Many games have both RPG and alignment mechanics, just like D&D has, but not every title allows for Deep Alignment Roleplay, and the titles that pay special attention to how their players behave, so that the outcome of their choices aligns perfectly with their vision of the world.
This list spotlights five games that allow players to role-play their alignment better than D&D ever did, and they do it in such a seamless and natural way that immersion is never broken, from one of the classics of the RPG genre that has become a cult game, to a timeless jewel that has known no equal ever since its release more than a decade ago.
Best Games That Let You Be The Hero Or The Villain
Whether they want to be the world-saving hero, or tear the world apart ass the terrifying villain, these games give players the option to do both.
1 Fable: The Lost Chapters
No Other Game Has Shown How Alignment Changes Characters Like This Title
Fable: The Lost Chapters
- Released
- September 20, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360
Fable: The Lost Chapters is, arguably, one of the best RPGs of all time. Created by Lionhead Studios, and by none other than Peter Molyneux and his team of incredible talents, this game set the bar high for what player agency meant during the golden age of game development. In the world of Albion, players incarnate a hero in training, from their humble origins as a chickenchaser, to their ultimate form as a world savior and the stuff of legends. But all that happens in the meantime involves a lot of roleplaying as a hero, or, if the player wishes, as a villain that is loathed by everyone. There's a lot of room to play the part of the perfect hero, ally of justice, or the most vicious and cruel menace the world has ever seen.
Every decision that pushes players to the side of justice or villainhood has a clear effect on their visage, their aura, and how others perceive them. Scars are not the only permanent thing in Fable: The Lost Chapters, since reputation is really hard to fix once set in stone. And so is the appearance of a benign savior, or the absolute devil incarnate. The game even pushes the boundary, giving the players the ultimate choice: Embrace villainy and become one with the Big Bad Evil Guy (Jack of Blades), or banish him forever and become a hero of legend, saving the world and all that comes with it. It's a cool and endearing adventure, one that is soon to see a remake.
2 Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Build A Kingdom From Zero: Become A Tyrant, Or A Ruler Of Renown
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
- Released
- September 25, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Few games represent the core essence of what an RPG should be like Pathfinder: Kingmaker, by Owlcat Games. This title is a game version of the TTRPG campaign with the same name, published by Paizo. The game is a testament of player agency, and above all else, the perfect place to roleplay a villain, a hero, or, why not both? Tasked with conquering the lawless Stolen Lands, a patch of wilderness that is brimming with resources, but also dangerously linked to primordial magic and plagued by bandits and dangerous beasts, the players will get more than they bargained for when they discover a ruinous plot to prevent the establishment of a settlement in the zone.
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Turning a small hunting refuge into a capital for a rising nation is no joke, and players will soon learn that sometimes, they will need to dirty their hands if they want to get things done. Plus, the primordial magic operating in the area will not leave them alone, and they will need to muster up their forces and defend their newborn spark of civilization from forces beyond their comprehension every few months. The time factor is one of the most important things in this game, and if players do not manage it correctly, they will soon resort to desperate measures. Measures that can push them to become some of the most vile tyrants the world has ever seen. But ultimately, it is up to them to decide, and the fun part of the game is that it has a colorful cast of quirky characters from all types of alignments.
3 Mass Effect Series
Choose Paragon Or Renegade, But Be A Legend
Mass Effect
- Created by
- Casey Hudson
- Creation Year
- 2007
- Developer(s)
- BioWare, Edge of Reality, Demiurge Studios, Straight Right
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts, Microsoft Game Studios
People often underestimate the link between player agency and the alignment roleplay, that is, until they play any of the Mass Effect games (yes, even Andromeda). The power to lead humanity to a new horizon, or to break the chain of command and take extreme measures for the greater good, is at the point of the players' fingertips. And that is a big responsibility to have when all there is to know about the protagonist, is that he (or she) is a force to be reckoned with. The good thing is that Shepard's tale unravels as players conduct their every action through a series of conflicts that grow bigger and bigger in both stakes and causality.
Bioware did a massive job (pun intended) with this series, and there's hardly any other sci-fi franchise (except maybe KOTOR) that can be compared to its immersive storytelling. It is, without a doubt, one of the best game series to play for those who are looking to play the role of hero or anti-hero. There's no villain in this series, only a Commander who has lost every ounce of patience and will not hesitate to shoot first and ask questions later. Or, players can take the Paragon route and become exemplars of leadership, respecting the rules of engagement and protocol to the utmost. It's up to them to decide.
4 Star Wars - Knights Of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
No Game Teaches You More About Choice And Consequence Than This Title
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
- Released
- December 6, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Star Wars KOTOR 2: The Sith Lords is set in the age of the Old Republic, a turbulent time where the Core Worlds formed an era of peace and prosperity, with the Jedi Order as their protectors and sometimes, enforcers of justice. In this time period, the Sith Lords were a constant threat that the Order was failing to face and stop, and this led to the emergence of various Dark Jedis of renown, among them, Revan, the most powerful and dangerous of the bunch. With the fall of Revan after the events of KOTOR I, the Exile (the character the players incarnate) becomes the juncture of dispute between the most orthodox factions of the Jedi Order, and those who wish to bring forth change to a stagnant Republic.
This game will not only test the players' patience and affinity to the Light or Dark Side of the Force, but their capacity to understand how everything is connected, and how every small decision ripples throughout the plot until the end of the game. It's a tale worth replaying, over and over, and taking different choices each time. And every time, players will feel how the role they choose to play is deeply intertwined with the changes in the story. One of the best titles made by BioWare, ever.
5 Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
Transcend Humanity, And Leave Morality Behind
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
- Released
- September 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Who doesn't dream of being a god? Having absolute power over life and death, and bringing destruction upon their enemies. Well, maybe not everyone does, but in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, players have a chance to leave their humanity behind and choose their own moral codes according to their needs. It retains that kingdom management mechanic from the Kingmaker game, but this time, it is much more focused on army management and leading a campaign against the forces of evil. The problem is: Players can also become evil beings themselves: Demons, devils, creatures from beyond the void, liches, and even walking swarms of flesh-eating bugs. There's no limit to how cruel and inhuman players can be in this game.
On the other side, the goody-two-shoes can become angels, divine messengers, benign fäe, and even golden dragons. There's a thin grey line that allows players to become oblivious godlike beings, or elemental forces deprived of morality altogether. It's an interesting proposal where luck, alignment, and the choices players make shape the progression of the main character and that of their companions.
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