Best Anti-Hero Protagonists in JRPGs

There are many well-written anti-heroes in gaming, with a handful representing the JRPG genre. However, an anti-hero doesn’t need to be dark and broody. In fact, the only requirement they need to be considered an anti-hero is that they do not possess typical heroic qualities. Heroes are usually portrayed as selfless and morally true, while anti-heroes can be flawed, morally ambiguous, or even doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.

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By  Ritwik Mitra

This makes being an anti-hero a very gray area with a lot of potential candidates — more than one might imagine. Anti-heroes are compelling choices for protagonists because they have depth, and can cause a strong emotional connection with the players because of their internal struggles — which can have players feel sympathy for them. This relatability is one of the reasons they can be so likable.

8 Caim (Drakengard)

The Hero Before Becoming The Villain

• Ruthless
• Selfish

Violence, selfishness, and moral ambiguity — all classic traits of the anti-hero archetype. Caim has these traits in spades, driven by vengeance and bloodlust. While heroes do what they need to do to bring about peace and enact justice, Caim has little to no hesitation turning to bloodshed. He seeks to slay all those responsible for the destruction of his home.

However, Caim doesn’t just see violence as a means to an end, he revels in butchering his foes. This complete lack of compassion puts him closer to a villain than many of the other entries on this list. Caim later serves as the villain of the game’s sequel. There are several entries in the Drakengard and Nier franchise, with this being one of the earliest.

7 Ace (Final Fantasy Type-0)

Face of a Group of Misled Child Soldiers

• Warped Emotions
• Blindly Loyal

Sometimes a hero is misled or deceived into doing bad things. This still makes them a hero, just one that is suffering and in need of getting back on the right path. However, Class Zero are a group of child soldiers that have been raised with twisted idealism instilled in their very being.

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By  Will Buckley

There are several playable characters in the game, with Ace serving as the face of the group. While not entirely heartless, he shows a lot of moral ambiguity throughout the story. He has a constant sense of doubt about his actions, and if they are the right ones, but will blindly complete the mission regardless of what needs to be done.

6 Laharl (Disgaea: Hour of Darkness)

Selfish Prince of the Nether Realm

• Thirst for Conquest
• Egotistical

Laharl is a demon and the son of the late Overlord of the Nether Realm. Upon awakening, he decides to reclaim his birthright as the new overlord. This sets him on a journey against other demons, angels, and technologically superior humans. He has also appeared in numerous games where other characters take center stage.

While he may be borderline villainous at times, he has shown to also possess good in his heart and even do the right thing. This moral ambiguity is what brings him closer to an anti-hero than an outright villain. His egotistical nature is due to a lack of emotional growth, but he slowly develops over the course of the game. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is one of many PS2 games that still hold up to this very day.

5 Ichiban Kasuga (Yakuza: Like A Dragon)

A Criminal with a Heart of Gold

• Former member of the Yakuza
• Not bound by typical heroic morals

Yakuza: Like a Dragon has one of the best stories in the franchise. While Ichiban’s story involves him turning over a new leaf and not killing anyone, he still has many traits that push him away from being a traditional hero. He is a member of the Japanese crime syndicate, the Yakuza. An organization that holds very strong ideals in terms of loyalty and honor but is still on the opposite side of the law.

Ichiban has been able to deal out Batman levels of hurt on his enemies during street brawls. He also does not have a morally sound sense of justice, as he has no problem breaking and entering to accomplish his goals. He once again takes the protagonist role for the game's follow-up, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

4 Velvet Crowe (Tales of Berseria)

A Heroic Heart That is Out for Blood

• Driven by revenge
• Doesn’t care about innocent lives

Just like Marvel’s own Punisher, Velvet is driven by her need for revenge. She is on a journey to kill the man known as Artorius, whom she holds responsible for the death of her brother, Laphicet.

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By  Brandon Williams

She easily lets this cloud her judgement, throwing caution and the safety of those around her aside to pursue this ambition. While the usual hero will defend the innocent, Velvet cares little about the collateral damage caused by her actions and the destruction left in her wake.

3 Therion (Octopath Traveler)

The Street Smart Thief of the Group

• Thievius background
• Darkened world view

Octopath Traveler has 8 central protagonists, with the player able to choose any of them at the start of the game. One of which is Therion, the thief. While some of the protagonist choices are heroic, some neutral, Therion is one of the darker options.

He is a thief whose first mission in the game is committing burglary. He has lived a life of crime and has known many hardships. He is untrusting and verbally expresses reluctance to help someone in need.

2 Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)

Ex-Soldier of Shinra Turned Mercenary

• Driven by selfish desires
• Lack of altruism

Many would argue that Cloud has no place on this list. However, there are many aspects of his personality that cannot be overlooked. When the character is introduced, he has no emotional ties to the party. He is a mercenary doing a job for the money and because of his friendship with Tifa.

Cloud doesn’t show compassion or sympathy to his opponents, taking to violence as if it were second nature to him. Cloud does not strive to save and protect because it is the right thing to do, but because it benefits him and those he cares about. His drive to defeat Sephiorth is due to personal matters and not because Sephiroth is a villain.

1 Joker (Persona 5)

Imposes Justice from His Perspective

• Rebels against authority
• Dashing rogue persona

The Dashing Rogue archetype makes for a great anti-hero. Some good examples are someone who fights against the law because they believe it is morally just or a vigilante who works outside the law on their own terms.

True to the Dashing Rogue archetype, Joker uses an abundance of charisma and useful skills throughout the game. Joker and his band of Phantom Thieves actions break numerous laws in the pursuit of accomplishing their view of justice.

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