Best BioWare Protagonists With An Evil Side

08/05/2024

BioWare’s iconic protagonists allow players to explore a dark side through role-playing, with morality and story complexities worth exploring.
Characters like Darth Revan from KOTOR offer plot twists and moments where players can embrace evil, adding depth to the gameplay.
Embracing villainous values in games like Dragon Age Inquisition offers players a chance to see the dark side of beloved characters in a new light.

BioWare has been a memorable name in the gaming market for decades, and whilst in recent years interest in their projects have dwindled, that does not mean that they are void of talent, and BioWare has been able to create some truly iconic and memorable protagonists, complex in morality and story that showcases a dark side worth exploring.

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There are many amazing protagonists present across the BioWare games that are pretty enthralling in their own right. Some of these characters are pretty cut-and-dry when it comes to being the good guy, but everything can change based on the player’s actions. A character who may be the bastion of justice in one playthrough can be a self-serving narcissist in another one, which shows the beauty of the role-playing present in BioWare’s titles.

Darth Revan

Has Their Memory Wiped In An Attempt To Help Them See The Light Once Again

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Platform(s)Switch, Xbox (Original), PC, iOS, Android, macOSReleasedJuly 15, 2003Genre(s)RPG

Knights of the Old Republic features one of the best twists in a role-playing game to date. After a lengthy journey where the amnesiac protagonist strives to find his way while helping the Republic, it turns out that said character was Darth Revan all along. To be outed as the person who caused untold death and destruction is a hard pill to swallow.

Players who have dabbled in the dark side or pursued it relentlessly can pivot and assume their role as a Sith Lord once again near the end of the game, which makes for some interesting role-playing moments. It’s one of the best reveals in gaming history and adds more context to a player’s actions if they’ve been evil all along.

The Warden

Can Become The Hero Of Ferelden Despite Being Rather Villainous If The Player Wishes

Dragon Age Origins

Platform(s)PS3, Xbox 360, PCReleasedNovember 3, 2009Genre(s)RPG

Dragon Age: Origins was a major step in the right direction for BioWare, using EA’s massive coffers to develop an incredible Western RPG that took over the world by storm. Experimenting with different origins to embark on the journey to become a Grey Warden made for a great time, with players slowly coming to grips with the rich world of this brand-new IP.

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The morality system may be too black-and-white for most players with modern gaming sensibilities, but was a treat to engage with at the time. Based on the player’s actions, they could be pretty cruel and cold-hearted, even if the goal to save Ferelden persisted.

Commander Shepard

Can Become A Renegade Who Embraces The Allure Of An Evil Character

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Platform(s)PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedMay 14, 2021Genre(s)Action, RPG

Commander Shepard is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time. Some people may consider them to be too much of a blank slate at times, but that should take nothing away from his unique charm as a no-nonsense commander whose zeal to accomplish the goal at all costs makes them such a fun character to control.

Paragon Shepard is pretty fun to control in their own right, but players who walk the path of the Renegade will be surprised by just how engaging this playthrough can be. Players can carry out actions that they thought unthinkable, letting them enjoy a new side of a character who can be downright heinous but in the most captivating manner possible.

The Inquisitor

Can Embrace Tyrannical Values After Becoming The Leader Of The Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Platform(s)PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox OneReleasedNovember 18, 2014Genre(s)Action RPG

It’s only a given that the power to save the world can corrupt people into thinking too much of themselves. Sure, the Inquisitor can be heroic and do what’s right, but there are times when it’s just more tempting to give into this dark side and abuse one’s power to see just how far one can get away with.

Players who want to ready themselves for Dreadwolf will love replaying Dragon Age: Inquisition while playing a villainous character just to see what can change. The alternate paths open in one’s playthrough can be pretty engaging to deal with, and players will see the goody-two-shoes Inquisitor in a new light too.

The Last Spirit Monk

The Way Of The Closed Fist Promotes Aggression And Selfishness

Jade Empire

Platform(s)Xbox (Original), PC, iOS, AndroidReleasedApril 12, 2005Genre(s)Action RPG

Jade Empire is one of the more underrated BioWare video games that a lot of people haven’t played yet. The title’s unique focus on Chinese mythology and motifs makes it a unique title focused on martial arts and chi for some unique combat mechanics. Players control the last Spirit Monk who must overcome numerous ordeals before tackling their master in the game’s final stages.

As was the case with most BioWare games at the time, morality in this game is pretty binary. The Way of the Open Palm rewards cookie-cutter “good” choices, while players who want to explore the bad side of their character can opt for The Way of the Closed Fist instead. Players need to be aggressive and self-serving to achieve the evil ending, which may not be all that interesting but does let the last Spirit Monk embody a villainous attitude if that is what players wish.