Faces Of Death: 25 Depictions Of The Grim Reaper In Video Games

Game: MediEvil

In the MediEvil series, undead knight Sir Dan is both implored by and implores Death for assistance. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Since he has to turn to a one-eyed bag of bones for help, this Reaper is more of a bureaucrat than a bad boy to battle.

Game: Mega Man X 4

What’s an antagonist without multiple forms? That’s a question often in Mega Man and answered by Sigma, a recurring bad guy. In MMX4, he shifts into a dark robed, scythe-wielding form that can kill quickly. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Like any Mega Man baddies, Sigma is some weird robot-cyborg creation. The Rider could probably pull him apart in time.

Game: Grabbed By The Ghoulies

A silent but heart-pounding chase begins if the conditions for a room’s exit are not met. In this Xbox game, your player has to outrun Death for a period of time. If the robed apparition touches you, it’s game over. Could he handle DS2’s Death? A death touch is mighty but the Darksiders 2 anti-hero is amazingly agile so he could probably evade long enough.

Game: The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

Following the same formula as the cartoon, The Grim Adventures has the island-voiced Reaper chasing around with two weirdo kids. This time, Grim’s Mojo Balls are lost and causing havoc on the local town. Could he handle DS2’s Death? When two kids can run you and you’ve got issues with your Mojo Balls, it’s not even a competition.

Game: Hexen 2

Once you reached the end of Mazaera, this apocalyptic rider appeared on a flying white horse and shot deadly energy blasts. Could he handle DS2’s Death? He was a boss and he commanded the fear of Hexen 2 gamers everywhere – yes, he could hold his own.

Game: Kingdom Hearts

Disney is not above the touch of the cold boatman either. The Reapers in Kingdom Hearts fought initially weakly but gathered strength and power with energy absorption and the summoning of ghouls. Could he handle DS2’s Death? With getting their asses handed to them by Mickey Mouse’s friends? Doubtful.

Game: Paper Boy

Forget angry dogs or pissed-off customers, the NES hero had to worry about the Angel of Death! As you rode along delivering papers, this robed figure would slide out to end your route. Beyond strange. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Given he could be outran by a kid on a Schwinn, it’s a safe bet this guy wouldn’t even show up to fight.

Game: Kid Icarus: Uprising

There are Reapers in the little hero’s adventures but the Great Reaper awaits as a boss in the 3DS game. He’s giant, wields a wide array of powers and only has two small weak spots (his feet.) Could he handle DS2’s Death? Beating on a winged little kid and rising to the top of his undead food chain makes the Great Reaper a foe to contend with.

Game: Gauntlet

Appearing in several games of the classic series, this robed figure sometimes stole experience points or life itself. Death was tough to beat because he could take 100 hits if the right spell was not used. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Stealing life with just a mere touch, It’s a good chance Death would have to work at this reaper’s defeat. Gauntlet’s baddie was dreaded and feared.

Game: Twisted Metal 2

Enter Mr. Grimm, a twisted version of Death who has lost his purpose and is now interested only in consuming more souls than ever. With a killer bike at his control, Mr. Grimm is a worthy boss in the game. Could he handle DS2’s Death? With the chopper and special weapons using bodiless souls, Mr. Grimm would be a match for the Rider.

Game: Persona 3

While some have never heard of Persona 3 and others rave about it, there is no question among those who’ve played it: the Reaper was a tough boss. If your group of characters in this RPG were not highly leveled up, everyone died. This dual-gun wielding ghostly creature proved a menacing presence. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Yes, being one of the few deaths that wielded guns, this boss would go scythe to scythe with Darksiders.

Game: Scribblenauts

Write “death” or “grim reaper” and Death makes an appearance in this little game. He can destroy other characters but is considerably weaker than other skull-faced personifications of the end. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Not even close. The Rider would cut this guy in half and then draw about it.

Game: Brutal Legend

Fast, steed-mounted and wicked, the Reapers are hit-and-run fighters that work for the gloomy Drowning Doom. With their sickles and horses, the reapers moved quickly and, where they lacked strength, made up in numbers. Could he handle DS2’s Death? One Reaper wouldn’t but since they moved en masse, Death would be facing an army of horseback robed evil. It would be a bone-filled scrap.

Game: God of War: Chains of Olympus

Appearing as an old and twisted man, Charon battles Kratos on the boat to the Underworld. He cracks jokes, torments and teleports around the Ghost of Sparta. Could he handle DS2’s Death? No, Charon was more mischievous than dangerous. Death would have an easy kill.

Game: Final Fantasy

When a Doom spell or Death spell is used, the skull faced entity shows up to doll out punishment. As long as the series has been around, so has this psychopomp manifestation. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Having shown some amazing powers and taken down some worthwhile FF characters, we think Death would find this Reaper a worthy foe.

Game: Death Jr.

The son of the Grim Reaper, Death Jr. (or DJ) has to travel through adventures to fight his wayward uncle Moloch. Along the way, DJ gathers an unusual cast made up of his friends which include a girl with bleeding hands and swearing fetus. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Besides sharing usage of a wide arsenal, DJ and Death are not in the same category. DJ may have more creepy friends though.

Game: God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Kratos has to lock blades with the God of Death for the soul of his long-lost brother, Deimos. Thanatos toyed with the Spartan with shape-shifting abilities and godlike powers. Could he handle DS2’s Death? That would be a fight to see. With wings, armor and his own curved blade, Thanatos was no push-over.

Game: Justice League Superheroes: The Flash

In this relatively unknown game, when the Flash’s life bar dropped, the Black Racer began to chase you. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Possibly. While DS2’s hero is strong and nimble, the Black Racer is probably faster than a speeding bullet…Sorry, wrong hero.

Game: Maximo vs. Army of Zin

Lord of the Underworld and now sidekick to a heroic knight, Grim is a friend to the player. When Maximo dies, Grim will help return him from the dead and aid in battle. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Being small and invincible, Grim could offer some resistance to the Rider.

Game: Dante’s Inferno

The highly mature and brain-blowing Dante’s Inferno put players up against Death early in the game. With the reaper’s defeat, Dante is able to defy his own mortality, use a bone-handled scythe and journey into Hell itself. Could he handle DS2’s Death? No, since Dante (who was only a knight) beat him bad.

Game: Grim Fandango

Calavera is a Reaper, a sort of travel agent for the recently departed in the classic PC game. Along the way, he uncovers a noir-ish plot in the afterlife and works to stop it. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Maybe he’s got great detective skills but Calavera would suffer quickly from Vigil’s anti-hero.

Game: The Sims

In the Sims, gamers get to play with lives so there is also the balance of playing with death. In this case, whenever a character passes on, the Reaper shows up and generates a tombstone. Could he handle DS2’s Death? Unless the Apocalypse Rider needs help living, getting married and building a house, we think the Sims’ Reaper is going to build his own headstone.

Game: Conker’s Bad Fur Day

When the titular hero dies, he meets this robed bag of bones. Rather than keep Conker down, Gregg helps him battle the undead. Could he handle DS2’s Death? No, he hates cats and zombies and can’t do much about either. Death would smoke Gregg quickly.

Game: Guitar Hero

Grab your axe and possibly kiss it goodbye! In Guitar Hero, players could go head to head with Grim Ripper, the heavy death metal lover himself. Could he handle DS2’s Death? In a battle for the Apocalypse? No. In a one-on-one rockin’ playoff? The Ripper takes the win.

Game: Castlevania

From hurling spinning sickles to depowering heroes, this version of the angel of death plagued the Belmont family in nearly every incarnation of Castlevania. Could he handle DS2’s Death? The skeletal guardian of the Prince of Darkness would definitely put a challenge on War’s brother. Grab a Belmont!