History Main / DarkIsEvil

*** The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Pokémon]] [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness entries]], where the ongoing focus of the stories are the Shadow Pokémon [[DubNameChange (called Dark Pokémon in Japan)]] created and wielded primarily by the villain organization of Cipher. Regular Pokémon who've underwent a process involving [[MindRape "shutting the door to their hearts"]] that leaves them as emotionless fighting machines, Shadow Pokémon retain their ordinary typings, but they're shown to be surrounded by a dark purple aura and use all manner of deadly Shadow-type attacks that are super-effective on ''every'' type. This is especially true of ''Gale of Darkness''' mascot [=XD001=], aka [[OlympusMons Shadow Lugia]], whose corruption gives it a dark purple color scheme complete with [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]].

* ''VideoGame/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile'': The BigBad of the game, Ghadius, is a nightmare creature intentioned to destroy all of Phantomile, [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum himself included]]. He is also know as the King of Darkness.

* ''VideoGame/Klonoa: Door to Phantomile'': The BigBad of the game, Ghadius, is a nightmare creature intentioned to destroy all of Phantomile, [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum himself included]]. He is also know as the King of Darkness.

The logic behind the trope is as follows: [[PrimalFear most humans fear the dark]], at least to some degree; our sight is the sense we depend on the most, and we cannot see well in darkness, therefore a lack of light makes us feel very vulnerable to danger.[[note]]Leopards, one kind of predator our ancestors had to deal with on the African plains, prefer to hunt on moonless nights so that they can sneak up on their prey. Humans that ''weren't'' afraid of the dark probably became leopard chow.[[/note]] Furthermore, the fact that it's so hard to see in darkness (well, for humans, anyways) has caused some of us to associate darkness with deception. Evil is associated with deception, fitting in with darkness. If you want to be even more obvious about it, give the bad guy a [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast name]] that has something to do with darkness, shadows or the color black.

A SuperTrope to EvilWearsBlack. Black is the favorite color of the CardCarryingVillain, as it is associated with the color of death in the western world. Vampires, witches and necromancers are also traditionally seen in black garb. Dark purple is also often lumped together in this trope as PurpleIsTheNewBlack. That being said, a character doesn't have to wear black to qualify for Dark is Evil. A EvilSorcerer that [[CastingAShadow whose magic is rooted in shadows and darkness]], still qualifies even if he wears [[VillainInAWhiteSuit a white costume]].

Contrast MysteriousPurple if the dark color is [[PurpleIsTheNewBlack a shade of purple]] and the morality or evilness of the character/place/object is more ambiguous. If a character has darkness-based powers, see CastingAShadow.

** While there is talk about maintaining the Balance between Light and Dark in ''Videogame/FinalFantasyXIV'', the actions taken by the Ascians [[spoiler:who worship the god of Darkness Zodiark]] have caused so much bloodshed and sorrow throughout history that it's hard to see them as anything but evil.

* ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'': Invoked by Darkness/Nightshroud. Since darkness in the Yu-Gi-Oh universe is stated to be a form of raw potential that is molded by human hearts, Darkness/Nightshroud is implied to be created from TheSacredDarkness specifically ''because'' humanity thinks that Dark Is Evil.

A SuperTrope to EvilWearsBlack. Black is the favorite color of the CardCarryingVillain, as it is associated with the color of death in the western world. Vampires, witches and necromancers are also traditionally seen in black garb. Dark purple is also often lumped together in this trope as PurpleIsTheNewBlack. That being said, a character doesn't have to wear black to qualify for DarkIsEvil. A EvilSorcerer that [[CastingAShadow whose magic is rooted in shadows and darkness]], still qualifies even if he wears [[VillainInAWhiteSuit a white costume]].

!!Example subpages:
[[index]]
* DarkIsEvil/VideoGames
[[/index]]

!!Other examples:

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* In ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'', the wolves are all villains, and either live or at least meet up in a dark castle.
[[/folder]]

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':

* In ''Franchise/FairyTail'', there are villainous characters that use the Black Arts and dark related magic for evil.

* In ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' [[NightmareFuelStationAttendant Alucard]] the vampire has darkness powers. He's also [[spoiler: '''COUNT {{DRACULA}}''']] himself.

** During the events of ''Manga/PhantomBlood'', [[BigBad Dio Brando]] wears dark colored clothing, has the ability to create zombies, and has a number of traits in general that make him a SatanicArchetype.
** From ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'', there's [[SerialKiller Yoshikage Kira]]'s [[FightingSpirit Stand]], Killer Queen, due to its skull motif and the way it materializes itself in a black blur. Kira himself, however, is a case of LightIsNotGood.
** ''Manga/GoldenWind'':

* In ''Franchise/MyHeroAcademia'', most villains are this:

* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' has The '''Dark''' Kingdom and the '''Black''' Moon Clan both of whom are ObviouslyEvil. There’s also the Malefic Black Crystal which is outright said to be Malefic.

** Among the various differently colored forces in Franchise/GreenLantern, there are several who tend to favor evil methods, such the Sinestro Corps, the Red Lantern Corps, and Agent Orange. However, the worst by far is the [[ComicBook/BlackestNight Black Lantern Corps]], an army of ZombieMooks who can all regenerate FromASingleCell. Their ultimate goal is TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, with "the world" in this case being every living thing in the universe. They are [[EvilerThanThou so evil]] that every other color, good and bad, [[EnemyMine teamed-up]] to stop them. Though Creator/GeoffJohns has described the Black Lanterns as being AboveGoodAndEvil. To them, they're simply fighting off the light, which they see as intruding in the universe.

* ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'': Deconstructed. Elijah Price (played by Creator/SamuelLJackson) lectures a buyer in his comic art gallery on the appearance of a {{supervillain}} as opposed to a {{superhero}}, including the DarkIsEvil trope. [[spoiler:After TheReveal where Elijah turns out to be a mass murderer, the implication is that Elijah convinced himself he was a supervillain because of how he resembled this and other VillainTropes.]]

* In ''Literature/WingsOfFire'', even the nocturnal and darkness-associated [[=NightWings=]] think that DarkIsEvil, meaning that when Arctic complains about Foeslayer's name for her son (Darkstalker) being NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast, she responds that it shows him as a hero fighting the darkness. The [=NightWings=] themselves [[DarkIsEvil can]] [[DarkIsNotEvil vary.]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* The main villain from ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', [[Characters/SamuraiJackAku Aku]], is essentially a giant shadow demon, and things under his control are often artistically depicted as being wrangled by black veins. There's another element to his darkness as well, with robot enemies having [[BloodlessCarnage black thick oil instead of blood]], and his effect on the corrupting effect on the world is a pollution of it in some cases.
** Aku takes it to the logical extreme in that he is essentially dark and evil ''itself'' [[MadeOfEvil incarnate]]. This actually serves as a weakness for him: He's completely incapable of doing anything remotely good, to the point that it makes him predictable and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard bites him in the behind]] when doing good would have benefited him more yet he couldn't help but be evil.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', this is the first clue Jet (synonym for "black") is not such a good guy.

* ''Literature/LastMage'': Some of [[BigBad Rhianna's]] minions are black [[EldritchAbomination otherworldly things]], others are shadows, and her own [[EvilIsSexy black dresses]] are described lovingly.

Darkness is associated with evil, ugliness, [[WaxingLyrical scary monsters,]] [[Music/DavidBowie and super creeps]]. This is the reason for the naming of TheDarkSide and why EvilCounterpart characters and certain {{Underground Monkey}}s often have 'dark' in front of their names.

Why EvilIsNotWellLit, and why [[CueTheSun having the sun vanish is a bad sign]]. See also LightIsGood, LightDarknessJuxtaposition, BadPowersBadPeople, ObviouslyEvil, DarknessEqualsDeath, NiceDayDeadlyNight, and WhiteIsPure. That said, stories where Dark Is Evil and LightIsNotGood are commonplace to show that the light can be just as foul as darkness, if not eviller. DarkIsNotEvil is the inversion and the good counterpart of this trope. Another one is TheSacredDarkness, where Dark may or may not be evil, but is just as important as Light.

** Most of Frieza's abilities either have references to darkness or are dark-colored.

* The main villain from ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', Aku, is essentially a giant shadow demon, and things under his control are often artistically depicted as being wrangled by black veins. There's another element to his darkness as well, with robot enemies having [[BloodlessCarnage black thick oil instead of blood]], and his effect on the corrupting effect on the world is a pollution of it in some cases.

** {{Averted|Trope}} with [[spoiler:Horde Prime, whose chief colors are white and bright green, and who is the most evil person in the series. When Adora exorcises him from Hordak, however, he appears as a black mass with various eyes.]]

* Nightmare Moon from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' played this very straight, being a jet black MadGod who usurped Princess Celestia and plunged the world into eternal night. While her true self, Princess Luna, [[DarkIsNotEvil isn't evil]], WordOfGod confirms that the rest of Equestria is still afraid of her partly because of her actions as Nightmare Moon and partly because they still believe in this trope. King Sombra takes this trope even further. He is described as having a "heart as black as night" and was able to subjugate an entire empire on his own with dark magic. [[spoiler:Even then, the comics show that he actually UsedToBeASweetChild, but his constant [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer treatment]] by the other Crystal Ponies and [[TomatoInTheMirror his discovery of being an]] EldritchAbomination eventually made him snap and invoke ThenLetMeBeEvil]].

* In ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', the AlwaysChaoticEvil Virus Attribute Digimon tend to have a copious amount of either black or [[RedIsViolent red]] in their color schemes, but more often than not black. There are multiple {{Evil Counterpart}}s to normally heroic Digimon that are simply just the base form painted black, nine times out of ten with "Black" added as a prefix to their names (Saberdramon and [=MetalGreymon=]-Virus being rare exceptions) as well.

Darkness is associated with evil, ugliness, [[WaxingLyrical scary monsters,]] [[Music/DavidBowie and super creeps]]. This is the reason for the naming of TheDarkSide and why EvilCounterpart characters and certain {{Underground Monkey}}s often have 'dark' in front of their names. Like all ColourCodedForYourConvenience[=/=]GoodColorsEvilColors examples, this is common, but not universal, and will vary from culture to culture.

** ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'': Queen Grimhilde initially has only a black cape, then she wears a black cloak in her old hag disguise. One of her potion's ingredients is also ''the black of night''.
** ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'': [[LadyOfBlackMagic Maleficent]], who wears a black wardrobe and turns into a black dragon for her OneWingedAngel.
** The bear from ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'' has black fur.

** ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'': Professor Ratigan has a black suit, which contrasts with Basil's brighter outfit.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'': Ursula has black tentacles of an octopus.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Jafar is dressed in black and red, the latter of which is another typically evil color. He also turns into a black and red cobra.
** Scar from ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}''. He has a black mane, and dark fur.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'': Frollo is an odd case, wearing all black, but otherwise representing LightIsNotGood.
** Dr. Facilier/The Shadow Man from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' has a primarily black outfit.
** Mother Gothel of ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'' has dark hair, dark grey eyes, a deep red dress and a black cloak (which is even more noticeable in contrast to [[LightIsGood Rapunzel]], with her blonde locks, bright green eyes and bright purple dress). She's even shown blocking out the tower's natural light sources and snuffing out candles Rapunzel had lit during her VillainSong.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Brave}}'': The main villain, Mor'du, is a large, coal black [[BearsAreBadNews bear]] who mercilessly hunts the protagonist, princess Merida.

* ''Film/{{Aliens}}'': The Xenomorphs are predatory aliens that have black exoskelotons and hide in the shadows to attack the crew of the ''Nostromo''.

* ''Film/{{Nosferatu}}'' has a pale villain, but he wears a dark coat and needs darkness to survive. [[NewerThanTheyThink It's from this film]] that all modern legends of vampires and daylight not going together stem. In the [[Literature/{{Dracula}} original novel]], {{Dracula}} was able to walk around in human form in the daylight.

* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': Judge Doom, the BigBad, is dressed in black: black cape, black suit, black hat, and black cane. Pretty [[ObviouslyEvil on-the-nose]], but [[spoiler:Toons aren't exactly known for subtlety]]...

A SuperTrope to EvilWearsBlack. Black is the favorite color of the CardCarryingVillain, as it is associated with the color of death in the western world. Vampires, witches and necromancers are also traditionally seen in black garb. Dark purple is also often lumped together in this trope as PurpleIsTheNewBlack. That being said, a character doesn't have to wear black to qualify for DarkIsEvil. A EvilSorcerer that [[CastAShadow whose magic is rooted in shadows and darkness]], still qualifies even if he wears [[VillainInAWhiteSuit a white costume]].

The logic behind the trope is as follows: [[PrimalFear most humans fear the dark]], at least to some degree; our sight is the sense we depend on the most, and we cannot see well in darkness, therefore a lack of light makes us feel very vulnerable to danger.[[note]]Leopards, one kind of predator our ancestors had to deal with on the African plains, prefer to hunt on moonless nights so that they can sneak up on their prey. Humans that ''weren't'' afraid of the dark probably became leopard chow.[[/note]] Furthermore, the fact that it's so hard to see in darkness (well, for humans, anyways) has caused some of us to associate darkness with deception. Evil is associated with deception as well, so, from Star Wars to cowboy movies, a lot of bad guys [[EvilWearsBlack wear black hats]]. If you want to be even more obvious about it, give the bad guy a [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast name]] that has something to do with darkness.

TheWestern genre tradition of having the bad guys wear the black hat was not as [[LostInImitation common as later writers would think]]. However, some certainly held to it, such as ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'' and ''Film/{{Shane}}'', and you'd probably never imagine Creator/LeeVanCleef without one.

A SuperTrope to EvilWearsBlack. Black is the favorite color of the CardCarryingVillain, as it is associated with the color of death in the western world. Vampires, witches and necromancers are also traditionally seen in black garb. Dark purple is also often lumped together in this trope as PurpleIsTheNewBlack. Contrast MysteriousPurple if the dark color is [[PurpleIsTheNewBlack a shade of purple]] and the morality or evilness of the character/place/object is more ambiguous. If a character has darkness-based powers, see CastingAShadow.

* In ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'', the wolves are all villains, have dark gray-colored fur, and either live or at least meet up in a dark castle.

** The [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Godhand]] are the {{Big Bad}}s of the series. All of them are [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Black Angels]] (or Demons).

** [[Anime/DragonBallZTheTreeOfMight Turles]], Goku's EvilCounterpart, is a straight example. He wears all black and has much darker skin than Goku to match the armor.
** Evil Buu when Fat Buu separated himself into 2 halves in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. Its color is dark gray, and has soulless white eyes within black sclera which originated the BlackEyesOfCrazy trope.

* The homunculi from ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'' all wear black and have dark hair, and are sociopaths to boot.
** Interestingly subverted with the leader of the homunculi, [[BigBad Father]], [[LightIsNotGood who wears all white]]. Eventually played straight [[spoiler:with his true form, an EldritchAbomination LivingShadow with evil eyes all over the place]].

%%* ''Manga/HighSchoolOfTheDead'': Koichi Shido wears black, complete with ScaryShinyGlasses and pale white skin.%%Evil how?

* [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos The Slender Man]] wears a [[BadassInANiceSuit pitch-black suit]], is nigh-invisible in the dark ([[DaylightHorror and most of the time, the day too]]) has black CombatTentacles and [[TheBlank about as much expression as]] ComicBook/TheQuestion. It surprises no-one at all that he's evil.

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': Aubrey Jason was already evil to begin with, but later acquires dark energy powers to become Lord Sovereign.

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': In this ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' Franchise/MonsterVerse fanfiction; the underground and darkness are associated with the antagonists. When the Many and [[spoiler:Keizer Ghidorah]] ''do'' come to the surface, they darken the skies with their Ghidorah-derived WeatherManipulation. [[DarkIsNotEvil Inverted]] by Monster X: they have dark gray skin from their second form onwards (in contrast to Ghidorah's and its other "children's" [[BrightIsNotGood gold]]) and are very much [[AdaptationalHeroism heroic]].

!!Examples:

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerAttackOfDarkforce EXTRAPOWER Attack of Darkforce]]'': The Yami Clan. Dark Force, with his all-black design and Dark Force Army composed of pitch black assault ships and harnessing Dark Energy, is a subtle example.
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfAmbrose'': In Timeline 2, Lilith somehow loses her angelic nature and becomes a demon, trading her [[LightIsNotGood light-elemental]] skills for dark-elemental skills. She's also much more malicious as a demon than as a mindless angel, since she's acting on her jealousy and spite towards Helen.
* ''VideoGame/{{Manafinder}}'': Illia is the Goddess of the Night who seeks to destroy all manastones to keep humanity from becoming dependent on the gods, whether humans want that outcome or not. [[spoiler:During her FinalBoss fight on Frederick's route, she uses Endark to add a dark elemental magic hit to her attacks.]]
* Creator/{{Nintendo}} loves this trope.
** A few examples from the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series: dark enemies in ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' are more evil and powerful, Bowser's ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' castle is located in Dark Land, ''VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine'''s Shadow Mario is evil, etc., etc..
** ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' {{Final Boss}}es Dark Matter, Dark Mind, and Dark Nebula. Other antagonists Nightmare and Necrodeus are also associated with darkness, particularly the latter.
** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'' has [[DarkWorld Dark Aether]]. The planet itself is a darkly-lit dimension whose very atmosphere is toxic to things from the light dimension, while its shadowy Ing inhabitants are AlwaysChaoticEvil. The ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' also has [[EvilDoppelganger Dark Samus]], though ironically, her design from ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'' is noticeably less dark in appearance despite her being even more evil in that game.
** Dark Link is an evil counterpart of Link in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''. Ganondorf also spells this trope to full effect in both ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Twilight Princess''.
*** The shadow in ''Twilight Princess'' turns Link into his wolf form, which has to be combated by the holiness of the Master Sword when [[spoiler: Link gets cursed by Zant]].
** ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
*** Dark, the English name of one of the 18 elements in the series, was localized directly from "Evil", as the type is known in Japanese (hence why many Dark moves involve [[CombatPragmatist doing immoral things like stealing or lying]] or having "bad thoughts"). It's frequently subverted, though, as Dark-types are shown to be capable of being good natured, contrary to what their Pokédex entries may imply[[labelnote:*]]such as Spiritomb being 108 spirits bound to a stone for misdeeds, Hoopa Unbound being a large and brutish thief, and Yveltal being the ''harbinger of death''[[/labelnote]]. They do, however, often require more effort to max out their happiness than some other species of Pokémon. [[note]]Other adaptations though give the Dark-types AdaptationalVillainy, like Yveltal being an AxCrazy BigBad in ''Anime/PokemonDiancieAndTheCocoonOfDestruction'', or Darkrai even being a {{Sadist}} and TheManBehindTheMan in ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers'' [[/note]]
*** Dark-type Pokémon are commonly used by evil teams, and are often a BigBad's trump card (such as [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Ghet]][[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 sis's]] Hydreigon and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Lysandre's]] Mega Gyarados).
*** The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Pokémon]] [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness entries]], where the ongoing focus of the stories are the Shadow Pokémon [[DubNameChange (called Dark Pokémon in Japan)]] created and wielded primarily by the villain organization of Cipher. Regular Pokémon who've underwent a process involving [[MindRape "shutting the door to their hearts"]] that leaves them as emotionless fighting machines, Shadow Pokémon retain their ordinary typings, but they're shown to be surrounded by a dark purple aura and use all manner of deadly Shadow-type attacks that are super-effective on ''every'' type. This is especially true of ''Gale of Darkness''' mascot [=XD001=], aka [[OlympusMons Shadow Lugia]], whose corruption gives it a dark purple color scheme complete with [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]].
*** The concept, or at least ''very'' similar concepts of Shadow Pokémon have gone on to also appear in ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonGO'', in the former case with a corrupted Shadow Mewtwo acting as final boss of the campaign and in the latter case being similarly created and used by an evil team, in this case Team GO Rocket.
*** In the Japanese version of ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers of Time/Darkness/Sky'', the main story's BigBad is known as Darkness Dialga. The US version instead translated it as [[PrimalFear Primal Dialga]]. The BadFuture is also distinctly associated with darkness. Then it turns out there's [[spoiler: a ManBehindTheMan Darkrai]], who is very much the opposite of [[DarkIsNotEvil many of the species' main series portrayals]].
** Giygas from ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' is a swirling skull looking creature made out of red lines and the background behind It is black.
** ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'' generally follows this trope, perhaps {{Anvilicious}}ly, with the majority of the villains including the likes of Hades, Medusa and other underworld-associated baddies with often dark color schemes and many appropriately dark-themed abilities. It is subverted and arguably eventually [[DarkIsNotEvil outright averted]] with Dark Pit in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', however: while he starts out antagonistic towards Pit and fights him at different points of the game, he never works for the BigBad or does much that could really be called ''evil'' and describes himself as "Servant to nobody but myself". He's really more of a ChaoticNeutral on his worst days. [[spoiler: Later in the game, he even joins the battle against Hades since he finds his actions beyond atrocious, down to [[BashBrothers fighting alongside Pit directly]] and becoming playable himself to save Pit's life.]]
** While the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series typically goes for DarkIsNotEvil, there are some examples:
*** Nearly every game in the series has at least one EvilSorcerer who acts as a major antagonist and uses dark magic as their weapon of choice. The only exception is ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade'', which has no such villain.
*** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776'', dark magic and the people who use it include the games' Big Bad, bent on resurrecting their dark god in order to bring an era of suffering upon the continent. However, in ''Thracia 776'' you can recruit an ex-clergyman.
*** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' and its spinoff ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes'', while there are several sympathetic characters who use dark magic, all seven playable characters (eight if you count the ''Warriors: Three Hopes'' SecretCharacter [[spoiler:Arval]]) who wield it have some connection to "those who slither in the dark", the main evil faction. Lysithea and Hapi survived brutal experiments at their hands, Hubert and Jeritza [[spoiler:are reluctantly allied with them in order to facilitate their own ambitions]], Edelgard fits both of the previous statements, Monica was kidnapped by them with the intention of killing her to steal her identity and use it to infiltrate Garreg Mach Monastery, and Shez [[spoiler:is the vessel for Arval, an artificial creation of those who slither in the dark made to destroy Sothis]].
** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' has you dealing with [[spoiler:Dharkon, who takes over after [[LightIsNotGood Galeem]] is defeated. By this point, you not only have to fight the dark, but also the light.]]
* The Dark Elves are the evil guys in ''VideoGame/ZanZarahTheHiddenPortal'', though there is an additional distinction between Darkness and Chaos [[spoiler:and TheManBehindTheMan is of the LightIsNotGood variety]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Opoona}}'' follows this quite heavily, to the point that most people can't even enter true darkness without serious damage to their mind and body. [[spoiler:Justified in that it's actually TheCorruption, created by the ultimate BigBad of the setting, though not the game itself.]]
* [[EldritchAbomination All]] of the [[BigBadDuumvirate Prime Evils]] and Lesser Evils of ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' are this. They are all full of evil and that is just a topping.
** [[TheLeader The Leader of the Angiris Council]] and [[TheGrimReaper Archangel of Death]] Malthael is ''darker'' than Diablo and is considered ''more sinister'' than any of the Demons by Blizzard ''itself.''
* In the ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' series, Jak is an AntiHero with a SuperpoweredEvilSide, but that's the extent of any DarkIsNotEvil overtones. The world's magical PsychoSerum is black and purple '''DARK''' Eco, [[spoiler:Precursors]] [[TheCorruption corrupted]] by it become '''DARK''' Makers, [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Metal Heads]] live off of it, and the first game's [[BigBadDuumvirate Big Bads]] turned into [[OmnicidalManiac Omnicidal Maniacs]] after being exposed to it for too long. Out of the five people who underwent the Dark Warrior Program, only Jak got out alive... because he's [[TheChosenOne special]]. Both Jak ''and'' Daxter's [[SuperpoweredEvilSide dark alter-egos]] are AxCrazy.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** TheHeartless are the manifestations of the darkness in capured hearts.
** Even after [[spoiler: Riku reverses his FaceHeelTurn]] and uses darkness in heroics, his darkness is, thematically, the "Way to the Dawn".
** While the series as a whole explains DarkIsNotEvil, Xehanort is a practitioner of dark powers, tempts others to darkness to weaken their hearts, and considers darkness a source of true power and knowledge.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'':
** The titular character along with the Umbra Witches, [[DarkIsNotEvil avert]] this, but the demons they work with play it straight. In fact, every witch makes a [[DealWithTheDevil pact]] with a demon in order to gain power, but when the witch dies [[DraggedOffToHell Inferno claims their soul]]
** The Angels of the franchise [[LightIsNotGood are just as bad as the demons]]. So in hindsight, [[GodAndSatanAreBothJerks BOTH light AND dark are evil!]] Though the Lumen Sages have been on good terms with the Angels and at least one of them [[LightIsGood is good]]
* In ''VideoGame/AlanWake'', the darkness ''is'' the main antagonist.
* The ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'' series almost always involve some failed ritual releasing an evil, corrupting presence known simply as the "Malice" or the "Dark".
* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue''
** While Ragna follows the [[DarkIsNotEvil opposite of this trope]], the [[EldritchAbomination Black]] [[{{Orochi}} Beast]] responsible for the CrapsackWorld [[spoiler: and the source of Ragna's power]] embodies it. In Jubei's own words, it was "evil, the likes of which the world has never seen".
** In the sequel, it is revealed that [[BigBad Hazama]] / Yuuki Terumi is this as well by virtue of his [[BadassInANiceSuit nice, black suit]]. [[RobotGirl Mu]]-[[YouAreNumberSix 12]], who calls people by expository titles, refer to Hazama as "The True Evil", indicating that he is even worse than the Black Beast itself. (Those who have played the story up until that point probably gloss over this as a LateArrivalSpoiler, though, because they've already seen what Hazama [[BreakingSpeech is capable of]] [[BreakTheCutie first hand]].) [[spoiler: It's pretty noticeable when Terumi re-assumes his true form after taking back the Susanoo unit in the fourth game, and it's pitch black in every area with the only alternate colors being his green highlights.]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', enemies spawn in any dark areas (whereas non-enemy animals spawn on grass in the light).
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': Shadow the Hedgehog. Subverted in that he's more of an AntiHero ([[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor most of the time]]).
** Played straight with [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]].
* In VideoGame/WarriorsOfMightAndMagic, you can't learn Dark spells, and the few swords imbued with the dark element aren't really strong. Furthermore, Skeletons, Ghouls, Undeads, Wraiths, and Demons have the Dark Element with them.
** The RPG series notes that [[DarkIsNotEvil Dark magic isn't evil]] ''as such'' - it is how you use it that is important - but it includes spells whose casting can be called evil no matter the circumstances (sacrificing a hireling for a temporary advantage!) and is associated with the Path of Dark, a religion/philosophy that nigh-universally seems to attract cruel people that want to do bad deeds.
** Also Daria, Alleron's evil sister has dark hair and dark sexy clothes.
* The ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' GameMod ''VideoGame/BlackSnow'' takes things to extremes: light, warm areas keep out the ''thing'' that's chasing you around the research center. [[spoiler:It turns out that the thing is a predatory strain of fungus that can thrive in any environment ''but'' well-lit ones.]]
* The first ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'' has this in spades, with dark clothing giving you [[KarmaMeter evil points]] and [[LightIsGood bright clothing giving you good points]] and evil characters morphing to have darker features. The sequels ease up on it, but it's still present.
* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'':
** Shinnok is a pale skinned fallen Elder God of Death who uses dark energy blasts and necromancy and rules the Netherealm.
** In the new timeline, Sindel keeps dressing in purple and black outfits that would befit a villainess more, and ''11'' reveals that she is much more black-hearted that never had the intentions to be good no matter what.
* The Darkspawn of ''Franchise/DragonAge''. The Taint that created them originated from the corrupted Golden City in the Fade, now known as the Black City. Subverted slightly in ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' with the appearance of intelligent Darkspawn, but even then, the more antagonistic faction of the awakened Darkspawn wear black armor.
* The Franchise/FinalFantasy series uses this along with its [[LightIsNotGood sister trope.]]
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' has [[spoiler: the Emperor of Hell, though the emperor of Heaven [[LightIsNotGood isn't any better.]]]]
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'' gives us the Cloud of Darkness, but it's actually a subversion. Part of the game's backstory is [[LightIsNotGood how there was a flood of overwhelming light]] 1,000 years ago, requiring four Warriors of the ''Dark'' to save it.
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Golbez]] is a BlackKnight who serves as the main antagonist in IV. [[spoiler: [[DarkIsNotEvil Not really.]] He's BrainwashedAndCrazy and under the control of the true BigBad, who plays this trope straight.]]
*** This deserves further clarification--the original IV equates dark-elemental abilities with TheDarkSide, even having the dark-elemental protagonist's "Spirit" score drop as he levels up and becomes more hardened. As part of the plotline, he's eventually required to give up his powers and LevelDrain with light-elemental abilities. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' goes a more balanced route--having been unable to completely purge his dark side, the hero is ultimately forced to accept and control it. ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' takes this all the way to DarkIsNotEvil.
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Exdeath]] has ThePowerOfTheVoid.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', [[spoiler: God!Kefka]] qualifies. Though depicted as an angel, he has purple skin, and underneath the angel wings are a pair of demonic wings.
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth.]] He wears black and has a black wing.
*** Also, in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', he has dark-based moves, such as Shadow Flare and Octaslash.
*** In a strange subversion, his true form, Safer Sephiroth, is the [[LightIsNotGood inverse.]]
** While there is talk about maintaining the Balance between Light and Dark in ''Videogame/FinalFantasyXIV'', the actions taken by the Ascians [[spoiler:who worship the god of Darkness Zodiark]] have caused so much bloodshed and sorrow throughout history that it's hard to see them as anything but evil.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
** The Void is associated with darkness in all its forms. Voidwalkers represent the darkness of space, with Void Lords acting like black holes, while the Old Gods are the darkness of the night sky and the deep places of the world. Y'shaarj is even called the "Darkest Shadow". Those Void creatures that are not just living shadows often resemble subterannean or abyssal animals: the n'raqi look like deepwater squids, and the aqir like insects.
** Deathwing is another example he’s a DraconicAbomination with black armor that holds himself together due to his body being torn apart by his own power and insanity.
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'': Morgana is a fallen angel, [[LightIsGood in contrast with her sister, Kayle.]]
** Katarina wears black. [[CardCarryingVillain She makes no secret of the fact that she's a villain, and enjoys it.]]
** Nocturne. He'd give ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'''s [[spoiler: Darkrai]] a serious run for his money.
** Viegar may or may not be a HarmlessVillain, but he certainly fits the bill, due to use of Darkness spells and the wearing of Purple and Black.
** Malzahar, like Exdeath of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', uses a variation of the [[PowerOfTheVoid Void.]]
** While Swain doens't wear any dark colors, he does turn into a [[CreepyCrows Demonic Crow]].
** And Zed. [[CastingAShadow Controls shadow minions]], has an ''EvilLaugh'', wields two double bladed serrated [[BladeBelowTheShoulder wrist blades]] and is dedicated to destroying the order preserving balance on Ionia.
* [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-Zagged]] in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI''. The [[PlayerKilling Darkwraiths of Kaathe]] act as the polar opposite of the helpful Warriors of Sunlight, but the [[SerialKillerKiller Darkmoon Covenant]] opposes the wraiths as well. Likewise, the looming apocalypse to be prevented is the Age Of Dark [[spoiler: though if Kaathe is believed, it will actually be a GoldenAge for human kind, and is being postponed by the dying (former) Lord Of Sunlight]]. The Abyss and it's connection to humanity/[[HumanResources Humanity]] is generally unclear, though typically [[EldritchAbomination inconceivably horrific]]. The "Artorias of the Abyss" DownloadableContent reveals [[spoiler:just how bad things get if humans lose control of their inner darkness aka humanity. As in, HumansAreCthulhu bad.]]
** ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' doesn't make things any less ambiguous. While [[spoiler:the Children of the Dark spawned from the fragments of Manus' soul]] are horrific abominations that are anathema to all life, players can now wield the power of darkness themselves in the form of Hexes. The Gravewarden Fenito Agadyne claims that humans once lived in peace in the dark, until the gods forced them to live in the light.
** Meanwhile, ''Videogame/DarkSoulsIII'' comes in with the boss [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Aldrich, Devourer of Gods]] as well as the Ringed City DLC. Aldrich is - in the context of the Dark Souls universe - is both subverting this trope and playing it straight. This is because, unlike other characters introduced so far that were consumed by the dark (including [[ReligionOfEvil Aldrich's followers]]), he has been able to maintain his sanity, even after [[BodyHorror melting into a maggoty pile of sludge and bones]]. Fortunate for him, but not so for everyone else, considering Aldrich was a psychopathic cannibal that ate even women and children, and is currently eating [[spoiler: Gwyndolin]] by the time we meet him. The Ringed City DLC, on the other hand, also dances around this trope. It shows us the location where the [[TitleDrop Dark Soul of Man]] itself was kept contained, and while its newly-introduced lore tells us that dark was originally not evil and that it was only after Gwyn tried to imprison it that things got out of hand, it also ends with a bossfight with [[spoiler: Slave Knight Gael, who consumed the Dark Soul [[HeroicSacrifice knowing that it would drive him insane]]]].
* The Hel element in ''VideoGame/{{Boktai}}'' is always evil. Period. While it ''can'' be used for good, it's implied to be much weaker (since it is the power of hatred), and there is the constant chance that it will corrupt its user for good which only gets higher each and every time it's used.
--> '''[[TheFatalist Sabata:]]''' The dark gives me power... but it hurts me... eats away at my soul...
* ''VideoGame/Fallout3''
** The Enclave. Unlike the Brotherhood of Steel, who are in grey power armor, most of theirs are black.
** Zigzagged with the Brotherhood outcasts. While they left the Brotherhood of Steel to form their own group, and painted their armor black and red, they are more on the gray scale.
** The Talon Mercs that hunt down the player should he/she have good karma as well, they have black clothing.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
** From the series' primary CreationMyth comes Padomay, TheAntiGod [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personification]] of the forces of change, chaos, and darkness. He is the [[CainAndAbel twin brother]] to Anu, the GodOfGods personification of the forces of [[OrderVersusChaos stasis, order, and light]]. While not an inherently evil force, Padomay was [[DrivenByEnvy jealous]] that Nir (the female personification of "creation" who came to be out of Anu and Padomay's interplay) favored Anu. Padomay killed Nir and shattered the 12 worlds she created. Anu would wound Padomay and then put the pieces of the worlds together to create one world: Nirn. Padomay returned and wounded Anu, so Anu [[TakingYouWithMe pulled Padomay and himself outside of time]] to end Padomay's threat to creation.
** Sithis, referred to as a "[[PowerOfTheVoid great void]]", is a force representing chaos, change, and limitation. In some religious traditions, Sithis is related to or may even be what is left of Padomay. Sithis is associated with darkness and is described as a "great void", and those who worship him are almost universally seen as evil or at the very least extremely amoral.
** The Dark Brotherhood is an illegal [[MurderInc organization of assassins]] whose membership mostly takes a [[PsychoForHire sadistic glee]] in killing and who practice a ReligionOfEvil in which they worship Sithis. Their their outfits also tend to contain a lot of [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black and red]].
** As a whole, the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Princes]], associated with the darkness of Padomay, are AboveGoodAndEvil, operating within their own spectrum of BlueAndOrangeMorality. Still, they range from being considered "evil" to being considered JerkassGods to most civilizations throughout Tamriel. However, a few of the malevolent Daedric Princes fit this reputation, such as Molag Bal (Daedric Prince of [[TheCorrupter Corruption]] and the closest thing the series has to a true GodOfEvil) and Vaermina, the Daedric Prince of Nightmares, who may only be second in brutality to Molag Bal himself. For more on the Daedric Princes, see the [[Characters/TheElderScrollsDaedra series' "Daedra" subpage]].
** Mannimarco is an infamous and highly [[TheDreaded dreaded]] [[OurLichesAreDifferent Lich]][=/=]{{Necromancer}} who appears in several games in the series. He is quite recognizable in each appearance as ObviouslyEvil - wearing a black BadassLongRobe (often with skull motifs) and leading the [[TheOrder Order of the Black Worm]], who as the name suggests, dress all in black as well.
** Alduin the World Eater is a colossal black [[DragonsAreDemonic dragon]] who it is said will "[[BeastOfTheApocalypse eat the world]]" at the end of the current cycle of time. He serves as the BigBad of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', returning in an attempt to ''rule'' the world rather than eat it.
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'': A running theme of the quadrilogy: dark is evil and is [[MoreThanMindControl likely responsible for humanoid races doing irrational things.]] In ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', a GuestStarPartyMember who uses wide arrays of dark magic (in a setting where no good guy is capable of doing so) turns out to be more than he seems.
* ''VideoGame/{{Tsioque}}'': The Wizard is actually pitch black and evil, his only features appearing being his eyes and his mouth when he speaks.
* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'':
** M. Bison is the most well known user of Psycho Power and is often described as the dark side of the soul. His power feeds of the evil anger and hatred of others.
** Akuma uses the power of the Satsui no Hado and is a master of it. He utilizes this power against his opponents and to preform incredible feats of with this dark hado. When Akuma uses this power he loses his humanity and compassion, develops a negative and cold outlook on life as well as a obsessive, dark, murderous desire to battle.
* ''VideoGame/ShantaeAndThePiratesCurse'' introduces to the series the concept of Dark Magic, the source of power of the Pirate Master, a HumanoidAbomination who was the Scourge of Sequin Land before the genies sealed him in the past. In addition to being inherent to the Pirate Master, Dark Magic could also be created from Light Magic if the latter was used for evil.
* Agent 47 from the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' series is defined by his signature black suit and red tie. It can be changed via disguise, but it's that suit which makes him most iconic. Indeed he's a very dark character, who can kill effortlessly and get away with it without batting an eye.
* ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'' uses this trope extensively, right down to the title. It's even a core gameplay mechanic: the monsters get stronger when your torch is doused (though you also get more rewards). In the lore, TheCorruption around the manor is strongly associated with darkness in the [[PosthumousNarration Ancestor's]] dialogue, and the [[spoiler: BigBad EldritchAbomination is called the "Heart of Darkness"]].
* ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsHitAndRun'':
** {{Subverted|Trope}} with the [[spoiler:black vans in the first level. Burns reveals at the end of the level that they're just pizza delivery vans]].
** Played straight with the [[spoiler:black sedans that appear starting from Level 3, which actually ''are'' part of the villains' plans and repeatedly show up to follow after the Simpsons family. They must be destroyed or avoided whenever they show up. It is later revealed that they are drones from the aliens.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Grow}} Island'': The character gets darker if they hurt the environment by cutting down a forest or by leaving their trash in nature.
* ''VideoGame/{{Falskaar}}'': What makes Yngvarr stand out so much as the BigBad is his unique form of Ebony armour, an all-black metal (in the ''Scrolls''-verse, Ebony is a mined metal, not a form of wood) suit with ominous spikes.
* ''VideoGame/{{Gift|2001}}'': Little Darks and darkness that can kill Gift. Also the non-deadly darkness where Little Clears can live.
* ''VideoGame/TheWolfAndTheWaves'': Whenever the player character shapshifts, there's a puff of white smoke. Except when you die and transform into a zombie, the smoke puff is black.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'': When he's first encountered, Zoma's protected by a ''shroud'' of pure darkness, so potent that it renders him Nigh-Invulnerable to all forms of assault. Only the Ball of Light, an artifact that quite has the potency to restore vibrancy and vitality to the entire world, can nullify it to even the odds.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'': Rhapthorne, the ancient Lord of Darkness. Not only is it evil, but it makes anyone who so much as glances it evil.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'': Barbarus uses dark energy and has a dark appearance that fits his appearance with the Gittish Empire.
** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'':
*** Mordegon is a demonic sorcerer who calls himself the Lord of Shadows who attempts to take over Erdrea.
*** Jasper. While he dons a white armor, he primarily uses Zam-type spells (Darkness Spells) in both cutscenes and boss fights to highlight his sinister nature.
*** Tyriant uses explicitly Zam-type spells and hates light with undying passion.
*** The Gloomnivore is a dark-purple beast with a demonic voice that tortures his victims.
* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'': Demons are associated with darkness, almost always being black in color instead of the usual red[[note]]red demons such as Loki or Hornfel ''do'' exist, but are considerably rarer[[/note]] and some of the more powerful ones being able to darken the screen. Especially powerful monsters such as the Shadies or [[spoiler:Mom's Shadow]] appear black all over with glowing red eyes. This is even reflected with the home turf of the demons: [[PhysicalHell Sheol]] looks like a black cave, and one of the most dangerous locations is called the Dark Room, a series of platforms floating about in a stormy void. With the exception of the beggars and some of the demon player characters, all demons seen in the game are hostile and are trying to kill Isaac.
* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'': The player character [[spoiler:and their siblings]] fall under DarkIsNotEvil, but the Deepnest residents play this trope straight. They are a tribe of spiders that reside in a BlackoutBasement near the edge of Hallownest and are extremely hostile to any outsiders.
* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'': Both Evil Biomes are associated with darkness, having Souls of Night drop from enemies, Dark Shards drop from their infected Deserts, and their material being used to create the Night's Edge. The Corruption is much more tied to darkness than the fleshier Crimson, turning everything purple and black and having more shadow-themed tools and enemies.
* ''VideoGame/{{Lorwolf}}'': In the nightmare you/your wolves have at the beginning of the campaign quest to join a given pack, you are surrounded and attacked by dark tendrils until a [[LightIsGood light]] in the color of your chosen pack appears.
[[/folder]]

** In the MirrorUniverse, Terran ships are darker than their Federation counterparts. This is explain in ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' as the Terrans are not just an alternate universe "evil" version of our universe's humans, but they're a different species with some minor biological difference which causes more sociopathic behavior and rejection to bright lights.

** Olga Discordia is also known as the ''Dark'' Queen, a LadyOfBlackMagic and the catalyst for the [[ForeverWar centuries-old war]] that has caused untold bloodshed. The fact that she once sacrificed one of the cities under her reign to the AlwaysChaoticEvil orcs in order to recruit them marks her as morally dubious. Later {{subverted}} as she undergoes a HeelFaceTurn upon her defeat.

* ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'': The First-Born, who can only be described as [[TabletopGaming drow]] '''[[JustForFun/RecycledINSPACE ON MARS]]''', are a dark-skinned race of pirates and raiders that regularly enslave outsiders and also practice cannibalism. Interestingly, their archenemies are the White Martians (who represent LightIsNotGood) and both factions are introduced as antagonists but once John Carter dethrones the First-Born's mad tyrant, they become friendlier.