The Best Heel Turns In Gaming

John Cena’s heel turn has sent shockwaves throughout the professional wrestling industry, with its ripples being felt in the mainstream, too. Seeing one of the biggest good guys in wrestling become the bad guy has shocked fans to their very core.

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Professional wrestling isn’t the only industry with these heel turns. Some of the best video game characters of all time who walk on the side of good have become villains in shocking sequences that fans find hard to fathom even now.

This list contains spoilers!

8

Alex Mercer

The Protagonist Of The First Game Becomes The Sequel’s Main Villain

Released

April 24, 2012

ESRB

M for Mature – Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

Alex Mercer was never an outright good guy per se, taking on the role of the anti-hero in the first Prototype game. However, by the time the second game came out, his faith in humanity had been completely extinguished.

This turned him into Prototype 2‘s villain, who wanted to release the Blacklight virus on all of humanity and force them to evolve. However, this would come at a drastic cost given the near 100% fatality rate of this virus, which is why the protagonist, James Heller, must stop Alex’s diabolical plan from being carried out by any means necessary.

7

Sarah Kerrigan

Gets Infected And Corrupted By The Zerg

Systems

Released

March 31, 1998

ESRB

t

Blizzard is a company known for its amazing character writing, and this can be witnessed from the very first StarCraft game. Sarah Kerrigan was a powerful Ghost who was thrown to the wolves by her commander, causing her to be captured and infected by the Zerg.

This forces a heel turn upon her as she becomes the leader of the Zerg and strives for galactic domination. Her compelling story has turned Kerrigan into one of the most iconic video game characters of all time.

6

Lance Vance

Betrays Tommy After Feeling Threatened By The Protagonist’s Influence

Released

October 29, 2002

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence

Tommy Vercetti is a go-getter who makes an empire of his own in Vice City after being released from prison. His partner, Lance Vance, is a fun character to hang out with, but he barely does anything to help build up this empire.

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After complaining that he isn’t getting his due credit from Tommy despite doing little to nothing to help expand the business, he decides to side with Sonny and betrays Tommy in a shocking moment near the tail end of Vice City. This prompts a firefight between the duo that ends with Lance’s death.

5

Raiden

Becomes Corrupted And Claims Shinnok’s Amulet For Himself

Released

April 23, 2019

ESRB

M for Mature: Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language

After the diabolical events of Mortal Kombat 10, Raiden decides to take strict and preventive action against any possible threats to Earthrealm. While this sentiment came from a good place, his attempts to reverse the corruption of the Jinsei caused him to walk down a path of evil in the process.

It didn’t help that he started relying on Shinnok’s powerful yet evil amulet to get his way, making most of Earthrealm’s heroes question his actions. Thankfully, he sees the light sooner rather than later and reverts to the good side in the nick of time.

4

Cortana

Master Chief’s Beloved Companion Decides To Take Control Over The Galaxy

Systems

Released

October 17, 2015

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence

Cortana is one of the most iconic characters in video game history, with this AI helping Master Chief time and time again during his adventures. Players assumed that her story had ended after she sacrificed herself in Halo 4, only for her to make a return in the sequel.

However, she appears as a corrupted villain this time who wants to rule the galaxy by any means necessary. While her decision to become evil was met with mixed reception by the Halo faithful, there’s no denying that fighting against Cortana herself makes for a tantalizing setup to the plot of Halo 5: Guardians.

3

Arthas Menethil

Frostmourne Stole His Soul And Turned Him Into The Lich King

Warcraft 3: Reforged

Systems

Released

January 28, 2020

ESRB

t

There was a time when Arthas Menethil was a paladin everyone looked up to, who served the side of good and tried to stop the threat of the Scourge by any means necessary. However, in his desperation, he tried to use a forbidden and evil power for his own good and succumbed to the darkness inside him.

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Taking on the power of the blade, Frostmourne cemented his fate after his soul was stolen by this cursed weapon. He eventually became the Lich King himself, turning into one of the most legendary antagonists in World of Warcraft that players banded to defeat in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.

2

Sephiroth

The Revelation Of His Existence Broke The SOLDIER’s Mind

Released

January 31, 1997

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

Sephiroth is one of the most diabolical and entertaining video game villains of all time, but there was a time when he could’ve been classified as the good guy. However, after entering Nibelheim and finding Professor Hojo’s secret experiments, the SOLDIER uncovers the truth of his existence as the perfect being manufactured with the use of Jenova’s cells.

This revelation broke his mind and caused him to raze Nibelheim to the ground before merging into the Lifestream with Jenova. It’s a chilling origin story for a villain who wants to raze the Planet with Meteor and become a god in the process.

1

Big Smoke & Ryder

One Of The Most Heartbreaking Betrayals In Gaming History

Released

October 26, 2004

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

Re-joining the Grove Street Families and helping this gang establish its dominance in the early going makes for a great introduction to the story of San Andreas, but fans have no idea what’s in store for them. After CJ decides to humor Cesar and participate in a stakeout with him, he finds out that both Big Smoke and Ryder have been working in close capacity with C.R.A.S.H.

This shocking revelation makes for one of the biggest betrayals in video game history, culminating in Sweet’s arrest and CJ essentially being evicted from Los Santos. It’s not until he travels the rest of San Andreas and gathers some valuable allies that he manages to return to the city and take his revenge on the people who made his life a living hell.

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