1. John Marston - Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is probably the most explicitly vengeance-centric game on this list. It was an obvious choice, but not because of the story. Like Skies of Arcadia, it's the method of storytelling that sets Red Dead Redemption apart from other stories about, uh, redemption. You play as John Marston, an ex-outlaw whose family has been kidnapped by crooked politicians in an effort to force him to do their dirty work. John knows from the very beginning who his enemy is, and he has multiple opportunities to put a bullet in his brain, but does he? No. He can't. If he kills the corrupt government agents responsible for these egregious actions, not only will he never see his family again, but he'll be executed. He's stuck. All he can do is follow their orders, and hope that the next errand is the last. But it never is. The agents keep asking John to kill more people, with the promise that he'll get to see his family soon. They keep him on this leash until the penultimate chapter of the game, when he is finally released of their contract and retires with his family to a quiet farm on the plains. The game could've ended there and it still would've been very good. But, after a few short months living peacefully with his family, his farm is set upon by government officials, who quickly lay waste to his property. He kisses his wife and son goodbye and sends them out on horseback, and then faces his fate. John Marston is shot down by the double-crossing government agents, his vengeance left unfulfilled. Or is it? The player then takes control of John's freshly pubertized son, Jack, who kills the mastermind behind John's extortion and death. After the duel, Jack looks puzzled, wondering whether he righteously avenged his slain father, or is following the same dark path that led John Marston into tribulation. Either way, it's an incredible account of defeat, victory, loss, and vengeance, and rounds out this list of 8 Outstanding Tales of Vengeance in Video Games.
Thanks for reading, and conversation is encouraged in the comments (unless you're going to yell at me about how I didn't include this game or that game. Remember that the title isn't definitive or objective).