In most games, players are the hero even if they aren’t exactly doing heroic things. It’s hard to be a Spider-Man or Batman character all the time in games that have a strict no-kill code. That said, players can justify their actions for the greater good.
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Some protagonists are treated like villains no matter what, even if their actions are just. They may be framed for murder, be a misjudged monster, or a straight-up assassin. Whatever the case may be, these first-person shooter heroes could be considered killers by some. Regardless of their status, the following examples offer some wild shooter experiences from zombie games to dark westerns.
Dishonored
Framed For Murder
Dishonored
- Released
- October 9, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
The beginning of Dishonored shows Corvo, the protagonist, in good standing with the Empress, right before she is killed before his eyes. Because there were no witnesses and the assassin blinked out of existence, Corvo was blamed for the murder.
Thanks to a mysterious otherworldly being known as The Outsider, Corvo gets powers to exact his revenge, along with a mask to hide his identity from peering eyes. Players will go through a series of assassination missions with weapons and supernatural powers to get to the bottom of the conspiracy and clear Corvo’s name.
BioShock
Leave The Little Sisters Alone
BioShock
- Released
- August 21, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Irrational Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
In the first BioShock game, players enter the undersea fallen utopia of Rapture, wherein all of the mutated citizens treat the protagonist, Jack, like an intruder. The only ones who are nice to him want something in return, except for the Little Sisters, who are little girls with strange powers.
If players rescue them, their accompanying Big Daddy protectors will be less hostile, but if players continue to harvest Little Sisters for ADAM, which is used as a type of currency, then a killer Jack will become. BioShock is a good example that shows players have a choice in whether or not they are seen as someone who is merely defending themself or as someone who is actively trying to murder people.
Halo 5: Guardians
Hail To The Chief
Halo 5: Guardians
- Released
- October 17, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One
Halo 5: Guardians has the same stellar first-person shooting that fans grew to love in the Halo series, but the story is quite different. Split into two campaigns that swap every so often, Fireteam Osiris is going after Master Chief and his Blue Team, who disobeyed orders and are trying to find Cortana.
After the events of Halo 4, Cortana is seen as a lost cause, so to HQ, Master Chief may as well be an enemy who is trying to chase the past. Whether Master Chief is in the right or not may spoil things, but suffice it to say, there’s a bit of miscommunication going on during the intense firefights found in each mission.
Fallout: New Vegas
Building Bad Karma
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Fallout: New Vegas has a karma system that keeps track of everything players do, including who they ally with, as there are many factions. Alliances and deeds will have NPCs react to players differently, making it a fun reason to replay the game more so than other Fallout games.
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For example, if players wander the wastes of the Vegas area and just kill everyone without regard for morality, NPCs will tend to fear the mysterious courier, the protagonist, who is rumored to be exploring the area. This can attract a lot of unwanted attention if players don’t like the combat because incensed characters may be more hostile.
Evolve
Live And Be Free Monster
Evolve
- Released
- February 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Turtle Rock Studios
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Evolve is a multiplayer shooter with a twist wherein four players will cooperate to kill one of several monsters from bipedal titans to more spider-like beings. A fifth player can assume the role of the monster, and in this mode, the perspective will be in third-person, but the game is still worth mentioning.
As one of several critters, players will start small and have to eat other creatures to evolve, hence the name, to get big and strong enough to fend off four other players. Like all games, it takes practice, but it can be a fun villainous power trip if players know what they are doing, even when facing an elite team of first-person shooter fans.
Payday: The Heist
Get Rich Or Die Trying
Payday: The Heist
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Overkill Software
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Payday: The Heist is a simple concept for a multiplayer game that puts players in the role of bank robbers trying to pull off the perfect heist. The goal is to get in and out without hurting or killing anyone, but when the police arrive and start opening fire, it’s hard not to fight back as the ruthless criminals players are made out to be.
Based on how players do, they can level up and get new gear to have a better run the next time around. It goes beyond bank robbing, too, as other missions include getting briefcases or reaching someone, so the variety is appreciated, and players can live out their favorite heist movie dreams as antiheroes.
Darkwatch
Giving Into Vampirism
Darkwatch
- Released
- August 16, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original)
Darkwatch is a Western with a twist, as the undead have risen up and are looking for a good time. The protagonist, Jericho, is a newly turned vampire who is resisting his bloodlust enough to meet his maker. Players could lean into the vampirism and kill certain NPCs to get dark power upgrades.
It’s a similar situation to killing the Little Sisters in BioShock that will result in Jericho getting treated like a monster by the end of the game. Multiple paths and varying powers do make for good replay value if players are so inclined to go through this short vampire Western shooter again.
Far Cry 4
Going Behind Pagan Min
Far Cry 4
- Released
- November 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Far Cry 4 returns the hero, AJ, to his homeland of Kyrat, set somewhere in the Himalayas, which has been taken over by the charismatic dictator, Pagan Min. To free his homeland, AJ works with a rebellion, the Golden Path, and there is a branching narrative depending on which side players take between allies in most story missions.
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The results won’t change the game too much, but it was a nice gesture to see all the same. Players will find the usual amount of Far Cry activities, from blowing up bases to exploring small crevices that perhaps hold treasure. Pagan Min, while seemingly understanding, will not hesitate to send soldiers after AJ as a labeled rebel and killer.
Killer7
Assassin’s Creed
Killer7
- Released
- July 7, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Grasshopper Manufacture
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Killer7 comes from the mind of Suda51, a unique Japanese developer who always pushes the boundaries of game concepts. Players inhabit an assassin who can swap personalities with seven different killers, each with their own weapons, tricks, and personalities.
Players can wield simple revolvers, two grenade launchers, pick locks, lift heavy objects, and more. While players are a series of assassins, they are hired for a good cause to stop a terrorist organization from gaining control. That said, actions taken are a bit unhinged and over the top, leading to a third-person and first-person game blend like no other.
Dying Light: The Beast
Back For Revenge
Dying Light: The Beast
- Released
- September 19, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Dying Light: The Beast is the most over-the-top entry in the series yet because it sees the return of Kyle from the first game, who is now infected. Thanks to an experiment, Kyle can now control the skills that power the various zombie breeds in the open-world. Kyle is labeled as a hazard after his escape, continually hunted down throughout the campaign.
Players will still use plenty of weapons to survive, from hammers to a small selection of guns, but once that meter fills up, players can tear through zombies like there’s no tomorrow and let that beast run wild. Tearing off zombie heads like they were dolls made out of butter is a feeling that never ceases to amaze.
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