10 Video Games That Let You Be An Utter Scumbag

At the end of the day, what are games if not wish fulfilment? At their best, they transport us to worlds we can never visit and allow us to do things we can't in real life - at least not without being arrested or killed.

And though video games are more often than not a heroic power fantasy, that's not always the case.

Sometimes, developers leave the power in the player's hands to decide, allowing them to choose their own path - and human nature typically dictates that path will lead to villainy.

Then there are games which flat-out cast you in the unambiguous role of the irredeemable bad guy, and less frequently, games may present a seemingly heroic protagonist, only to reveal an increasingly grey moral compass as the story progresses.

Morality may be a spectrum, but these 10 games shamelessly put the player in the shoes of a character who, through their wanton acts of murder, self-interest and general reprehensibility, are undeniable scumbags.

And that's not a criticism of the games themselves for the most part: playing a bad guy can be just as fun and satisfying as taking the mantle of squeaky-clean hero - if not more so.

However, it's also fair to say that the extent of their villainy may have given some players a moment or two for pause...