Being Good is Boring
Most games train you to save the village, forgive the bad guy, and refuse that deliriously high pile of blood money. But what if you didn’t have to be the good guy? Plenty of games tempt you with the evil route, and if curiosity wasn’t enough to entice you, some are actually better when you succumb to the dark side. Come with us as we explore which games practically reward you for embracing the bad stuff. You may hate yourself afterward, but at least you won't be bored.
1. Baldur's Gate 3
There’s nothing else to say: you’re missing out on if you haven’t done a Durge run. Choosing this origin turns BG3 into an especially twisted version of an already unpredictable RPG. Giving in to Bhaal unlocks unique scenes, new choices, a terrifying Slayer form, and interactions you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Not to mention, this is the only timeline where you can freely urinate on your own leg.
2. Fallout: New Vegas
A ruthless Courier can do far more than steal everything that isn't nailed down. You can work with Caesar's Legion. You can betray people who trusted you. You can even sell Arcade Gannon into slavery. We’re not saying we feel good about it, but the sheer number of awful decisions that get proper dialogue makes villainy feel like an actual role-playing path.
3. Dragon Age: Origins
Being unpleasant in Dragon Age: Origins isn't limited to picking sarcastic dialogue. If you’re willing to commit, the Warden can desecrate Andraste's ashes, sacrifice Isolde to save Connor, and recruit Loghain after spending most of the game hunting him. Party members can leave or even attack you over certain decisions, which is how you know you’re on the right side of the wrong path.
4. Mass Effect 2
Like it or not, Shepard's Renegade interrupts are responsible for some of Mass Effect 2's most memorable moments. Want to be ruthless? Shepard can interrupt speeches with gunfire and threaten suspects if you want. Paragon Shepard may save the galaxy politely, but Renegade Shepard is the only one who gets the trilogy's funniest and most brutal interactions.
5. Star Wars: The Old Republic
Who among us hasn’t wanted to take up a red saber? It’ll cost you some Dark Side decisions, though, like executions, betrayals, intimidation, and manipulation. That said, you will get some wonderfully venomous dialogue from the Sith Warrior and Sith Inquisitor.
6. Jade Empire
BioWare's Jade Empire lets you follow the Closed Fist philosophy. In case you were wondering, its harshest interpretation encourages domination and forcing weaker characters to survive without your compassion, which actually opens conversations that a gentler player never sees. Just be warned that some late-game choices are…nasty, but a darker second run is worth it just to see how far things can go.
7. Fable II
If you’re going to be a bad guy, you might as well look cool doing it. Few morality systems make being terrible as visually stunning as Fable II. Of course you have horns—you can raise rents, terrify villagers, and sacrifice people at the Temple of Shadows (including your own family). Being bad also stops villagers from just showing up in your house, which is more than enough reason to kick a chicken.
8. inFamous 2
Cole can save New Marais, sure, but evil karma gives this game an entirely different attitude. Nix becomes a natural ally for your awful decisions, and the evil ending takes Cole somewhere the heroic route obviously can't. It's one of those morality systems where committing to the darker side works way better than awkwardly switching between saint and monster.
9. Dishonored
Dishonored doesn't display a giant EVIL meter whenever Corvo starts cutting through guards, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Killing heavily raises Chaos, contributing to more rats and weepers while also changing dialogue, character behavior, later environments, and the ending itself. Even Samuel, your loyal boatman, eventually becomes disgusted with you.
10. Vampyr
We hate to break it to you, but playing nicely in Vampyr means turning your back on one of the most useful sources of experience points. Jonathan gets way stronger by feeding on citizens, and it’s even more tempting once you learn more about them to increase the amount of XP they provide. Of course, murking doctors, merchants, and residents can destroy entire districts, so power comes with consequences. But hey—what’s a vampire to do?
11. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Most RPGs offer one evil route, whereas Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous gives ambitious players a whole menu. The Demon, Lich, Devil, and especially Swarm-That-Walks Mythic Paths are all up for grabs. Depending on what you pick, they can radically alter quests, abilities, relationships, and how the crusade responds to your increasingly questionable leadership.
12. Wasteland 3
Colorado isn't exactly overflowing with morally spotless solutions, but that’s what makes Wasteland 3 perfect for a coldhearted Ranger squad. You can betray allies, prioritize political stability over justice, and make bargains that would horrify a more idealistic team. Better still, the ending slides remember a remarkable number of your decisions and explain exactly what your ruthlessness accomplished.
13. The Outer Worlds
Obsidian was kind enough to create substantial content for players willing to be the bad guy. Instead of helping Phineas Welles undermine the Board, you can report him, cooperate with authorities, and pursue quests that a rebellious protagonist never lays eyes on. The Board path is cartoonishly cruel, yes, but its unique conversations make it more interesting than a token evil ending.
14. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Rivellon gives you enough freedom to become horrible in surprisingly creative ways. Go ahead: exploit Source, betray quest-givers, manipulate companions, consume spirits, and, under the right circumstances, embrace the God King's interests. You know you want to.
15. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
The Spirit-Eater curse creates an unusually tempting reason to stop behaving yourself. Forget about suppressing your hunger—it’s time to embrace it and devour spirits for power! The expansion also takes these choices seriously enough that becoming monstrous feels woven into the story rather than added for shock value.
16. Planescape: Torment
A cruel Nameless One fits disturbingly well with what Planescape: Torment eventually reveals about his past. Dialogue allows you to lie, exploit companions, and treat desperate strangers as tools. It’s tough work, but you do gradually learn that previous incarnations of your character often behaved the same way.
17. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Being feared rather than loved doesn’t always work in a game, but it pans out surprisingly well when you're chasing a rogue god. Your Watcher can cultivate reputations for cruelty, and a selfish character has ample opportunity to abandon principles whenever money, power, or political convenience makes betrayal appealing.
18. Fallout 3
Fallout 3 has very little interest in making evil choices subtle. Within the opening hours, you can help detonate the bomb inside Megaton, wiping an entire settlement from the map for a little payment and a good view from Tenpenny Tower. Later opportunities don’t make you any more moral, either.
19. Fable III
Well, if we’re going to talk about Fable II, we’re obviously going to mention the third one! Look, being a tyrant makes kingdom-management a lot easier. We know the villagers aren’t happy about it, but keeping promises costs money. Cruel decisions don’t.
20. Black & White 2
A benevolent god can patiently impress civilizations, but Black & White 2 gives cruel deities way crazier options. You can terrorize settlements, punish followers, and shape both your domain and divine appearance around fear instead of devotion. Watching the world actually change alongside your morality makes an evil run far more entertaining.
