The concept of playing the “good guy”in video games has been a hallmark of the industry since its inception. However, as gaming audiences have matured, the landscape has shifted dramatically, ushering in a new era of complex heroes that blur the lines of morality. Players now encounter more formidable characters, characterized by moral ambiguity and a willingness to explore darker paths.
Role-playing games (RPGs) have particularly embraced this transformation, providing players the flexibility to pursue benevolent or wicked choices based on their decisions throughout the game. We’ve seen a surge in titles across various genres that cater to those who wish to channel their inner darkness. In this article, we’ll explore several games that allow for these tantalizingly dark choices, regardless of their genre or overall tone.
Our selection criteria focus on games that offer players the chance to embrace their darker urges. If it permits evil actions, it makes our list. Let’s dive into the top ten games where you can revel in malevolence!
10 Oblivion: Remastered
An Evil Fantasy
This year’s surprise release of Oblivion: Remastered has set the RPG world ablaze, offering players a vast open world to explore in the province of Cyrodiil, where indulging in wickedness is not only possible but encouraged. Players are granted the freedom to engage in a myriad of nefarious activities, from theft to murder, and even forming alliances with criminal syndicates like the Thieves Guild or the Dark Brotherhood.
The narrative framework is generally prescribed, yet the path taken to reach its conclusion depends entirely on the player’s moral choices. Feel empowered to evoke chaos and devastation; nothing will stand in your way when it comes to unleashing your dark magic upon unsuspecting villagers.
9 Infamous 2
Power Corrupts
Infamous 2 stands out as a crowning achievement of the PS3 era, where players control Cole, a protagonist endowed with extraordinary superpowers following a catastrophic event. The core mission involves confronting a colossal beast threatening your city, but how you achieve this goal is entirely up to you. Decide on the heroes or villains you align with, whether to spare lives or drain them for your gain, and confront difficult ethical dilemmas, including the choice to betray a loyal friend for the sake of progress.
Unleash chaos on the streets of a stylized New Orleans, granting free rein to your destructive tendencies, and embrace your inner villain in the process.
8 Prototype
The World Gone Mad
Whereas the PS3 had Infamous, the Xbox 360 offered Prototype, a game tailored for those keen on exploring their darker impulses. Step into the shoes of Alex Mercer, a man with unfathomable powers released into a city teetering on the brink of chaos. While you can theoretically act heroically, the sheer temptation to create havoc is inescapable. Soar through the sky, causing destruction, or absorb the very citizens you encounter to enhance your abilities.
Ultimately, the game acknowledges your descent into villainy, as evidenced by Alex Mercer’s transformation into the antagonist of its sequel. Indulging your monstrous choice makes for an exhilarating experience.
7 Fable 2
Cartoonishly Evil
Long before the immense open worlds became commonplace, Fable 2 paved the way for morality-driven gameplay. The game challenges you to sincerely immerse yourself in good or evil, impacting the world around you. Although the extent of choice is somewhat exaggerated, players can engage in egregious wrongdoing.
Begin your journey as a child, with the freedom to indulge in villainous acts, manifesting physically through visual changes such as growing horns or being swarmed by flies as a direct consequence of your actions. Whether through attacking innocent chickens or betraying alliances, the game presents a playful yet grim interpretation of moral decay. The darker your deeds, the more the world reacts with fear and hostility, effectively showcasing your transformation as a harbinger of evil.
6 Wasteland 3
Whatever it Takes to Survive
Wasteland 3 provides players with the vital opportunity to navigate their moral compass, whether that path skews toward good, evil, or resides in a gray area. The game invites morally reprehensible decisions, such as collaborating with slavers or allowing others to perish helplessly.
Various factions populate this post-apocalyptic landscape, each open to betrayal or slaughter at your discretion. Embrace your diabolical side as you align yourself with violent characters or even cannibals, crafting an experience rich in chaos and treachery.
Building a party of morally dubious characters enhances your capacity for destruction, offering numerous avenues for wreaking havoc in the wasteland. This level of freedom may overwhelm players craving dark adventures.
5 Undertale
The Genocide Route
Undertale presents itself as a charming indie game, but its layers of depth reveal a compelling narrative driven by player choices. While traversing the Underground with moral integrity is possible, it’s the “genocide route”that offers the darkest gameplay experience. This ultimately boils down to a single choice: to annihilate every creature in your path.
The emotional impact is profound as you confront characters pleading for their lives, witnessing mentors turn against you, and facing formidable foes in a quest to obliterate all. If you seek true malevolence, Undertale allows for a deeply unsettling exploration of what it means to be the ultimate villain.
4 Vampire
The Vampire’s Embrace
Vampyr immerses players in a captivating duality of existence, as you take on the role of a doctor who is also a vampire. Your quest involves making critical decisions concerning who to heal and who to sacrifice for your thirst.
The allure of feeding is undeniable, offering strength and excitement at the cost of spreading plague and darkness throughout the city. You’ll meet numerous characters whose stories intertwine with your choices; every bite reaffirms your nature as a monstrous being. The struggle between satisfying cravings and preserving life creates a hauntingly engaging experience between the player and the world they inhabit.
3 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Becoming the Monster
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous offers an extensive RPG journey filled with diverse narrative paths based on player decisions. Among these paths lies a particularly dark choice that can lead to unimaginable consequences, including bringing about an apocalypse by becoming a Lich or the Swarm That Walks.
While the game allows for various forms of evil, the extremities of your choices can deliver shocks that few others can. The potential for betrayal, destruction, and acts of unspeakable horror truly elevates the stakes, inviting players to confront the darkest instincts within themselves.
2 Baldur’s Gate 3
The Murder Hobo
Popularized in Dungeons & Dragons circles, the term “Murder Hobo” refers to players who wreak havoc and chaos, disregarding all rules.Baldur’s Gate 3 caters to this very impulse. While players can opt for a more heroic storyline, the game offers a dedicated playthrough known as The Dark Urge, providing a pathway for those eager to embrace their wicked nature.
Players are encouraged to act horrifically right from the start of their adventure. Picture this: instead of rescuing Gale from peril, you enhance the drama by biting off his arm! This level of villainy is both shocking and exhilarating, positioning The Dark Urge as the game’s quintessential evil experience.
1 Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader
Rule with an Iron Fist
Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader places you in a commanding role aboard a vast ship, commanding a cohort of followers at your disposal. The game presents ample opportunities to embark on morally questionable paths throughout your journey. Conversations with NPCs allow you to assert dominance even further, demeaning their presence while wielding your authority.
Crushing rebellions, demanding executions, or turning your back on subordinates is merely the beginning of your dark exploits. The game tracks your decisions meticulously, ensuring that each malevolent choice may have unforeseen consequences later. Players will find undue enjoyment in navigating this morally complex world, all while embracing the role of a villain.
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