History HeelFaceTurn / VideoGames

** ''Radiant Dawn'' has [[spoiler:Oliver ''forcing'' himself into your team, if he spotted Rafiel, to which Ike responds [[http://lparchive.org/Fire-Emblem-Radiant-Dawn/Update%2058/195-RFEP01-861.jpg snarkily]]]].
** ''Awakening'' gives you the option of recruiting three to four (depending on one's take on the third) former major villains: [[spoiler:Gangrel, Walhart, Yen'fay, and Aversa.]]
** ''Gaiden'' is unique in how rarely it does this; no character will ever join you in the heat of battle, and only two characters actually defect from an enemy faction to yours: [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers Deen/Sonya]] and Zeke.
** ''Three Houses'' mostly averts this, as anyone you don't (or can't) recruit before the TimeSkip will become your enemy and will usually end up dead at the end of the war. There are a few special cases, however: [[spoiler:Ashe and Lorenz]] will leave your party to align themselves with TheEmpire if you recruited them before the TimeSkip outside of their routes, but can be brought back into the fold after defeating them. The only time you ''can'' recruit someone from an enemy army without them having transferred to your house in Part I is [[spoiler:Lysithea on Crimson Flower, if defeated by Byleth or Edelgard]].
** In ''Engage'', Ivy and her retainers come to your rescue in your DarkestHour after defeating her twice during the Brodia arc, swearing to help Alear so she can free Elusia from Sombron's control. Her sister Hortensia joins a few chapters later after breaking her out of a BrainwashedAndCrazy state. Finally, [[spoiler:Mauvier, the TokenGoodTeammate of the Four Hounds, breaks from the group after Zephia kills Marni for trying to smash the mind-control helmet that forces Veyle's sadistic "evil" personality to the surface]].

** [[spoiler:Meliadoul]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' (too bad this happens after Orlandu's already joined, however; everything she can do, he can do better). Also, Mediators can use their Invite skill on most enemies (as in, those who aren't plotting characters), recruiting them on the spot to your cause (well, with a bit of luck, anyway).

* Happens in every ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' game, sometimes more frequently than others. Usually, you have to talk to the recruitable enemy with a certain character, but sometimes a former villain will automatically join your side. ''Binding Blade'' had Miledy and Douglas, ''Blazing Blade'' had Heath and Vaida, ''The Sacred Stones'' had Duessel and Amelia, and ''Path of Radiance'' had Jill, Muarim, and Ena. ''Radiant Dawn'' would have [[spoiler:Oliver ''forcing'' himself into your team, if he spotted Rafiel, to which Ike responds [[http://lparchive.org/Fire-Emblem-Radiant-Dawn/Update%2058/195-RFEP01-861.jpg snarkily]]]]. Additionally, ''Awakening'' gives you the option of recruiting three to four (depending on one's take on the third) former major villains: [[spoiler:Gangrel, Walhart, Yen'fay, and Aversa.]] ''Gaiden'' is unique in how rarely it does this; no character will ever join you in the heat of battle, and only two characters actually defect from an enemy faction to yours: [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers Deen/Sonya]] and Zeke.

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed'' has some rare examples
** Altair Ibn La'Ahad learns his lesson and re-becomes Legendary a different path

* After the Umbrella Corporation went bankrupt after being found criminally liable following the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil3 Raccoon City Incident]], the American branch re-founded itself [[VideoGame/ResidentEvil7Biohazard four years later]] as a PrivateMilitaryCompany informally known as "Blue Umbrella" for the explicit purpose of combatting the threat of B.O.W.s, with them intentionally retaining Umbrella's name to acknowledge their shady past.

* The plot of ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes2DesperateStruggle'' is centered around [[VillainProtagonist Travis]] [[AntiHero Touchdown]] gradually turning from a mostly remorseless killing machine into a better person. Although a point can be made that he treads the line between heel and face during the course of the first game and a good portion of the sequel too. Indeed, if he weren't a merciless assassin, this would almost be a case of NeutralNoLonger, due to his attitude during most of the series.
** And then there's one of the ranked assassins, Shinobu, whom Travis spared, who becomes his ally and self-proclaimed apprentice.

** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' reveals that [[spoiler:V's summons committed SuicideByCop by fighting Dante so that Vergil won't suffer the mental trauma from Mundus's torture any longer]].

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers'', Drowzee decides to let go of his criminal ways at one point. He also helps the protagonists enter Azurill's nightmare in a way to make amends to him.
** In the re-release, ''Explorers of the Sky'', in a bonus episode, it's revealed that [[spoiler:'''Dusknoir''']] does this after being convinced by [[spoiler:Grovyle]].
* [[AntiVillain Lusamine]], the President of Aether Foundation, from ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' undergoes one after it turns out that [[GoodAllAlong her plans to stop the Ultra Beasts were ruined by]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Necrozma]], [[OmnicidalManiac as the latter attempts to destroy Alola itself]]. After entering Ultra Space, she learns that doing what she thinks is best for everyone without considering the feelings of others isn't worth it, thanks the player, and departs with her daughter Lillie. She returns during the post-game where she has made the full change from bad to good.

** Daroach from ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad''. [[spoiler:After being [[DemonicPossession possessed by Dark Nebula]] and [[BeatTheCurseOutOfHim saved from said possession]], he and his gang reform and offer Kirby another strawberry shortcake as an apology for their troubles.]] The Squeaks even went on to help Kirby throughout ''[[VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack Mass Attack]]'', and Daroach even shows up as a Dream Friend in ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', complete with '''the entire Squeak Squad!'''

** [[spoiler:Taranza]] ends up pulling one in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'', [[spoiler:after Queen Sectonia rewards his loyalty and efforts throughout the game with an ultimately non-lethal blast from her scepters for accidentally kidnapping King Dedede instead of Kirby. She would have won in the end if she had treated him [[DudeWheresMyRespect with the respect he deserved]], but his defection allows him and King Dedede to [[BigDamnHeroes save the pink puffball himself]] right when he needs it most.]]
** Subverted with [[spoiler:Susie]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot''. [[spoiler:After attempting to steal Star Dream from her father, [[BigBad President Haltmann]], [[AIIsACrapshoot the computer goes rogue]] and she offers Kirby a [[MiniMecha Robobot Armor]] so he can go after it via FusionDance with the Halberd. After the pink puffball finishes off Star Dream (via a [[ThisIsADrill drill attack]]), Susie leaves Kirby's home planet in her mech for other plans.]]

** A subversion: Marx in ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' begins by [[spoiler:tricking Kirby into summoning the wish-granting comet Nova so he can wish for ultimate power and control of Popstar. After being defeated in his OneWingedAngel form, he is revived as Marx Soul and fights Kirby again; he loses a second time, and is seemingly destroyed for good. In ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', this is revealed as a DisneyDeath, and he becomes one of the characters Kirby can call on to help him out, even if it's for [[EvilVersusOblivion nothing more than his own safety]].]]
** ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' has [[spoiler:The Three Mage Sisters and Hyness]] pull one at the end of Heroes in Another Dimension. After Kirby restores [[spoiler:the sisters]], they have a MyGodWhatHaveIDone moment and create a warp star for him to get home. [[spoiler:Hyness]] ends up restored as well and the celebration pictures show that they are all on good terms with Kirby now.

* [[spoiler:Byrne]] from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'', after Anjean, Link and Zelda nurse him back to health, despite everything he did to them. He also received a harsh beating from the guy he helped revive before that.

** [[spoiler:Taranza]] ends up pulling one in ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'', [[spoiler:after Queen Sectonia rewards his loyalty and efforts throughout the game with an ultimately non-lethal slash from her scepters for accidentally kidnapping King Dedede instead of Kirby. She would have won in the end if she had treated him [[DudeWheresMyRespect with the respect he deserved]], but his defection allows him and King Dedede to [[BigDamnHeroes save the pink puffball himself]] right when he needs it most.]]

** ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' has [[spoiler:the Beast Pack]] switch sides after the true villain's defeat. [[spoiler:Once Leongar has been freed by [[AliensAreBastards Fecto Forgo]]'s influence, his wife Clawroline helps aid Kirby in finding pieces of his lost soul in Isolated Isles. Not before long, Soul Forgo assumes control of Leongar's spirit and was defeated at the cost of his death. After Morpho Knight unexpectedly shows up and was defeated, Clawroline and the rest of the Beast Pack show up with pieces of Leon's soul, eventually reviving him, and the entire pack have now become on good terms with Kirby and the gang.]]

** In two of ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'''s four endings, this trope is used on [[spoiler:the [[EldritchAbomination Reapers]]. In the Control Ending, [[PlayerCharacter Shepard]] becomes the new leader of the Reapers and promises to rebuild the galaxy and protect its people. In the Synthesis Ending, Shepard triggers a galaxy-wide event that transformers all life into a new form of synthetic-organic life. The Reapers, their original purpose no longer needed, help the galactic races rebuild their homes, sharing the wisdom of the civilizations they harvested in the past.]]

* Sparda in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'', who "woke up to justice."
** We've replaced Sparda's unbidden evil with Folger's Crystals. Let's see if he notices...

* In ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', assuming [[GreyAndGrayMorality the Saints are the Faces]], Viola [=DeWynter=] pulls a HeelFaceTurn after her sister, Kiki, is killed by their supposed ally.

** Poison Ivy turns against the other supervillians and helps Batman save the city from fear toxin. Even though she states she's not doing it for Batman (she's doing it to save all the plants that the fear toxin would kill), it's still this trope.

** At the start of the ''Leliana's Song'' DLC, Leliana is a thief, a troublemaker, and a murderer. Once she is betrayed by her mentor and lover, and escapes from prison after being tortured, the Chantry takes her in. She becomes the pious bard in the main game, and is the most pure good aligned member on the team.

** In the DS remake of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'', a 6th chapter is added in which allows you to revive [[spoiler:Rose]], and use ThePowerOfLove to convince Psaro the Manslayer (the aforementioned final boss) to not only stop his plans for world domination/destruction, but also to join your team! His EvilChancellor then takes over the main villain position.

** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Terra]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]], and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX Tidus]] in ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]''. Terra was originally a lackey of Kefka, but thanks to some help from Vaan [[spoiler:and a little meddling from [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX Kuja]]]], she turned to Cosmos's side. While Cloud was an AntiVillain [[Analysis/AntiVillain Type IV]], as he shows concern toward his opponents in Prologus, warning Lightning not to underestimate the other Warriors of Chaos, and has no real motive (or incentive) to fight any of them, let alone Tifa. Since Cloud [[spoiler:has been through several cycles already, and more importantly, remembers them, so he's burnt out and unmotivated because he knows it's a waste of time. It's not like fighting any of the heroes or getting killed by one of them is going to change anything, they'll all just be back in the next cycle. But after Sephiroth attack Tifa, he rebels against ''Chaos'' and got killed. His last wish to Cosmos was [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl to keep Tifa safe]]. Cosmos is so touched by this that she choose him as her warriors on the next cycle]]. As for Tidus, [[spoiler:he was originally suckered into fighting for Chaos, but after taking a fatal blow from [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII the Emperor]], his father Jecht sacrificed himself to save him [[FaceHeelTurn and left himself open to being turned to Chaos]], and Yuna helped him join Cosmos's army]].
* Happens in every ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' game, sometimes more frequently than others. Usually, you have to talk to the recruitable enemy with a certain character, but sometimes a former villain will automatically join your side. ''Binding Blade'' had Miledy and Douglas, ''Blazing Blade'' had Heath and Vaida, ''The Sacred Stones'' had Duessel and Amelia, and ''Path of Radiance'' had Jill, Muarim, and Ena. ''Radiant Dawn'' would have [[spoiler:Oliver ''forcing'' himself into your team, if he spotted Rafiel, to which Ike responds [[http://lparchive.org/Fire-Emblem-Radiant-Dawn/Update%2058/195-RFEP01-861.jpg snarkily]]]]. Additionally, ''Awakening'' gives you the option of recruiting three to four (depending on one's take on the third) former major villains: [[spoiler:Gangrel, Walhart, Yen'fay and Aversa.]] ''Gaiden'' is unique in how rarely it does this; no character will ever join you in the heat of battle, and only two characters actually defect from an enemy faction to yours: [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers Deen/Sonya]] and Zeke.

** Shepard has a similar effect on Jack, who goes from being an AxeCrazy murderer and criminal, to a reformed, genuinely beloved BadassTeacher at Grissom Academy, helping biotic children hone their powers. The ''Citadel'' DLC reveals she also rescued a biotic Varren from an animal shelter and helped it overcome it's past mistreatment, though she apparently doesn't realize the obvious parallels to herself.

** Before having its face stolen and strapped on a giant Pharaoh mask, the Genie was quite the hardened thief who loved to cause mayhem and misery around him. After that, he realizes what an awful individual he was, makes amends of his past evil deeds and starts to earn his life honestly at the Desert Star's café.

** Lakilester in the original ''VideoGame/PaperMario64''. When you first meet him he's working for the current chapter's boss, but after a quick battle and a love scene he decides to join you.

* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' has Sagat, who joins the BigBad's organization after losing to Ryu in the first game, and switches sides in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'' ({{retcon}}ning away his status as a villain in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''), after realizing that his hatred does nothing but cause him to waste his life. For the entire rest of the series he is more of a WorthyOpponent to Ryu than anything else.

* Dr. Zan in ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3'' was a scientist that worked with TheSyndicate, but he ditched them and joined the heroes after going in too deep in the corporation and finding out what their plans actually are (using robot duplicates to replace leaders so the crime boss can control them remotely). In the Japanese version, Dr. Zan sees how horrible his experiments with the newly discovered Rakushin elements is when it's used as a nuclear weapon against Wood Oak City, which motivates him to defect to the heroes.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', the Ancient Minister is thought to be the remorseless leader of the Subspace Army, but actually regrets his actions. In truth [[TheManBehindTheMan he isn't the true mastermind]], and thus lost control of of his R.O.B. Squad when Ganondorf stepped in to complete the job of destroying the world with Subspace Bombs. The Ancient Minister then interferes, only to be attacked. It is then his true form is revealed, a R.O.B. From there is only referred to as such and becomes playable.

* Sly, in ''VideoGame/TyTheTasmanianTiger''. Although it is a rather speedy one at that, because he gets beaten ''once'', then is saved on another occasion, and before you know it -- he's handing Ty the Doomerang.

* The Orcish Horde from the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' video game series. In the first two games the orcs were AlwaysChaoticEvil, their leaders having sold them into the service of the demonic Burning Legion. But prior to the start of ''Warcraft III'' the orcs, under the guidance of their new warchief Thrall, rediscovered their ancient traditions and the concept of honor, and became a ProudWarriorRaceGuy society.
** This gets escalated even moreso in the MMO ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', where the entire Horde not only becomes playable, but is seen as also fighting for similar goals that their enemies the Alliance wants. In fact, the main enemy itself ends up shifting from the Orcs to different people (Old Gods, Deathwing, The Lich King).

** [[spoiler: Clara]] used to be a hacker for hire doing jobs for mob boss, Lucky Quinn. After one such job leads to [[spoiler: the botched assassination of Aiden Pearce that kills his niece, Clara is overcome with guilt and helps Aiden to seek out the others who are responsible for the attack.]]