BEST BETHESDA PROTAGONISTS WHO CAN BE EVIL

Bethesda is a company that has attained a rather mixed reputation in the company. After bursting onto the scene with the release of Morrowind before Skyrim took over the world by storm, it seemed that Bethesda could do no wrong. Despite the controversy surrounding the overpriced horse armor in Oblivion, most people assumed that this was a thing of the past. Unfortunately, an attempt to monetize mods, poor customer relations, and an attempt to appeal to the casual market while alienating their fanbase caused many fans to shift their opinions regarding this company.

Still, there's no denying that the protagonists present in these games are pretty fun to control, even if they may be nothing more than a blank slate for players to project on. A common criticism across most Bethesda games is that being the bad guy isn't as compelling as most people would like, but that won't stop most players from trying to make the protagonists of these games as heinous as possible.

The Lone Wanderer

It's Very Easy To Become A Very Evil Character And Nuke An Entire Settlement

While Fallout 3 was a massive achievement across the board, a lot of people felt like the nuanced role-playing goodness of previous games in the series was lost in the attempt to modernize the series. Still, there was something to be said about the karma system, which let players take on the role of the bad buy despite their actions being nowhere near as compelling as previous games in the series.

However, one aspect of the game where players could have a lot of fun involved a certain quest where they could channel their dark urges and just straight-up nuke an entire town if they wished. Seeing the ruins of Megaton after inflicting unfathomable harm on its population is a moment that cements why some people love to play the bad guy in these games.

The Nerevarine

Can Kill Everyone In The Game If They Wish And Do Wrong By Many

Morrowind was a huge step in the right direction for Bethesda. The massive open world of Daggerfall looked good on paper, but it was only a given that handcrafted open-world environments would be more engaging to play in every way. This allowed Bethesda to focus on the isle of Vvardenfell and let players get a taste of what Morrowind had to offer.

Exploring this massive island and its culture was a blast in every way, with the player slowly coming up from humble beginnings to become the fated Nerevarine. However, embarking on the path of a cookie-cutter hero isn't the only avenue available to the player. Instead, they can kill everyone in sight and choose the most heinous options present in every quest to ensure that their evil playthrough remains intact.

The Hero Of Kvatch

Eventually Goes On To Become Sheogorath, The Daedric God Of Madness

Oblivion used the building blocks of Morrowind to make an open-world game that was easier to get into and allowed players to enjoy the classic role-playing goodness of the Elder Scrolls games with a fresh coat of paint. It may not have aged all that well, but players still love the goofiness of the Radiant AI system and the epic quest line of this title.

Despite becoming the Hero of Kvatch, the main character can be a pretty big nuisance in the game who isn't afraid to channel their villainous side from time to time. This can manifest itself in many ways across the game, letting players throw their moral compass to the wayside as they exploit vulnerable people and commit villainous acts that make the atrocities of the main villains look downright tame in comparison.

The Dragonborn

The Soul Of A Dragon Within Someone Is Bound To Make Someone Ambitious And Power-Hungry

The Dragonborn is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time. It's easy to see why Skyrim was such a huge hit, with the act of hunting down these massive winged beasts and using their shouts against them making for a great time. Some people may argue that Skyrim's role-playing was a bit too simplistic at times, but that didn't stop players from trying to be as evil as possible whenever they got the chance.

From stealing everything in sight to annihilating any guard that dared to cross their path, it's easy to see why a Dragonborn's relentless rampage can make them look downright heinous in the eyes of many. Sure, they may destroy Alduin and save the world from destruction, but that doesn't justify the atrocities they commit along the way.

The Sole Survivor

Aligning With The Lost Son Is A Veritably Evil Decision

Fallout 4 was a mixed bag in the eyes of many fans. The simplified role-playing elements and a main story that simply didn't gel with audiences made it hard to resonate with this title for players who loved the complex roleplaying goodness of New Vegas and the CRPG roots of the franchise. This, coupled with a shoddy perk system, made Fallout 4 the black sheep of the series in the eyes of many until Fallout 76 rolled out the red carpet.

Still, there's no denying that this game gave players ample opportunities to be the bad guy if they wished. Screwing people over in quests and being a despicable human being let the player accumulate a ton of negative karma in no time, even if most people argued that role-playing as a hero felt more cohesive when taking the main narrative into account.

2024-05-05T02:41:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd