Life can be hard for heroes because even though they are doing the right thing, they are not always treated kindly by others. “10 RPGs Where You’re Treated Like the Monster” is a list that explores the idea of treating heroes as monsters like Geralt in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the overall Witcher series.
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While the other games in that list would also work for this, they will be skipped in favor of exploring some different routes. In these worlds, these heroes are also feared for various reasons, from looks to what these characters represent. Overall, there will not be any spoilers as this list will only explore surface-level ideas to plots and gameplay mechanics.
Final Fantasy 4
Cecil The Mighty
Final Fantasy 4 (3D Remake)
- Released
- July 22, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PC, PSP, Android, iOS
Final Fantasy 4 begins with Cecil, a Dark Knight part of the Baron Kingdom, which is known for its world conquest ambitions, and Cecil is a feared member of this kingdom. Cecil starts to question if what he is doing is right, though, which is his struggle for the first half of the game.
Wherever he goes, he cannot shake this curse, even though he is trying to make changes in his life, and it’s only when he becomes a Paladin that the world softens on Cecil’s existence. It’s a solid character arc for a Final Fantasy character, and the 3D remake, originally released for the DS, brings this drama to life.
Fallout: New Vegas
Beware This Courier
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
In Fallout: New Vegas, players have many choices in how they create and play out their character, known only as The Courier, from looks to stat building to dialogue choices. For the story, decisions and actions made will affect the karma level of characters, which can change how NPCs and common enemies perceive players.
If players go full dark by killing people and aligning themselves with bad factions, like Caesar’s Legion, then they will be feared. Disregarding the lives of anyone but their own is just one of many ways players can have fun in Fallout: New Vegas, even if the path is rather dark.
Dragon’s Dogma
The Arisen’s Curse
Dragon's Dogma
- Released
- May 22, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon’s Dogma begins with a dragon eating the heart of the player-created character. Chosen ones, controlled and revived by dragons, are called the Arisen, which is what players become, complete with a large scar on their chest.
Even though players are silent, they can strike fear or awe in NPCs if they find out what they are, as the Arisen can be seen as cursed or godlike individuals. That’s the journey players will go on in Dragon’s Dogma, as the very nature of the Arisen and dragons is a mystery in this bleak fantasy world filled with action and danger around every corner.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Yar Har Har, A Viking’s Life For Me
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Released
- November 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is all about leading a legion of Vikings in approximately the late 800s. In this time, Vikings were feared by all as evil conquerors who came to lands pillaging and killing without any sort of remorse.
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History is a bit more complicated, which is what Assassin’s Creed Valhalla tries to explore. As Eivor, who can be male or female, players will sail to new lands within UK territories to make a name for themselves, and it just might be the best game about Vikings and their culture to date.
EarthBound
A Cool Leveling Mechanic
Earthbound
- Released
- June 5, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Crude Humor
- Genre(s)
- RPG
EarthBound is one of the most bizarre RPGs on the SNES and perhaps even of all time. Players will go on a journey as a young boy who recruits others to help collect sounds to stop an evil alien invasion. Enemies will appear as players travel from location to location, and battles will be fought in turn-based combat.
What’s interesting is that if players meet a certain level within regions, monsters will try to run away. Even better yet, players will automatically get EXP for touching these fearful monsters. EarthBound is not the only RPG to do this, but it is certainly one of the few early examples.
Valkyrie Profile
Ragnarok Draws Near
Valkyrie Profile
- Released
- August 29, 2000
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Tri-Ace, tri-Crescendo, Tose
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Valkyrie Profile was released for the PS1 first before getting ported to other consoles, but no matter which version, the story is the same. Based on Norse mythology, the game is about the coming of Ragnarok, a big battle that will destroy the world, and as a Valkyrie warrior, Lenneth, they will go down to Midgard to find warriors to help stop this cataclysmic event.
Valkyries are chosen warriors who typically bring warriors to Valhalla, so their appearance can either be one met with relief or perhaps fear, which can vary depending on who players interact with in Valkyrie Profile. Combat is turn-based, but as every party member is assigned a face button that can be spammed, there is an action-like quality to the 2D battles.
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
Not Like Other Humans
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
- Released
- January 29, 2004
- ESRB
- m // Blood, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne begins in a normal society within Japan, but after an explosion, players will wake up as not-so-ordinary teens. Their body has strange markings as they have become a hybrid of sorts called the Demi-Fiend. Now, they can befriend and recruit demons to their team for turn-based combat.
Those who survived fear players and those who know the potential of the Demi-Fiend want to exploit him. Like most Shin Megami Tensei games, players are left in the dark fora good portion of the story, interacting with mysterious humans and demons alike who all have an agenda.
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten
A Softened Tyrant
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten
- Released
- February 24, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Animated Blood, Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy
Prior to the events of Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten, the protagonist, Valvatorez, was a feared overlord of the underworld who brought demons to his knees. After meeting a woman and making a vow, he softened his ambitions and stopped drinking blood in favor of scarfing down sardines instead.
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Even though Valvatorez reforms, which is where the game picks up, there are those out there who still fear him like the plague. Battles often commence because of a misunderstanding that Valvatorez tries to talk his way out of, but has to reluctantly fight anyway in tactical battles.
Dark Half
Two Halves Of The Same Coin
- Developer: West One
- Publisher: Enix
- Released: May 31, 1996 (Japan Version)
- Platform: SNES
Dark Half is presumably a SNES game most have not heard of before, and that’s because it never left Japan. Players will alternate between two different campaigns, with one side following the hero, Falco, and the other covering the dark lord he is pursuing, Rukyu.
As Rukyu, the more promising of the two campaigns, players can control monsters to do their bidding in turn-based combat. All who gaze upon Rukyu will be afraid, and it’s a nice power trip. There is an English patch for anyone interested, and this is worth seeking out for the novel concept alone.
Final Fantasy 9
Black Mage Injustice
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy 9 has a small Black Mage named Vivi who has a mysterious past. He doesn’t know where he came from, but he was adopted by an elderly man who cared for Vivi as his own, teaching him the value of kindness.
Other Black Mages appear in the story, and players will find out they are made in a factory and bred for war. Because Vivi looks like those who destroyed the homes of many, he can often be made out to be a fiend, even though he’s just a child. While Vivi isn’t the main character of Final Fantasy 9, he is an important party member with a sad existential journey ahead of him.
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