The gaming industry is in a much different place to where it was a couple of decades ago. Where video games were once the realm of 2D platformers and twitchy shoot 'em ups, the industry is now dominated by 'cinematic experiences' and open world epics. As the scope of games has increased over the years, so too has the characterisation of the heroes within them. Video game heroes were once two-dimensional, happy-go-lucky types, while brooding anti-heroes and reluctant ragtags are now the popular thing. Gaming villains have also had their characters fleshed out significantly, in comparison to the days of evil lizards and moustache-twirling scoundrels. Today, it can be hard to distinguish the heroes from the villains, with many turning out to be equally sympathetic from a certain viewpoint. This list takes a tongue-in-cheek look at famous gaming villains that could well have been the heroes of their games, given the chance. From misunderstood space Nazis to mighty warriors that just want to prove their worth, each of these villains deserve to be reconsidered.
