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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' features some of this in ''Stormblood:
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' features some of this in ''Stormblood:''Stormblood'':
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' features some of this in ''Stormblood:
*** Yotsuyu as providing one of the trope's quotes. Prior to becoming the [[WitchWithACapitalB Witch of Doma]] who gets off on suffering, she was put through familial abuse, married off to an abusive husband who treated her like shit, and then was sold into prostitution to pay off her husband's debts. In all? It provides a reason why she would happily turn against Doma and aid the empire. After her arc involving amnesia where she finally received kindness, she regained her memories but believed she was BeyondRedemption and didn't deserve it. How sympathetic this makes her is [[BrokenBase debated]].
*** Fordola also demonstrates this as well. A flashback given via the Echo showcases that her father [[TheQuisling sided with the empire]] in order to give her a better future. However, we also see that the people of Gyr Abania despised her and her family as being traitors. This resulted in a traumatic scene wherein Fordola's father was stoned to death while the Garleans watched. She was then put through the horrible wringer trying to advance in the ranks of the Garlean army, ''especially'' with a viceroy like [[BadBoss Zenos]]. Ala Mhigo saw her as a monster, Garlemald saw her as a savage, so she might as well ''become'' that person. But at the same time, the Warrior of Light and Lyse offered her a chance to be something ''besides'' it... and she took that chance.
*** Yotsuyu as providing one of the trope's quotes. Prior to becoming the [[WitchWithACapitalB Witch of Doma]] who gets off on suffering, she was put through familial abuse, married off to an abusive husband who treated her like shit, and then was sold into prostitution to pay off her husband's debts. In all? It provides a reason why she would happily turn against Doma and aid the empire. After her arc involving amnesia where she finally received kindness, she regained her memories but believed she was BeyondRedemption and didn't deserve it. How sympathetic this makes her is [[BrokenBase debated]].
*** Fordola also demonstrates this as well. A flashback given via the Echo showcases that her father [[TheQuisling sided with the empire]] in order to give her a better future. However, we also see that the people of Gyr Abania despised her and her family as being traitors. This resulted in a traumatic scene wherein Fordola's father was stoned to death while the Garleans watched. She was then put through the horrible wringer trying to advance in the ranks of the Garlean army, ''especially'' with a viceroy like [[BadBoss Zenos]]. Ala Mhigo saw her as a monster, Garlemald saw her as a savage, so she might as well ''become'' that person. But at the same time, the Warrior of Light and Lyse offered her a chance to be something ''besides'' it... and she took that chance.
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* ''VideoGame/ViewFromBelow'': The Crimson God was once [[spoiler:Jesus, who tried to spread benevolent ideals, only to be crucified and treated as a blasphemer. Unlike the Jesus in the Bible, the Crimson God didn't forgive humanity for this, so he now wants to be the evil that humanity treated him as. He also tries to instill this mindset into his followers by convincing them to help him get back at the world that persecuted them]].
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* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'':
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* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'':''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
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* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'': While most of the game portrays necromancers as [[TheDarkArts evil because they are necromancers]], there are a few implications in the Mages' Guild questline and a few related books that one reason Mannimarco's evil Order of the Black Worm have had such a success in infiltrating and poaching from the Guild after necromancy was banned within the Guild is that more than a few previously ethical Guild necromancers and associates took Hannibal Traven (the Arch-Mage of the Guild) at his word when he lost them their specialization and potentially livelihood by driving through a hard-line anti-necromancy policy that painted it as inherently evil and connected to Mannimarco (an ancient arch-enemy of the Guild).
** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as sneaky thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. And for the most part, that's actually true... but only because the stereotype exists in the first place, leaving the Khajiit with no other option ''but'' to be criminals in order to make a living since nobody will hire them for legitimate work.
** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as sneaky thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. And for the most part, that's actually true... but only because the stereotype exists in the first place, leaving the Khajiit with no other option ''but'' to be criminals in order to make a living since nobody will hire them for legitimate work.
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* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'':
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'': While most of the game portrays necromancers as [[TheDarkArts evil because they are necromancers]], there are a few implications in the Mages' Guild questline and a few related books that one reason Mannimarco's evil Order of the Black Worm have had such a success in infiltrating and poaching from the Guild after necromancy was banned within the Guild is that more than a few previously ethical Guild necromancers and associates took Hannibal Traven (the Arch-Mage of the Guild) at his word when he lost them their specialization and potentially livelihood by driving through a hard-line anti-necromancy policy that painted it as inherently evil and connected to Mannimarco (an ancient arch-enemy of the Guild).
** *** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as sneaky thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. And for the most part, that's actually true... but only because the stereotype exists in the first place, leaving the Khajiit with no other option ''but'' to be criminals in order to make a living since nobody will hire them for legitimate work.work.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': At the beginning of the game, the Empire sentences you to execution simply because they've mistaken you for a Stormcloak. But after a dragon interrupts the execution and inadvertently lets you escape, you can then choose to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge join the Stormcloaks for real and lay waste to the Empire's presence in Skyrim]]. And if you also become part of the Dark Brotherhood, you can take it even further by [[spoiler:assassinating the Emperor himself]].
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'': While most of the game portrays necromancers as [[TheDarkArts evil because they are necromancers]], there are a few implications in the Mages' Guild questline and a few related books that one reason Mannimarco's evil Order of the Black Worm have had such a success in infiltrating and poaching from the Guild after necromancy was banned within the Guild is that more than a few previously ethical Guild necromancers and associates took Hannibal Traven (the Arch-Mage of the Guild) at his word when he lost them their specialization and potentially livelihood by driving through a hard-line anti-necromancy policy that painted it as inherently evil and connected to Mannimarco (an ancient arch-enemy of the Guild).
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': At the beginning of the game, the Empire sentences you to execution simply because they've mistaken you for a Stormcloak. But after a dragon interrupts the execution and inadvertently lets you escape, you can then choose to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge join the Stormcloaks for real and lay waste to the Empire's presence in Skyrim]]. And if you also become part of the Dark Brotherhood, you can take it even further by [[spoiler:assassinating the Emperor himself]].
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* A downplayed example in ''VideoGame/RiskOfRain2'' as the final boss, Mithrix, was already a MadScientist with a considerable LackOfEmpathy and disregard for "pests." But when his brother [[SealedEvilInACan imprisoned him on the moon]], his sanity outright snaps and his envy leads to him to think Providence sealed him away because he cares about the lifeforms on the planet more than his own brother. A few lore entries show that he plans to target Earth as soon as he escapes and KillAllHumans just to spite his brother.
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* A downplayed example in ''VideoGame/RiskOfRain2'' as the final boss, Mithrix, was already a MadScientist with a considerable LackOfEmpathy and disregard for "insects." But when his brother [[SealedEvilInACan imprisoned him on the moon]], his sanity outright snaps and his envy leads to him to think Providence sealed him away because he cares about the lifeforms on the planet more than his own brother. A few lore entries show that he plays to target Earth as soon as he escapes and KillAllHumans just to spite his brother.
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* In the backstory for the Hillbilly from ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'', "Boy" had AbusiveParents that treated him even worse than the animals on the farm, and the police chief was in on the abuse. The Hillbilly was [[MadwomanInTheAttic locked in a room for most of his life]] with only a TV for company running shows of heroes and children who had good parents, lamenting his tragic state. He decides to "become his own hero" by slaughtering his parents, the police, and the livestock when he eventually escapes.
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* A downplayed example in ''VideoGame/RiskOfRain2'' as the final boss, Mithrix, was already a MadScientist with a considerable LackOfEmpathy and disregard for "insects." But when his brother [[SealedEvilInACan imprisoned him on the moon]], his sanity outright snaps and his envy leads to him to think Providence sealed him away because he cares about the lifeforms on the planet more than his own brother. A few lore entries show that he plays to target Earth as soon as he escapes and KillAllHumans just to spite his brother.
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** The most commonly-accepted interpretation of Sorceress Ultimecia's motivations in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is that she was [[BullyingADragon discriminated against and persecuted]] by a society conditioned to assume that any sorceress runs the risk of snapping and trying to take over the world, until -- shockingly enough -- [[SelfFulfillingProphecy she snapped and decided to become the evil sorceress that history reviled]]. Her speech in Deling very heavily alludes to this.
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** The most commonly-accepted interpretation of Sorceress Ultimecia's motivations in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is that she was [[BullyingADragon discriminated against and persecuted]] by a society conditioned to assume that any sorceress runs the risk of snapping and trying to take over the world, until -- shockingly enough -- [[SelfFulfillingProphecy she snapped and decided to become the evil sorceress that history reviled]]. Her speech in Deling very heavily alludes to this. As the game runs on a StableTimeLoop it's heavily implied Ultimecia was demonized as soon as she was discovered due to atrocities she would cause in the future in the past, therefore she had no chance to escape her fate aside from a 'Hail Mary' play to make time itself meaningless.
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* ''VideoGame/PathfinderWrathOfTheRighteous'' has poor Staunton Vhane. Early in the Crusades, he made a serious mistake that caused the loss of a key fortress and a powerful artifact. Rather than having him hanged as a traitor, the queen assigned him to the Condemned, [[TradingBarsForStripes a unit composed of convicted criminals]]. He spent the next 70 years trying to make the most of his second chance, but he was utterly reviled by the other crusaders and even the other Condemned. By the time the Fifth Crusade comes around he has nothing left but bitterness and hatred; tired of fighting the "traitor" label, he finally owns it and runs off with the demons. He knows that they're only using him again, but even so he'd rather be useful to someone than hang around with those who show him only scorn.
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* ''VideoGame/LieOfCaelum'': N'raijar and Kesteri's group of bandits used to be Karsandan immigrants seeking Souen citizenship, but they were persecuted because of rumors that they were terrorists. This leads to them becoming actual terrorists to get back at Souen.
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* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'': Once, a Great Caravan of merchants roamed the Lands Between. Suspicion grew between the merchants and the city-dwellers, and eventually the Great Caravan was accused of heresy, and for punishment were rounded up and buried alive en-masse. In their despair at their fate, they decided to commit the worst heresy of all and summon the [[OmnicidalManiac Frenzied Flame]].
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* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'': Once, a Great Caravan of merchants roamed the Lands Between. Suspicion grew between the merchants and the city-dwellers, and eventually the Great Caravan was (wrongfully) accused of heresy, and for punishment were rounded up and buried alive en-masse. In their despair at their fate, they decided to commit the worst heresy of all and summon the [[OmnicidalManiac Frenzied Flame]]. In a (sadly) [[DummiedOut cut questline]] involving the merchant Kalé discovering the mass grave of his people, he even drops the line, "Well, if that's what they expect from us, then that's what they'll ''get'' from us!"
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** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. Sadly, because of this, they rarely find meaningful employment and have to resort to criminal activity to survive.
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** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as sneaky thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. Sadly, And for the most part, that's actually true... but only because of this, they rarely find meaningful employment and have the stereotype exists in the first place, leaving the Khajiit with no other option ''but'' to resort be criminals in order to criminal activity to survive.make a living since nobody will hire them for legitimate work.
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* On a second playthrough of ''VideoGame/SunlessSkies'', you can take a [[CharacterLevel facet]] that gives you an affiliation bonus of your choice based on [[SchrodingersQuestion what you decide your relationship was]] with your predecessor. One such relationship invokes this trope by describing your character as being [[VillainByProxyFallacy tainted by association]] with them, pushing you into a life of villainy.
-->''"Since you were already condemned, you decided that you might as well do something unquestionably worth condemning."''
-->''"Since you were already condemned, you decided that you might as well do something unquestionably worth condemning."''
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* ''VideoGame/AbyssCrossing'': Jagon is a Gorgon who simply wanted to live in peace, but people feared her and tried to kill her. After taking in enough magical power, she snaps and petrifies the Stone Village, and intends to petrify anyone who gazes upon her so that they can't leak her location to the military.
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* Since the Jedi of ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' considered any of their members who went off to defend the Republic against the Mandalorians as fallen (see their shoddy treatment of [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords the Exile]], who ''did'' return only to get ReformedButRejected from the Council), the fact that Revan went and became Dark Lord of the Sith is a cross of this and NiceJobBreakingItHero.
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* Since the Jedi of ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' considered any of their members who went off to defend the Republic against the Mandalorians as fallen (see their shoddy treatment of [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords the Exile]], who ''did'' return to the Council [[ReformedButRejected only to get ReformedButRejected from the Council), be immediately banished]]), the fact that Revan went and became Dark Lord of the Sith is a cross of this and NiceJobBreakingItHero.
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV [[DownloadableContent Episode Ardyn]]'' reveals that [[BigBad Ardyn Izunia]] [[spoiler:a.k.a. Ardyn Lucis Caelum was fated to fill the BigBad role to Noctis' TheHero in Bahamut's plans to bring balance to Eos. When Bahamut reveals this to Ardyn, he ''snaps'' and decides he might as well embrace the role of an evil bringer of darkness. The ''Dawn of the Future'' novel (an adaptation of the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen cancelled DLC episodes]] ''Aranea'', ''Lunafreya'', and ''Noctis'') reveal an AlternateContinuity wherein he does his role '''[[GoneHorriblyRight too well]]''', and Bahamut decides to resort to an [[KillEmAll alternate plan]] that eventually leads to Ardyn performing a HeelFaceTurn; in accepting his role as a villain, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain he would have directly caused his redemption as a hero]]]].
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** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV [[DownloadableContent Episode Ardyn]]'' reveals that [[BigBad Ardyn Izunia]] [[spoiler:a.k.a. Ardyn Lucis Caelum was fated to fill the BigBad role to Noctis' TheHero in Bahamut's plans to bring balance to Eos. When Bahamut reveals this to Ardyn, he ''snaps'' and decides he might as well embrace the role of an evil bringer of darkness. The ''Dawn of the Future'' novel (an adaptation of the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen cancelled DLC episodes]] ''Aranea'', ''Lunafreya'', and ''Noctis'') reveal an AlternateContinuity wherein he does his role '''[[GoneHorriblyRight too well]]''', and Bahamut decides to resort to an [[KillEmAll alternate plan]] plan that eventually leads to Ardyn performing a HeelFaceTurn; in accepting his role as a villain, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain he would have directly caused his redemption as a hero]]]].
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* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'': Once, a Great Caravan of merchants roamed the Lands Between. Suspicion grew between the merchants and the city-dwellers, and eventually the Great Caravan was accused of heresy, and for punishment were rounded up and buried alive en-masse. In their despair at their fate, they decided to commit the worst heresy of all and summon the [[OmnicidalManiac Frenzied Flame]].
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!!'''SPOILER WARNING: The nature of this trope means that spoilers abound. Tread carefully.'''
ThenLetMeBeEvil moments in VideoGames.
----
* Caelar Argent in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateSiegeOfDragonspear'' is seen as a villain because she brings chaos and destruction in her wake as she leads the Shining Crusade. Caelar does regret the destruction she causes, but thinks it's ultimately ForTheGreaterGood. In the end, it's revealed that she was duped by her ObviouslyEvil subordinate Hepheranan and is about to release the devil Belhifet into the world. Caelar, realizing this was all her doing, can give herself over as a blackguard into Belhifet's service, provided he kill Hepheranan first. As she puts it, she tried to do good and was utterly terrible at it, so it would be better to be evil, because at least she can wear that as a badge of honor.
* In ''VideoGame/BugFables'', ever since the gang of seventeen ladybugs were caught raiding the aphid farms, Queen Elizant II banished the ladybug species from the Ant Kingdom, with only a few being accepted in, requiring special permits. Unfortunately, most ladybugs were ''not'' happy with her actions, and decided that, since they are all treated as outlaws, they ''will'' be outlaws, and became burglars -- a deed that [[CycleOfRevenge tarnished ladybugs' reputation even further]] than before.
* In ''Videogame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'', [[spoiler:Gabriel Belmont]] became evil because destiny said he would become evil.
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', Leonard "[[http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Frostfire Frostfire]]" Calhoun ([[UnfortunateNames Yes, that is his real name]]) is [[AllThereInTheManual explicitly stated]] to have "succumbed to a 'if you're going to treat me like a villain' mentality" after a botched attempt at vigilanteism. For this reason, Frostfire is one of the more sympathetic villains in the game, even delivering a crude MotiveRant when confronted. [[spoiler:He even eventually tries to [[TheAtoner redeem himself]].]]
* Can be invoked by the player in ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}''. Once the A.I. starts denouncing you, it is very hard to get back in their good books, even if all you did was refuse to roll over and die when they shot first. This can lead a player to decide to show the enemy civilizations what a ''real'' bloodthirsty warmonger actually looks like.
* Invoked by Adam Jensen in ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided'' when talking about an augmented-only ghetto.
-->'''Adam:''' Treat people like animals long enough and they'll start acting like animals.
* The whole ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series has this with blood magic. Even though it can be used innocently, using only your own blood and powering all kinds of magic, it is always claimed to be evil magic fuelled through harming others and used to control minds. Since the slightest hint of innocent use is an immediate death sentence, those who get caught tend to go all-in on the evil due to having no other choice left.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', almost all of Kirkwall distrusts the qunari and their leader, the Arishok, due to the qunari's reputation for being heathen conquerors. While the Arishok is [[KnightTemplar by no means]] a nice guy, he and the rest of the qunari just want to mind their own business and leave Kirkwall as soon as possible. However, after years of unprovoked attacks by those who expect him to act against them, the Arishok finally has enough and tries to conquer Kirkwall.
--->'''The Arishok:''' Fixing your mess is not the demand of the Qun, and ''you should all be '''grateful!'''''
** This also sums up why so many Circle mages turn to BloodMagic; they spend their whole lives effectively at the mercy of the templars, who tell them that the abilities they were born with are sinful and hold the threat of [[FateWorseThanDeath being made Tranquil]] over their heads, so what do they have to lose by dealing with demons? [[spoiler:First Enchanter Orsino does this in the endgame — even if you sided with him.]]
*** Spelled out in the web series ''WebVideo/DragonAgeRedemption'' focused on several characters trying to stop an escaped qunari mage, or Saarebas ("dangerous thing" in qunari). The qunari treat their mages ''way'' worse than humans. They [[MouthStitchedShut sew their mouths shut]] and force them to wear harnesses that dampen their magic and can be used to shock them into submission. After finally stopping and collaring the Saarebas, [[Creator/FeliciaDay Tallis]] asks him why he tried to cast a dangerous spell. His response is that he has been told for so long that he's a thing of evil that the only thing he could think about doing after escaping is the most harm possible. However, not all Saarebas are like that.
** [[{{Ubermensch}} Anders]] especially emphasizes this point as the reason the Circle of Magi simply ''doesn't work'' — when you [[BullyingADragon imprison and terrify a person with supernatural powers]] for the entirety of their lives, does the fault lie with the prisoner for eventually [[WhosLaughingNow snapping and trying to take everyone down with them]], or [[InherentInTheSystem the system]] that forces them into that corner [[KnightTemplar with no room for compromise?]] Doesn't stop him from [[StopBeingStereotypical yelling at the mages]] who made [[DealWithTheDevil deals]] or [[DemonicPossession turn into abominations]], but he saves most of his bile for the Chantry. [[spoiler:Hence his "nuclear option" attack on the Chantry after all his other efforts have been shut down.]]
** Orsino's DespairEventHorizon also has him come to this conclusion, when, after Meredith's templars have killed the rest of the mages in the Circle, he decides that if he's going to die, his name slandered as a blood mage for a crime he didn't commit, then he'll use the blood magic he'd previously condemned to [[TakingYouWithMe take as many templars out with him as possible.]]
* You can deliberately invoke this in ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma''. [[spoiler:Once you confronted Duke Edmun after slaying [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Grigori the Dragon]], he immediately [[PersonaNonGrata brands you as a traitor]], and [[EverythingTryingToKillYou every guard along with captain Maximilian would make an attempt to kill you on sight]] whenever you entered upper Gran Soren. If a traitor is what they wanted, then why not become one? Now, you have the option to [[DisproportionateRetribution teach them a lesson]] and '''[[VideoGameCrueltyPotential kill everyone on sight]]''', yes, [[RevengeByProxy everyone]] ''but'' the [[KarmaHoudini Duke]]. [[AndThisIsFor This is for crossing with the Arisen]], who will soon [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence become your god]]!]]
* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'': While most of the game portrays necromancers as [[TheDarkArts evil because they are necromancers]], there are a few implications in the Mages' Guild questline and a few related books that one reason Mannimarco's evil Order of the Black Worm have had such a success in infiltrating and poaching from the Guild after necromancy was banned within the Guild is that more than a few previously ethical Guild necromancers and associates took Hannibal Traven (the Arch-Mage of the Guild) at his word when he lost them their specialization and potentially livelihood by driving through a hard-line anti-necromancy policy that painted it as inherently evil and connected to Mannimarco (an ancient arch-enemy of the Guild).
** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. Sadly, because of this, they rarely find meaningful employment and have to resort to criminal activity to survive.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** The most commonly-accepted interpretation of Sorceress Ultimecia's motivations in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is that she was [[BullyingADragon discriminated against and persecuted]] by a society conditioned to assume that any sorceress runs the risk of snapping and trying to take over the world, until -- shockingly enough -- [[SelfFulfillingProphecy she snapped and decided to become the evil sorceress that history reviled]]. Her speech in Deling very heavily alludes to this.
** Invoked by Snow and Lightning in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' in order to scare civilians out of harm's way. Lightning toys with the idea after her sister is TakenForGranite and she herself is branded a l'Cie, which means everyone in the world will be hunting her down. She suggests making herself an enemy that they should ''really'' fear by destroying the chief god in the fal'Cie pantheon. Ultimately, she doesn't go through with it, the reaction being mainly one of grief and rage rather than reason. Snow later announces that he is a Pulse l'Cie "here to kill you all" and shoots a machine gun skyward in Palumpolum so that a crowd of citizens will clear the area, saving them from getting shot down or Purged by [=PSICOM=].
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV [[DownloadableContent Episode Ardyn]]'' reveals that [[BigBad Ardyn Izunia]] [[spoiler:a.k.a. Ardyn Lucis Caelum was fated to fill the BigBad role to Noctis' TheHero in Bahamut's plans to bring balance to Eos. When Bahamut reveals this to Ardyn, he ''snaps'' and decides he might as well embrace the role of an evil bringer of darkness. The ''Dawn of the Future'' novel (an adaptation of the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen cancelled DLC episodes]] ''Aranea'', ''Lunafreya'', and ''Noctis'') reveal an AlternateContinuity wherein he does his role '''[[GoneHorriblyRight too well]]''', and Bahamut decides to resort to an [[KillEmAll alternate plan]] that eventually leads to Ardyn performing a HeelFaceTurn; in accepting his role as a villain, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain he would have directly caused his redemption as a hero]]]].
* A minor character in the 'Completing The Mission' portion of the ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'' is Henry [[SpellMyNameWithAnS StickMAN]], who turned to a life of crime due to constantly being mistaken for a criminal as a result of the other Henry's actions.
* In ''VideoGame/IcewindDale 2'', the twin {{Big Bad}}s Isair and Madae were treated as embodiments of evil their entire lives because they were cambions -- half devil, half elf. After a lifetime of this treatment, with a cruel prank involving cakes baked with holy water as the final straw, they decided they might as well act like embodiments of evil. Iselore the BigGood remembers that he warned their foster mother (the only person who ever loved them) that "they are forged in evil and only evil can come from them" and sadly wonders if he helped make it true.
* If you decide to take the villain route in ''VideoGame/{{InFAMOUS}}'', Cole cites this as one of his reasons for slipping into selfish evil. The people already think he's a terrorist that blew up their city, and he has the powers to make them suffer, why not give them what they want? This is best exemplified at the end of the train mission, where even after saving their loved ones, the people still want Cole's blood, resulting in him zapping one of them to make them disperse. For reference, the good version of the same scene has them treat him like one of the family and marks his turn for the better in the public eye, so it mostly comes down to the reputation he builds in the interim.
* Since the Jedi of ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' considered any of their members who went off to defend the Republic against the Mandalorians as fallen (see their shoddy treatment of [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords the Exile]], who ''did'' return only to get ReformedButRejected from the Council), the fact that Revan went and became Dark Lord of the Sith is a cross of this and NiceJobBreakingItHero.
* This is the backstory of Odio the Lord of Dark in ''VideoGame/LiveALive''. [[spoiler:Even after Oersted was tricked into killing the king and branded a demon, he figured he could still be a hero, so long as one person believed in him. When that one person committed suicide as a direct consequence of his actions, he took up the demon lord's title and role, spreading pain and misery across the universe.]]
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'': In the ending, [[spoiler:Big Boss makes a speech about how the world will view MSF differently as time goes by; either as revolutionaries, dogs of war, or terrorists and he is willing to accept that role as a villain]]. Anyone who stuck with the series long enough will know this was how Outer Heaven was founded.
** In some ways, you already are that villain, as you are spending the game kidnapping and converting members of the opposition, who may not know anything but their orders, to your line of thinking by unknown means. You also start to develop [[spoiler:a weapon capable of launching a nuke anywhere on earth]], and the whole premise is you making a military without borders down to the name, all in the name of some ideal state based on your character's view of their mentor's ideals. Just now your character has embraced it.
* Namm, the Elder Power of Justice from ''[[VideoGame/NexusWar Nexus Clash]]'', is so obsessed with winning the war against the demon lord [[ManipulativeBastard Tlacolotl]] that many of his followers have expanded their possible battlefield targets from actual demons to anyone who [[WithUsOrAgainstUs doesn't]] have a high enough score on the KarmaMeter, and sometimes all the way to [[HolierThanThou anyone who isn't an angel]]. Namm's behavior is the single best thing that ever happened to Tlacolotl's recruitment, as many characters figure that if they're going to be hunted like demons, they may as well join them.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'', this trope is a soft example of the creation of the Phantom Thieves; all of the founding members and most of the later members join because they were wronged by society or a corrupt individual in untouchable situations of power, and after being pushed too far by someone who made a personal nemesis of them, they decide they'll become what the world sees them as. However, rather than take revenge on everyone, they instead focus on their personal grudges, before moving on to various corrupt high-notoriety figures.
** The protagonist saves a woman from being assaulted by a man with extreme power and influence, who threatens her into making false testimony against him, earning him an arrest, criminal record, getting him put on probation and ruining any but the slightest hope of a bright future. When he's about to be slain by Kamoshida's shadow, he becomes a Phantom Thief at the goading of his persona Arsene, who encourages him to thrive in the shadows because of the way the world turned on him.
** In particular, this is the argument made to Ryuji by [[GuardianEntity Captain Kidd]] -- that since [[CreepyGymCoach Kamoshida]] has gone out of his way to make Ryuji's life a living hell (amongst other things), Ryuji should not expect to reconcile with Kamoshida in any way and instead focus his energies on taking the bastard down. Downplayed in that, while Ryuji agrees and does just that, he doesn't go to extremes to get the job done, and has good intentions for the work he does with the Phantom Thieves thereafter.
--->''"Since your name has been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc...? The "other you" who exists within desires it thus... [[ArcWords I am thou... thou art I...]] There is no turning back... The skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!"''
** [[spoiler:[[TheHeavy Goro Akechi]] fashions himself as a Hero of Justice even as he commits murder and brainwashing for the sake of revenge against his father, [[BigBad Shido]]. However, it is made clear that at some point, Akechi had a HeelRealization that he [[AllForNothing could have gotten revenge without becoming a murderer]]. But, because he can't handle that fact or that [[TheHero Joker]] is better than him, [[IgnoredEpiphany he buries it]] as he tries to kill the Phantom Thieves, no matter the cost. However, he does pull a HeroicSacrifice, so he might have rejected this trope if given the chance.]]
* ''VideoGame/RadiantArc'': Kagan was once a Lounan who wanted to figure out a way to control the Morians. When his fellow humans rejected him as a madman, he joined the Morians to get revenge on humanity.
* ''[[VideoGame/SagaFrontier [=SaGa=] Frontier]]'': Asellus is the only [[{{Dhampir}} Half-Mystic]] in the game due to being a human that got a blood transfusion by the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent lord of Mystics, Orlouge]]. [[HalfBreedDiscrimination Other Mystics, save a few that are her friends, shun her, while other humans are scared of her]]. In the Full Mystic ending, Asellus snaps, proceeds to overthrow Orlouge, becoming the new Lord of the Mystics... [[TyrantTakesTheHelm And a worse tyrant than Orlouge ever was]].
* The lovable, kind Jack Frosts from the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' franchises occasionally, through self-discovery or negative experiences, realize they're a demon and decide to act like one, becoming the malevolent and ''extremely'' threatening Black Frost.
* In ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'', [[TheDragon Ramirez's]] backstory involves a play on this trope. He came to Arcadia as a naive idealist with some lessons to learn from the school of hard knocks, but found one guy who seemed alright as a role-model/mentor. Sadly, he ended up getting played for a fool and humiliated when the guy turned out to be a dirtbag. So, he went on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge and gave up on his nice ideals. He was convinced that HumansAreBastards was a universal truth and decided he might as well join them.
* In ''VideoGame/StarcraftII: Heart of the Swarm'', Kerrigan, recently de-[[TheVirus infested]] and now aligned with the heroes, is actively trying to turn her back on her own potential to control the zerg, since she feels this might lead her back to her old self. Then, [[TheEmpire The Dominion]] attacks her allies, forcing her to [[DieOrFly take control of a feral zerg brood]] lest the Dominion shoot down her LoveInterest, Raynor. She realizes during the fighting that she's at risk of giving in to her viciousness, and tries to curb herself. However, Raynor's ship never shows at the rendezvous and she overhears a news report that the Dominion captured and executed him before he could escape. [[spoiler:(In fact, he was not executed, but is being held as a check against her attacking the Dominion.)]] She promptly declares bloody vengeance against the Dominion and Emperor Mengsk, actively seeking out zerg forces to command and [[spoiler:becoming re-infested, after a fashion]] to increase her psychic power. Mengsk seems to realize that the whole mess is his fault (twice over; his betrayal got her infested in the first place!) when [[spoiler:she kills him]].
-->'''Mengsk:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone I made you into a monster, Kerrigan]].\\
'''Kerrigan:''' [[ManipulativeBastard You]] made [[Characters/{{Starcraft}} us]] ''all'' into [[IDidWhatIHadToDo monsters]].
* Played with in ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria''. The heroes are an AntiHeroTeam, and several of them have no trouble identifying as {{Villain Protagonist}}s.
** Velvet bases her identity in this, knowing that her desire to kill Artorius is based on nothing more than a selfish desire for revenge, and that's before she learns he's become a VillainWithGoodPublicity that effectively controls the world. Velvet knows her motives are a [[HeroWithBadPublicity PR nightmare]], and isn't afraid to tell anyone who offers her aid that she fully intends to murder the Shepherd and [[AndThenWhat has no plan beyond that]]. In fact, Velvet so completely thinks of herself as a vile, vicious, bloodthirsty monster that she'll often [[MetaphoricallyTrue doctor the facts]] ''against'' herself — when recounting her escape from [[HellholePrison Titania]], Velvet says she was freed by a rogue malak, and [[HorrorHunger consumed]] her rescuer on the way out to awaken her powers. While this is true, Velvet leaves out that said malak was [[TakingTheBullet mortally wounded protecting Velvet from an attack]], and [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled begged to be consumed so her death would tangibly help]]. Velvet thinks her goals make her inherently unsympathetic, but when her full picture is finally made clear, an antagonistic teammate-by-circumstance completely loses any resolve to betray her, and Velvet has trouble understanding why.
** Magilou self-identifies as a witch, and frequently says that she's going along with Velvet [[ItAmusedMe because she just has to see what happens]]. However, the glimpses of Magilou BeneathTheMask shows that she's a self-loathing [[TheCynic cynic]] who believes the worst in people. Her backstory late-game reveals that she was exiled from the Abbey by failing a SecretTestOfCharacter for showing too much attachment, which goes against the Abbey's vision of a world without emotion. Magilou thus decides that, if feeling emotion and rebelling against such ways of thinking makes her evil, then she will "live and die with evil as [her] mantra."
** This way of thinking is ultimately what makes [[spoiler:Eleanor]] turn her coat as well. [[spoiler:She wholeheartedly believes the ideals the Abbey puts forth, even once she discovers the people in charge were using this doctrine as a smokescreen for a true plan they knew the public would never support. In the end, she chooses to invert GodBeforeDogma, happy to be branded a heretic in the name of perpetuating their benevolent mission statement instead of the Abbey's real goals.]]
* ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'': The reason why Marcus Holloway becomes an outlaw hacker is because he was arrested for a crime he didn't commit, and was only arrested and punished because he "fit the profile", one that could have fit dozens of other people in the city. Because of this wrongful arrest, he is permanently tagged as a criminal, and whatever hopes he had for a bright future are ruined. He decides that if the system is going to treat him like a criminal, he will be a criminal who works to destroy the system that wronged him.
* Syanna, the older sister of Duchess Anna Henrietta from ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'' and primary antagonist in the Blood and Wine expansion, is treated like a pariah by almost everyone during her childhood for being born with "The Curse of the Black Sun". Despite being a world where magic and curses are demonstrably real, there are strong implications that ''this'' curse is in reality a SelfFulfillingProphecy, and that Syanna's villanous nature is more a result of how people treated her on the assumption that she was destined to become evil than from any cosmic force.
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!!'''SPOILER WARNING: The nature of this trope means that spoilers abound. Tread carefully.'''
ThenLetMeBeEvil moments in VideoGames.
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* Caelar Argent in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateSiegeOfDragonspear'' is seen as a villain because she brings chaos and destruction in her wake as she leads the Shining Crusade. Caelar does regret the destruction she causes, but thinks it's ultimately ForTheGreaterGood. In the end, it's revealed that she was duped by her ObviouslyEvil subordinate Hepheranan and is about to release the devil Belhifet into the world. Caelar, realizing this was all her doing, can give herself over as a blackguard into Belhifet's service, provided he kill Hepheranan first. As she puts it, she tried to do good and was utterly terrible at it, so it would be better to be evil, because at least she can wear that as a badge of honor.
* In ''VideoGame/BugFables'', ever since the gang of seventeen ladybugs were caught raiding the aphid farms, Queen Elizant II banished the ladybug species from the Ant Kingdom, with only a few being accepted in, requiring special permits. Unfortunately, most ladybugs were ''not'' happy with her actions, and decided that, since they are all treated as outlaws, they ''will'' be outlaws, and became burglars -- a deed that [[CycleOfRevenge tarnished ladybugs' reputation even further]] than before.
* In ''Videogame/CastlevaniaLordsOfShadow'', [[spoiler:Gabriel Belmont]] became evil because destiny said he would become evil.
* In ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', Leonard "[[http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Frostfire Frostfire]]" Calhoun ([[UnfortunateNames Yes, that is his real name]]) is [[AllThereInTheManual explicitly stated]] to have "succumbed to a 'if you're going to treat me like a villain' mentality" after a botched attempt at vigilanteism. For this reason, Frostfire is one of the more sympathetic villains in the game, even delivering a crude MotiveRant when confronted. [[spoiler:He even eventually tries to [[TheAtoner redeem himself]].]]
* Can be invoked by the player in ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}''. Once the A.I. starts denouncing you, it is very hard to get back in their good books, even if all you did was refuse to roll over and die when they shot first. This can lead a player to decide to show the enemy civilizations what a ''real'' bloodthirsty warmonger actually looks like.
* Invoked by Adam Jensen in ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided'' when talking about an augmented-only ghetto.
-->'''Adam:''' Treat people like animals long enough and they'll start acting like animals.
* The whole ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series has this with blood magic. Even though it can be used innocently, using only your own blood and powering all kinds of magic, it is always claimed to be evil magic fuelled through harming others and used to control minds. Since the slightest hint of innocent use is an immediate death sentence, those who get caught tend to go all-in on the evil due to having no other choice left.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', almost all of Kirkwall distrusts the qunari and their leader, the Arishok, due to the qunari's reputation for being heathen conquerors. While the Arishok is [[KnightTemplar by no means]] a nice guy, he and the rest of the qunari just want to mind their own business and leave Kirkwall as soon as possible. However, after years of unprovoked attacks by those who expect him to act against them, the Arishok finally has enough and tries to conquer Kirkwall.
--->'''The Arishok:''' Fixing your mess is not the demand of the Qun, and ''you should all be '''grateful!'''''
** This also sums up why so many Circle mages turn to BloodMagic; they spend their whole lives effectively at the mercy of the templars, who tell them that the abilities they were born with are sinful and hold the threat of [[FateWorseThanDeath being made Tranquil]] over their heads, so what do they have to lose by dealing with demons? [[spoiler:First Enchanter Orsino does this in the endgame — even if you sided with him.]]
*** Spelled out in the web series ''WebVideo/DragonAgeRedemption'' focused on several characters trying to stop an escaped qunari mage, or Saarebas ("dangerous thing" in qunari). The qunari treat their mages ''way'' worse than humans. They [[MouthStitchedShut sew their mouths shut]] and force them to wear harnesses that dampen their magic and can be used to shock them into submission. After finally stopping and collaring the Saarebas, [[Creator/FeliciaDay Tallis]] asks him why he tried to cast a dangerous spell. His response is that he has been told for so long that he's a thing of evil that the only thing he could think about doing after escaping is the most harm possible. However, not all Saarebas are like that.
** [[{{Ubermensch}} Anders]] especially emphasizes this point as the reason the Circle of Magi simply ''doesn't work'' — when you [[BullyingADragon imprison and terrify a person with supernatural powers]] for the entirety of their lives, does the fault lie with the prisoner for eventually [[WhosLaughingNow snapping and trying to take everyone down with them]], or [[InherentInTheSystem the system]] that forces them into that corner [[KnightTemplar with no room for compromise?]] Doesn't stop him from [[StopBeingStereotypical yelling at the mages]] who made [[DealWithTheDevil deals]] or [[DemonicPossession turn into abominations]], but he saves most of his bile for the Chantry. [[spoiler:Hence his "nuclear option" attack on the Chantry after all his other efforts have been shut down.]]
** Orsino's DespairEventHorizon also has him come to this conclusion, when, after Meredith's templars have killed the rest of the mages in the Circle, he decides that if he's going to die, his name slandered as a blood mage for a crime he didn't commit, then he'll use the blood magic he'd previously condemned to [[TakingYouWithMe take as many templars out with him as possible.]]
* You can deliberately invoke this in ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma''. [[spoiler:Once you confronted Duke Edmun after slaying [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Grigori the Dragon]], he immediately [[PersonaNonGrata brands you as a traitor]], and [[EverythingTryingToKillYou every guard along with captain Maximilian would make an attempt to kill you on sight]] whenever you entered upper Gran Soren. If a traitor is what they wanted, then why not become one? Now, you have the option to [[DisproportionateRetribution teach them a lesson]] and '''[[VideoGameCrueltyPotential kill everyone on sight]]''', yes, [[RevengeByProxy everyone]] ''but'' the [[KarmaHoudini Duke]]. [[AndThisIsFor This is for crossing with the Arisen]], who will soon [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence become your god]]!]]
* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'': While most of the game portrays necromancers as [[TheDarkArts evil because they are necromancers]], there are a few implications in the Mages' Guild questline and a few related books that one reason Mannimarco's evil Order of the Black Worm have had such a success in infiltrating and poaching from the Guild after necromancy was banned within the Guild is that more than a few previously ethical Guild necromancers and associates took Hannibal Traven (the Arch-Mage of the Guild) at his word when he lost them their specialization and potentially livelihood by driving through a hard-line anti-necromancy policy that painted it as inherently evil and connected to Mannimarco (an ancient arch-enemy of the Guild).
** [[CatFolk Khajiit]] are often subjects of FantasticRacism outside of Elsweyr, stereotyped as thieves, skooma addicts, liars, and generally troublemaking scum. Sadly, because of this, they rarely find meaningful employment and have to resort to criminal activity to survive.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** The most commonly-accepted interpretation of Sorceress Ultimecia's motivations in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is that she was [[BullyingADragon discriminated against and persecuted]] by a society conditioned to assume that any sorceress runs the risk of snapping and trying to take over the world, until -- shockingly enough -- [[SelfFulfillingProphecy she snapped and decided to become the evil sorceress that history reviled]]. Her speech in Deling very heavily alludes to this.
** Invoked by Snow and Lightning in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' in order to scare civilians out of harm's way. Lightning toys with the idea after her sister is TakenForGranite and she herself is branded a l'Cie, which means everyone in the world will be hunting her down. She suggests making herself an enemy that they should ''really'' fear by destroying the chief god in the fal'Cie pantheon. Ultimately, she doesn't go through with it, the reaction being mainly one of grief and rage rather than reason. Snow later announces that he is a Pulse l'Cie "here to kill you all" and shoots a machine gun skyward in Palumpolum so that a crowd of citizens will clear the area, saving them from getting shot down or Purged by [=PSICOM=].
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV [[DownloadableContent Episode Ardyn]]'' reveals that [[BigBad Ardyn Izunia]] [[spoiler:a.k.a. Ardyn Lucis Caelum was fated to fill the BigBad role to Noctis' TheHero in Bahamut's plans to bring balance to Eos. When Bahamut reveals this to Ardyn, he ''snaps'' and decides he might as well embrace the role of an evil bringer of darkness. The ''Dawn of the Future'' novel (an adaptation of the [[WhatCouldHaveBeen cancelled DLC episodes]] ''Aranea'', ''Lunafreya'', and ''Noctis'') reveal an AlternateContinuity wherein he does his role '''[[GoneHorriblyRight too well]]''', and Bahamut decides to resort to an [[KillEmAll alternate plan]] that eventually leads to Ardyn performing a HeelFaceTurn; in accepting his role as a villain, [[NiceJobFixingItVillain he would have directly caused his redemption as a hero]]]].
* A minor character in the 'Completing The Mission' portion of the ''VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries'' is Henry [[SpellMyNameWithAnS StickMAN]], who turned to a life of crime due to constantly being mistaken for a criminal as a result of the other Henry's actions.
* In ''VideoGame/IcewindDale 2'', the twin {{Big Bad}}s Isair and Madae were treated as embodiments of evil their entire lives because they were cambions -- half devil, half elf. After a lifetime of this treatment, with a cruel prank involving cakes baked with holy water as the final straw, they decided they might as well act like embodiments of evil. Iselore the BigGood remembers that he warned their foster mother (the only person who ever loved them) that "they are forged in evil and only evil can come from them" and sadly wonders if he helped make it true.
* If you decide to take the villain route in ''VideoGame/{{InFAMOUS}}'', Cole cites this as one of his reasons for slipping into selfish evil. The people already think he's a terrorist that blew up their city, and he has the powers to make them suffer, why not give them what they want? This is best exemplified at the end of the train mission, where even after saving their loved ones, the people still want Cole's blood, resulting in him zapping one of them to make them disperse. For reference, the good version of the same scene has them treat him like one of the family and marks his turn for the better in the public eye, so it mostly comes down to the reputation he builds in the interim.
* Since the Jedi of ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' considered any of their members who went off to defend the Republic against the Mandalorians as fallen (see their shoddy treatment of [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords the Exile]], who ''did'' return only to get ReformedButRejected from the Council), the fact that Revan went and became Dark Lord of the Sith is a cross of this and NiceJobBreakingItHero.
* This is the backstory of Odio the Lord of Dark in ''VideoGame/LiveALive''. [[spoiler:Even after Oersted was tricked into killing the king and branded a demon, he figured he could still be a hero, so long as one person believed in him. When that one person committed suicide as a direct consequence of his actions, he took up the demon lord's title and role, spreading pain and misery across the universe.]]
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'': In the ending, [[spoiler:Big Boss makes a speech about how the world will view MSF differently as time goes by; either as revolutionaries, dogs of war, or terrorists and he is willing to accept that role as a villain]]. Anyone who stuck with the series long enough will know this was how Outer Heaven was founded.
** In some ways, you already are that villain, as you are spending the game kidnapping and converting members of the opposition, who may not know anything but their orders, to your line of thinking by unknown means. You also start to develop [[spoiler:a weapon capable of launching a nuke anywhere on earth]], and the whole premise is you making a military without borders down to the name, all in the name of some ideal state based on your character's view of their mentor's ideals. Just now your character has embraced it.
* Namm, the Elder Power of Justice from ''[[VideoGame/NexusWar Nexus Clash]]'', is so obsessed with winning the war against the demon lord [[ManipulativeBastard Tlacolotl]] that many of his followers have expanded their possible battlefield targets from actual demons to anyone who [[WithUsOrAgainstUs doesn't]] have a high enough score on the KarmaMeter, and sometimes all the way to [[HolierThanThou anyone who isn't an angel]]. Namm's behavior is the single best thing that ever happened to Tlacolotl's recruitment, as many characters figure that if they're going to be hunted like demons, they may as well join them.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'', this trope is a soft example of the creation of the Phantom Thieves; all of the founding members and most of the later members join because they were wronged by society or a corrupt individual in untouchable situations of power, and after being pushed too far by someone who made a personal nemesis of them, they decide they'll become what the world sees them as. However, rather than take revenge on everyone, they instead focus on their personal grudges, before moving on to various corrupt high-notoriety figures.
** The protagonist saves a woman from being assaulted by a man with extreme power and influence, who threatens her into making false testimony against him, earning him an arrest, criminal record, getting him put on probation and ruining any but the slightest hope of a bright future. When he's about to be slain by Kamoshida's shadow, he becomes a Phantom Thief at the goading of his persona Arsene, who encourages him to thrive in the shadows because of the way the world turned on him.
** In particular, this is the argument made to Ryuji by [[GuardianEntity Captain Kidd]] -- that since [[CreepyGymCoach Kamoshida]] has gone out of his way to make Ryuji's life a living hell (amongst other things), Ryuji should not expect to reconcile with Kamoshida in any way and instead focus his energies on taking the bastard down. Downplayed in that, while Ryuji agrees and does just that, he doesn't go to extremes to get the job done, and has good intentions for the work he does with the Phantom Thieves thereafter.
--->''"Since your name has been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc...? The "other you" who exists within desires it thus... [[ArcWords I am thou... thou art I...]] There is no turning back... The skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!"''
** [[spoiler:[[TheHeavy Goro Akechi]] fashions himself as a Hero of Justice even as he commits murder and brainwashing for the sake of revenge against his father, [[BigBad Shido]]. However, it is made clear that at some point, Akechi had a HeelRealization that he [[AllForNothing could have gotten revenge without becoming a murderer]]. But, because he can't handle that fact or that [[TheHero Joker]] is better than him, [[IgnoredEpiphany he buries it]] as he tries to kill the Phantom Thieves, no matter the cost. However, he does pull a HeroicSacrifice, so he might have rejected this trope if given the chance.]]
* ''VideoGame/RadiantArc'': Kagan was once a Lounan who wanted to figure out a way to control the Morians. When his fellow humans rejected him as a madman, he joined the Morians to get revenge on humanity.
* ''[[VideoGame/SagaFrontier [=SaGa=] Frontier]]'': Asellus is the only [[{{Dhampir}} Half-Mystic]] in the game due to being a human that got a blood transfusion by the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent lord of Mystics, Orlouge]]. [[HalfBreedDiscrimination Other Mystics, save a few that are her friends, shun her, while other humans are scared of her]]. In the Full Mystic ending, Asellus snaps, proceeds to overthrow Orlouge, becoming the new Lord of the Mystics... [[TyrantTakesTheHelm And a worse tyrant than Orlouge ever was]].
* The lovable, kind Jack Frosts from the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' franchises occasionally, through self-discovery or negative experiences, realize they're a demon and decide to act like one, becoming the malevolent and ''extremely'' threatening Black Frost.
* In ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'', [[TheDragon Ramirez's]] backstory involves a play on this trope. He came to Arcadia as a naive idealist with some lessons to learn from the school of hard knocks, but found one guy who seemed alright as a role-model/mentor. Sadly, he ended up getting played for a fool and humiliated when the guy turned out to be a dirtbag. So, he went on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge and gave up on his nice ideals. He was convinced that HumansAreBastards was a universal truth and decided he might as well join them.
* In ''VideoGame/StarcraftII: Heart of the Swarm'', Kerrigan, recently de-[[TheVirus infested]] and now aligned with the heroes, is actively trying to turn her back on her own potential to control the zerg, since she feels this might lead her back to her old self. Then, [[TheEmpire The Dominion]] attacks her allies, forcing her to [[DieOrFly take control of a feral zerg brood]] lest the Dominion shoot down her LoveInterest, Raynor. She realizes during the fighting that she's at risk of giving in to her viciousness, and tries to curb herself. However, Raynor's ship never shows at the rendezvous and she overhears a news report that the Dominion captured and executed him before he could escape. [[spoiler:(In fact, he was not executed, but is being held as a check against her attacking the Dominion.)]] She promptly declares bloody vengeance against the Dominion and Emperor Mengsk, actively seeking out zerg forces to command and [[spoiler:becoming re-infested, after a fashion]] to increase her psychic power. Mengsk seems to realize that the whole mess is his fault (twice over; his betrayal got her infested in the first place!) when [[spoiler:she kills him]].
-->'''Mengsk:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone I made you into a monster, Kerrigan]].\\
'''Kerrigan:''' [[ManipulativeBastard You]] made [[Characters/{{Starcraft}} us]] ''all'' into [[IDidWhatIHadToDo monsters]].
* Played with in ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria''. The heroes are an AntiHeroTeam, and several of them have no trouble identifying as {{Villain Protagonist}}s.
** Velvet bases her identity in this, knowing that her desire to kill Artorius is based on nothing more than a selfish desire for revenge, and that's before she learns he's become a VillainWithGoodPublicity that effectively controls the world. Velvet knows her motives are a [[HeroWithBadPublicity PR nightmare]], and isn't afraid to tell anyone who offers her aid that she fully intends to murder the Shepherd and [[AndThenWhat has no plan beyond that]]. In fact, Velvet so completely thinks of herself as a vile, vicious, bloodthirsty monster that she'll often [[MetaphoricallyTrue doctor the facts]] ''against'' herself — when recounting her escape from [[HellholePrison Titania]], Velvet says she was freed by a rogue malak, and [[HorrorHunger consumed]] her rescuer on the way out to awaken her powers. While this is true, Velvet leaves out that said malak was [[TakingTheBullet mortally wounded protecting Velvet from an attack]], and [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled begged to be consumed so her death would tangibly help]]. Velvet thinks her goals make her inherently unsympathetic, but when her full picture is finally made clear, an antagonistic teammate-by-circumstance completely loses any resolve to betray her, and Velvet has trouble understanding why.
** Magilou self-identifies as a witch, and frequently says that she's going along with Velvet [[ItAmusedMe because she just has to see what happens]]. However, the glimpses of Magilou BeneathTheMask shows that she's a self-loathing [[TheCynic cynic]] who believes the worst in people. Her backstory late-game reveals that she was exiled from the Abbey by failing a SecretTestOfCharacter for showing too much attachment, which goes against the Abbey's vision of a world without emotion. Magilou thus decides that, if feeling emotion and rebelling against such ways of thinking makes her evil, then she will "live and die with evil as [her] mantra."
** This way of thinking is ultimately what makes [[spoiler:Eleanor]] turn her coat as well. [[spoiler:She wholeheartedly believes the ideals the Abbey puts forth, even once she discovers the people in charge were using this doctrine as a smokescreen for a true plan they knew the public would never support. In the end, she chooses to invert GodBeforeDogma, happy to be branded a heretic in the name of perpetuating their benevolent mission statement instead of the Abbey's real goals.]]
* ''VideoGame/WatchDogs2'': The reason why Marcus Holloway becomes an outlaw hacker is because he was arrested for a crime he didn't commit, and was only arrested and punished because he "fit the profile", one that could have fit dozens of other people in the city. Because of this wrongful arrest, he is permanently tagged as a criminal, and whatever hopes he had for a bright future are ruined. He decides that if the system is going to treat him like a criminal, he will be a criminal who works to destroy the system that wronged him.
* Syanna, the older sister of Duchess Anna Henrietta from ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'' and primary antagonist in the Blood and Wine expansion, is treated like a pariah by almost everyone during her childhood for being born with "The Curse of the Black Sun". Despite being a world where magic and curses are demonstrably real, there are strong implications that ''this'' curse is in reality a SelfFulfillingProphecy, and that Syanna's villanous nature is more a result of how people treated her on the assumption that she was destined to become evil than from any cosmic force.
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