummeting through the environment, erasing hours of progress.

To top it off, the endless crowds glitch flooded areas with infinite NPCs, causing severe frame‑rate drops and sluggish gameplay that made the experience nearly unplayable.

3 Boot.ini: EVE Online: Trinity

Among the most exasperating glitches in the gaming world, the boot.ini issue in EVE Online: Trinity stands out for its sheer disruption. This seemingly simple file error wreaked havoc on players’ meticulously planned fleet battles.

Because boot.ini is a critical Windows system file, its corruption caused game crashes that obliterated entire parties, turning hours of strategic preparation into wasted effort.

The glitch’s impact extended beyond annoyance; it sparked widespread frustration as players struggled to diagnose and resolve a problem that lay deep within their operating system.

2 Jiggy Glitch: Banjo‑Kazooie

The jiggy glitch in Banjo‑Kazooie is a classic case of a tiny oversight causing massive aggravation. While hunting for Jiggies to free Tooty, players encounter an inaccessible Jiggy hidden beneath a snowman in Click Clock Wood.

Despite trying every move—ground pounds, beak busts—the Jiggy remains out of reach, effectively blocking 100% completion for diligent collectors.

This seemingly minor bug becomes a source of endless frustration, especially for completionists determined to claim every hidden treasure.

1 The Doghouse Glitch: The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The Doghouse Glitch in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening turns a simple curiosity into a chaotic nightmare. Entering an innocuous doghouse yields nothing, but exiting it warps the game world into a distorted, nightmarish version.

Distorted graphics, misplaced NPCs, and overall chaos replace the charming Koholint Island, forcing players to navigate a bewildering mess that feels like solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.

With no straightforward fix—often requiring a full reset or a fresh start—this glitch delivers a cruel twist that can ruin an otherwise delightful adventure.

Villains are standard in video games; they constitute an obstacle for the player at one point or the other. You measure the difficulty of a game by the number of villains you have to encounter or how tough they are to defeat.

Video game developers can be naughty, though, as they make some villains so tricky to find, and when you find them, it is an uphill task to beat them. Sometimes, a player has to survive multiple tiers of warfare to get to see certain villains—then the final battle begins. We are not basing our list on video game villains that are difficult to defeat in battle but rather on villains that are difficult to meet. You will need to travel to hell and back to book a fight with these villains:

10 Death Bringer—Golden Axe

Golden Axe is an old-school game that was released by Sega in 1989. At the time, video game developers ensured that the enemies moved faster than you and sometimes tried to swarm you. The Death Bringer is the most difficult villain to handle in Golden Axe. He sits on the throne with an army of two skeletons fighting alongside him. The skeletons disappear as soon as you are able to knock Death Bringer’s axe out of his hands.

It’s easier to imagine killing Death Bringer than actually doing the deed. Firstly, a player needs to use all their magic to weaken him—we mean weaken only, not kill. Also, the player must use jump attacks to land a blow on Death Bringer because that is the only practical way to avoid his army of skeletons. You need to jump and time your hits so that you land a blow on Death Bringer while simultaneously avoiding his minions. Once a player kills Death Bringer, they have reached the end of the game.^[1]

9 Mundus—Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry is the first game in the Devil May Cry series. The protagonist is Dante, whose arch-enemy is Mundus. The storyline is that Mundus, a demon lord, murdered the mother of Dante, which put Dante on a revenge mission to eradicate all demons from existence. The plot of the game is straightforward: Dante gets to kill demon after demon until he reaches the Demon Lord, Mundus.

Mundus’s physical form is grotesque; he is a writhing mass of living tissue with three eyeballs and several hands. His personality is as bad as his appearance. He is depicted in the game as a sadist who has no compassion or empathy for his minions. Devil May Cry is no easy game. Only the most formidable players get to see Mundus as you must successfully battle from one demon to another.^[2]

8 M. Bison—Street Fighter II

M. Bison is a video game villain in Street Fighter II, a game that was made in the era when video game supervillains were particularly difficult to beat. His attire consists of a red military uniform adorned with large silver shoulder plates topped off with a cap. M. Bison is one of the most difficult video game evil bosses to encounter. A player must get rid of all other opponents before booking a fight with him. The opponents in this game are not easy to fight either, yet you must kill them all before you get a chance to fight M.Bison.

In the game, M. Bison is the leader of the criminal organization named “Shadaloo.” He is capable of performing several stunts to defeat the player of the game. Some of his moves include the Psycho Crusher, Double Knee Press, Head Press, and Somersault Skull Diver.^[3]

7 Ozma—Final Fantasy IX

Ozma is a villain in Final Fantasy IX. To be able to find this villain, a player needs to reach the Chocobo Air Garden. Unfortunately, getting to this level is a challenge because a player must get upgraded to the Gold Flying Status. This is your ticket to the Chocobo Air Garden, and it takes several hours of play before a player is qualified to meet Ozma.

Not only is it difficult to get to meet this supervillain, but it is also difficult to fight him. Ordinarily, he can resist all physical attacks without suffering harm. The only way to make him vulnerable to physical attacks is to complete the “Friendly Monsters” side quest. This is an ordeal on its own—and remember that the purpose of this side quest is to make Ozma vulnerable to physical attacks, not to kill it. Completing this side quest does not make the game easier in any way, though. We have no doubt in our minds that this supervillain deserves to be on this list.^[4]

6 The Cow King—Diablo II Resurrected

The Cow King is a supervillain in the video game Diablo II. It exists in the secret cow level. A player needs to kill Baal on each of the levels to be able to access their respective cow levels. The Cow King is a legend because only the most skillful players can access him. After killing Baal, the player will combine a Tome of Town Portal with Wirt’s leg in the Horadic Cube while in the Rogue Encampment. This is how to unlock the secret portal where the Cow King resides.

Take note that it is so much work to get to book a fight with the Cow King. The secret cow zone contains an army of Hell Bovines that will try to swarm the player and kill him. You must have honed your skills and amassed a lot of weapons to be able to survive the secret cow level.^[5]

5 Moon Presence—Bloodborne

Moon Presence is a video game supervillain that deserves to be on this list. Moon Presence is unique because he isn’t the most difficult villain in the Bloodborne game, but for a player to get to fight him, such a player must have been through hell. Aside from killing villains like Lady Maria, Ebrietas, and Gehrman, a player hoping to confront Moon Presence must have consumed three umbilical cord items found throughout Yharnam.

Do not be deceived; not all the umbilical cords come easy. You must fight your way to get to some of them. It is only after these umbilical cords have been consumed and Gehrman has been defeated that the Moon Presence descends into the arena for the final battle of the game.^[6]

4 Akuma—Super Street Fighter II Turbo

Akuma, otherwise known as Gouki in Japan, is a video game supervillain only tough players get to face. In order to meet Akuma, the player can play any character but must defeat all the preliminary opponents without losing a single credit. This is how tough it is to meet this video game supervillain. Booking a fight with Akuma is achievable but nearly impossible. To meet Akuma is comparable to surmounting Mount Everest, and the villain is a toughie to fight even if a player manages to meet him in the first place.

Akuma has the ability to easily escape from corner traps or bad situations with teleport. He is an overwhelmingly strong character with high-damage combos and specials. Akuma is capable of throwing two Hadokens in mid-air, and his higher attack strength and priorities mean that players who will survive the fight against him must be on their toes throughout the encounter.^[7]

3 Sigrun—God of War

Sigrun is a Valkyrie Queen and an optional video game villain in God of War. She is the leader of the nine Valkyries. Every Valkyrie in God of War is tough, but Sigrun makes the others look easy. Of course, we are not really surprised—that is why she is their queen, after all. To find Sigrun, a player must conquer the other eight Valkyries scattered in different locations within the game.

Once a player is done with the other eight, they proceed to the Council of Valkyries. This is a large open area filled with crumbling stone thrones. Once the player gets to the circle of seats, they need to take specific steps to summon Sigrun. The player places all the heads of the slain Valkyries on their respective seats. This conduct will make a black orb appear in the middle area, then the battle with Sigrun begins.

Sigrun is a quick and versatile villain who can quickly spell defeat for an inexperienced or ill-prepared player. Sigrun has the capacity to jump into the air with ease, which makes her quickly disappear from the view of the player. In order for a player to stand a chance to defeat her in battle, such a player must keep their eyes on Sigrun at all times.^[8]

2 Nemesis—Returnal

Returnal is a PS5-exclusive game. There are several villains in the game, but the most difficult of them all is Nemesis. This supervillain can be found in the third Biome. Before a player can think about challenging Nemesis, they need to have defeated other supervillains in the first three biomes. The list of threats in this game is endless—at one point, a player will have completely autonomous guns shooting at them, and a player will also get to meet the Kerberon, an alien lizard, and the Lamiadon, a flying creature, among other villains.

When you are done with all of these in the Overgrown Ruins, you then proceed to the Crimson Waste. If you are successful here, you head to the Derelict Citadel. This is where Nemesis is located. Nemesis does not fight alone; he has accomplices that will make your job of killing it much more difficult. Nemesis is a tough video game villain to beat, but that is not why he is on this list. He is on this list because a player needs to fight gallantly to get to him.^[9]

1 Yiazmat—Final Fantasy XII

Yiazmat is the final Elite Mark villain that a player will get to fight in the Final Fantasy XII game. There are 32 Marks and 12 other Elite Marks villains in the game. Each of these 32 Marks and 12 Elite Marks will be encountered in different locations and under different circumstances. A player must overcome them all before they will able to book a date with Yiazmat. Final Fantasy XII is one of the toughest video games ever made. Not only does it take you so much to come this far, Yiazmat itself is the most difficult of all the villains in the game.

We have no doubt that Yiazmat is the undisputed ruler of the video game villains that are the hardest to reach. In fact, only the best of the best players can book a date with it. Yiazmat has several devastating attack capabilities, and each of its moves has a five percent chance of causing instant death to the player it is confronting. It takes the average player two hours to be able to defeat this supervillain. At a point during the fight, the player confronting Yiazmat may need to hide to recoup their strength or even go to get more weapons to enable them to win the fight.^[10]