History NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist / VideoGames

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has Nemesis and Those Who Slither In The Dark. Nemesis is viewed by history as a FallenHero, whose followers believed he would liberate the world from the rule of AbusivePrecursors. In truth [[spoiler:Nemesis was a common bandit who only waged war on the Children of the Goddess for personal power, and massacred their race to make weapons from their bones and blood]]. Those Who Slither In The Dark were his backers, who still exist in the present day and declare themselves the "saviors of all". Though they aid [[spoiler:Edelgard]] in their war against [[spoiler:Rhea and the Church of Seiros]], their reasons for opposing them are nowhere near as well-intentioned: they only do so out of petty revenge and general FantasticRacism towards them and all surface peoples.

* ''VideoGame/DeadRising3'': Isabela Keyes seems like she wants to get [[PlayerCharacter Nick Ramos]] to safety in order to ensure the cure for humanity no matter the cost at first after causing the Los Perdidos outbreak, [[spoiler: but it's later revealed that she only caused the outbreak to find the cure in order to boost her ego and look like a hero, rather then genuinely wanting to help America return to it's pre apocalyptic state.]]

** Cerberus becomes this by the third game in the series. The organization continues to expel their rhetoric that they are the best hope for humanity in the galaxy [[note]] which they were genuine about in the previous games, even willing to work with aliens [[/note]]. But their actions throughout the game cause far more damage to everyone in the galaxy, ''including humans,'' all for the sake of finding a way to control [[{{EldritchAbomination}} the Reapers]] to ensure dominance. [[spoiler: It is later revealed in the game that they were [[MoreThanMindControl Indoctrinated]] by the Reapers and are unconsciously acting in the Old Machines' interests. [[note]] In other words, they could never find a way to control the Reapers, because in reality ''it is the Reapers who are controlling them.'' [[/note]]]]

** [[ChristmasEpisode Winter Magic Miracle]] Campaign: [[spoiler: Vitteaux/Vito of Evilus talks about the world being a messed-up and imperfect place needing to be destroyed in favor of a newer better one, but this claim is undermined by the fact that he both has no qualms about killing innocent adventurers and that he is a cruel ChildHater]].

* ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'': Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin states that his criminal empire kept order in New York, and the ensuing [[EvilPowerVacuum power vacuum]] will completely destroy it. Spider-Man, Mary Jane, and the authorities themselves all dismiss Fisk's claims, stating that his actions have caused so much harm to the people of the city that there's no way they can justify viewing him as NecessarilyEvil.

** Ashnard from ''VideoGames/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' would probably see his motives as well-intentioned. His foremost goal is to inflict enormous trauma upon the continent in the hopes that the resulting society will be (by necessity) a meritocratic utopia. This parallels his own rise from 14th-in-the-line of succession all the way to throne by his own hands; but those parallels also reveal Ashnard's hypocrisy. His rise was possible only because he was already well positioned as a military officer and prince; a chaotic, war-torn Tellius may favor established players (like, say, Ashnard himself at this point) no differently than the previous one did.

** Ashnard from ''VideoGames/FireEmblemPathofRadiance'' would probably see his motives as well-intentioned. His foremost goal is to inflict enormous trauma upon the continent in the hopes that the resulting society will be (by necessity) a meritocratic utopia. This parallels his own rise from 14th-in-the-line of succession all the way to throne by his own hands; but those parallels also reveal Ashnard's hypocrisy. His rise was possible only because he was already well positioned as a military officer and prince; a chaotic, war-torn Tellius may favor established players (like, say, Ashnard himself at this point) no differently than the previous one did.

* One of the most twisted antagonists from ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' is Miguel, from Alfyn's Chapter 3. [[spoiler:When Ogen, another apothecary, refuses to treat his wound on the grounds that he is a thief and a murderer, WideEyedIdealist Alfyn saves his life instead, believing that an apothecary has no right to decide who lives and who dies. Miguel claims that he is a desperate family man who has fallen on hard times and steals to feed his three children. It doesn't take long before he betrays Alfyn's trust, kidnaps and stabs a [[WouldHurtAChild child]], and gleefully admits that he doesn't have a family and does what he does [[ForTheEvulz just for the fun of it]]. Enraged, Alfyn defeats Miguel in a fight (re-opening his wound in the process), saves the child's life, [[BeyondRedemption and leaves Miguel to die]].]]

** Upon [[SpannerInTheWorks derailing his plan]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', [[TheManInFrontOfTheMan Ghetsis]] reveals himself as Team Plasma's true mastermind and that their stated goal of freeing Pokémon was a lie and his real plan was to take over the region by being the only faction left with Pokémon. By the sequel, Team Plasma has split into those who sincerely want to help Pokémon, and those following Ghetsis to TakeOverTheWorld and [[ObviouslyEvil not bothering to hide their ill-intent anymore]].
** ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'': [[spoiler: Volo mentions that his core belief is that LifeIsUnfair and as such he wants to destroy this reality and make a new, more kind and fair reality but this is quickly overshadowed by his plans to control ''[[TopGod Arceus]]'', itself. He makes no attempt to even reason with the player character, instead choosing to beat and later ''kill'' them right off the bat. Also unlike [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Lysandre]] who at least felt some semblance of sorrow at his genocidal plans, Volo gleefully tells the player character his plans with a SlasherSmile on his face, and unlike [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Cyrus]] (who also has a similar motive) he doesn't seem to even have a FreudianExcuse over it.]]

* Chairman Drek from ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2002'' is destroying planets and taking pieces of them to make a new world for his species, the Blarg, since their old planet, Orxon, is [[PollutedWasteland too polluted to live on]]. Before the final battle, the titular duo learns the truth: ''Drek'' himself is the one who polluted it and is making this new planet solely because of profit. And once everyone's moved in, he'll repeat the process for more cash. Downplayed in [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClank2016 the re-imagining]], where it's his father who polluted his planet (which is now Quartu instead of Orxon), and his main plan [[AdaptationalHeroism really is just to find a new world for him and his people]], but it's still clear that he has ambitions of money or power as shown by this line late-game:

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'': [[BigBad Wesker]] claims during the climax of the game that his releasing [[TheVirus Uroboros]] across the world and kick-starting a biological apocalypse will save the world, since [[HumansAreBastards humans come closer to self-destruction every day anyway]], but it's obvious to anyone who's paying attention that he's nothing but a crazy [[TheSocialDarwinist social Darwinist]] whose actions are centered around fueling his [[AGodAmI raging god complex]].

* ''VideoGame/SomaSpirits'': In the past, Form and Dissonance split the planet Soma into two worlds of pure Joy and Sorrow after overthrowing the Sun King, who started wars for his amusement. Dissonance, who is trying to steal all the happiness in the world and create a world without happiness, claims he only wants to prevent another war and create a society where no one will sacrifice others for their own personal gain. In turn, [[spoiler:his sister Form]] also wants to prevent another war, but by [[HappinessIsMandatory forcing happiness on everyone]]. In reality, [[spoiler:both of them desire to eradicate all emotions they hate along with anyone who has these undesirable emotions, all to create their "perfect" world. When this goal becomes impossible in the true ending due to the two worlds merging, they opt to [[OmnicidalManaic destroy Soma in its entirety]], supposedly to stop the inevitable war that will happen in a populace with conflicting emotions- but as the sequel reveals, ''they were the ones who started the wars'' that they blamed on the Sun King in the first place, and Form wants to make everyone dependent on her to spite Dissonance, who in turn wants to force everyone to share his inability to be happy. Ultimately, both are selfish {{Control Freak}}s who would rather destroy the world than allow any perceived imperfections to exist]].

** [[VideoGame/MetalGearRising Senator Armstrong]] claims he wants to turn America into a utopia and allow people the freedom to fight for what they believe in, but he actually wants to create a SocialDarwinist MightMakesRight society by triggering a ForeverWar that will let soldiers, the politically-powerful, and cybernetically-enhanced people like himself rule over mankind. Raiden sums it up neatly: "I was wrong about you; you're not greedy... you're ''batshit insane!''"

** [[CorruptPolitician Masayoshi Shido]] constantly claims that he wants to lead Japan into a new age of prosperity, but in reality, he [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans just wants power for the sake of power]], and goes out of his way to ruin other people's lives purely because they insulted him or [[MinorInjuryOverreaction gave him minor injuries]]. To drive the point home, his [[MentalWorld Palace]] is a cruise ship sailing over a sinking country, showing how his deepest desire is to stay afloat even if the entire nation around him is sinking.
** This can be seen with [[spoiler:Akechi. While he initially is put as a sort of KnightTemplar[-/-]SympatheticInspectorAntagonist willing to go any lengths to stop the Thieves and [[JusticeWillPrevail restore justice]], we ultimately find out that his entire plot was an elaborately organized revenge scheme against his [[BastardAngst unaware-father]] Shido, and that his fame as a detective and upholder of justice [[FakeUltimateHero was built off of murders he himself committed]].]]

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': [[BigBad Master Xehanort]] believed the [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil balance between light and darkness]] in the universe was unsustainable and sought to begin a Keyblade War to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt engulf the worlds in darkness]], and when he wins, to claim the power of Kingdom Hearts with which to remake and fix it. However, he's since become DrunkOnTheDarkSide to the point he's [[ButForMeItWasTuesday dismissive]] as opposed to [[IDidWhatIHadToDo defensive]] when called out for the harm he's done. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' reveals he [[KnightTemplar still sincerely believed his his actions were just]] and his plan was to [[GodhoodSeeker lead the Next World in order to dictate all destinies]] to prevent them from polluting the world with Darkness. He's promptly called out how [[DarkIsEvil he's proven himself unworthy to be said leader]] and after being defeated [[HeelRealization realizes he did this to validate his ego]].

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'': Caesar's Legion as a whole definitely fall into this category, especially [[{{EvilOverlord}} its namesake leader]]. Although you get a first glimpse of how far Caesar and his Legion are willing to go when you wade into the ruins of Nipton, when you first meet the man himself he’s a calm and logical ruler who tells you how he plans to use his horde of thugs to bring peace and prosperity to the Mojave. At first, anyway. Then you hear about his more unsavoury actions, like slaughtering entire camps and tribes down to the last man, woman and child out of little more than [[EvilIsPetty unadulterated]] [[ForTheEvulz bloodlust]], his [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil downright nauseous habit of taking those he conquers as slaves]], [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil of which the women are used as broodmares or perverted entertainment]], and his downright inhuman glee at bringing a merciless, messy end to all that question or defy him even so much as an inch. Which ultimately show him for his true nature as a [[AxCrazy violent]], [[PsychopathicManchild petulant]], [[TheSociopath psychopathic]] thug who neither [[EvilCannotComprehendGood comprehends]] nor [[IgnoredEpiphany cares]] that his actions bring more harm than good to the Mojave as a whole, and is so driven by his ego he would gladly run it into the ground than admit he was ever wrong. And this mentality trickles down to [[{{VillainByDefault}} the rest of the Legion's members.]]

* ''VideoGame/LuminousAvengerIX'': In the [[VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt first Gunvolt game]], [[spoiler:Asimov (a.k.a. Demerzel) claimed he wanted to create a better world for Adepts, even if that meant cutting down anyone in his way or killing humans indiscriminately, because he saw them as fearmongering threats to Adepts fully willing to subjugate and kill them in turn.]] Here, [[spoiler:it's clear that every other thing he does was for the sake of power]] -- humans are obviously labeled "Minos" and exterminated (and in one case [[spoiler:even forcibly brainwashed to become Asimov's personal enforcer]]), but even other Adepts are forcefully mellowed out against Minos using the Butterfly effect, surveillanced and prevented from leaving Sumeragi-controlled cities, and risk being conscripted under [[{{Blackmail}} threats against their lives or loved ones]]. Even worse, [[spoiler:if you're an Adept with an Septima that benefits him like [[MagicMusic the Muse]] or simply happened to be an oddball case, you will be captured and subject to [[FateWorseThanDeath torturous experimentation]], the [[BecameTheirOwnAntithesis very same sort of experimentation that led Asimov to want to destroy humanity in the first place]].]] This is notably a WholePlotReference of Dr. Weil's mass Reploid enslavement in ''Mega Man Zero'' Based on how the ''Megaman'' franchise inspired the ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvoltSeries'' as a whole and both ''Zero'' and the ''Gunvolt'' series are made by Creator/IntiCreates, the similarities might be deliberate. ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt3'' puts a possible explanation for the MotiveDecay by retroactively suggesting [[spoiler:Asimov's transformation into a [[ElementalEmbodiment being of living electricity]] was in fact his own Primal Dragon transformation, which also causes [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity enhanced aggression and mental instability on top of the new and increased powers]], and with no one to snap him out of it over the next century he degenerated into the full-on villain shown.]]

* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'': [[GovernmentConspiracy The Patriots]]. They claim that they act in the best interests of humanity, but given their blatant disregard for human life they display in a needlessly dangerous and expensive plan which only served to test their ability to manipulate human beings, which included likely deliberately leaving the hostages on Big Shell to die since it was made without lifeboats, they seem far more interested in maintaining their own control over anything else. In addition, they later establish the war economy, resulting in countless soldiers dying and the public being groomed into promoting and continuing an endless cycle of wars.

* ''VideoGame/LuminousAvengerIX'': In the [[VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt first Gunvolt game]], [[spoiler:Asimov (a.k.a. Demerzel) claimed he wanted to create a better world for Adepts, even if that meant cutting down anyone in his way or killing humans indiscriminately, because he saw them as fearmongering threats to Adepts fully willing to subjugate and kill them in turn.]] Here, [[spoiler:it's clear that every other thing he does was for the sake of power]] -- humans are obviously labeled "Minos" and exterminated (and in one case [[spoiler:even forcibly brainwashed to become Asimov's personal enforcer]]), but even other Adepts are forcefully mellowed out against Minos using the Butterfly effect, surveillanced and prevented from leaving Sumeragi-controlled cities, and risk being conscripted under [[{{Blackmail}} threats against their lives or loved ones]]. Even worse, [[spoiler:if you're an Adept with an Septima that benefits him like [[MagicMusic the Muse]] or simply happened to be an oddball case, you will be captured and subject to [[FateWorseThanDeath torturous experimentation]], the [[BecameTheirOwnAntithesis very same sort of experimentation that led Asimov to want to destroy humanity in the first place]].]] ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt3'' puts a possible explanation for the MotiveDecay by retroactively suggesting [[spoiler:Asimov's transformation into a [[ElementalEmbodiment being of living electricity]] was in fact his own Primal Dragon transformation, which also causes [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity enhanced aggression and mental instability on top of the new and increased powers]], and with no one to snap him out of it over the next century he degenerated into the full-on villain shown.]]
** This is notably a WholePlotReference of Dr. Weil's mass Reploid enslavement in ''Mega Man Zero'' (see below). Based on how the ''Megaman'' franchise inspired the ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvoltSeries'' as a whole and both ''Zero'' and the ''Gunvolt'' series are made by Creator/IntiCreates, the similarities might be deliberate.

* ''VideoGame/HeroKingQuestPeacemakerPrologue'': Dark Lord Spidervenom claims that she needs to subjugate non-dark elves because other races are untrustworthy and is willing to sell out non-dark elf citizens to avoid war with the Cerulean Land. However, she imprisons her daughter out of fear that the Azoth sword will deem the latter a more worthy ruling, showing that she's nothing more than a paranoiac trying to hold onto her own power, even at the cost of her citizens and family.

** On some level, Dr. Eggman does seem to genuinely believe that the world is better off with him in charge, and desires to create a technologically advanced society ruled by scientists. However, this belief is warped by a blind faith in science and a complete disregard for all life. It's shown that any time he actually succeeds, the world is a polluted, mechanized hellscape, completely depleted of natural resources and plagued by Eggman's increasingly desperate attempts to eradicate all opposition.

* ''Franchise/MegaMan''

*

* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'': Back when [[MadScientist Dr. Weil]] pitched Project Elpizo (creating the perfect Reploid to be used with the Mother Elf so [[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood he can control Reploids worldwide]]) to the masses, he claimed that it was to prevent Reploids from going Maverick ever again. The problem was, well, X ''already used Mother Elf'' to rid the world of most Mavericks, so nothing exactly justified his "concern". So he creates the EvilPlan above that leads to the Elf Wars. His true intentions, to simply TakeOverTheWorld through mass Reploid brainwashing, were only made clear once Zero [[spoiler:in a new copy body]] stole the Dark Elf from him and he was forced to unleash Omega and other controlled Reploids on the masses.

** Cerberus becomes this by the third game in the series. The organization continues to expel their rhetoric that they are the best hope for humanity in the galaxy [[note]] which they were genuine about in the previous games, even willing to work with aliens [[/note]]. But their actions throughout the game cause far more damage to everyone in the galaxy, ''including humans,'' all for the sake of finding a way to control [[{{EldritchAbomination}} the Reapers]] to ensure dominance. [[spoiler: It is later revealed in the game that they were [[MoreThanMindControl Indoctrinated]] by the Reapers and are unconsciously acting in the Old Machines' interests. In other words, they could never find a way to control the Reapers, because in reality it is ''the Reapers who are controlling them.'']]

** Cerberus become this by the third game in the series. They continue to expel their rhetoric that their the best hope for humanity in the galaxy [[note]] which they were geniune about in the previous games, even willing to work with aliens [[/note]]. But their actions throughout the game cause far more damage to everyone in the galaxy, ''including humans,'' all for the sake of finding a way to control [[{{EldritchAbomination}} the Reapers]] to ensure dominance. [[spoiler: It is later revealed in the game that they were [[MoreThanMindControl Indoctrinated]] by the Reapers and are unconsciously acting in the Old Machines' interests.]]