9 Best Games Where You Play As The Hero & The Villain

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In most video games, there’s either a single main character or multiple characters working together, all heading towards the same destination to achieve a common objective. But not every narrative follows this structure; sometimes, the hero of one story could actually be the villain in another.

In numerous video games, we’ve been granted the ability to assume control over not only the predetermined hero, but also the antagonist, embarking on a journey tailored for them instead.

There are several possible scenarios for this situation to unfold. For instance, the main antagonist might require collaboration with the hero’s traditional adversary, or alternatively, the antagonist could be devising plans separate from the hero’s actions.

We might find ourselves with a fleeting chance to command the antagonist during an exciting action sequence, or it could be that we’ve been secretly controlling them all along without realizing it. Regardless of how it unfolds, these are the games we adore because they let us experience playing both the hero and the villain.

Warning: We’ll be covering spoilers for some of the following games.

9.
Injustice 2

Batman V Superman

In essence, fighting games provide the ability to manage both parties engaged in a dispute. Nevertheless, as the combatants are entirely influenced by the players’ choices, it isn’t considered narrative-driven from that perspective. However, there are fighting games with a stronger focus on storytelling, notably those developed by Netherrealm Studios, which allow for frequent shifts between factions’ viewpoints.

Injustice 2 provides a clear demonstration of this concept, as the game frequently switches viewpoints not only among members of Batman’s resistance group such as Black Canary and Blue Beetle, but also among remnants of Superman’s faction like Cyborg and Wonder Woman. At times, you might even encounter characters that you had recently been controlling in combat.

In the heart-pounding finale of our game, Brainiac’s arrival forces some short-lived partnerships. But once he’s vanquished, it falls squarely on me to choose who emerges victorious between Batman and Superman in the ultimate showdown. Regardless of my pick, they’re the one who seizes power in the endgame, shaping the destiny of our world.

8.
Sonic Adventure 2

“Better Not Let The Dark Side Win!”

In the original Sonic Adventure, the gameplay featured various character campaigns with intertwining narratives, except for Gamma. Notably, all characters were distinctly heroic in nature. Conversely, Sonic Adventure 2 opted for a unique approach: instead of individual tales for each character, the game was divided into two factions: Hero and Dark.

In the Hero storyline, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are portrayed as they strive to prevent Dr. Eggman from amassing Chaos Emeralds for his cosmic laser that could potentially destroy the moon. On the other hand, the Dark narrative focuses on Dr. Eggman’s endeavors, joined by newcomers Shadow and Rouge, who engage in illicit activities and menace the world with impending doom.

Interestingly, both parties find themselves in conflict with global military forces, but in Sonic’s case, this is due to a misunderstanding where he has been confused with Shadow.

In the end, enemies-turned-allies join forces in the final tale, accessible only after finishing previous ones. Their common goal? Preventing the ARK from colliding with Earth and causing mass extinction. It’s a surprisingly touching display of teamwork, particularly for Eggman, but alas, temporary it proves to be.

7.
Live A Live

Oops, All Odio

In most parts of Live A Live, the stories you encounter don’t appear to share many connections apart from their villains having names that sound like “Odio.” However, once you finish the first seven episodes, an eighth scenario comes up, where you take on the role of the knightly hero Oersted, who lives in medieval times.

“I thought this was just another run-of-the-mill ‘hero versus demon lord’ scenario, but then things took an unexpected twist when I, Oersted, found myself falsely accused of murdering the king. Now, I’m a pariah, friendless and on the run. But in my rage, I seize the demon lord’s empty throne and declare myself Odio, the source of all evil.” Well, it seems I’ve been the villain this whole time.

The outcome in the game’s climactic storyline hinges on your decision. You have the option to select one of the seven heroes who will unite and confront Odio, formerly known as Oersted. Alternatively, you could opt for Oersted himself to become the main character, gaining command over his manifestations across time to erase the heroes from history.

6.
Shovel Knight

One Hero, Three Villains

Initially, when Shovel Knight first came out, it focused solely on the main character, Shovel Knight, and his mission to save Shield Knight from the Tower of Fate. But as development progressed, the creators expanded the game by introducing three separate campaigns, allowing players to take control of three antagonistic knights belonging to the Order of No Quarter.

These four campaigns are all official and valid; King Knight’s starts first, followed by Specter Knight, and then both Plague Knight and Shovel Knight’s campaigns happen at the same time.

While you engage in combat with the knights and the Order of No Quarter as Shovel Knight, it’s worth noting that the other three knights also clash with fellow knights due to their unique motivations – this could occur within their specific stages or elsewhere.

Swapping sides can offer a unique perspective, especially when facing off against Shovel Knight, who now wields an arsenal of items and skills accumulated throughout the game. This way, you get to experience his might firsthand.

5.
Devil May Cry 5

V For Vergil

In Devil May Cry 5, you can control three main characters: Nero, Dante, and the mysterious figure V. It’s V who initially hires Devil May Cry to vanquish the demon “Urizen.” V employs summoned demons to aid both Nero and Dante in their mission to destroy the Qliphoth.

For a significant part of the game, you’ll take on the role of character V, with the majority of the initial phase being shared between him and Nero.

It turns out that V is not as he seems; he’s actually the discarded human remains of Vergil, left behind after he separated his demonic essence from himself using the Yamato. Following Dante’s victory over Urizens, V reconnects with him, enabling Vergil to regain his complete, original power and rule over the Qliphoth’s power derived from blood.

If we delve into the details, V represents only part of Vergil’s character, suggesting he may not fully embody a villain. Yet, in the game’s additional content outside the main storyline (DLC), you can control Vergil more extensively, ensuring you still experience his intense personality.

4.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Almost all Spider-Man games usually feature a variety of villains leading up to the main antagonist. It’s beneficial to display the extensive roster of bad guys when possible. In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the primary villain of this specific story is Venom. However, before engaging in a fight with Venom, players have an opportunity to control him during his younger or developmental phase, if you will.

As the narrative unfolds midway, following the transfer of the Venom Symbiote from Harry Osborn to me, an exciting opportunity presents itself: wielding the symbiote’s powerful, writhing appendages in a thrilling showdown against Kraven and his relentless hunters.

When you play as the Spider-Man who has been enhanced by a symbiote, it can be thought of as playing as Venom, since the suit takes on a significant role in defining the character’s identity.

Eventually, following a heated altercation with Miles, Peter manages to disentangle himself from the Symbiote, allowing it to bond with Harry again and transform into its complete Venom form. Due to his fleeting interaction with it, Peter is now capable of fabricating the Anti-Venom Suit, a crucial element in finally vanquishing Venom for good.

3.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

Bowser Punches The World

Bowser’s Inside Story that he took the initiative into his own hands.

As I foolishly inhaled a tainted mushroom thinking it was just another power-up, little did I know that Mario and Luigi would be sucked into me – turning me, Bowser, into an unwilling hero. Now, here I am, finding myself as the final barrier standing between the world and the evil schemes of the resurrected menace Fawful. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about the state of the world; what really grinds my gears is someone else trying to steal my spotlight. So, with a fire in my belly and a chip on my shoulder, I set off on a rampage, determined to smash any threats that dare cross my path.

Mario and Luigi have been exploring inside Bowser’s oversized body throughout this period. Despite managing to escape eventually, they frequently go back to secretly aid Bowser from within. This is especially true when it becomes evident that Bowser’s rampage benefits the Mushroom Kingdom overall.

2.
Batman: Arkham Asylum

Joker’s Prison Antics

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, it’s just Batman you can control during the main storyline. Unlike later games, Batman was the sole character present when the Joker caused chaos, so he’s the only one who can deal with the situation. But, delve deeper into the game, and you’ll find another intriguing playable character: none other than the Joker himself!

In this downloadable content for the game, which strangely only appeared on the PS3, you have the opportunity to assume the role of Joker in several test maps. Here, his objective is to evade and disable the security personnel at Arkham Asylum.

Instead of being as agile as Batman or equipped with numerous high-tech devices, he doesn’t quite match up. However, he does possess some hidden talents: X-Ray glasses, explosive chattering teeth, and in certain situations, a regular pistol if stealth isn’t the preferred method.

As I find Batman rolling the Joker into Arkham at the beginning of our tale, it’s clear that these challenge levels might not be part of the official narrative. Given the frequent escapes the Joker manages from Arkham, though, you could safely presume that most of his escape attempts would resemble this one.

1.
Heavy Rain

The Big Reveal

In Heavy Rain, there are four main characters: Ethan Mars, Norman Jayden, Madison Paige, and Scott Shelby. Throughout the game, each of these individuals is independently working to unravel the enigma of the Origami Killer and the larger mystery that surrounds him.

Over time, the tales of these individuals overlap, suggesting that one or more may be chasing the murderer. The one who captures the killer first appears to face hostility from all others involved.

Actually, I stumbled upon something intriguing in this game. Turns out, the Origami Killer isn’t who they seem to be. It’s none other than Shelby who’s been pulling the strings all along.

Throughout his personal narratives, particularly when you’re not directly guiding him, he performs seemingly innocent actions that later turn out to be calculated attempts to conceal or complicate evidence. The game unveils additional instances where such hidden maneuvers are even more extreme.

After Shelby is unmasked as the Origami Killer, it’s no longer possible for control over him. Instead, Ethan, Jayden, and Paige step up to continue the mission. If they manage to avoid getting killed, these three characters will ultimately confront Shelby in a showdown to decide the final outcome between them.

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2025-04-23 18:41