Heroes might get the glory, but villains get the real fun. In some games, the story puts you in the boots of a dark overlord, a criminal mastermind, or a morally gray anti-hero who doesn’t care about saving the world. Whether it’s through brutal decision-making, chaos-spreading abilities, or simply seeing things from the other side, these games let you tap into your darker impulses—and make it feel good.
Here are 7 games where you don’t save the day… you ruin it.
1. Overlord
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Ever wanted to be Sauron with a sense of humor? Overlord lets you play as a dark warlord commanding hordes of chaotic minions. You’re not just conquering lands—you’re corrupting them. The game gleefully embraces evil with tongue-in-cheek writing, letting you decide just how wicked you want to be. Bonus points for throwing minions into danger for your own amusement.
2. Spec Ops: The Line
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
This one hides its villainy behind the mask of a standard military shooter—until it doesn’t. You begin as a soldier with a mission but slowly slide into horror and moral decay. By the end, you’re forced to question your own role as the villain. It’s a psychological gut punch that turns the typical hero narrative inside out.
3. Prototype
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
You’re Alex Mercer, a man infected with a shape-shifting virus—and you’re not the hero. You tear through New York City, absorbing people’s memories (and bodies), leveling entire city blocks, and becoming more powerful the more ruthless you are. It’s destruction with zero remorse.
4. Undertale (Genocide Route)
Platform: PC, Switch, PS4
Undertale is famously flexible, and while it rewards mercy, it doesn’t stop you from going full monster. In the Genocide Route, you systematically eliminate every living being in the Underground—including beloved characters. The game reacts in chilling ways, judging you with eerie music, dialogue changes, and a permanently altered ending. It’s villainy with emotional consequences.
5. Dungeon Keeper
Platform: PC
A classic cult hit, Dungeon Keeper turns the fantasy RPG on its head. You’re the master of a dark dungeon, building traps and summoning creatures to kill off pesky heroes trying to invade your turf. It’s a game that revels in its dark humor and flips the script on traditional dungeon-crawling adventures.
6. Hitman Series
Platform: Multiple
You’re Agent 47, a professional assassin with a barcode on his head and zero remorse. While you’re not overtly “evil” in the moustache-twirling sense, your job is literally to kill people—often in very creative ways. The brilliance of Hitmanlies in how it makes villainy feel like performance art, rewarding meticulous planning and stylish execution.
7. Grand Theft Auto V (Trevor)
Platform: PC, PS4/5, Xbox
Not all playable characters in GTA V are evil per se, but Trevor Phillips is pure chaos incarnate. He’s a murderous, unpredictable force with no filter and no limits. The game lets you explore just how far off the rails you’re willing to go, and with Trevor, those rails were never even in sight.
Why We Love Playing the Villain
There’s something liberating about dropping the moral weight of always doing the right thing. These games don’t just offer different mechanics—they flip perspective. Sometimes, stepping into the shadows makes for a more complex, more memorable experience. And in a well-crafted villain role, you’re not just destroying worlds—you’re discovering how far you’re willing to go.
