15 Video Game Heroes Who Were Actually Terrible People

15. Joel Miller — The Last of Us

This may be a bit of a controversial take, but Joel Miller is not a good person. Yes, you could argue that he's a survivor shaped by a brutal world, and his relationship with Ellie gives him a sympathetic side. However, his decision at the end of the first The Last of Us raises serious moral questions. To prevent the Fireflies from using Ellie to potentially develop a cure, he kills numerous people at the hospital and takes her away without giving her a choice. His actions are understandable on an emotional level, but he prioritizes his own attachment over a decision that could affect humanity's future. | © Naughty Dog

14. The Dark Urge — Baldur's Gate 3

Unlike most video game protagonists, the Dark Urge's story begins in Baldur's Gate 3 with a deeply disturbing connection to violence and a past they cannot fully remember. Their life revolves around resisting or embracing murderous impulses, which gives players the chance to pursue redemption or become a genuine monster. Choosing the darker route can lead to horrific betrayals and the deaths of beloved companions. Even when the character fights against these urges, the game forces players to confront how much responsibility someone bears for actions they struggle to control. | © Larian Studios

13. The Boss — Saints Row Franchise

The Boss is the leader of the Third Street Saints, a gang that grows from a street-level outfit into a criminal empire. Across the Saints Row series, they commit robberies, murder rivals, engage in gang warfare, and use violence to expand their criminal influence. The later games turn the character into an exaggerated action hero, but beneath all the jokes and outrageous situations is someone who routinely solves problems through bloodshed. | © Volition

12. John Marston — Red Dead Redemption

In Red Dead Redemption, John Marston is a former outlaw trying to reunite with his family, but the government forces him to hunt down his old gang members to secure their freedom. In doing so, he returns to the violence he supposedly left behind, killing numerous people while navigating a world where justice is often compromised. John has a strong sense of loyalty and a genuine desire to change, but his history and actions show how difficult it is to escape a violent past. | © Rockstar Games

11. Alan Wake — Alan Wake

Alan Wake is a troubled writer trying to save his wife from a supernatural force, but his actions gradually become questionable as the story unfolds. Trapped in the Dark Place, he uses his writing to influence reality, often creating dangerous situations in an attempt to escape. His willingness to manipulate events and put others at risk raises questions about how far he's prepared to go to achieve his goals. His habit of treating people and events like pieces in a story makes him a morally complicated protagonist. | © Remedy Entertainment

10. Kratos — God of War Franchise

Kratos begins his journey as a warrior seeking revenge against the Greek gods, but his quest eventually turns into a catastrophe for almost everyone around him. This is especially prominent in God of War III, where he kills gods in increasingly brutal ways, with their deaths often triggering disasters that devastate the world and its inhabitants. His suffering helps explain his rage, but it doesn't excuse the destruction he unleashes on countless innocent people. | © Sony Interactive Entertainment

9. Arthur Morgan — Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan is a deeply compelling protagonist, but his life as an outlaw involves plenty of terrible deeds. He robs banks, intimidates civilians, kills lawmen, and participates in violent schemes to keep his gang afloat. We recognize that players can guide him toward redemption, but his past remains filled with victims who suffered because of his awful choices. That said, his story in Red Dead Redemption 2 is powerful precisely because he isn't an innocent hero. | © Rockstar Games

8. The Tarnished — Elden Ring

The Tarnished journeys through the Lands Between to claim the Elden Ring and potentially become Elden Lord. But there's no requirement that the person who reaches that throne must be benevolent. That said, players can slaughter wandering creatures, kill powerful figures, and pursue terrible endings in Elden Ring. Some paths even involve embracing forces that threaten the existence of the world. The Tarnished may be a champion, but whether they deserve to rule is an entirely different question. | © FromSoftware

7. Alex Mercer — Prototype

Alex Mercer initially appears to be a man searching for answers after a biological outbreak transforms New York City into a nightmare. As the story of the first Prototype unfolds, however, his willingness to consume people and absorb their identities becomes more and more horrifying. Mercer can disguise himself as his victims, take their memories, and kill without hesitation. His personal quest for answers eventually becomes difficult to separate from the mass suffering he causes. | © Radical Entertainment/Activision

6. Niko Bellic — Grand Theft Auto IV

In Grand Theft Auto IV, Niko Bellic arrives in Liberty City hoping for a fresh start, but his past as a soldier and criminal follows him everywhere. He becomes involved in organized crime, carries out assassinations, and kills numerous people while working for powerful figures. His experiences have left him cynical and deeply troubled, which may make people sympathize with him. Still, his personal struggles don't change the fact that his pursuit of revenge and money causes enormous harm. | © Rockstar Games

5. Jimmy Hopkins — Bully

Jimmy Hopkins is introduced to us in Bully as a teenager trying to survive a school filled with bullies, terrible cliques, and corrupt authority figures. Unfortunately, he often responds to most of these problems with violence and intimidation. He can bully other students, start fights, vandalize property, and sabotage people's lives to gain influence around campus. Jimmy occasionally stands up for those being mistreated, but he can become just as aggressive as the people he opposes. | © Rockstar Games

4. V — Cyberpunk 2077

V is a mercenary trying to survive after a dangerous heist leaves them sharing their mind with a digital engram. While the central story of Cyberpunk 2077 makes V's predicament easy to empathize with, the open world allows you to commit all kinds of crimes. Depending on how the player behaves, V can take out civilians, steal vehicles, work for ruthless corporations, and accept jobs that ruin innocent lives. | © CD Projekt Red

3. Wander — Shadow of the Colossus

Wander sets out on a seemingly noble mission to resurrect a girl named Mono, but achieving his goal comes at a terrible cost. He hunts down and kills colossal beings, many of which appear more peaceful than hostile, all in exchange for the promise of bringing her back to life. As the story in Shadow of the Colossus unfolds, it becomes evident that Wander's determination has unleashed something far more sinister than he understands. His love for Mono makes his actions understandable, but his willingness to destroy these ancient creatures makes him a deeply flawed and morally gray character. | © Sony Computer Entertainment

2. Aiden Pearce — Watch Dogs

Aiden Pearce is introduced to us in the first Watch Dogs as a skilled hacker seeking revenge after a failed job leads to the death of his niece. While his grief makes his mission understandable, Aiden is hardly an innocent vigilante. He uses Chicago's surveillance network to invade people's privacy, steal information, manipulate infrastructure, and track down targets. His willingness to use violence against anyone standing in his way also makes him difficult to distinguish from the criminals he claims to oppose. | © Ubisoft

1. Trevor Philips — Grand Theft Auto V

Now, this is not exactly a surprising inclusion. Trevor Philips may be one of the protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V, but he is one of the most unpredictable characters in gaming history. His disturbing behavior simply makes it difficult to argue that he's a decent human being. He also has a criminal history, a violent temper, and regularly threatens people, often for reasons that have little to do with anything reasonable. | © Rockstar Games