8 Greatest Video Game Twists (With Zero Build-Up)

Let's give it up for the cult classic action-RPG Jade Empire, which delivered one of the most jaw-dropping sidekick betrayals in video game history.

Throughout the first half of the game, the protagonist is trained by their mentor Master Li, but once the "main" villain, Emperor Sun Hai, is defeated, you return to Li, only for him to instantly murderise you, take your wares, and plant his flag as the new Emperor.

What the hell, man?

At this point players are then forced to clamber their way back to the living to get sweet, sweet revenge on Li. 

But Li's villainous turn is so utterly blindsiding that you honestly might need to just pause the game and go for a walk to clear your head.

It's brilliantly done, in cleverly subverting everything we expect from the master-apprentice dynamic in games like this, even if that only makes it all the more heartbreaking.