Most games feature protagonists who walk the straight and narrow, making them somewhat safe options. Just to be clear, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a traditional hero, and the likes of Mario and Sonic prove that this archetype can be absolutely timeless. However, sometimes, it is fun to just be bad, and that's where games like Destroy All Humans or Overlord come in. Heck, even antiheroes like Wario in Wario Land: Shake It can be a refreshing change of pace.
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Finally, there are a small handful of games that offer players dynamic choices in how they want to play their character, whether they have fully created and customized them or not. There are a lot of choices in games nowadays, but let’s go through which ones offer players the option to either be a hero or villain, and how that can change how these games work. Are they worth replaying to see all sides?
Undertale
Pacifist Or Murderer
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Toby Fox
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Turn-based RPG fans are programmed to go into campaigns and fight monsters without question. Undertale is a game that subverts those RPG expectations by giving players a choice. If they spare monsters in battle by talking them out of their hostilities, then they will simply go away. This works for bosses too.
The best ending in Undertale is the Pacifist route, but players can also be anarchists and kill everyone and everything, and it leads to some dark tidings. This is known as the Genocide route, and while it still ties into the plot (in some truly shocking ways), killing every character in the game, even the cute ones, is tough to stomach.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Dungeons & Devils
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that invites players to play it again and again, as the number of branching storylines is virtually limitless. Players can be a classic Dungeons & Dragons hero and let morality take the reins by trying to find the least bloody solution possible. That's usually how a first playthrough will go.
Alternatively, players might fancy themselves as a dark lord in training and find the bloodiest way through conflicts, which will make some party members more loyal, like Astarion, while others will split from the group entirely. The beginning area is a good testing ground, and anyone who wants to play a more evil character can get better results when playing as a Drow.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
The Dark Side Of The Force
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Released
- July 15, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
There are numerous Star Wars games that offer players the opportunity to choose between good and evil, including Star Wars: Battlefront 2. The most robust example still has to be Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, though, an epic RPG from BioWare with many branching choices.
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Players begin as a an unknown amnesiac, and through dialogue choices, they can lean into being a virtuous Jedi or a Dark Jedi. One route will seem more canonical than the other after a big plot twist in the third act, but that doesn’t need to be spoiled, as decades later, it’s still one of the top recommendations for RPG fans and Star Wars fans alike.
Fallout: New Vegas
Karma Chameleon
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Fallout: New Vegas has a Karma system where good and bad deeds are logged. Perform lots of virtuous acts, and NPCs will react accordingly, while being a violent outlaw will cause them to refuse serivce or flee outright. Also, players can align themselves with various Factions, from wastelanders that fancy themselves as Elvis impersonators to Roman cosplayers, and each Faction has its own intentions for how the Nevada desert should be run.
The New Vegas area is filled with opportunities for players to be a savior among the wastes, or they can be lawless and think only about their own survival. It’s generally considered one of the best Fallout games of all time, and the Karma system is a good example of why fans dig it so much.
InFAMOUS
A Shocking Development
inFAMOUS
- Released
- May 26, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
inFAMOUS is an original superhero game where the protagonist, Cole MacGrath, acquires lightning-based powers after an explosion that decimates Empire City. Players can make good or bad decisions during major missions to move the karmic needle, and once they align themselves with a specific side, they will start to unlock exclusive good and bad powers. Cole's lightning will change color as well; blue for good, and red for evil.
Players can also earn good and evil karma points by treating citizens with kindness or cruelty to help build their character as they explore the city. Admittedly, this is one game where it pays to be evil because the powers are more destructive and engaging to play with, but it fits the narrative better to be a hero, so it's up to the player what their priorities are.
DC Universe Online
Batman Vs The Joker
DC Universe Online
- Released
- January 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Daybreak Game Company
DC Universe Online is an official DC superhero game and a long-running MMO at that. It’s free-to-play, and players can create a hero or villain and align themselves with familiar DC characters like Batman or The Joker to then go on missions for them.
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Players can choose various powers or gadgets that determine their playstyle, and build up their character over time to possibly surpass official DC heroes or villains. DC Universe Online has been around for over a decade now, meaning there is tons of content on both the good and evil sides to experience. There has never been a better time to check it out, especially since the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions just dropped in 2024.
Disney Epic Mickey
A Scrappy Mouse
Disney Epic Mickey
- Released
- November 25, 2010
- ESRB
- E For Everyone // Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Junction Point Studios Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Action
Disney Epic Mickey is one of the most ambitious games starring Mickey Mouse, even if it got a bit watered down during its development. There is still a karma system, as Mickey can be a hero by helping his fellow cartoons, or he can become more villainous. Players can accomplish karmic alignments by using paint thinner to erase characters and objects, or they can use their magic brush to restore everyone and everything to normal.
Originally, choices would have led Mickey to become more ruthless and unhinged-looking, which would have been cooler, but Disney Epic Mickey, as it stands now, is still something worth experiencing to see a slightly darker side of the big-eared hero. Plus, there is a remaster that's now available, making it easier than ever to jump in.
Vampyr
Hungry Heroes
Vampyr
- Released
- June 5, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Dontnod Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Vampyr is another game that makes it hard to resist being evil simply because the powers are so good. Players start as a doctor who is turned into a vampire. They must then decide whether they want to lean into becoming a bloodthirsty devil or continue helping people as a doctor.
Players can build relationships with characters, thus leveling up their potential. Players can then turn those budding relationships into snacks to gain more EXP, which is a cruel way to treat people, as if they're livestock, but it is an effective strategy for leveling up nonetheless. Alternatively, they can remain pure, refusing to feed on the game's NPCs, and they'll unlock the "Good" ending. It all depends on how deeply they think this well-intentioned doctor will succumb to the vampire curse.
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