Top 10 Video Game Anti-Heroes

If vampires make you think of “Twilight,” you better think again. This bloodsucker has to consume souls in order to survive, but it doesn’t keep us from wanting him to succeed and get revenge on his father Kain for condemning him to death. He has plenty of weapons to get the job done, but we especially love the Soul Reaver sword, which has a charged finishing strike that can completely annihilate your enemies.

#9: Dante “Devil May Cry” series (2001-)

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If you’re gonna kill your own kind you may as look good while doing it. A half Human Half Demon … umm Demon hunter, most enemies who face Dante don’t stand a chance, because he has an arsenal stocked with badass weapons like “Ebony and Ivory,” two handguns that never need to be reloaded. Then there’s the 2013 reboot when he became younger and more obnoxious … but we’re sticking with the original.

#8: James Earl Cash “Manhunt” (2003)

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It’s hard to imagine a less sympathetic character than a convicted murderer, and that’s just what Cash is. As bad as he seems, he’s definitely easier to cheer for than “The Director,” the voice of a guy making a snuff film, who tells Cash that he’ll be freed if he follows his directions. Unfortunately for Cash, the orders are often extremely violent, like when he has to take on a group of satanic cultists known as “The Innocentz.” The price of freedom sure is high.

#7: Sly Cooper “Sly Cooper” series (2002-)

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You might have trouble thinking of this cheery-faced raccoon as an anti-hero, but don’t be fooled—he’s a criminal mastermind. He comes from a family of master thieves from around the world, and he inherits their ability to sneak around and break into places. Of course, he wouldn’t get anywhere without his tools, like the hooked cane, which is a family heirloom that he sometimes uses as a weapon.

#6: John Marston “Red Dead Redemption” (2010)

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You can’t survive in the Wild West without getting your hands dirty, and Marston is no exception. He’s a former outlaw who agrees to track down members of his old gang for the FBI in order to be reunited with his family. Not surprisingly, his old friends aren’t too happy about this, and Marston is soon fighting for his life in the wildest parts of the wild west. Thankfully, he’s a pretty good shot, and is pretty nimble on horseback as well.

#5: Wario “Super Mario” series (1992-)

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This guy started as the antagonist to a certain beloved plumber in Super Mario Land 2, but he was so entertaining that he soon got his own games. He’s greedy, evil, and has a hideous mustache, but you still can’t help loving his hilarious laugh. He may not have the innocence of Mario, but you’ll still want to get him through his adventures, like when he tries to steal treasure from a group of pirates in the first Wario Land game.

#4: Conker “Conker’s Bad Fur Day” (2001)

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Although he looks cute, this squirrel is actually one of the crudest protagonists in all of video games, as he’s a greedy alcoholic with a hilariously cynical outlook on life. It’s up to you to help him find his way home after a night of binge drinking. As obnoxious as he can be, he’s still the one to root for here, especially when he faces a singing pile of crap who calls himself “The Great Mighty Poo.”

This contract killer doesn’t show much remorse for his victims, but that allows him to be ruthlessly effective at his job. He was cloned to be the perfect killer, and his genetic advantages help him tackle seemingly impossible missions. Missions like when he was tasked with to preventing the president’s assassination in “Blood Money.” Whatever he’s doing, his leather gloves and black suit are undeniably menacing.

This franchise is packed with unforgettable anti-heroes, like C.J. Niko, and Trevor, but none of them were quite as badass as Tommy. He’s determined to become the top kingpin in town, and he’s willing to stop at nothing to reach his goal, even if it means killing a bunch of people with a chainsaw. As psychopathic is he is, his intelligence and flashy 80s outfits keep us on his side. Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions: Jimmy Hopkins “Bully” (2006) Travis Touchdown “No More Heroes” series (2007-) Joel “The Last of Us” (2013) Vito Scaletta “Mafia II” (2010) Alex Mercer “Prototype” (2009)

#1: Kratos “God of War” series (2005-)

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A lot of these guys do a lot of nasty things, but Kratos takes the cake. He has little on his mind other than getting revenge on the gods for murdering his family, and he seems to have no limit to how badly he’s willing to slice up his enemies, like when he takes on Chronos in the God of War III. Still, it’s hard not to respect his strength and dedication, even if his anger management tactics makes Charlie Sheen’s meltdowns look like an episode of Sesame Street. Agree with our list? Which anti-hero did you end up rooting for? For more charismatic top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.