Being the hero in a game can sometimes be boring. That’s why there are games out there wherein players can directly control villains. Destroy All Humans is a good example, as an invading alien comes to Earth to probe citizens and cause chaos.
26 Games That Let You Play As The Bad Guy
Playing the virtuous hero who saves the day game after game gets stale, so it's always interesting when a game lets you play as the bad guy.
As fun as pure villain games can be, it’s a bit more interesting to make the protagonist fall into a gray zone. Maybe players can be good, and maybe they can be bad. While a better story can come out of a good campaign, the bad side may incentivize players to be more evil thanks to rewards, and these examples prove it.
BioShock
Stealing Adam From Eve
BioShock
- Released
- August 21, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- FPS
BioShock takes place inside an underwater paradise called Rapture that eventually fell to ruin when supernatural powers started to flow freely between citizens. Players discover Rapture after their plane crashes in the ocean, and among heaps of debris and unhinged citizens, they will also discover children called Little Sisters. Freeing them will lead to rewards later, but harvesting them will strengthen the player’s supernatural powers. It’s cruel, but necessary to get an edge early in combat.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
The Power Of Force Lightning
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Released
- July 15, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Players will customize their Jedi with amnesia in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Through dialogue choices, they can earn positive and negative karma, which will affect the skill tree. By playing vindictively, players can unlock cool Sith powers like Force Lightning, which are typically cooler than the normal Jedi abilities. It’s one of the deepest Sith experiences in a Star Wars game to date.
InFamous
Better Powers For Being Evil
inFAMOUS
- Released
- May 26, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
inFamous is the first game in the series that stars an ordinary courier named Cole who gets electrical powers one day. Players can choose to stop villains and save citizens, or they can go after everyone to become an evil version of Cole. The worse the players are, the redder they will become, which will lead to exclusive evil powers like more explosive grenade-like charges and the ability to drain foes of health.
Undertale
Not The Right Way, But It Is A Path
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Undertale is an indie RPG designed to subvert tropes, while still drawing from some of the best RPGs of all time. Players can find a way through/around every battle, including bosses, to spare them, which will lead to a more enriching ending.
8 Best RPGS For Playing An Evil Character, Ranked
For those looking to unleash their video game dark side, these RPGs are perfect for villainous runs.
However, players can also cut through every enemy, as they would in a standard RPG, which can be easier since players don’t have to guess and jump through word-based obstacles. Even though it is a darker story by far, it is rewarding to see an evil playthrough of Undertale at least once.
Cult Of The Lamb
Become An Unrelenting God
Cult of the Lamb
- Released
- August 11, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Blood, Violence.
- Genre(s)
- Roguelite, Indie Games, Simulation
Cult of the Lamb is a roguelike crossed with a life sim. Players will get the backing of an elder god to rise to the top and kill other gods in their name as a conduit. Players can rescue NPCs in dungeons and then make them citizens. The crueler players are toward their flock, the better the rewards. Players can even eat NPCs and serve them up for all to feast on to become one of the most fearful video game gods of all time.
Vampyr
Don’t Resist Your Bloodlust
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
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Vampyr takes place in the early 1900s, wherein a plague is sweeping through London. As a doctor, players have to try to treat patients as best they can, but there is a catch. Players were just turned into a vampire and have to resist the urge to feast on NPCs to stay moral. However, this will turn players into a weaker vampire, so it’s encouraged to drink up to become something even Dracula would cringe at.
Darkwatch
Use Your Vampire Powers For Good
Darkwatch
- Released
- August 16, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Darkwatch is another vampire game, which features cowboys in the Old West. At certain juncture points, players can choose good or evil choices like executing a key character. Evil choices will unlock evil skills like the ability to make enemies obey. Both skill trees are fun to play with, and the game is short enough that players should try and see them all, with the evil side being slightly edgier and thus cooler.
Manhunt
Evil Begets Evil
Manhunt
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Manhunt is one of Rockstar’s more forgotten series, and also one of their darker ones. This first game made players fight their way through snuff film sets, with the task of eliminating foes or sneaking past them.
Main Villains From The Final Fantasy Series, Ranked
The Final Fantasy games have introduced many iconic heroes, but every hero needs a compelling antagonist. We're ranking the games' best villains.
Avoiding contact or disposing of enemies in simple ways would not get players many rewards. However, leaning into the killer character and going after brutal kills would get players a greater score, which would then lead to more enticing rewards.
Army Of Two: The 40th Day
The Life Of A Mercenary
Army of Two: The 40th Day
- Released
- January 8, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Army of Two: The 40th Day is the second game in the co-op focused shooter series about mercenaries. Not every mission has moral choices, but the ones that do often don’t have positive rewards besides being able to brag to others that they played on the high ground. Playing dishonorably often leads to more money to buy and customize weapons or to unlock new weapons. The better the guns, the easier enemies will go down.
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant Of The Plume
An Easier Game If You Sacrifice Allies
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
- Released
- March 17, 2009
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume is the only entry in the series designed as a tactical RPG, and it’s a brutal one at that. To make things easier, the main character, Wylfred, can use an item called the Destiny Plume to power up an ally. When their series of turns is over, that party member will die forever. Sacrificing teammates to get ahead is immoral, but also strategically sound to win battles for the greater good.
8 Best Open-World Games Set In Fictional Cities
Even though these fictional open-world cities are dangerous, you know you want to visit them for the bragging rights alone. And maybe a postcard.