Some of the best characters in fiction are not always the hero in the dashing cape. Because it feels so good to be bad, it’s often the villains who are more interesting and compelling. Plenty of strong examples exist across fiction and there’s no shortage ofbad guys to be found in video games. Not every major antagonist was a complete monster, though.
While some villains sought revenge or simply wanted to watch the world burn, others had a deeper reason behind their malice and cruelty. True, whether that justifies their heinous actions is a matter of debate, but sometimes a villain comes along that makes players stop and think. Is it possible that maybe these crooked characters had a fair point?
The following contains MAJOR spoilers.
8Devola & Popola (NieR Replicant)
The Failed Last Hope
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
InNieR Replicant, Devola and Popola play a major role in the story. Although not the primary antagonist, the two sisters are responsible for numerous terrible things – in particular, manipulating Nier to locate the Grimoire Weiss. When Nier begins to jeopardize their plans, the sisters are forced to confront Nier and his friends, only to perish in battle.
Here’s where it gets complicated. Devola and Popola had a good reason for using Nier and trying to stop him. The sisters are androids created to observe Project Gestalt and ensure the future of humanity. As it turns out, Gestalts, the main monsters of the game, are in fact human souls, and Replicants, like Nier, were meant to be their vessels. But because Nier killed Devola and Popola, the project fails and basically dooms all of humanity and the Replicants too. Oops.
“When I’m Gone, They’ll Just Find Another Monster.”
Red Dead Redemption
The Old West ofRed Dead Redemptionis crawling with outlaws. But the only thing worse than a greedy outlaw is a clever one. Old Dutch may have lost most of his marbles, but his sharp tongue and sense of deception were still strong, manipulating displaced Native Americans into joining his new gang and robbing from the US government. It’s why John Marston was given the job of taking him out.
Before his demise, Dutch has one last talk with John. Duch always considered himself a fighter, but the one thing he could never fight was change, and warns John that when he’s dead, the government will just look for another scapegoat to hunt down. This doesn’t make up for all the people he killed and robbed, but in the end, Dutch was proven correct when Edgar Ross betrays John and tries to kill him and his whole family.
6Alma Wade (F.E.A.R.)
A Mother Robbed of Her Life & Children
How far will a mother go for revenge? Alma Wade serves as the primary antagonist ofMonolith Productions’F.E.A.R. franchise. During the first game, she often appears in her child form, scaring the player and stalking them throughout the wholeFPSadventure. Despite her fragile appearance, her psychic powers allow Alma to perform terrible acts, brutally murdering and mentally torturing those who come in contact with her. But the unsettling truth is her unyielding rage is somewhat justified.
At a young age, Alma was locked away and subjected to inhuman experiments. Years later, she was forced to give birth to two children who were taken away to be experimented on as well. By the end of F.E.A.R. 1, it’s revealed she’s been following the player, Point Man, because he’s her firstborn son. Heck, during the final battle in her adult form, she’s not even trying to kill you—she just wants a hug.
5Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
“Was A Man Sent to Kill, Or A Slave?”
InBioShock, the undersea city of Rapture is swimming with wicked people. Next to the dastardly Frank Fontaine, the only other person to match the main antagonist of BioShock is the founder of Rapture himself, Andrew Ryan. Having played a major role in Rapture’s downfall, Ryan isguilty of many crimes. He imprisoned and murdered trusted citizens, turned a blind eye to the spread and effects of Adam and so much more.
During the game, he continually tries to kill the player, Jack, believing him to be a government spy. After discovering the truth of Jack’s origins, however, Ryan took a step back and decided to have a one-on-one conversation with Jack. Before his death, Andrew Ryan’s last act was to prove to Jack that he was nothing more than a mind-controlled slave, a truth that is further proven when Fontaine reveals himself.
4Big Boss (Metal Gear Solid V)
A Terrorist or A Revolutionist?
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Big Boss has played the role of protagonist and antagonist throughout theMetal Gear Solidseries. All to achieve his dream, Outer Heaven, a nation of soldiers free from being the pawns of governments. Free from the clutches of the Patriots, the secret global power controls the flow of information. Unfortunately, to make Outer Heaven a reality, Big Boss had to commitcountless horrific actsto achieve it.
He abandoned his comrades, betrayed his ideals and turned one of his own into his identical phantom. Had he succeeded, his Outer Heaven would have become a true nation, guarded by their nuclear-armed Metal Gear, plunging the world into perpetual war. Big Boss may have let his focus on war consume him until his inevitable defeat at the hands of Solid Snake, but he once started as a hero with noble intentions.
3King Logan (Fable 3)
A Tyrant with a Cause
King Logan. He was a tyrannical king whose actions hurt the well-being of his people. Even Logan’s sibling was cruelly treated when they were forced by his hand to choose between the life of their childhood friend and the lives of innocents. He was brutal, but it was for the greater good.
King Logan might be the antagonist of the thirdFablegame, but he’s not the true antagonist. After the player sparks a revolution and takes the throne, Logan reveals the reason for his crimes. They were not out of spite, but duty, as he was preparing his forces to protect his people from the real threat: The Crawler. As for his sibling, Logan states he was also preparing them for the grueling task of making difficult decisions as a leader. If spared by the end, Logan even praises them for their accomplishments.
2Letho (The Witcher 2)
The Best Friend You Forgot About
The Witcher 2
Making difficult decisions is common inRPGsand The Witcher 2 is full of them. But deciding Letho’s fate is without a doubt the hardest. It’s because of Letho that Geralt is framed for the death of King Foltest. It’s because of Letho’s actions that the Northern Kingdoms fall into chaos. Yet despite all he’s done, Letho was not the mastermind, but the weapon used by the Nilfgaardian emperor.
Though, because of his amnesia, Geralt has forgotten that he and Letho were old friends. Even when Geralt confronts him, Letho has no intention of killing his fellow witcher, sparing him in their first battle. As for his reasons, Letho only agreed to become an assassin to save his school, the School of the Viper, and see it rebuilt. So should Letho be put down for his crimes? Or should he be allowed to live with them? It’s up to the player.
1Pagan Min (Far Cry 4)
Better The Devil You Know
Pagan Min’s no saint. He’s an unhinged killer and a ruthless dictator. But the one thing Pagan is not is a liar. From the beginning, he was nothing but honest with the protagonist, Ajay. He never wanted to hurt Ajay and fully intended to help him complete his task. He also wasn’t wrong about the Golden Path rebels being just as corrupt as he was. Because the truth is… no one in Far Cry 4 is the hero.
Both Sabal and Amita, the rebel leaders Ajay must work with, are just as willing to commit vile acts if it means ousting Pagan and securing their dominance over their homeland. Pagan Min’s actions are also brought into a new light upon learning about his history with Ajay’s mother. Basically, he’s a charismatic villain ruling a land infested with other would-be villains. Still, if allowed to live, he hands the country over to Ajay. Although he does keep the helicopter.
