20 Games Where You Play As The Villain

About this gallery:

For this list, we’re focusing on games where you have no choice but to be the villain. That means we’re skipping games where being evil is just one of many options, so BioWare games, Baldur’s Gate 3, Fable, and the like won’t make the cut.

Spoiler alert: In some of these games, realizing that you're the villain is actually a plot twist!

Think we missed an essential game where you truly embrace the dark side? Drop it in the comments and let us know!

Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (2005)

Playing as a hero? Boring. Playing as a brain-hungry zombie out for revenge? Now we’re talking. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse lets you terrorize a 1950s-style city as Edward "Stubbs" Stubblefield, a former salesman-turned-undead menace. Instead of just biting people, you can rip off your own hand and use it as a creepy little scout, or even toss your own organs like grenades. The game fully embraces its ridiculous premise, and honestly, it's refreshing to be the one spreading the zombie outbreak instead of desperately trying to stop it. Plus, the 1950s sci-fi aesthetic and funky soundtrack make the chaos even more fun. Who needs a hero when you’ve got a brain-munching, limb-tossing undead salesman? | © Aspyr Media

Shadow of the Colossus (2005)

You start Shadow of the Colossus thinking, “I’m the noble hero on a quest to save my love.” But as you slay your way through sixteen breathtaking, majestic colossi, a creeping realization sets in – are you really the good guy here? These towering creatures aren’t attacking you; they’re just existing, minding their own mystical business. And yet, you’re hunting them down one by one, guided by a mysterious, possibly untrustworthy entity. By the time the last colossus falls, you’re not just questioning your actions – you’re questioning everything. It’s a rare game that makes you feel bad for winning, and that’s exactly why it’s a masterpiece. Villainy was never so beautiful... or heartbreaking. | © Team Ico / Sony Computer Entertainment

Destroy All Humans! (2005)

You know all those alien invasion movies where Earth’s bravest heroes band together to stop the little green men? Yeah, Destroy All Humans! flips the script. You play as Crypto-137, a wisecracking extraterrestrial with one goal: harvest human DNA and conquer the planet. With an arsenal of sci-fi weaponry – zap guns, mind control, "back entrance" probes (yep, you know what we mean) – you’ll lay waste to 1950s America in glorious, tongue-in-cheek chaos. The game fully leans into the B-movie aesthetic, delivering a hilarious, satirical take on Cold War paranoia. Honestly, after years of playing the Earth-saving hero, it’s kind of nice to finally be the menace from outer space. | © Pandemic Studios / THQ Nordic

Overlord (2007)

Ever play a fantasy RPG and think, “Being the hero is overrated – I want to be the all-powerful evil overlord instead”? Well, Overlord delivers exactly that, and it does so with a hilarious, self-aware twist. You command an army of mischievous, bloodthirsty minions who are more interested in looting, pillaging, and causing chaos than following orders properly. Whether you choose to be a kinda bad overlord or go full-blown tyrant, the game leans hard into dark humor, letting you destroy villages, steal treasure, and crush any goody-two-shoes in your way. With its mix of strategy, action, and gleeful destruction, Overlord is the perfect game for anyone tired of always saving the world. Why be noble when ruling with an iron fist is this much fun? | © Triumph Studios / Codemasters

Braid (2008)

At first, Braid seems like your typical indie puzzle platformer – beautiful art, a hauntingly good soundtrack, and a hero on a quest to save a princess. But, as you navigate its time-bending mechanics, something starts to feel... off. Turns out, you’re not the heroic knight saving the damsel in distress – you’re the obsessive, controlling villain she’s desperately trying to escape. The game’s final twist completely reframes everything you thought you knew, leaving you staring at the screen in stunned silence. Braid doesn’t just let you play as the villain – it tricks you into thinking you’re the hero first, making the reveal hit even harder. Brilliant? Absolutely. Soul-crushing? Also yes. | © Number None, Inc.

Prototype (2009)

Ever wonder what it’s like to be an unstoppable, shape-shifting biological weapon with zero regard for human life? Well, Prototype lets you live that fantasy to the fullest. You play as Alex Mercer, a guy who wakes up with no memory but plenty of rage – oh, and the ability to absorb people, grow giant claws, and leap across skyscrapers like a viral Superman. As you tear through New York City, you’re technically trying to uncover the truth behind your transformation... but let’s be real, the real fun comes from hurling cars, consuming enemies, and causing absolute chaos. The game lets you be an antihero if you want, but let’s face it – you’re an unstoppable virus-wielding force of destruction. Who’s really the bad guy here? (Spoiler: It’s you.) | © Radical Entertainment / Activision

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (2010)

You start Castlevania: Lords of Shadow as Gabriel Belmont, a noble warrior trying to save his wife’s soul. Sounds heroic, right? Wrong. As the story unfolds, Gabriel's journey takes a very dark turn – culminating in one of the biggest "Wait... am I the bad guy?" moments in gaming. By the end, you’re no longer just a warrior; you’re Dracula himself, cursed to immortality and doomed to an eternity of brooding. With stunning combat, an epic story, and a twist that redefines the entire franchise, Lords of Shadow proves that sometimes the most tragic villains are the ones who started with good intentions. Plus, let’s be honest, being a vampire lord is way more fun than being a righteous hero. | © MercurySteam / Konami

Spec Ops: The Line (2012)

At first glance, Spec Ops: The Line seems like just another modern military shooter. But then, it slowly breaks your brain. You play as Captain Martin Walker, leading your squad into a sandstorm-ravaged Dubai in search of a missing officer. What starts as a standard rescue mission spirals into a psychological nightmare, where every choice you make leads to more devastation. By the end, you’re not the hero – you’re the monster, responsible for unthinkable horrors. The game forces you to confront the reality of war, and unlike most shooters, there’s no glory here – just guilt. It’s one of the few games that makes you question why you even wanted to play in the first place. War crimes? Yeah, those are on you. | © Yager Development / 2K Games

Plague Inc. (2012)

Forget saving the world – Plague Inc. makes you wipe it out instead. Your goal? Create the perfect deadly disease and spread it across the globe before humanity can find a cure. It starts off slow, with a single infection in one country, but before long, airports are shutting down, borders are closing, and the entire world is in a state of sheer panic. It’s strangely satisfying to watch your virus evolve, adapting to outsmart scientists and ensuring maximum devastation. Sure, it’s technically evil, but it’s also kind of a brilliant strategy game – just don’t think too hard about the real-world implications. (And maybe avoid playing this during flu season.) | © Ndemic Creations

Lucius (2012)

Have you ever watched The Omen and thought, "Hey, I wish I could play as the creepy demon child"? Well, Lucius lets you do exactly that. You take on the role of Lucius, a seemingly innocent six-year-old who just so happens to be the son of the devil. Your mission? Methodically eliminate your entire household through creative, horrifying means – all while making it look like an accident. From sabotaging electrical systems to orchestrating “unfortunate” slip-and-falls, Lucius turns you into a tiny, cold-blooded mastermind. It’s dark, disturbing, and hilariously over-the-top, making for one of the most twisted villain experiences in gaming. Who knew being a little devil could be so much fun? | © Shiver Games

Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall (2013)

You’ve spent Dishonored hunting down the people responsible for Empress Jessamine’s murder – only to find out in The Knife of Dunwall that now you get to play as the guy who actually did it. Enter Daud, the ruthless assassin who set the entire chain of events in motion. But hey, even cold-blooded killers get redemption arcs, right? With his own set of supernatural powers (including summoning lethal assassin buddies), Daud’s story is all about guilt, choice, and carving out his own fate. Will you slaughter your way to the truth, or will you try to atone for your sins? Either way, you’re still the guy who killed the Empress, so... yeah, good luck living that down. | © Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks

War for the Overworld (2015)

Remember Dungeon Keeper? Well, War for the Overworld is basically its spiritual successor, and yes, that means you’re the evil overlord in charge of a sprawling, trap-filled underground lair. Your job? Crush those pesky, self-righteous heroes who keep barging into your domain like they own the place. With an army of minions at your command, you can construct elaborate dungeons, unleash terrifying creatures, and cackle maniacally as adventurers fall into your devious traps. It’s dark, chaotic, and absolutely hilarious, proving once again that building an empire of evil is way more fun than being the knight in shining armor. Heroes? Overrated. Evil? Now that’s where the fun is. | © Brightrock Games

Tyranny (2016)

Most RPGs have you rising up against a tyrannical overlord. Tyranny does the exact opposite: you’re working for the bad guy, and you’re really good at it. As a Fatebinder serving the mighty overlord Kyros, you’re the enforcer of an empire that has already won. Your job? Decide how cruel or “merciful” you want to be while crushing the last remnants of resistance. Do you rule through fear, deception, or brute force? The choice is yours, but let’s be honest – you’re still working for the world’s biggest dictator. It’s a fascinating take on morality, power, and what it means to be evil... and trust me, it feels disturbingly satisfying to be the one dishing out the oppression for once. | © Obsidian Entertainment / Paradox Interactive

Evil Genius 2: World Domination (2021)

If you’ve ever thought, “I could be a better Bond villain than half these amateurs,” then Evil Genius 2 is your time to shine. You take on the role of a diabolical mastermind, complete with a secret lair, loyal minions, and an over-the-top doomsday plan. Your goal? World domination, obviously. You’ll build elaborate lairs, train your henchmen, and fend off pesky spies who think they can foil your evil schemes. With its quirky humor and cartoonishly evil aesthetic, this game lets you live out your most ridiculous supervillain fantasies. After all, if you're going to be evil, you might as well be fabulous while doing it. | © Rebellion Developments

Sea Salt (2019)

Most games cast you as the brave hero fighting off eldritch horrors from another dimension. Sea Salt says, “Nah, you are the eldritch horror.” You play as Dagon, a Lovecraftian god, unleashing swarms of monstrous creatures upon an unsuspecting world. Instead of controlling one big bad, you command an army of nightmarish minions, overwhelming terrified humans who really don’t stand a chance. It’s part strategy, part horror, and all chaos, as you punish those foolish enough to defy your divine wrath. If you've ever wanted to turn the tables and be the force of unspeakable doom instead of fighting against it, Sea Salt is the game for you. | © YCJY Games

Untitled Goose Game (2019)

There are plenty of games where you can play as a villain, but only one where you play as a total menace in the form of a goose. That’s right – Untitled Goose Game doesn’t give you superpowers, deadly weapons, or an evil lair. It just gives you pure, unfiltered chaos in feathery form. Your mission? Make life miserable for an entire village. You’ll honk at innocent people, steal their belongings, lock them out of their own homes, and generally cause maximum irritation – because why? Because you’re a goose, and that’s just what geese do. It’s pure comedic mischief, and somehow, it makes you feel like the most powerful villain in gaming. | © House House / Panic Inc.

Carrion (2020)

Most horror games put you in the shoes of a terrified human running from some unspeakable monster. Carrion flips the script and lets you be the monster. And not just any monster – you’re an unstoppable, flesh-hungry, amorphous nightmare, slithering your way through a secret underground lab, tearing apart helpless scientists and guards who definitely didn’t sign up for this. The game calls itself a “reverse horror” experience, and honestly, that’s the perfect way to describe it. You don’t sneak around in fear; you ooze, lunge, and rip your way through anything in your path. It’s grotesque, satisfying, and proves once and for all that being the thing that goes bump in the night is way more fun than running from it. | © Phobia Game Studio / Devolver Digital

Maneater (2020)

What’s the scariest thing in the ocean? A massive, man-eating shark with a vendetta. In Maneater, you don’t play as some helpless diver – you are the apex predator, and your only goal is to grow bigger, stronger, and absolutely ruin anyone who gets in your way. It’s part open-world RPG, part nature documentary, and all glorious carnage. As you devour everything from clueless swimmers to armed hunters, you evolve into an unstoppable sea monster, capable of breaching boats, thrashing enemies, and generally making the ocean a no-go zone for humans. It’s ridiculous, it’s over-the-top, and it fully leans into the absurdity of playing as a shark out for revenge. | © Tripwire Interactive

Ravenous Devils (2022)

If you’ve ever watched Sweeney Todd and thought, “What if this was a video game?”, well, Ravenous Devils has you covered. You play as a murderous husband-and-wife duo running a tailor shop and a very suspicious restaurant. The twist? You use the corpses from the tailor shop as ingredients for your customers’ meals. That’s right – your entire business model is built on cannibalistic capitalism, and the more efficient you are at disposing of bodies, the better your restaurant thrives. It’s dark, twisted, and strangely addictive – because apparently, turning people into pie is way more fun than it should be. Just don’t think too hard about what’s actually in that stew. | © Bad Vices Games

The Dark Queen of Mortholme (2024)

Ever wondered what it's like to be the final boss in a video game, waiting for that pesky hero to barge in? The Dark Queen of Mortholme lets you step into the formidable shoes of the Dark Queen herself – the most powerful being in your universe. Your lair is your sanctuary, and yet, an aspiring hero dares to breach it. You crush them effortlessly... but they keep coming back. This 20-minute "anti-game" explores an unconventional relationship and the capacity for change, all while flipping the traditional hero-villain dynamic on its head. It's a short, thought-provoking experience that challenges your perceptions and offers a fresh take on storytelling in games. | © Mosu