The Villain Wants To Live

In the AAA game I was designing, the mid-level antagonist was destined to perish repeatedly—a tragic figure doomed by fate. Ironically, I’ve now become that very character, living the role of the doomed villain.

Once just lines of code and scripted encounters, this boss was meant to fall endlessly to players. Now, I find myself trapped in his shoes, experiencing the cycle of defeat firsthand. The irony isn’t lost on me—the creator now inhabiting the creation, bound by its rules.

Every battle I once orchestrated now unfolds with me at the center, a puppet to the game’s mechanics. The players, unaware of my predicament, see only another obstacle to overcome. But for me, each respawn is a reminder of my inescapable fate.

This wasn’t how the story was supposed to go. I was the architect, not the casualty. Yet here I am, reliving the same demise again and again, powerless to change the script. The villain’s role was never meant to be permanent—until it became mine.