10 Most Polarizing Characters In Video Games

Ashley in Resident Evil 4. Love or hate?

By Michael Fincher /

Video games are fundamentally character-driven. Most games have a hero and a supporting cast, and we all have our favorites, as well as our runts of the litter.

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For the most part, people tend to agree on who's the best and who's the worst, but every now and then, we come across a character who's executed in such a way that the community can't agree on which end of the spectrum they belong.

Cue tons of heated discussions about whether such characters are the worst thing ever, or the best thing since sliced bread. Whether someone is a fan or a hater, they are likely to be just as passionate about the character as the person on the opposite side.

On that note, let's run down some of the most polarizing characters in gaming history. In every case, there are compelling arguments for, and against. Which side will you stand on?

10. Olgierd - The Witcher 3

The moral conundrum the player faces in The Witcher 3's Hearts of Stone DLC is quite a difficult one, so naturally, it tends to cause a lot of arguments within the game's community.

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In the DLC, Geralt needs to settle a dispute between Olgierd, the cocky leader of a band of thugs, and Gaunter O'Dimm, a literal devil that the former made a pact with. While it may seem counterintuitive to side with Gaunter, some people actually believe that Master Mirror deserves to claim Olgierd's soul. Mostly due to the fact that Olgierd is not a very good person.

Olgierd's life is filled with terrifying acts of cruelty and plenty of self-serving choices, which culminated in his pact with the devil. To top it all off, some people don't much care for his arrogant and violent attitude.

On the other hand, there are those who think Olgierd deserves a second chance in life. They recognize that he deeply regrets the choices he's made, and believe that the curse that Gaunter cast on him has already made him suffer enough.

Olgierd's plea remains a huge topic of discussion among Witcher fans to this day. It just goes to show how complex his character is.

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