We can fall under the spell of video game heroes, but sometimes, we like them for the wrong reasons. The following video game heroes have likable qualities, but can be characterized as the villain of their story. Their heinous acts may include swearing, kidnapping, or murder.
At face value, most of these video game characters are good. Taking a closer look, we can see why they might be confused with the villain. Don’t judge a book by its cover; there is more than meets the eye to these characters. These are 10 video game heroes who are really the villain.
10 John Marston
John Marston is the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption and a secondary protagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2. His cruelty knows no limits since he is an outlaw cowboy at large.
It’s hard not to admire John Marston since he as many likable qualities. His prowess as a cowboy and courage makes him seem like a hero, lest we forget that John Marston is part of the immoral Van der Linde gang. John is a gunslinging cowboy who chooses the profession over an honest living.
9 Agent 47
He is regarded as the greatest assassin in the world because of his carefulness and use of discretion. Sorry, Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed! With genetic enhancements, he strikes in silence while using the most advanced techniques.
It’s not difficult to see why Agent 47 is considered a villain. His contract killings are why he is pure evil. This hired gun has starred in games like Hitman: Blood Money, Hitman: Contracts, and Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. Agent 47 is a villain in plain sight!
8 Pac-Man
There is a lot you might not know about Pac-Man. Did you know that he was initially going to be named “Puck-Man”? Also referred to as “Pac-Dots,” “pellets,” or “cookies,” the tiny dots he munches on don’t give us the impression that Pac-Man is a slim figure.
It’s easy to see why Pac-Man is the villain. While he munches on cookies, the ghosts named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde remain locked in a chamber. They come outside for a moment and are eaten by Pac-Man. Playing the game for a while, one can conclude that Pac-Man is really the villain.
7 Master Chief
There was a time when Master Chief was one of the biggest heroes in video games, but that time has set in recent games. Nowadays, he is known for slaying fellow soldiers, being a bully when he was a kid, and is someone who left Sergeant Johnson on a Halo installation that was about to self-destruct.
In Halo 5: Guardians, the plot of the game revolves around Master Chief. Team Osiris is tasked with finding the Blue Team, so they, along with Master Chief, can be accountable for their actions. Modern hero or war criminal? You decide.
6 Donkey Kong
We can’t forget Donkey Kong’s first appearance in the arcade game named Donkey Kong. This impactful game contained the first appearance of Mario (name Jumpman at the time) and Donkey Kong.
Putting history aside, it might strike many to learn that Donkey Kong was the villain in 1981’s Donkey Kong. As someone who hurdles barrels at Mario and kidnaps Princess Peach, it’s easy to say that Donkey Kong is a villain. He has since become more heroic, but we can’t forget his dark and disturbing past.
5 Cortana
In the Halo universe, when an artificial intelligence exists for more than seven years, it enters a state of rampancy. This is comparable to when a human goes insane. Cortana is unpredictable, and she’s not the helpful artificial intelligence that she used to be. Her erratic behavior in Halo 5: Guardians is evidence.
There’s a strong chance that Halo Infinite will revolve around Master Chief’s difficulties with Cortana. Rumors are suggesting that she will try to activate the Alpha Halo ring, and Master Chief will have to stop her.
4 Sonic The Hedgehog
At face value, Sonic the Hedgehog is the beloved protagonist from the Sonic the Hedgehog game series. Taking a closer look, we can see that he is greedy for coins and wreaks havoc on the world in front of him. A hero shouldn’t run away. They should stand and fight in the face of danger. Sonic the Hedgehog leaves a trail of destruction in his wake, and he shows no remorse for his actions. Is he a hero or an anti-hero? It could be the latter.
3 Jacob Frye
In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, you play as one of two characters, alternating between both. Jacob Frye is a master assassin of the British Brotherhood of Assassins. To undermine the influence of Grand Master Crawford Starrick, he assassinates Templars, who are known as the Blighters, in 19th century London. Someone who is an assassin can’t be a heroic character. We can’t help but like him for his charming personality. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a villain.
2 James Earl Cash
As the protagonist of the highly controversial game Manhunt, James Earl Cash was an inmate of death row before being freed by Lionel Starkweather. He was scheduled to be executed but finds out he was given a sedative instead of a lethal injection.
This dangerous video game character is a menace who must be stopped. James lacks conventional heroic attributes, which is why he is the villain of his story. James’s heinous acts have seemingly no limits. He does, however, rarely curse during Manhunt. Also, he usually only kills when he has no choice. We see a glimmer of a good side, but it’s hard to ignore his rotten deeds.
1 Trevor Phillips
As one of three main protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V, Trevor Phillips is recognized for being an off-color character. His antics and deeds make him more of an anti-hero than a hero. Trevor goes on killing rampages and often uses profanities. The last person he wants to see is his mother—unless he’s asking her for favors. As someone with serious mommy issues, something is amiss. Kidnapping, murder, torture, and more is why Trevor Phillips is not the hero of his story, but rather, the villain.
NEXT: GTA V: 10 Tiny Things You Never Knew
