There's no feeling in RPGs quite as raw as a companion’s betrayal, especially when gamers spend hundreds of hours teaming up with these digital allies. They share gear, strategize together, and build bonds through tough battles and near-death scrapes. These aren’t just NPCs tagging along; they're trusted partners in adventures that feel real.
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Players have met a lot of legendary RPG companions over the years, but these individuals rarely get enough credit.
So when these companions turn traitorous, it hurts. It’s more than just another plot twist—it's a gut punch delivered by someone the player genuinely cared for. Sometimes the traitor has been dropping hints all along; other times, the turn is so sudden it feels like the emotional equivalent of The Red Wedding. Below are eight of the harshest RPG companion betrayals, ranked by how deeply they've reshaped stories and lingered in players' memories.
8 Crow Armbrust – The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
A Friend's Hidden War for Revenge
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
- Released
- December 22, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Crow Armbrust, the charismatic slacker with a hidden edge, joins Class VII late, quickly earning his stripes as a fan-favorite “big bro” type. But behind that easy grin lurks “C,” mastermind of the Imperial Liberation Front and the architect of Erebonia’s coming civil war.
While some eagle-eyed players might’ve spotted the clues, the reveal still lands hard, especially for those invested in the rivalry and camaraderie with Rean. The shock isn’t just in the twist, but in its aftermath: Crow becomes a recurring boss and the player’s central target, his defection marking a point of no return for the story and the protagonist.
7 Bishop – Neverwinter Nights 2
Self-Preservation Masquerading as Loyalty
Neverwinter Nights 2
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
Every party needs a cynic, but Bishop turns his nihilism into a weapon. From the first encounter, he lets players know he’s loyal only to the winning side—and at Crossroad Keep’s darkest hour, he proves it, sabotaging the defenses and throwing open the gates for the enemy.
What makes Bishop’s turn so vicious isn’t the surprise; it’s the way he uses the promise of redemption as bait. Players chasing a toxic romance get their hearts crushed by design; for everyone else, his treachery strips away hope at the worst moment, forcing a brutal confrontation before the final battle.
6 Yoshimo – Baldur’s Gate 2
The Tragedy of a Friend Compelled to Betray
Yoshimo's betrayal stands apart because he never wanted to betray anyone. He wins trust as the party’s quick-witted, ever-useful thief until the party reaches Spellhold, and the geas forced on him by Jon Irenicus takes control. Unlike the schemers on this list, he turns on the party with tears in his eyes, doomed by magical compulsion and self-loathing.
What makes this twist so haunting is the aftermath: after the fight, Yoshimo begs for forgiveness, pleading for his heart to be returned to Ilmater’s temple for redemption. Players aren’t just losing a top-tier thief; they’re forced into a mercy killing, and the only closure is a quest that underscores how real the friendship once felt.
5 Bastila Shan – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Temptation, Power, and the Fall of the Jedi Heart
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Released
- July 15, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
From the first moment Bastila appears, she radiates Jedi confidence—maybe too much. She’s the team's rock, a master strategist bound by honor. Yet beneath all that Jedi composure lies pride, doubt, and passion. When Bastila eventually succumbs to the Sith's lure, she doesn't just turn against the protagonist; she twists the very relationship players spent hours building.
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It’s a betrayal steeped in tragedy, pushing gamers to question what they truly value and who they can still trust. Depending on player choices, her final confrontation ends in either redemption or ruin, changing the very soul of the game's story.
4 Goro Akechi – Persona 5
Rivalry, Envy, and the Showdown Fans Saw Coming
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Akechi, the slick “Detective Prince,” waltzes into the Phantom Thieves’ story as a charming rival—until his true nature as the black-masked killer surfaces. While the game sprinkles plenty of hints, Akechi’s betrayal is a turning point rooted in envy, parental trauma, and a desperate need for validation.
Players grow to rely on his tactical insights and supernatural abilities, making his betrayal feel like losing both a strategic asset and a confidant. What makes Akechi's treachery insidious is how he tries to execute Joker in a faux interrogation room. But the Phantom Thieves flip the script, catching him in his own trap, and thus softening the blow with the satisfaction of payback.
3 Solas, the Dread Wolf – Dragon Age: Inquisition
World-Breaker in a Mage’s Cloak
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
Solas initially seems like a gentle scholar, a thoughtful mage who holds the party together with quiet wisdom. Yet as players discover in the game's climax, and especially in the Trespasser DLC, he’s actually Fen'Harel, the legendary Dread Wolf, determined to tear down the Veil between worlds.
What makes Solas’s betrayal so brutal isn’t just the scope but the heartbreak: Solas cares deeply for the player, yet he's driven by an ancient guilt and an unwavering vision. This leaves fans wrestling with a painful, thought-provoking question: Is it ever justifiable to destroy a world in hopes of building something better?
2 Delita Heiral – Final Fantasy Tactics
Ambition’s Triumph and the Betrayal of Everything
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original)
Delita’s story is a slow, calculated journey from loyal squire to Machiavellian king. After his sister’s tragic death, he ditches childhood friend Ramza, methodically manipulating every faction in Ivalice to shatter the old order. Every act, every alliance, every “friendship” becomes a stepping stone to his ultimate goal.
Players spend most of the game as bystanders, helpless as Delita’s rise leaves betrayal, heartbreak, and corpses in his wake. His ending, crowning himself king, only to murder the queen who finally sees through him, lands like a Shakespearean tragedy.
1 Kreia/Darth Traya – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
Mentor, Manipulator, and Destroyer of Trust
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
- Released
- December 6, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Kreia takes the top spot due to her philosophically complex betrayal. She poses as a wise mentor, guiding the Exile with thoughtful advice and harsh truths. However, beneath every conversation and decision lies a hidden goal. Known secretly as Darth Traya, Kreia plans to destroy the Force entirely, believing true freedom can only emerge once fate itself is dismantled.
What makes Kreia’s betrayal especially haunting is how subtly and carefully it unfolds. It’s not a single moment of surprise; instead, fans slowly realize they've been manipulated all along. Her actions challenge core ideas about the universe, pushing players to reconsider the meaning of choice and control. By the final confrontation, the stakes aren't just about survival anymore—they're about what it means to live in a world ruled by unseen forces.
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