Video Game Characters Who Betrayed the Villain

Key Takeaways

Villains can also face betrayal, not just heroes—motivations vary.
Betrayals often stem from characters’ true intentions and loyalties.
Villains evoke disgust, invite betrayal, and may have ulterior motives.

In my humble opinion, the characters that stand out as the most complex and intriguing in these games are undoubtedly those who straddle the line between friend and foe, those who possess a deep-rooted loyalty to their cause but also harbor a burning desire for change or redemption.

Anyone can encounter the feeling of betrayal, and this theme is frequently central in video games and stories. Typically, it’s the hero who grapples with such betrayals, but let’s not forget that villains also experience it—and perhaps even more often. If a villain lacks moral principles, they may provoke disdain from potential allies or even entice those with the inclination and motive to betray them.

“In the world of gaming, there are numerous instances where my character chose to turn against the main antagonist. It wasn’t always about heroism or justice; sometimes it was about self-preservation, a twist in allegiance, or simply playing the game differently.”

8 Jill

Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance

Video Game Characters Who Betrayed the Villain

Jill Fizzart is the child of Shiharam, a Wyvern Lord who functions as a general within the realm of Daein. Previously, he was under the authority of Begnion, alongside his subordinate Haar, but departed due to the rot and corruption that had infiltrated Begnion’s Senate. To preserve his position in Daein, Shiharam was compelled to orchestrate hunts for Laguz – humanoid beings with animal traits – even though he held no ill-will towards them. Interestingly, Shiharam expresses his admiration for the cat laguz if they face him in combat, as he views them as favored by a worthy master, contrasting this to his own evil superiors both in Begnion and Daein.

Until Jill switches sides to join Ike’s group, she works under him. This move is prompted by the fact that at that moment, Ike and his friends are fighting against Raven Laguz, which sparks Jill’s desire to pursue Laguz herself. However, her beliefs contradict those of Ike’s team significantly. She claims she wants to understand their views better as a reason for staying. Interestingly, Jill is open to returning to Daein if certain conditions are met, such as confronting Shiharam in battle and not having an A-Support with Mist. If she has an A-Support with Mist, she won’t defect under any circumstances. Even though Shiharam eventually dies, his ideals live on through Haar, another character who can also choose to defect. The game “Radiant Dawn” offers insight into why Haar and Shiharam chose to defect, as it focuses more on the ongoing evils within Begnion.

7 Yasha

Asura’s Wrath

Originally, Asura was deceitfully murdered by his comrades among the Guardian Generals, who also killed his wife and framed him for the crime. Later, they abducted his daughter as part of their grand scheme. In a desperate attempt to save her, he was slain once more. This tragic event ignited Asura’s furious title of vengeance. Several years later, he was resurrected and swore retribution. However, his anger twisted him over time. It is then when Yasha, Asura’s brother-in-law and one of the traitors, chooses to guide him towards redemption and eventually offer assistance to Asura on his journey.

In Yasha’s mind, he grapples with choosing between two versions of ‘good’. Deus convinced him that the acts of taking human lives, deceiving Asura, and capturing Mithra, were necessary steps for safeguarding humanity from Gohma. However, it was his doubt about this cause that eventually led him to rescue Asura instead of maintaining enmity with him.

6 Ghetsis Harmonia Gropius

Pokemon Black & White

It’s possible to interpret Ghetsis’ actions as betrayal, but it could also be said that he never truly cared for his son Harmonia Gropius “N”. From the start, Ghetsis nurtured N, a boy with an extraordinary ability to communicate with Pokemon, with the intention of making him the ruler of Team Plasma. N was brought up in close proximity to Pokemon from harmful situations, which led him to believe that all Pokemon longed for freedom from humans, a belief that may not have been entirely truthful.

In the course of frequent conflicts with the player, N starts questioning his beliefs. After N’s defeat, Ghetsis feels disillusioned with his foster child and reveals his hidden agenda. His aim was to seize Pokemon from others for an easier conquest of Unova. Following his loss to the player, a dejected Ghetsis disappears until the continuation games, Black 2 and White 2.

In these games, he assumes leadership of Team Plasma once more; however, this time with a caveat. The group split into two factions: those who supported N’s sincere intentions for the well-being of Pokemon, and those who wished to follow Ghetsis’ ambitions of controlling the region. Later, his three key followers hint that Ghetsis has lost his drive or is no longer able to think strategically, which could imply he is either deceased or incapacitated.

5 Dimentio

Super Paper Mario

Initially, Dimentio appears as a subordinate to Count Bleck, along with characters such as Nastasia, O’Chunks, and Mimi. He displays an arrogant demeanor and the power to move between dimensions and manipulate them. Pretending to be a faithful servant to Count Bleck, Dimentio frequently clashes with Mario and his companions. Count Bleck’s behavior is fueled, in part, by the supposed loss of his partner, Timpani. However, it is revealed that she is actually Mario’s guide and manages to reconnect with her former lover in the end.

Dimension, on the contrary, isn’t featured in this scene. He’s actually a player, skillfully orchestrating the moves of both Mario and Bleck’s allies for his personal gain. He collaborated with Count Bleck to acquire the Chaos Heart, and he deceived Luigi, turning him into “Mr. L” to merge with him, creating a stronger entity. It is ultimately his betrayal that makes Dimension, not Bleck, the main antagonist of the game.

4 Vice & Mature

King Of Fighters

The members of the sinister cult known as the Hakkeshu, who aim to wipe out humanity following the will of Orochi, exhibit a complex moral stance. While they are steadfast in their mission, this commitment appears dubious when compared to Iori Yagami, one of the three clan leaders instrumental in vanquishing and imprisoning Orochi. Interestingly, Iori’s clan entered into a blood pact with Orochi, leaving them vulnerable to the Blood Riot, a powerful force that amplifies strength but at the expense of mental stability.

In contrast, or possibly due to their shared ruthless nature, the characters Vice and Mature appear to favor this fighter over his fellow cultists. They initially appeared on his team during King of Fighters ’96. According to the storyline, they have fought alongside Iori on three occasions, with the last two encounters taking place after he became mad and killed them. It remains unclear why these two are drawn to him, as his actions contradict their stated objectives. However, it could be that their mutual disregard for others and shared sadistic tendencies cause them to ignore his frequent disrespect towards them. Interestingly, Vice and Mature do not get along with each other, but they seem to take pleasure in causing pain regardless of past alliances.

3 Benny

Fallout: New Vegas

Robert House harbored a deep fascination for his concept of pre-war Las Vegas, demonstrating contempt towards the emerging factions post-nuclear catastrophe. To assert control over an autonomous Vegas, House recruited three local raider tribes to drive out rival groups, resulting in numerous deaths and scarcity of resources among the displaced survivors, while those who aligned with House fared better in comparison.

In Fallout: New Vegas, while House isn’t traditionally portrayed as a villain, his actions and the flexible narrative make him appear that way. Additionally, House’s business dealings paved the way for Benny, a character who aims to dethrone him. Interestingly, Benny is one of the initial characters players encounter in the game. His intention is to assassinate the player to prevent House from obtaining the platinum chip they possess.

The significance of Benny varies based on who the player aligns with. The House sees him as a danger and plans to eliminate him, while the Legion will capture him if they cross paths. On the other hand, he has no bearing on the NCR storyline. Ultimately, whether Benny survives or not is largely up to the player’s choices within the game.

2 Lex Luthor

Injustice: Gods Among Us

As a gamer, I’ve found myself immersed in the world of “Injustice” games, where I step into an alternate DC Universe, one where Superman takes charge after a tragic event – the death of Lois Lane at the hands of the Joker. This narrative explores the dark side of Superman, often referred to as the “Evil Superman.” Unlike the Superman we know, this version is ready to take lives, not just of criminals, but also of heroes who refuse to follow his lead. His brutal ideology, fueled by immense power, manages to sway both villains and heroes alike, creating a massive following for his One Earth Regime.

In this alternate reality, I find myself squaring off against Lex Luthor, a fellow gamer but with a hidden agenda. He may seem like an ally to Superman, the main universe’s nemesis turned friend here, but he’s actually working covertly for Batman’s resistance group, the Insurgency. His tech empire funds both the Regime and the Insurgency, giving him a unique upper hand in this power struggle.

1 Lars Alexandersson

Tekken

The game called Tekken primarily focuses on the age-old conflict within the Mishima family lineage. One of the more recently introduced characters from this clan is Lars, who turns out to be Heihachi Mishima’s illegitimate offspring. It appears that Heihachi created Lars with the intention of discovering the source of the Devil Gene, a trait which he himself was found not to have.

For several years, he was a part of the Tekken Force, an armed division owned by the Mishima Corporation. Remarkably, he climbed up the ladder at a tender age. However, he harbored personal conflicts with the company due to the wars instigated by its leader, Jin Kazama, who is Lars’ half-nephew and Heihachi’s grandson. As a result of these disagreements, Lars established a breakaway faction named Yggdrasil, which was formed around the time before Tekken 6, comprising approximately half of the total force.

Thanks to funding from Violet Systems, a business helmed by Heihachi’s adopted child, Lars embarked on operations aimed at halting the clashes instigated by Jin. Interestingly, as events unfolded, Lars found himself cooperating with Jin to combat a far more brutal warlord: Kazuya, Heihachi’s own son.

2024-11-11 09:35