Summary
The Oxford English Dictionary definesan antiheroas: “A person who is the opposite or reverse of a hero; esp. a central character in a story, film, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes.” In the world ofRPGs, there are plenty of games featuring heroic characters bound by a pure heart and a noble cause, but there aren’t quite as many high-profile games that feature the reverse.
Nevertheless, some of the best RPGs made in recent years have at their core a character who can by turns be morally ambiguous, self-serving, or justa straight-up bad egg. Such characters make for more varied storytelling and also more diverse gameplay mechanics, as not every choice the protagonist makes is in service of a happy ending. Here is a selection ofthe very best RPGs that let players become antiheroes.
Continuing the lineage of theDungeons and Dragonsseries,Baldur’s Gate 3maintains the same customization and freedom that enables players to create a character and make choices that affect the world of the surrounding game. In the game’s setting, a parasitic infection spreads across the land, and the player must stop it before it can wreak further devastation.
Such a huge undertaking doesn’t mean the player must fight with the angels. What makes the game stand out is how it enables the ability to make choices that reverberate through the rest of the game. Players are able to lie, deceive, and manipulate if they wish, and their morally complex decisions shape the game’s narrative.
Tyrannyis a unique experience in that the player is working in service of the bad guys from the very start of the game. The story begins with the evil overlord Kyros having conquered the world, and the game’s protagonist, a Fatebinder, is one of Kyros’s minions and must work to monitor and keep track of how order is imposed in the game’s universe.
Morally dubious decisions are encouraged in the game, even while there is the possibility of trying to create a more just world in Kyros' wake. As the player travels through the game’s world, they are able to make decisions on the best ways of dealing with the many factions of survivors. All this in turn has an effect on which companions, spells, and abilities the player is able to choose from.
TheFalloutgamesare well-known for a dark sense of humor and a bleak in-game world where survivors do what they must in order to endure a post-apocalyptic landscape. This was reflected perfectly in the Amazon TV series, but oneFalloutgame also embodies the franchise philosophy via its protagonist.
The game lets players take control of a character known only as The Courier. Early on, they suffer a betrayal and are left for dead in the desert, but then later have the chance to forge a path to power by allying themselves with all manner of morally reprehensible groups, whether it’s totalitarian faction Caesar’s Legion or opportunists in groups like the California Republic. In the world ofFallout, being selfish is an asset rather than a drawback.
The originalKnights Of The Old Republicwas a highly acclaimed deep dive into theStar Warsuniverse that gave players fresh new characters and someespecially memorable villains. But for its sequel, the development team decided to take things one step further and present an even more complex character.
The game allows players to take the role of Jedi Exile, who comes complete with a thorny backstory rooted in conflict as theDark Side of The Forceis explored in more detail. The player is given the option of investing more heavily in their dark side, to the end that they can commit to acts of malevolence and destruction.
Satirical commentary and a grim sense of humor are a big part of what makesThe Outer Worldsso compelling. Its critique of unregulated capitalism and corporate culture is evident across the game. Not only that, it is also reflected in the player’s choices as they explore the galaxy.
The first-person RPG allows the player to forge their own path and do what they believe is best for their character’s progression in the game. The option of pushing back against megacorporations is there, but if they wish, they can also side with The Board and help impose control over the colonies. Alternatively, they can ignore either side and simply work to serve themselves and prosper at the expense of others, with or withouta companion.
