The 20 Best Games Where YOU Are The BAD GUY

20 Best Games Where You Are The Bad Guy

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re getting real black and white, NO GRAY TODAY! These are the 20 Best Games Where You Are The Bad Guy. Obviously, it’s not always the easiest to define good and bad, but if a solid argument can be made, we’re gonna discuss it. Let's go!

Kain

“Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain” (1996)

The far more popular game in the Legacy of Kain series would be Soul Reaver, with many fans of the game not even realizing Soul Reaver was the second in the series. The evil antagonist and final boss of Soul Reaver is none other than Kain, the vampire king who casts our protagonist to his death at the beginning of the game. Wait a minute? Wasn’t Kain the protagonist of the first game? CORRECT! In Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, you play as the soon to be antagonist as he fights through the land of Nosgoth to find the cure to his vampire curse, and seek revenge on those who murdered him at the beginning of the game...wait a minute! Trauma cycles!!

The Killer

“Party Hard” (2015)

Unlike Legacy of Kain, you’d struggle to find a moral compass for the protagonist of the Party Hard series. From publisher TinyBuild, the game is small, simple, and straight forward: make your way to a party packed wall to wall with victims, and try and murder everybody without being caught. The game is brutal, aggressive, and ACTUALLY loads of fun as you find clever ways to turn the party into a gravesite.

Superman

“Injustice 2” (2017)

Throughout the main storyline of the game Injustice 2, Superman's sanity gradually deteriorates, he fully and totally loses his marbles, and he’s way up there on my list of people who I want to keep their sanity. However, players have the opportunity to align with him at the climax of the game. Opting for Superman over Batman and emerging victorious in the ensuing battle leads to the undesirable outcome, where Superman manipulates other characters to serve his agenda. I miss the old Superman, not this spooky b****.

Creature

“Rampage" Series(1986-)

When it comes to arcade games, Rampage stands out as one of the few where players can flex their villainous muscles. Whether you're controlling a colossal mutated lizard, gorilla, or wolf, you can let their rage out however you’d like. Of course it's understandable they're enraged after enduring countless experiments, but an argument for ‘bad guys’ can still quite easily be made by the innocent civilian who just became a puddle. The game lets you devour innocent people found amidst the wreckage of skyscrapers, and I think that makes it a 10/10 in my opinion.

Alex Mercer

“Prototype” (2009)

Prototype grants players the ability to unleash their extraordinary abilities upon the unsuspecting civilians of New York City well before the ending's revelation lets you know you’re a bad bad boy, so I think even without the twist, you’re still not a good guy. Alex Mercer serves as the protagonist in the initial Prototype installment, wielding shape-shifting powers that render him incredibly powerful. Initially, Alex believes he fights on the side of righteousness, combating the virus ravaging the city. That is until he and the player confront the truth! Alex inadvertently unleashed the virus, making him the game's true antagonist. Naughty naughty Alex.

The Overlord

“Overlord” (2007)

In the Overlord series, players assume control of the titular overlord and his horde of minions in their quest for world domination. We’ve attempted to steer clear of games on this list that give you the CHOICE to be good or bad, and focused instead on games where you HAVE to be bad, and although there is still a choice system in Overlord, these games veer towards a spectrum from bad to downright sadistic. Admittedly, the most recent installment, Overlord: Fellowship of Evil, falls short of expectations, but the initial entries stand out as amazing games where YOU are the bad guy.

Vito Scaletta

“Mafia 2” (2010)

In Mafia 2, Vito Scaletta, a former soldier, now pursues the path of an aspiring gangster, aiming to ascend the hierarchy within the Falcone crime syndicate. To achieve his ambition, Vito employs the standard tactics of a mobster, like intimidation, violence, and frequently STRAIGHT UP MURDER. Any Mafia game could be included in this list really, it’s tough to be a good guy in the Mafia, we’re just going with Mafia 2 because of one simple reason... LOOK OVER THERE SOMETHING SHINY!

Martin Walker

“Spec Ops: The Line” (2012)

Spec Ops: The Line is one of the most criminally forgotten narratives in modern gaming. Its story is gripping, and a lot of that has to do with Martin Walker. As the game's storyline unfolds, Walker's stability deteriorates progressively, his mental state noticeably altered from the beginning of the game... His deeds shift from heroic to malevolent, prompting players to doubt the version of Walker we’re initially shown. Ultimately, it becomes apparent that Walker is not who he seems, and revelations expose him as the mastermind behind the tyranny gripping Dubai. It’s a twist we never saw coming, and it breaks our hearts to this day.

Jack Garland

“Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin” (2022)

In Strangers of Paradise, Jack Garland, the main protagonist, initially appears to be a typical hero, seeking to defeat the villain, and restore balance to the world. It’s Final Fantasy, this ain’t nothin new. However, as the story progresses, Jack's motivations become more ambiguous, and his actions blur the lines between heroism and villainy, and while he may not be inherently evil, Jack's relentless pursuit of Chaos and his willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals raise questions about his morality. At the end of the day, interpretation is a big part of this entry, and I’m writing the script, so I’m saying Jack is a massive poo.

Stubbs

“Stubbs the Zombie in Rebels without a Pulse” (2005)

Similar to an actual zombie horde, the flood of zombie-themed games, movies, and TV shows in the early 2000s was ceaseless. However, Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse distinguished itself by allowing players to take control of one of the flesh-hungry creatures, rather than endlessly battling against them. Stubbs is loveable, but at the end of the day, and I hate to repeat myself, he is a flesh-hungry creature, who wants to eat flesh, from a person, once they’re dead… Bad dude.

Goose

“Untitled Goose Game” (2019)

This is genuinely my game of the year for 2019. Representing Melbourne, these Aussie boys created one of the most satisfying evil protagonists of all time... A goose. For those seeking a brief yet satisfying experience, Untitled Goose Game offers the ideal outlet for a cathartic adventure. While you're not aiming to unleash global havoc like in some of the other entries, you do embody a goose with a penchant for mischief, and perform small tasks that annoy, scare, and upset the locals… It’s a bloody good blast.

Wander

“Shadow of The Colossus” (2005)

Imagine walking into someone else's house, killing everyone there, and then when the police arrive you say “nah nah, I thought that by doing that I could bring my girlfriend back to life…” You’d be locked up for life! While one could argue that Wander's desire to aid Dormin stems from his deep affection for Mono rather than inherent malice, his deliberate disregard for the potential repercussions of his choices goes WELL beyond selfishness, and definitely enters ‘bad’ territory. Despite any justifications he and the player may offer, Wander wipes every single one of the colossi off the face of the earth, even the ones who seem completely docile until provoked.

Booker DeWitt

“BioShock Infinite” (2013)

In "BioShock Infinite," Booker DeWitt's role as the protagonist is complex and subject to interpretation. Initially presented as a morally ambiguous figure, Booker is tasked with rescuing Elizabeth from the floating city of Columbia. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes apparent that Booker has a troubled past, including involvement in violent conflicts and questionable decisions. Ultimately, Booker's actions and choices throughout the game contribute to the destabilization of Columbia and the suffering of its inhabitants. The twist ending reveals that although our version of Booker isn’t Comstock, he does have those qualities within him, raising more concerns for his morality.

Abby/Joel/Ellie

“The Last of Us" Series (2013-)

The first game spends less time exploring the idea of good and bad, but it does end with Joel brutally murdering an entire group of innocent civilians, arguably some of humanity's best. The second game however really explores this idea of good and bad, as no matter who you play as, you’re always ‘somebody’s’ bad guy. The game aims to set up Abby as the villain, but after you’re eventually put into her shoes, it’s hard not to argue that things aren’t exactly even. Joel kills Abby’s dad and the remaining fireflies, Abby kills Joel, things should have stopped there. But Ellie decided to take it upon herself to murder everyone that Abby has ever stood next to, not exactly a ‘good guy’ move.

Unknown

“Plague Inc.” (2012)

In Ndemic Creations' Plague Inc., the identity of the entity controlled by the player remains ambiguous. However, one thing is certain, they embody the role of the antagonist. I mean, the game is called Plague Inc. for god sakes, I doubt it ends with everybody gaining superhuman abilities and creating a new and better human race. Their objective is to engineer a virus with the sole purpose of maximizing casualties, a concept that, while undeniably grim, has garnered significant popularity among gamers… You know? Because we’re sick.

The Monster

“Carrion” (2020)

While many horror games rely on terrifying enemies and jump scares to evoke fear, Carrion takes a unique approach, with players themselves becoming the jump scarer. Controlling the monster throughout the game, they witness its terrifying evolution and prowess in causing death and chaos, by doing it themselves, and trust me... It’s loads of fun. As the game unfolds, the creature's menace intensifies, with its potential escape from the confines of the lab posing a grave threat to humanity. In Carrion, there's no ambiguity, just a straight up monster doing some hardcore murdering.

Michael, Franklin & Trevor

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

Honestly, we could have picked any GTA game. I don’t think there’s a single protagonist in the series who doesn’t commit the worst that humanity can. Obviously Niko is avenging fallen comrades, and CJ is trying to piece his community back together, but that doesn’t justify running down a row of prostitutes in your car. The trio of GTA V goes to extreme measures to amass wealth and safeguard their interests, frequently disregarding the lives and welfare of others, even family members. It's precisely this morally ambiguous behavior that renders Michael, Trevor, and Franklin captivating characters. Players gain profound insight into their motivations and inner workings, adding depth to their personas.

Crypto

“Destroy all Humans!” (2005)

What are the chances that in a game titled “Destroy all Humans” we would be saving humanity? Pretty minimal. Crypto, a Furon warrior, relishes in wreaking havoc and inflicting suffering upon Earth's inhabitants. The game's comedic undertone somewhat mitigates the gravity of such destruction, resulting in a uniquely enjoyable and entertaining experience. BUT, for the sake of this entry, let’s forget that we really like Crypto and focus instead on the fact that he is trying to kill each and everyone of us… Not very nice, Crypto. I expected more.

Bowser

“Super Mario RPG” (1996)

Super Mario has so many variations of games, but beyond sports, kart racing, fighting, and party games, Super Mario RPG stands out as a notable example of how this series just NEVER fails. Initially cast in his familiar role of kidnapping Princess Peach, Bowser surprisingly transitions into a key ally within the player's party. You could argue he’s not a bad guy at this moment, but Bowser retains his status as the series' primary antagonist despite his temporary alignment with red and green.

Tim

“Braid” (2008)

Featuring remarkable time manipulation mechanics, Braid emerged as one of the most innovative games of the early 21st century, and alongside games like Limbo, it significantly bolstered the legitimacy of Indie games. Initially presented as the tale about Tim, a man capable of bending time, striving to rescue a princess from an evil knight, the game unravels a complex narrative. Surprisingly, it's revealed that Tim is the antagonist, with the princess fleeing from him throughout the adventure. Braid's narrative twists subvert player expectations, and removes all gray from the equation, leaving us feeling a little bit awful for what we’ve done.