10 Games That Reward You For Being Heartless

Playing the ‘good guy’ in video games can get repetitive, which is why many games now let you control the villain instead. A great example is *Destroy All Humans*, where you play as an alien who arrives on Earth to cause trouble and investigate humans.

While playing as a clear villain can be enjoyable, it’s often more engaging when the main character operates in a morally ambiguous area – somewhere between good and evil. Letting players choose to be either good or bad can lead to richer stories. Plus, rewarding players for making evil choices can really encourage them to explore that side, and we’ve seen that work well in many games.

BioShock

Stealing Adam From Eve

In BioShock, you explore Rapture, a once-beautiful underwater city that has crumbled after its inhabitants developed extraordinary powers. The game begins after your plane crashes in the ocean, leaving you to navigate the wreckage and encounter the city’s unstable population, including mysterious children called Little Sisters. You can choose to save these Little Sisters for future benefits, or exploit them to boost your own powers – a harsh decision that can give you a significant advantage in fights.

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

The Power Of Force Lightning

In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, you’ll create a Jedi character who has lost their memory. Your choices in conversations will shape your character’s morality, influencing what skills they learn. If you make selfish or cruel decisions, you can unlock powerful Sith abilities, like Force Lightning, which many players find more exciting than standard Jedi powers. This game offers one of the most immersive experiences of playing as a Sith in the Star Wars universe.

inFamous

Better Powers For Being Evil

inFamous introduces Cole, an everyday delivery driver who suddenly gains electrical superpowers. As you play, you can decide whether to be a hero, protecting people and stopping criminals, or embrace a darker path and become a villain. Your choices affect Cole’s morality – the more bad deeds you commit, the more ‘evil’ he becomes, unlocking powerful, destructive abilities like enhanced explosives and the power to steal health from enemies.

Undertale

Not The Right Way, But It Is A Path

Undertale is a unique indie role-playing game that playfully challenges common RPG conventions, while still paying homage to classic games. A key feature is the ability to find peaceful solutions in every encounter – even with bosses – allowing players to spare their opponents and achieve a more rewarding conclusion.

Players aren’t limited to solving puzzles; they can also simply fight their way through every enemy, like in a typical RPG. This can be a simpler approach, as it removes the need to decipher word-based challenges. While the game features a much darker storyline, experiencing an intentionally evil playthrough of *Undertale* is a worthwhile experience, at least once.

Cult Of The Lamb

Become An Unrelenting God

In *Cult of the Lamb*, you play a possessed lamb tasked with building a devoted following and defeating rival deities. This unique game blends challenging roguelike dungeon crawls with the peaceful aspects of a life simulation. You’ll rescue followers from dungeons and grow your cult, but be warned – how you treat your flock impacts your rewards. You can even resort to… extreme measures, like consuming your followers, to become a truly terrifying god.

Vampyr

Don’t Resist Your Bloodlust

Set in early 1900s London, *Vampyr* casts you as a doctor facing a deadly plague. You’ll attempt to heal patients, but with a dark secret: you’ve recently become a vampire. The game challenges you to balance your morality with your newfound thirst – resisting the urge to feed on people will weaken you, but giving in will turn you into a truly monstrous creature.

Darkwatch

Use Your Vampire Powers For Good

Darkwatch is a unique vampire game set in the Wild West. Throughout the game, players face choices that let them play as a hero or villain, such as deciding the fate of an important character. Choosing the villainous path unlocks special abilities, like controlling enemies. Both playstyles are enjoyable, and because the game isn’t very long, it’s worth experiencing both sides – the evil path offers a slightly darker and more exciting experience.

Manhunt

Evil Begets Evil

Okay, so *Manhunt* is one of those Rockstar games that doesn’t get talked about much, but it’s seriously intense. The first game basically put you in this really gritty world where you were either forced to brutally take down enemies or sneak around them – it was all set up like these messed-up snuff film sets. Definitely a darker experience than most games I’ve played.

Simply avoiding or quickly eliminating opponents didn’t offer much in the way of rewards. But fully embracing the role of a ruthless killer and performing more elaborate takedowns earned players higher scores and better prizes.

Army Of Two: The 40th Day

The Life Of A Mercenary

Army of Two: The 40th Day is a cooperative shooter where you play as mercenaries. While not every mission presents a moral dilemma, the ones that do rarely offer meaningful rewards beyond a sense of self-satisfaction. Often, choosing to play dishonestly is more beneficial, allowing you to earn more money for weapon customization and upgrades. Better weapons, naturally, make it easier to defeat enemies.

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant Of The Plume

An Easier Game If You Sacrifice Allies

Unlike other games in the *Valkyrie Profile* series, *Covenant of the Plume* is a challenging tactical RPG. A key mechanic involves Wylfred using the Destiny Plume to temporarily strengthen a teammate. However, once that character’s turn is complete, they are permanently removed from your party. While sacrificing allies feels wrong, it’s often a necessary and effective strategy to achieve victory.

2025-10-13 07:35