History PunchClockVillain / VideoGames

* Ms. Applegate from ''VideoGame/{{Kindergarten}}'' actually is a genuinely nasty person, but she still hates her job and only works for the EvilPrincipal who runs the place because he pays her checks. If she has little to no reason to continue teaching, such as there being no students to teach or no principal to get paychecks from, then she [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere books it]].

* Plenty of them in the ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' series, as not everyone is that much concerned with the Devil Gene business:

* ComicBook/SilverSable appears as this in ''[[VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan2005 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' at the end, when Spidey thinks that she is going to attack him after showing up at a rooftop, but she's not gonna since her contract with Bolivar Trask expired ten minutes ago. When Spider-Man is about to question her about what she's doing, Sable interrupts him by claiming "[[JustBusiness business is business]]" before leaving him to get Trask.

** And then there are the Scavengers, who are an extremely dark example. They're TheMafiya whose main trade is OrganTheft and [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]], resulting in them being HatedByAll. However, most of their enemy chatter, shards, and e-mails tend to have them treat their nightmarish trade in a very businesslike, matter-of-fact way - it's just what they do to make a living in between buying second-hand cars, watching the latest TV shows, and doing everything else an ordinary, upstanding citizen might. Gratuitous sadism is for the [[SnuffFilm XBDs]] and the [=XBDs=] alone.

* ComicBook/SilverSable appears as this in ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'' at the end, when Spidey thinks that she is going to attack him after showing up at a rooftop, but she's not gonna since her contract with Bolivar Trask expired ten minutes ago. When Spider-Man is about to question her about what she's doing, Sable interrupts him by claiming "[[JustBusiness business is business]]" before leaving him to get Trask.

* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'':

* The animatronics from ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''. As soon as the clock hits midnight, they'll try to kill you by stuffing you into a suit (it's a lot more painful than it sounds). When the clock hits 6 AM, the animatronics will leave you alone. The reason for this is because the robots have been programmed with a daytime mode, which makes them go to their stages so they can entertain the children. In [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2 the second game]], The Phone Guy mentions that the animatronics were never programmed with a night mode, which causes the robots to try and find people in the empty restaurant. They happen to find you, but they try to kill you all the same (until six, of course).

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' has no shortage of {{Complete Monster}}s, but the WretchedHive of Night City is such a CrapsackWorld that many people simply have no choice but to turn to crime to get by.

** And then there are the Scavengers, who are an extremely dark example. They're TheMafiya whose main trade is OrganTheft and [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slavery]], resulting in them being HatedByAll. However, most of their enemy chatter, shards, and e-mails tend to have them treat their nightmarish trade in a very businesslike, matter-of-fact way - it's just what they do to make a living in between buying second-hand cars, watching the latest TV shows, and doing everything else an ordinary, upstanding citizen might. Gratuitous sadism is for the [[SnuffFilm XBDs]] and the XBDs alone.

** Tom Hicky in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' is revealed to be one of these as he's assassinated. Unlike other examples, this makes him come off ''more'' despicable compared to the other villains who are [[WellIntentionedExtremist genuinely dedicated to the Templar cause]].

** ''VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies'' has the Erusean 'Yellow' squadron, who are just soldiers and not really villainous for the sake of it. They even befriend the San Salvacion people and abhor the Erusean tactics of posting AA guns on hospitals in occupied cities. Thirteen even ''praises'' the "skilled enemy pilot" who is winning battles all along the way.
** ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'' also has honourable 'Knight' enemies. You get the feeling that they wouldn't be your enemy except for the fact that you're in the opposing army.

--> '''Bulk:''' We’re both Ravens. No hard feelings, right?
* ''VideoGame/ArmyOfTwo'' does this twice, with the People's Liberation Army pursuing the eponymous two mercenaries for blowing up their very spiffy bridge and [[spoiler:killing a US Senator in the process]], and in the final mission, where Salem and Rios end up fighting [[spoiler:the other mercenary contractors of Security And Strategy Corporation]], who believe they intentionally [[spoiler:killed said US Senator]].

** Tom Hicky in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' is revealed to be one of these as he's assassinated. Unlike other examples, this makes him come off ''more'' despicable compared to the other villains who are [[WellIntentionedExtremist genuinely dedicated to the Templar cause.]]
* Valara of ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'' makes it repeatedly clear that she does all the atrocities she does only because "work is work" and is very committed to it. In fact, as seen in the beginning of the game [[spoiler:and the end, should you spare her life]], she's actually fairly friendly when there aren't any orders to worry about.
* In ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', [[spoiler:Litchi, provided that you just don't treat her as an utterly selfish and obsessed woman just because the side she serves, becomes this, AntiVillain and TokenGoodTeammate for the NOL. She's only in the NOL to develop a cure for both herself and Arakune, in order to live longer and be with her friends. She made every effort to find other help, but everyone else capable of assisting Litchi refused because they saw trying to cure Arakune as pointless and regarded her as irrationally obsessed. Litchi is very distressed about it, as shown with her desperate ranting towards Rachel. She also has no interest in whatever NOL or Terumi are planning like plunging the world into a state of "World of Death" or forcing upon people the "Truth of Despair".]]
** On a greater scale, we have, well, pretty much the entirety of the NOL, really... Sure, on the one hand, the NOL is a global, oppressive, authoritarian organization that heavily regulates society and imposes death sentences on anyone who opposes them or wields [[{{Magitek}} Ars]] [[FunctionalMagic Magus]] without proper authorization. On the other hand, several of the more sympathetic playable characters in the game are/were associated with it, and almost everyone within it are just commoners who are just [[WellIntentionedExtremist trying their best to uphold order and safety]] in a CrapsackWorld that is already teetering on the edge of entering an age of complete anarchistic chaos and war. Also, Ars Magus? They are [[ArtifactOfDoom incredibly dangerous]] ''at best'', both to those who wield them and those around the person who wields them once the wielder goes AxCrazy, so it's pretty damn reasonable to heavily restrict the usage of them. All in all, the NOL would probably be a pretty okay organization ''if'' it weren't for the fact that it's ultimately run by monsters.

** In the ''VideoGame/Borderlands1'' DLC "The Secret Armory of General Knoxx", the eponymous General is incredibly unenthusiastic and depressed about being sent to [[DeathWorld Pandora]] to deal with you, as he was ordered to deploy there by his superiors, and just wants to get everything over with so he can leave.
*** In the final battle, he's actually ''in the process of committing suicide'' right as you show up. Sadly, his duty has him disable his suicide guns and fight you like a good soldier.

** In ''VideoGame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'', the protagonists are all hired by Jack to help him in his inevitable rise to power. While most of them end up fitting into this label in some way, Athena, Timothy, and Claptrap are arguably the closest thing, being mostly decent people forced into increasingly morally-ambiguous situations but are forced to stick around due to either having no real choice in the matter... due to being literal property of Hyperion (Claptrap and Timothy) while Athena's professional pride forbids her from walking away until her job as a Vault Hunter is officially done.
* ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'' has billboards scattered throughout the urban zones advertising for 'Minions Recruiting Agency'. It's also stated that, because he knows happy minions are loyal minions, [[BigBad Lord Recluse]] pays his minions extremely well, his pilots especially, due to their hazardous line of work.

* Of all the factions in ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}'', the Cabal best represent this. The Fallen attack you as pirates or rebels desperately trying to claim the Traveler and City, while the Hive and Vex are indirect agents of [[BigBad the Darkness]]. Contrastly, the Cabal in the solar system are merely a military regiment from a nearby empire who have been sent to annex some technically unclaimed worlds. They don't have any real grudge with humanity and their allies (they attack you because you're technically infringing on their territory) and they have no link to the Darkness (in fact, they may be running from it, just like the humans). They're not even a unified force; arguments and disagreements in the regiment are common, not all of them feel particularly loyal to the empire, and many of them are only fighting so that they can just get it over with and go home, as the empire's rules hold that [[BadBoss battalions can't return until they're victorious or ordered to retreat by the empire]].
** The lore tab for [[https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/skyburners-oath Skyburner’s Oath]] in ''VideoGame/Destiny2'' from the perspective of a Cabal grunt highlights this. The unnamed speaker is loyal to the empire, but not “dulce et decorum est” loyal.

** At one point, the player comes across an NSF platoon that is guarding an underground supply route. When the player reaches the platoon commander, he [[spoiler:surrenders and gives up without a fight]] because "he's just a reservist". He explains that, under scary looking body armour, he's just an accountant, and isn't really big on dying just to protect the supply route.

** Prinnies only serve Etna (and presumably others) for less than minimum wage in order to buy their souls' merit back. They count as villains because most Demons (Etna in particular) seem to be evil.
*** They're stated to work in Celestia, home of the Angels, as well. They're treated better there and work off their sins instead of working to raise money. Either way, it ends up with them as servants trying to reincarnate into something other than a Prinny.

** The Warden, if you played as a Dwarf Commoner. Depending on how you play your character, they may not like what they're doing, but it's the only thing that will let them buy food for their family.
** This extends to the rest of the Dwarven Commoners as well. It is literally against Imperial Law for 'casteless' commoners to have a job, so they HAVE to be criminals, technically or otherwise, or they'll all starve to death. The sheer insanity involved with this ironclad law is why TheNapoleon murdering his way to the top to break it is considered ''reasonable''.

** The Turks in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', who even help the heroes defeat a common enemy while "on vacation". Through sheer popularity, they got even larger roles in other games/{{OVA}}s. They even LampShade it. At the end of said sidequest, Reno receives a call from Shinra and Elena asks "Was that the company?" Reno replies that it was and Rude asks if they're on? Cloud and the others take fighting stances, but Reno replies "No, today we're off duty," (or "No, today's our day off," if you're playing the PC version) and everyone relaxes.
*** It’s also possible to skip the final fight with the Turks entirely. Taking that option, Reno even goes so far as to point out that, by then, “Shinra’s finished.” Having no real reason to fight outside of orders, the Turks leave peaceably (though Elena admittedly needs a bit of convincing from her fellow Turks).
*** Most of Shinra Inc actually. ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' in particular makes clear that almost everyone in Shinra is just doing a job.
** Gafgarion of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' was a mercenary hired [[spoiler:by Dycedarg to murder the princess.]] Gafgarion kills quickly and efficiently with no regard for who, but also shows a distaste for fighting any battle when there's "no money in it." [[spoiler:At one point, he insults Dycedarg for betraying you, Dycedarg's brother.]]
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', one particular Galbadian Soldier worries about losing his paycheck for peeving the presidential body double, as he had wanted the money to buy a wedding ring for his sweetie.
*** Laguna and co. are also shown to be Galbadian soldiers [[spoiler:although we found out later that at that point in time, the Galbadians were the good guys.]]

*** The other pair is Fujin and Raijin, who take on a more serious role, taking control of Balamb Town at one point. They are, however, [[spoiler:later shown to go against the villain at the time, Seifer, and try convincing him to stop what he's doing.]] They are not entirely serious, with Raijin frequently making errors, prompting Fujin to kick him in the shins.
** The members of [=LeBlanc's=] Syndicate in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' are hinted to be like this. At one point, two of them are heard discussing how neither of them had any options left when they signed on with her.
*** Considering that one of them [[spoiler:is a soldier who supposedly died during the Mi'hen Mission two years ago]], he's right.
** Aranea from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' definitely qualifies. She introduces herself to the party as a mercenary currently under the employ of [[TheEmpire Niflheim]], and at the end of her boss battle, she stops fighting only because it's quitting time, proclaiming that she doesn't work after hours, before she promptly leaves. Hell, later on the in the game, [[spoiler:she even joins the party as a GuestStarPartyMember because of Noctis's interest in acquiring mythril from the Vesperpool, at [[BigBad Ardyn's]] command.]] She definitely has nothing personal against Noctis or his pals, she's just doing the job she's hired for.

** The majority of bosses in the series that belong to an enemy army, but have nothing to do with the main plot, are straightforward Punch Clock Villians.
** Joshua from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' punches out after losing a coin toss. Which he is implied to have rigged.
** If left unrecruited on the Azure Moon or Verdant Wind routes of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', [[spoiler: Ferdinand, Linhardt, Caspar, Bernadetta, Dorothea, and Petra]] become this. They do not have any hostility towards [[spoiler: the Kingdom or Alliance,]] and merely count as antagonists due to fighting for [[spoiler: the Empire.]] Notably, only [[spoiler: Ferdinand]] actually has to be killed to proceed if not recruited, as they are a commander on a key bridge; everyone else can be worked around. On the same routes, [[spoiler:Lorenz]] on Azure Moon and [[spoiler:Ashe]] on Verdant Wind will fight you out of loyalty towards their superiors (who have sided with [[spoiler:the Empire]]) and harbor no ill will towards you personally. [[spoiler:However, provided you recruited them beforehand, defeating them as Byleth will give you an opportunity to have them re-join the party if you decide against finishing them off.]]
* The animatronics from ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''. As soon as the clock hits midnight, they'll try to kill you by stuffing you into a suit (it's a lot more painful than it sounds). When the clock hits 6 AM, the animatronics will leave you alone. The reason for this is because the robots have been programmed with a daytime mode, which makes them go to their stages so they can entertain the children. In [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2 the sequel]], The Phone Guy mentions that the animatronics were never programmed with a night mode, which causes the robots to try and find people in the empty restaurant. They happen to find you, but they try to kill you all the same (until six, of course).
* Shows up in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'', in, of all places, the protagonist of [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV #4]]. You can even make him PetTheDog in places.

* Richter [[spoiler: (the rat-masked assassin who breaks into Jacket's apartment, guns his girlfriend down, and non-fatally shoots him in the head)]] from ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami'' is one of these. [[spoiler: Upon being confronted by an enraged Jacket in the "Assault" chapter, he genuinely apologizes to him, but reveals that he knows as little about the people who ordered the hit as Jacket himself]].
* ''Every'' character in ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'', even [[spoiler:General Tor, the FinalBoss and supposed BigBad]]. In fact, the only ones who ''are'' evil are the GeneralRipper leading the Tasen, BloodKnight Iosa (although she WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds), and the psychopathic [[ThatOneBoss Asha]]. The real BigBad is implied to be the Komato government. And that government is ''itself'' a Punch Clock Villain because it's just doing what is demanded of it -- exterminating what the shortsighted general public sees only as a threat. [[CrapsackWorld It's a pretty dark game...]]
* Cynthia Charleston from ''In The 1st Degree'' could qualify as this (as well as being an AmoralAttorney). She is a defense attorney who is defending a man charged with first degree murder and grand theft. However, since the game does not show her or her personality when she is off-duty...

* In ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'', members of [[BigBad Baron Praxis]]' Krimzon Guard can be overheard discussing (among other things) going to see the races during the weekend, having to do sewer patrol after pissing off a commander, and liking [[HeavilyArmoredMook the new armor]], which is apparently "more comfortable in the crotch."

** Half of the members of Organization XIII are portrayed this way in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2''. They even get vacation days on occasion. Roxas in particular has no idea what he's working for throughout his time in the Organization, and doesn't really take pleasure in his work.
*** Continued in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII''. Special mention to Larxene, who actively hates the goal she's working towards and is only in it to have an excuse to hang out with a friend who works with the bad guys, and Xigbar, who is literally only in it because he wants to get paid, albeit with a particular artifact, and thinks the whole thing is otherwise ridiculous.
** Also, Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, the ''heroines'' of ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 Final Fantasy X-2]]'', worked for Maleficent in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' because she paid well. They switch to the good guys' side only because they think Leon will pay better. Though, after initially planning to take all of Sora's items as payment, they decide not to after hearing about the hardships Sora has endured, and give him a Keychain as a gift.

* The Phantoms in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'' are creepy suits of AnimatedArmor that must be avoided at all costs and can take Link out in one swing of their enormous swords. Zelda can possess Phantoms in ''Spirit Tracks'', though, and can talk to other Phantoms as a distraction. Doing so reveals that many Phantoms regard their patrols as a day job and complain about walking the same paths, patrolling rooms full of lava and feeling that no-one listens to their opinions on their work. Some even make comments like 'Bob quit yesterday. Too hot for him' and 'Is it break time yet?'.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'' has several enemies who you can have conversations with, where they indicate that they're just doing their jobs trying to stop you.
** In one jarring instance, you can encounter a mercenary commander whose exhausted, wounded, and undersupplied men have spent the last several days fighting for their survival and protecting a large number of civilians from BeePeople. After helping him fight off another attack, and then proceeding to clear out the infestation, you come back, only to find he's received new orders: to kill ''you.'' He even says in a very tired, sad voice, that he's very sorry, but he's got his orders, right before the shooting starts. Fortunately, it is possible to go another route.

** Hell, even the [[spoiler:[[BigBad the Reapers]] can count as this, given the information]] from [[spoiler:Mass Effect 3's ending]]. It is revealed that [[spoiler:they, or at least most of them (Harbinger's LargeHam suggests that it has at least a semblance of a personality) don't have much free will per se and are merely machines under [[CreepyChild the]] [[AIIsACrapshoot Catalyst]]'s control; if you free them in the Synthesis ending or replace the Catalyst in the Control ending, they will in fact aid the Council species in repairing the damage they have caused.]]
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' and ''[[VideoGame/MaxPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne Max Payne 2]]'' love this one. There are quite a few instances of unsuspecting goons standing around discussing their profession. In a late level of the first game, if you postpone the guns-blazing part, you can overhear two [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]] discussing their work and one of them actually says that it's "just a job from 9 to 5". Quite a few of them consider being allowed to kill people a major perk, though.

** Technically ''all'' the robot masters from ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' would count since they're only following their programming, but a lot of them certainly seem to enjoy their villainy above and beyond their programming and do seem to hold grudges against the titular Blue Bomber. The straightest example is Sword Man from ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' who evokes NothingPersonal and JustFollowingOrders in one of his opening battle quotes.
** Megaman Juno from ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends''. Juno himself was not ''evil'', but his job was to destroy all life on the island when it grew to a certain point. Even when he was defeated, he still had no hard feelings towards our protagonist.
** Klaymoor and ''especially'' Bola from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends Mega Man Legends 2]]'' are merely a rival group of diggers out to get the same prize as Mega Man and his crew, to the point they probably wouldn't even be considered ''pirates'' but legitimate diggers if not for their affiliation with the Bonnes and Glyde's crew (though they're apparently {{Retired Monster}}s who have mellowed out with age). In fact, Bola doesn't even want the Mother Lode and points out he has more than enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life but is simply in it [[TrueCompanions to help his friend]], and both of them pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere once they decide the prize simply isn't worth what they're going to have to go through to get it.
** In ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork/Rockman.EXE 2'', [=ShadowMan=].EXE and his operator are exactly this, except [[RuleOfCool they are automatically badass since they are modern ninjas]]. They first manage to take out ''a foreign nation'' by simply destroying their [[EverythingIsOnline internet square]]. They even apologize to the (virtual) king of the foreign nation before deleting him, and then mutter something about being employed by "These [[OddlySmallOrganization Gospel]] music fans or something".

** The legendary Johnny from ''Metal Gear Solids'' 1, 2, and Grandfather Johnny. Also doubles as a MinionWithAnFInEvil.
** Speaking of Grandfather Johnny, the enemy soldiers from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' are merely [[JustFollowingOrders doing their jobs]] unlike the enemy soldiers in the previous two games who are, personalities aside, knowingly criminals and/or mercenaries engaged in illegal activities. The final battle against The Shagohod even showcases them in a fairly heroic light, putting their own lives on the line to save their allies from the burning warehouse or the oncoming Shagohod.
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' also has [[spoiler:The Boss]] filling this role. It turns out that [[spoiler:she was ordered to defect to the Soviets and was the antagonist for most of the game]] solely so that you could kill this 'defector' and be the hero.

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'': Several [[AllThereInTheManual Space Pirate logs scanned by Samus]] are scathing memos from management warning the underlings to stop trying to keep baby Metroids as pets, [[PetTheDog saving them from being experimented on, or feeding them treats when nobody is looking.]] Considering the fact that Metroids are practically the apex predators of the known universe, SpacePirates being nice to them is an interesting act of compassion.
** Then again, while the rest of the galactic races have been devoting their resources to exterminating them, the Space Pirates would [[OlympusMons prefer to tame them]].
* In ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'', [[spoiler:Celleste]] signed up as an assassin for the corrupt mayor because it's a comparatively safe job that puts bread on the table, and also has the great advantage that the police forces are now on your side, instead of trying to shoot you on sight. As a wonderful example of an actual Punchclock Villain, she still hangs out with her friends after work, and drops hints that it really would be better for them to stop antagonizing the oppressive government and start a more socially accepted type of life.
* The Pigmask Army from ''VideoGame/Mother3'' comes off as this way. The guys attend rock concerts, visit diners, make pleasant conversation with Lucas and Co., and in general act like people you'd meet at the office. This is further strengthened when an {{NPC}} from your hometown joins the army. He's a pretty nice guy and nothing really changes, Sure, he's wearing the suit, but he's still the same person. On the whole, the pigmasks come off less as minions of evil and more soldiers in a normal army. While there's a few rotten ones among them, and they've got a terrible leader forcing them to commit some atrocities, most of them just seem like ordinary guys doing their jobs as soldiers.
** In ''VideoGame/TouhouMother'', the Pigmasks are all Sanae fanboys. Subverted, as they're the unpleasant kind.
* The Special Forces and Vigoorian Military in the UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden''. At least, it is implied, but since we never get to see things from their perspective, the effect is dulled somewhat.

* Rocket Grunts from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' are these. Galactic Grunts can also fall under this category.

* Lucifon of ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker 2'' seems to be very much this. When he is defeated in a duel by the father of the game, he points out that it was the God's will that he attack the corrupted land, a point the father can't argue with. He does seem to treat his role more as a job to be done than a chance to act as your typical scheming villain, though he takes a great deal of pride if he succeeds in corrupting your daughter enough to make her become the next princess of darkness either by marriage or YouKillItYouBoughtIt. He and most of the demons are generally AffablyEvil.
* The [[SemperFi United States Marine Corps]] in ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'' are just trying to stop TheVirus, and are only fighting Alex Mercer because they're told he is a serious threat, which, considering he's a SociopathicHero [[VideogameCrueltyPotential mass murderer who kills thousands of civilians]] [[OneManArmy and military personnel]] over the course of the game, is entirely justified.
* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' has an... interesting version of this. One type of enemy in the mental worlds is called a Censor. Their job is to hunt down manias, waking dreams, and other foreign thoughts and censor them out. Since Raz is technically a foreign entity in a mental world, he's fair game, and you will see Censors being deployed in your general area. [[GoddamnedBats Frequently.]] It's even said that a good number Censors being present is a sign of a healthy mind... the fact that there are ''none'' in one character's mind is a sign of just how insane he is.

* Many of the Umbrella Corporation employees who aren't HiredGuns or raving lunatics in ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' are this. Many of the {{Apocalyptic Log}}s left behind by researchers sway between describing what horrific creature's they've spawned or what terrible experiments they've conducted on innocent people, and telling who won the poker game in their downtime or of their families.

** And Raizou Imawano, the president ''himself'', is one of these despite looking ObviouslyEvil, as ''he's'' being brainwashed into doing all of this by his nephew and student body president Hyo Imawano.

* ''[[VideoGame/ShovelKnight Shovel Knight: Spectre of Torment]]'' shows that nearly ''all'' the {{Mooks}} who serve [[BigBad The Enchantress]] are this in at least some capacity, most of who join her because she's offering them some form of compensation rather than that they believe in her cause. The ending even has a scene of various random enemies lining up to receive their paycheques.

* ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole:'' Butters as Professor Chaos resorts to these once he runs out of regular minions. Which means he actively hires ''illegal Mexican immigrants'', who are entirely willing to put up with wearing tinfoil costumes and participate in what's essentially just a surprisingly dangerous children's game because a job is a job, and Butters is paying. [[spoiler:This also, and rather hilariously, explains why the [[RandomEncounters randomly encountered]] Chaos Minions begin attacking Butters as well once he joins Coon And Friends:]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Butters:''' Chaos Minions, what gives?!\\

* C. Q. Cumber from ''VideoGame/Splatoon2: Octo Expansion'' is the conductor of the Deepsea Metro. Despite [[spoiler: working for Kamabo Corporation under [[BigBad Commander Tartar]]]], he's not a bad guy; only "faithful to his duties" as [[WordOfGod Hisashi Nogami puts it]]. Even activating Agent 8's ExplosiveLeash and declaring "test failed" is nothing personal, only a professional adherence to his job protocol.
* Shown often in the ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' series. Sam Fisher will often encounter guards or soldiers who are simply doing their jobs, or are even completely unaware of what they're guarding. Some missions will involve Sam going up against people who he can't use lethal force against, including American and foreign soldiers, CIA security guards, and the Mexican Coast Guard.

** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' in particular portrays the Sith troops as Punch Clock Villains, at least on the first planet. When off duty they hang out in a cantina, and on being talked to tell the player character that they're unhappy about being posted on a planet that hates them, also inviting you to a party. When the player character steals a set of Sith armor and talks to the Sith patrolling Taris, they are rhetorically asked "Is there anything more boring than being out on patrol?" Down in the Undercity, one of them is defensive and angry about abandoning some of his people to die on a superior's orders, though he does it anyway. [[spoiler:This is probably to enhance the fact that just a few gameplay hours later, Darth Malak destroys the entire planet, killing millions of innocent civilians AND his own troops]].
** In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', a light-sided/[[ConsummateProfessional neutral]] Imperial player (especially Bounty Hunters and some flavors of Imperial Agent) often comes across as this. They ''know'' they're working for a bunch of nutcase Darths and a maniac of an Emperor, but the Empire is their home and they have to look out for their people.

* Both Teams in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' are probably Punch Clocks -- whether it's hero or villain depends on your perspective, but since the work they do generally involves the destruction of property, and killing people, and a number of them enjoy it, they're probably closer to the negative side. Despite being highly paid, they are hilariously mentally unstable at best... but they probably wouldn't bother if they weren't getting paid an absolute fortune.
** While he is a definite badass, the Sniper seems to think of himself this way. "Sniping's a good job, mate! It's challenging work, out of doors. I can guarantee you'll never go hungry...."

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'':
** Plenty of them in the series, as not everyone is that much concerned with the Devil Gene business. The Williams sisters (Nina and Anna) take any job and don't expand it to their personal lives, as their aim is just to settle their sisterly rivalries for good. Eddy Gordo is only in Jin's army to get the cure for his sickly master. Bruce Irvin is a good friend of Kazuya Mishima and usually serves him well, but outside his servitude, he's a FriendToAllChildren and helps them out when he can.

* Almost ''all'' of the {{Mooks}} in ''VideoGame/TimeSplittersFuturePerfect''. They almost feel like real people with lives of their own, and one starts to feel a little guilty for having to kill them. [[spoiler:Upon beating the game, you learn that you didn't actually kill anyone. Thanks to the magic of time-travel, the events that led up to the Timesplitter War never happened!]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Tyranny}}'', Sirin is not especially happy about serving Kyros as the Archon of Song. She helps out the Scarlet Chorus as necessary, but does not hide her disdain for them, [[spoiler:and happily jumps ship to the Fatebinder's party when she gets a chance]]. After the game, [[spoiler:if treated with kindness enough to earn her Loyalty, she makes a full HeelFaceTurn and goes about the Tiers using her magic to bring peace and hope. If Fear dominates, she goes off the deep end and becomes a bloodthirsty cult leader]].
* ComicBook/SilverSable appears as this in ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'' at the end, when Spidey thinks that she is going to attack him after showing up at a rooftop, but she's not gonna since her contract with Bolivar Trask has expired 10 minutes ago. When Spider-Man is about to question her about what she's doing, Sable interrupts him by claiming "[[JustBusiness business is business]]" before leaving him to get Trask.
* Not all Imperial soldiers of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' are {{Magnificent Bastard}}s or {{Jerkass}}es. A large majority of them are regular people just like the Gallians, and this fact is heavily emphasized during one of the game's chapters. Special mention goes to General Radi Jaeger, who ''[[ScrewThisImOutOfHere outright deserts]]'' when he learns what a bastard Emperor Maximillian is.
** Underlining this further, the Selvaria [=DLC=] has you controlling Imperial forces who include several prominent Aces you kill in the main story... and Fritz, [[IWantMyMommy the poor guy who stumbled wounded into Welkin and Alicia's hiding place and died crying for his mother]].

--> '''Support Reaper''': Man, today was supposed to be my day off! This sucks. I'm starving! Tell you what, if you can get me a Definitivo Chili Dog, I'll let you through.

* At one point in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', the player comes across an NSF platoon that is guarding an underground supply route. When the player reaches the platoon commander, he [[spoiler:surrenders and gives up without a fight]] because "he's just a reservist". He explains that, under scary looking body armour, he's just an accountant, and isn't really big on dying just to protect the supply route.

--> ''Victory or death. We're not dead, so we won.''* At one point in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', the player comes across an NSF platoon that is guarding an underground supply route. When the player reaches the platoon commander, he [[spoiler:surrenders and gives up without a fight]] because "he's just a reservist". He explains that, under scary looking body armour, he's just an accountant, and isn't really big on dying just to protect the supply route.

* Most Reapers from ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' aren't ''too'' sadistic for their job. As a general rule, the Game Masters are usually a lot worse than the Support and Harriers. [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Kariya and Uzuki]] in particular stand out. While one Game Master has everyone on standby, you can run into Reapers shooting the breeze or playing Tin Pin Slammer while wondering what's going on.

* Of all the factions in ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}'', the Cabal best represent this. The Fallen attack you as pirates or rebels desperately trying to claim the Traveler and City, while the Hive and Vex are indirect agents of [[BigBad the Darkness]]. Contrastly, the Cabal in the solar system are merely a military regiment from a nearby empire who have been sent to annex some technically unclaimed worlds. They don't have any real grudge with humanity and their allies (they attack you because you're technically infringing on their territory) and they have no link to the Darkness (in fact, they may be running from it, [[NotSoDifferent just like the humans]]). They're not even a unified force; arguments and disagreements in the regiment are common, not all of them feel particularly loyal to the empire, and many of them are only fighting so that they can just get it over with and go home, as the empire's rules hold that [[BadBoss battalions can't return until they're victorious or ordered to retreat by the empire]].

* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', several species in the Covenant fall into this category, though the games don't explore it as much:
** The Lekgolo (aka Hunters) are starfish aliens who don't really give a crap about the affairs of humanoid aliens, and only joined up with the Covenant because it meant that they would have greater access to space travel (and because if they didn't, the Covenant would've [[KillSat blasted them to oblivion]]). They also fight mainly as {{battle couple}}s, making killing them all the more awkward.
** Most of the Kig-Yar (Jackals) are just mercenaries who barely even give lip service to the Covenant religion. Most of them are still pretty blood-thirsty, making them shades of being a species of PsychoForHire.
** The Unggoy (Grunts) are just enslaved cannon fodder.
** The Huragok (Engineers) are extremely pacifistic and just want to help anyone and anything they come across (they even try to stop the war a few times), even if "help" means "repair this weapon for the grunts of a genocidal military cult".
* The Pigmask Army from ''VideoGame/Mother3'' comes off as this way. The guys attend rock concerts, visit diners, make pleasant conversation with Lucas and Co., and in general act like people you'd meet at the office. This is further strengthened when an {{NPC}} from your hometown joins the army. He's a pretty nice guy and nothing really changes, Sure, he's wearing the suit, but he's still the same person. On the whole, the pigmasks come off less as minions of evil and more soldiers in a normal army. While there's a few rotten ones among them, and they've got a terrible leader forcing them to commit some atrocities, most of them just seem like ordinary guys doing their jobs as soldiers.
** In ''VideoGame/TouhouMother'', the Pigmasks are all Sanae fanboys. Subverted, as they're the unpleasant kind.
* In the ''VideoGame/NoOneLivesForever'' series, random goons can often be overheard by the player talking about their family problems, girlfriends, and office gossip.

* In ''VideoGame/FarCry4'', Mooks [[EnemyChatter sometimes comment]] how they wish the war was over so they could stop killing their fellow countrymen. Others mention their families and how they're only in The Royal Army just to get paid.

* The guards in the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' game series: they can often can be overheard [[EnemyChatter casually talking with each other]], sometimes dropping important clues along the way.
* The Special Forces and Vigoorian Military in the UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden''. At least, it is implied, but since we never get to see things from their perspective, the effect is dulled somewhat.
* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
** Technically ''all'' the robot masters from ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' would count since they're only following their programming, but a lot of them certainly seem to enjoy their villainy above and beyond their programming and do seem to hold grudges against the titular Blue Bomber. The straightest example is Sword Man from ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' who evokes NothingPersonal and JustFollowingOrders in one of his opening battle quotes.
** Megaman Juno from ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends''. Juno himself was not ''evil'', but his job was to destroy all life on the island when it grew to a certain point. Even when he was defeated, he still had no hard feelings towards our protagonist.
** Klaymoor and ''especially'' Bola from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends Mega Man Legends 2]]'' are merely a rival group of diggers out to get the same prize as Mega Man and his crew, to the point they probably wouldn't even be considered ''pirates'' but legitimate diggers if not for their affiliation with the Bonnes and Glyde's crew (though they're apparently {{Retired Monster}}s who have mellowed out with age). In fact, Bola doesn't even want the Mother Lode and points out he has more than enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life but is simply in it [[TrueCompanions to help his friend]], and both of them pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere once they decide the prize simply isn't worth what they're going to have to go through to get it.
** In ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork/Rockman.EXE 2'', [=ShadowMan=].EXE and his operator are exactly this, except [[RuleOfCool they are automatically badass since they are modern ninjas]]. They first manage to take out ''a foreign nation'' by simply destroying their [[EverythingIsOnline internet square]]. They even apologize to the (virtual) king of the foreign nation before deleting him, and then mutter something about being employed by "These [[OddlySmallOrganization Gospel]] music fans or something".
* Shown often in the ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'' series. Sam Fisher will often encounter guards or soldiers who are simply doing their jobs, or are even completely unaware of what they're guarding. Some missions will involve Sam going up against people who he can't use lethal force against, including American and foreign soldiers, CIA security guards, and the Mexican Coast Guard.
* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' has an... interesting version of this. One type of enemy in the mental worlds is called a Censor. Their job is to hunt down manias, waking dreams, and other foreign thoughts and censor them out. Since Raz is technically a foreign entity in a mental world, he's fair game, and you will see Censors being deployed in your general area. [[GoddamnedBats Frequently.]] It's even said that a good number Censors being present is a sign of a healthy mind... the fact that there are ''none'' in one character's mind is a sign of just how insane he is.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' and ''[[VideoGame/MaxPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne Max Payne 2]]'' love this one. There are quite a few instances of unsuspecting goons standing around discussing their profession. In a late level of the first game, if you postpone the guns-blazing part, you can overhear two [[TheMenInBlack Men in Black]] discussing their work and one of them actually says that it's "just a job from 9 to 5". Quite a few of them consider being allowed to kill people a major perk, though.

* ''VideoGame/CityOfVillains'' has billboards scattered throughout the urban zones advertising for 'Minions Recruiting Agency'. It's also stated that, because he knows happy minions are loyal minions, [[BigBad Lord Recluse]] pays his minions extremely well, his pilots especially, due to their hazardous line of work.
* ''VideoGame/ArmyOfTwo'' does this twice, with the People's Liberation Army pursuing the eponymous two mercenaries for blowing up their very spiffy bridge and [[spoiler:killing a US Senator in the process]], and in the final mission, where Salem and Rios end up fighting [[spoiler:the other mercenary contractors of Security And Strategy Corporation]], who believe they intentionally [[spoiler:killed said US Senator]].
* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'': Several [[AllThereInTheManual Space Pirate logs scanned by Samus]] are scathing memos from management warning the underlings to stop trying to keep baby Metroids as pets, [[PetTheDog saving them from being experimented on, or feeding them treats when nobody is looking.]] Considering the fact that Metroids are practically the apex predators of the known universe, SpacePirates being nice to them is an interesting act of compassion.
** Then again, while the rest of the galactic races have been devoting their resources to exterminating them, the Space Pirates would [[OlympusMons prefer to tame them]].
* Various ''Franchise/StarWars'' video games have this.
** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' in particular portrays the Sith troops as Punch Clock Villains, at least on the first planet. When off duty they hang out in a cantina, and on being talked to tell the player character that they're unhappy about being posted on a planet that hates them, also inviting you to a party. When the player character steals a set of Sith armor and talks to the Sith patrolling Taris, they are rhetorically asked "Is there anything more boring than being out on patrol?" Down in the Undercity, one of them is defensive and angry about abandoning some of his people to die on a superior's orders, though he does it anyway. [[spoiler:This is probably to enhance the fact that just a few gameplay hours later, Darth Malak destroys the entire planet, killing millions of innocent civilians AND his own troops]].
** In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', a light-sided/[[ConsummateProfessional neutral]] Imperial player (especially Bounty Hunters and some flavors of Imperial Agent) often comes across as this. They ''know'' they're working for a bunch of nutcase Darths and a maniac of an Emperor, but the Empire is their home and they have to look out for their people.
** In the ''VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga'', the Imperial Stormtroopers are sometimes seen as this. If they're not aware of Kyle's presence, you can often overhear them complaining about their superior officers and the tedium of guard duty.

* Most Reapers from ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' aren't ''too'' sadistic for their job. As a general rule, the Game Masters are usually a lot worse than the Support and Harriers. [[ThoseTwoBadGuys Kariya and Uzuki]] in particular stand out. While one Game Master has everyone on standby, you can run into Reapers shooting the breeze or playing Tin Pin Slammer while wondering what's going on.
--> '''Support Reaper''': Man, today was supposed to be my day off! This sucks. I'm starving! Tell you what, if you can get me a Definitivo Chili Dog, I'll let you through.
* Not all Imperial soldiers of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' are {{Magnificent Bastard}}s or {{Jerkass}}es. A large majority of them are regular people just like the Gallians, and this fact is heavily emphasized during one of the game's chapters. Special mention goes to General Radi Jaeger, who ''[[ScrewThisImOutOfHere outright deserts]]'' when he learns what a bastard Emperor Maximillian is.
** Underlining this further, the Selvaria [=DLC=] has you controlling Imperial forces who include several prominent Aces you kill in the main story... and Fritz, [[IWantMyMommy the poor guy who stumbled wounded into Welkin and Alicia's hiding place and died crying for his mother]].
* Both Teams in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' are probably Punch Clocks -- whether it's hero or villain depends on your perspective, but since the work they do generally involves the destruction of property, and killing people, and a number of them enjoy it, they're probably closer to the negative side. Despite being highly paid, they are hilariously mentally unstable at best... but they probably wouldn't bother if they weren't getting paid an absolute fortune.
** While he is a definite badass, the Sniper seems to think of himself this way. "Sniping's a good job, mate! It's challenging work, out of doors. I can guarantee you'll never go hungry...."
** The Engineer, meanwhile, is mostly concerned with "solving practical problems" and self-defence.
** The Demoman has tea with his mother in the mansion he bought for her on his days off.
* Most enemy Ravens in the ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' series fight you because they're paid to do so and vice versa. "Most", because there are a few who have it in for you without being motivated by a paycheck.
--> '''Bulk:''' We’re both Ravens. No hard feelings, right?
* The [[SemperFi United States Marine Corps]] in ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'' are just trying to stop TheVirus, and are only fighting Alex Mercer because they're told he is a serious threat, which, considering he's a SociopathicHero [[VideogameCrueltyPotential mass murderer who kills thousands of civilians]] [[OneManArmy and military personnel]] over the course of the game, is entirely justified.
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' features plenty of "villains" who just happen to be the NinjaMaid of a BigBad who [[AntiVillain doesn't even realize what they are doing is wrong]]. [[ButtMonkey Meiling]], [[BadassBookworm Patchouli]], [[{{Meido}} Sakuya]], [[LittleMissBadass Youmu]], [[MoonRabbit Reisen]], and [[{{Miko}} Sanae]] just want to help their friend/employer who's gone a little overboard. DefeatMeansFriendship, so they were GoodAllAlong.
* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'':
** Prinnies only serve Etna (and presumably others) for less than minimum wage in order to buy their souls' merit back. They count as villains because most Demons (Etna in particular) seem to be evil.
*** They're stated to work in Celestia, home of the Angels, as well. They're treated better there and work off their sins instead of working to raise money. Either way, it ends up with them as servants trying to reincarnate into something other than a Prinny.
** Disgaea demons in general are this, and are more prone to PokeThePoodle behaviors while behaving like a LargeHam than doing any actual ''evil''. [[VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten Valvatorez]] in particular makes it clear that it is ''necessary'' for them to terrorize humans, as the fear they generate keeps humanity in line by making them turn to faith to combat it. When the demons slack off, the world goes to hell.
* [[TheMole Crimson Viper]] in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' makes it clear that beating the crap out of the world's top fighters in order to assassinate Seth is just business, and she's indicated to be a perfectly friendly person outside the ring who enjoys spending time with her daughter.

* ''Every'' character in ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'', even [[spoiler:General Tor, the FinalBoss and supposed BigBad]]. In fact, the only ones who ''are'' evil are the GeneralRipper leading the Tasen, BloodKnight Iosa (although she WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds), and the psychopathic [[ThatOneBoss Asha]]. The real BigBad is implied to be the Komato government. And that government is ''itself'' a Punch Clock Villain because it's just doing what is demanded of it -- exterminating what the shortsighted general public sees only as a threat. [[CrapsackWorld It's a pretty dark game...]]
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** Half of the members of Organization XIII are portrayed this way in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2''. They even get vacation days on occasion. Roxas in particular has no idea what he's working for throughout his time in the Organization, and doesn't really take pleasure in his work.
*** Continued in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII''. Special mention to Larxene, who actively hates the goal she's working towards and is only in it to have an excuse to hang out with a friend who works with the bad guys, and Xigbar, who is literally only in it because he wants to get paid, albeit with a particular artifact, and thinks the whole thing is otherwise ridiculous.
** Also, Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, the ''heroines'' of ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 Final Fantasy X-2]]'', worked for Maleficent in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' because she paid well. They switch to the good guys' side only because they think Leon will pay better. Though, after initially planning to take all of Sora's items as payment, they decide not to after hearing about the hardships Sora has endured, and give him a Keychain as a gift.
** Pete also counts, as he is fought in a few of the worlds and manipulates the {{Big Bad}}s of most of the worlds. He isn't really evil. Just incredibly selfish. He's only doing these things because Maleficent promised him freedom on condition of his servitude.
** The Magic Mirror from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' also qualifies. If left to his own devices, his behaviour is quite benevolent, even though he speaks in rather cryptic phrases. It just so happens that he answers to a vain and cruel owner.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat'':
** An overheard conversation in ''VideoGame/AceCombatXSkiesOfDeception'' shows that at least one Leasath shipman would rather be out fishing than watching the surrounding skies for incoming hostiles. Also subverted in the same game, where someone responding to said shipman nonchalantly tells him that he'll have all the time needed to go fish once Aurelia's been defeated. Several other snippets also show that some Leasath grunts genuinely buy into their commanding officer's desire to see the destruction and downfall of Aurelia.
** ''VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies'' has the Erusean 'Yellow' squadron, who are just soldiers and not really villainous for the sake of it. They even befriend the San Salvacion people and abhor the Erusean tactics of posting AA guns on hospitals in occupied cities. Thirteen even ''praises'' the "skilled enemy pilot" who is winning battles all along the way.
** ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'' also has honourable 'Knight' enemies. You get the feeling that they wouldn't be your enemy except for the fact that you're in the opposing army.

* At one point in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', the player comes across an NSF platoon that is guarding an underground supply route. When the player reaches the platoon commander, he [[spoiler:surrenders and gives up without a fight]] because "he's just a reservist". He explains that, under scary looking body armour, he's just an accountant, and isn't really big on dying just to protect the supply route.
** Most [[spoiler:UNATCO troops]], as they're unaware that their organization is corrupt to boot.
* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'':
** In the ''VideoGame/Borderlands1'' DLC "The Secret Armory of General Knoxx", the eponymous General is incredibly unenthusiastic and depressed about being sent to [[DeathWorld Pandora]] to deal with you, as he was ordered to deploy there by his superiors, and just wants to get everything over with so he can leave.
*** In the final battle, he's actually ''in the process of committing suicide'' right as you show up. Sadly, his duty has him disable his suicide guns and fight you like a good soldier.
** ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'' steps up the punch clocks tremendously, with Hyperion personnel left and right complaining about having to fight bandits (i.e., what they believe the player character to be) or bemoaning that they'd nearly paid off their mortgage as they slump to the ground and die. They don't even particularly believe they have good jobs, but there is an undercurrent of thought that being outside of Hyperion on Pandora would be far, far worse for them all around, regardless of how true that actually is.
** In ''VideoGame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'', the protagonists are all hired by Jack to help him in his inevitable rise to power. While most of them end up fitting into this label in some way, Athena, Timothy, and Claptrap are arguably the closest thing, being mostly decent people forced into increasingly morally-ambiguous situations but are forced to stick around due to either having no real choice in the matter... due to being literal property of Hyperion (Claptrap and Timothy) while Athena's professional pride forbids her from walking away until her job as a Vault Hunter is officially done.
* TheFourGods in ''VideoGame/IzunaLegendOfTheUnemployedNinja'' are nice, decent fellows who also happen to have an immature JerkAss as a boss. At no point do they wish to fight you, and they happily HeelFaceTurn after Izuna knocks some sense into said boss.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** Rouge the Bat. She steals jewels whenever she likes and manipulates people to do so, but she's doing it all for herself, and when she's not stealing things, she's just your regular gal who likes a good night on the town.
** The Babylon Rogues and E-102 Gamma from the same series. E-102 only tries to kill Sonic out of peer pressure, and the Babylons are racers and thieves.
** Orbot and Cubot, Eggman's two robot lackeys, are also an example. Despite working for Eggman, the two are quite friendly and have nothing personal against Sonic and co. In fact, Orbot admires Sonic and would rather work for him than Eggman.
* ComicBook/SilverSable appears as this in ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'' at the end, when Spidey thinks that she is going to attack him after showing up at a rooftop, but she's not gonna since her contract with Bolivar Trask has expired 10 minutes ago. When Spider-Man is about to question her about what she's doing, Sable interrupts him by claiming "[[JustBusiness business is business]]" before leaving him to get Trask.

%%** ''Hyo'' is being brainwashed by the spirit of his dead father, Mugen Imawano.
* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'':
** Sometimes, ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' uses this. Most guards are {{Jerkass}}es who shove Ezio around with little provocation, but occasionally, during plot missions, you may eavesdrop on some of them talking about family and friends, and being normal people whose only problem is serving Ezio's enemies. This is given a Lampshade in the last memory with Jacopo de'Pazzi, where Ezio notes that the two guards who have seized him are just doing their jobs and that he'll spare them if they let him go.
** Tom Hicky in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' is revealed to be one of these as he's assassinated. Unlike other examples, this makes him come off ''more'' despicable compared to the other villains who are [[WellIntentionedExtremist genuinely dedicated to the Templar cause.]]
* Rocket Grunts from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' are these. Galactic Grunts can also fall under this category.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid2'', the security chief of [=SaintLogic=], Vince, is a terrifying figure in full-plate armour with glowing blue eyes... who is disturbingly nice due to being this, not going out of his way to hinder Snake any further than his job requires, talking to him in a chatty and informal manner, and siding with him occasionally when he feels his job is asking him to go too far. Because of this, he's a soft target for [[PsychoForHire Venus]], who is far less nice a person than he is.
** Kazuhira in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker''. Despite being on your side, in that game, you're playing as Big Boss, an eventual villain, and Kaz goads him into doing stupidly evil things like building nuclear weapons, kidnapping people, and (possibly) stitching sharp pieces of metal into his chest. Kaz is actually a pretty nice guy, but his main goal is to make a ton of money.
** The legendary Johnny from ''Metal Gear Solids'' 1, 2, and Grandfather Johnny. Also doubles as a MinionWithAnFInEvil.
** Speaking of Grandfather Johnny, the enemy soldiers from ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' are merely [[JustFollowingOrders doing their jobs]] unlike the enemy soldiers in the previous two games who are, personalities aside, knowingly criminals and/or mercenaries engaged in illegal activities. The final battle against The Shagohod even showcases them in a fairly heroic light, putting their own lives on the line to save their allies from the burning warehouse or the oncoming Shagohod.
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' also has [[spoiler:The Boss]] filling this role. It turns out that [[spoiler:she was ordered to defect to the Soviets and was the antagonist for most of the game]] solely so that you could kill this 'defector' and be the hero.
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'', Raiden finds out that the {{Mook}}s he has been slaughtering by the dozens were largely this. The resulting BSOD turns him into a psychological wreck [[spoiler:until Jack decides to "[[SociopathicHero let 'er rip]]"]].
* Cynthia Charleston from ''In The 1st Degree'' could qualify as this (as well as being an AmoralAttorney). She is a defense attorney who is defending a man charged with first degree murder and grand theft. However, since the game does not show her or her personality when she is off-duty...
* In ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'', members of [[BigBad Baron Praxis]]' Krimzon Guard can be overheard discussing (among other things) going to see the races during the weekend, having to do sewer patrol after pissing off a commander, and liking [[HeavilyArmoredMook the new armor]], which is apparently "more comfortable in the crotch."
* In ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', [[spoiler:Litchi, provided that you just don't treat her as an utterly selfish and obsessed woman just because the side she serves, becomes this, AntiVillain and TokenGoodTeammate for the NOL. She's only in the NOL to develop a cure for both herself and Arakune, in order to live longer and be with her friends. She made every effort to find other help, but everyone else capable of assisting Litchi refused because they saw trying to cure Arakune as pointless and regarded her as irrationally obsessed. Litchi is very distressed about it, as shown with her desperate ranting towards Rachel. She also has no interest in whatever NOL or Terumi are planning like plunging the world into a state of "World of Death" or forcing upon people the "Truth of Despair".]]
** On a greater scale, we have, well, pretty much the entirety of the NOL, really... Sure, on the one hand, the NOL is a global, oppressive, authoritarian organization that heavily regulates society and imposes death sentences on anyone who opposes them or wields [[{{Magitek}} Ars]] [[FunctionalMagic Magus]] without proper authorization. On the other hand, several of the more sympathetic playable characters in the game are/were associated with it, and almost everyone within it are just commoners who are just [[WellIntentionedExtremist trying their best to uphold order and safety]] in a CrapsackWorld that is already teetering on the edge of entering an age of complete anarchistic chaos and war. Also, Ars Magus? They are [[ArtifactOfDoom incredibly dangerous]] ''at best'', both to those who wield them and those around the person who wields them once the wielder goes AxCrazy, so it's pretty damn reasonable to heavily restrict the usage of them. All in all, the NOL would probably be a pretty okay organization ''if'' it weren't for the fact that it's ultimately run by monsters.
* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'':
** Plenty of them in the series, as not everyone is that much concerned with the Devil Gene business. The Williams sisters (Nina and Anna) take any job and don't expand it to their personal lives, as their aim is just to settle their sisterly rivalries for good. Eddy Gordo is only in Jin's army to get the cure for his sickly master. Bruce Irvin is a good friend of Kazuya Mishima and usually serves him well, but outside his servitude, he's a FriendToAllChildren and helps them out when he can.
** The best example would be Craig Marduk. Yes, he ''did'' kill Armor King, but not out of malice or service to someone who wanted AK dead; it was just a heated fight where something went horribly wrong. Despite the incredible rarity of a Tekken competitior killing another Tekken competitor (not even Nina once succeeded, and she's getting ''paid'' for that!), Craig has never once crowed or threatened someone else over it. He wants to be the #1 MMA bruiser in the world, and if he has to get by a vengeful wrestler to do it, that's just another day at the office.
* Valara of ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'' makes it repeatedly clear that she does all the atrocities she does only because "work is work" and is very committed to it. In fact, as seen in the beginning of the game [[spoiler:and the end, should you spare her life]], she's actually fairly friendly when there aren't any orders to worry about.

* In ''VideoGame/EscapeFromButcherBay'', the guards mostly seem resigned to their work and as much a part of the system as the inmates. When Riddick infiltrates Pigsville and the Butcher Bay mines, you can catch a lot of them going on about mundane things, grief that Hoxie and Abbot are letting the prison go to hell, and complain they haven't had a shower yet [[BrickJoke because an inmate broke in there]].
* Billy Kane of the ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' series is a criminal primarily because it's easy money. He never holds any actual malice for Terry Bogard, and his loyalty to Geese Howard is because of the massive amount of respect Billy holds for the man. But at the end of the day, he remains Geese's right-hand man and commits crimes so he can support his mother and little sister.
* The entire point of ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' is that you're a small part of an incredibly large bureaucratic nightmare. Doing the right thing -- not splitting up families, letting people through for medical procedures, or keeping out homicidal maniacs with perfect papers -- is incredibly hard while also feeding, clothing, and housing your own family.
* Almost ''all'' of the {{Mooks}} in ''VideoGame/TimeSplittersFuturePerfect''. They almost feel like real people with lives of their own, and one starts to feel a little guilty for having to kill them. [[spoiler:Upon beating the game, you learn that you didn't actually kill anyone. Thanks to the magic of time-travel, the events that led up to the Timesplitter War never happened!]]

* In ''VideoGame/ApertureTagThePaintGunTestingInitiative'', we have [[spoiler:Nigel, who's really just doing his job]]. He takes a genuine interest in the player and is glad to see them succeed, but he has no qualms about throwing test subjects into potentially lethal test chambers and [[spoiler:sending a test subject to their guaranteed death by incinerator at the conclusion of testing]]. If the player manages to thwart this, however, he seems very happy to be able to see them off from the facility.
* The animatronics from ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''. As soon as the clock hits midnight, they'll try to kill you by stuffing you into a suit (it's a lot more painful than it sounds). When the clock hits 6 AM, the animatronics will leave you alone. The reason for this is because the robots have been programmed with a daytime mode, which makes them go to their stages so they can entertain the children. In [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2 the sequel]], The Phone Guy mentions that the animatronics were never programmed with a night mode, which causes the robots to try and find people in the empty restaurant. They happen to find you, but they try to kill you all the same (until six, of course).
* Great Grey Wolf Sif in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI'' is only an adversary of the player because he's guarding the grave of Abysswalker Artorias, who sacrificed himself to save Sif. If you play the DLC before battling Sif (and thus witness those events, as the DLC takes place centuries before the core game), a different cutscene introduces the battle. In that one, the wolf actually recognises the player and lets out a clearly sad howl before he tries to fulfill his duty. Given that he can't be skipped even with SequenceBreaking, it makes the battle all the more tragic.
* The [[spoiler:Ashura-kai's Terminal Guardian]] in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' turns out to be this, as revealed in the Neutral path as part of the [[spoiler:Activate All Terminals]] quest. When you defeat him for the last time, he admits that he was only doing his job to support his family, and decides to finally quit and search for a clean job.
* Of all the factions in ''VideoGame/{{Destiny}}'', the Cabal best represent this. The Fallen attack you as pirates or rebels desperately trying to claim the Traveler and City, while the Hive and Vex are indirect agents of [[BigBad the Darkness]]. Contrastly, the Cabal in the solar system are merely a military regiment from a nearby empire who have been sent to annex some technically unclaimed worlds. They don't have any real grudge with humanity and their allies (they attack you because you're technically infringing on their territory) and they have no link to the Darkness (in fact, they may be running from it, [[NotSoDifferent just like the humans]]). They're not even a unified force; arguments and disagreements in the regiment are common, not all of them feel particularly loyal to the empire, and many of them are only fighting so that they can just get it over with and go home, as the empire's rules hold that [[BadBoss battalions can't return until they're victorious or ordered to retreat by the empire]].
** The lore tab for [[https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/skyburners-oath Skyburner’s Oath]] in ''VideoGame/Destiny2'' from the perspective of a Cabal grunt highlights this. The unnamed speaker is loyal to the empire, but not “dulce et decorum est” loyal.
--> ''Victory or death. We're not dead, so we won.''
* ''VideoGame/PonyIsland'': Although Pony Island was created to harvest souls from the people who play it, Lucifer isn't especially interested in doing so and would rather just make games people enjoyed. He doesn't get frustrated at the player for trying to escape, but he does get frustrated whenever they "fix" his games.
* D'Vil in ''Antagonist'' is an actor working for Evil Productions, which specializes in supplying video game villains. Unfortunately, he discovers evidence that the supposedly-scripted atrocities might not be as phony as his employers claim.
* Many of the Umbrella Corporation employees who aren't HiredGuns or raving lunatics in ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' are this. Many of the {{Apocalyptic Log}}s left behind by researchers sway between describing what horrific creature's they've spawned or what terrible experiments they've conducted on innocent people, and telling who won the poker game in their downtime or of their families.

* ''VideoGame/RandalsMonday'': The HorsemenOfTheApocalypse mainly treat their evil duties as a job. They used to be more enthusiastic, until they got their new boss: [[spoiler:Sally]].
* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'', Klubba is only threatening until you pay his toll, and then he's polite as can be. He will also comment that he hopes you take down K. Rool because he doesn't treat his crew well.
* ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole:'' Butters as Professor Chaos resorts to these once he runs out of regular minions. Which means he actively hires ''illegal Mexican immigrants'', who are entirely willing to put up with wearing tinfoil costumes and participate in what's essentially just a surprisingly dangerous children's game because a job is a job, and Butters is paying. [[spoiler:This also, and rather hilariously, explains why the [[RandomEncounters randomly encountered]] Chaos Minions begin attacking Butters as well once he joins Coon And Friends:]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Butters:''' Chaos Minions, what gives?!\\
'''Chaos Minion:''' Your last paycheck bounced! Chaos Minions want to get paid!]]
* The Phantoms in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'' are creepy suits of AnimatedArmor that must be avoided at all costs and can take Link out in one swing of their enormous swords. Zelda can possess Phantoms in ''Spirit Tracks'', though, and can talk to other Phantoms as a distraction. Doing so reveals that many Phantoms regard their patrols as a day job and complain about walking the same paths, patrolling rooms full of lava and feeling that no-one listens to their opinions on their work. Some even make comments like 'Bob quit yesterday. Too hot for him' and 'Is it break time yet?'.
* C. Q. Cumber from ''VideoGame/Splatoon2: Octo Expansion'' is the conductor of the Deepsea Metro. Despite [[spoiler: working for Kamabo Corporation under [[BigBad Commander Tartar]]]], he's not a bad guy; only "faithful to his duties" as [[WordOfGod Hisashi Nogami puts it]]. Even activating Agent 8's ExplosiveLeash and declaring "test failed" is nothing personal, only a professional adherence to his job protocol.
* Bob Leaner from ''VideoGame/SerialCleaner'' works as a CleanupCrew for the Mafia, but only so he can pay off his gambling debts.
* The jaegers of the ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries''. As Rutger, the "Jaeger King" himself explains, they follow the money and go from job to job, no questions asked. One minute, they may be drinking with someone, the next, fighting them.

* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' has an... interesting version of this. One type of enemy in the mental worlds is called a Censor. Their job is to hunt down manias, waking dreams, and other foreign thoughts and censor them out. Since Raz is technically a foreign entity in a mental world, he's fair game, and you will see Censors being deployed in your general area. [[GoddamnedBats Frequently.]]